Wednesday, January 23, 2008, Episode #5233

Bridget tells Rick that she's tired of apologizing for the egg mix-up.

Brooke, Bridget and Rick go to Brooke's office, where Rick continues to vent about Jack's maternity. When Brooke points out that it hasn't been easy on any of them, Rick asks Bridget how she let this happen. Bridget reminds him that she already confided in him about how it happened, growing tired of apologizing over and over for the lab mix-up. Brooke agrees that Bridget has gone though hell over this, but Rick supposes that Taylor has, too. Brooke informs her son that she signed her rights to the child away. Rick guesses that Ridge made his mother give up her rights to the child she and Nick share, but Brooke reminds him that she already has a son with Ridge. Rick thinks Brooke is deluding herself, because she now has a son with a man like Nick, who she still has intense feelings for, and he takes that as a sign from heaven that Brooke is meant to be with Nick. Brooke and Bridget both take issue with that accusation, but Rick says that he is just trying to get Brooke to be honest with herself, because he thinks this is the chance his mom has been waiting for to reunite with Nick. Bridget angrily tells Rick to stop trying to break up Nick and Taylor's marriage, reminding him that taking Jack away will devastate Taylor. Rick contends that Taylor is freaking out already and is having panic attacks, so it might be for the best. Brooke asks Rick if Taylor was drinking; Rick isn't sure, but he tells his mother to believe that he;s just trying to do what's best for her and for everyone. He begs her to listen to heart and follow it back to Nick and Jack.

Nick urges Taylor to focus on Jack.

At the Marone mansion, Nick tries to comfort Taylor. Seeing how upset his wife is, he asks if she's been drinking. Taylor says she hasn't been and asks how he could even think that she was, wondering if Brooke planted seeds of doubt in his mind to the point where he doesn't trust her. Nick assures her that he does trust her, but he doesn't know how to help when she falls apart this way. Taylor sobs that Brooke has ruined her life, but Nick tells her not to let her feelings for Brooke control her. Taylor weeps that she wants to get Brooke out of her mind. Nick tells her that she can if she wants to, because Brooke is in her past while Jack is her future. He urges her to focus on Jack, because their son needs her. But Brooke is the problem, Taylor retorts, and not Taylor's love for Jack. Nick assures Taylor that Brooke is out of his life, but it's up to Taylor to get Brooke out of hers. Taylor thinks he can start by getting his mementos of Brooke out of the house. As Nick starts to gather the stuff, Taylor picks up a CD and asks if it's a song he wrote for Brooke. Nick tells her that all this stuff is in his past and suggests that they focus on the future instead, starting with planning Jack's christening. Taylor agrees. Nick goes to take the boxes out to the garage. While he's gone, his cell phone beeps. Taylor calls out to Nick, but he doesn't answer, so she peeks at the phone and finds a text message from Brooke asking if Taylor and Jack are OK after the stress Taylor was under while with Rick earlier. Taylor fumes upon reading the message.

Rick pays Nick a visit.

After Nick returns to the house, Rick drops by and asks if Taylor is there. Nick says he thinks she's there and offers to find her, but Rick says that he's actually here to see Nick. He tells Nick that he knows that Brooke is Jack's biological mother and supposed that the news must have floored Nick as well given Nick's past feelings for Brooke. Nick reminds him that Taylor has been struggling with that, too. Rick confides that he loves his mom, but he also cares for Taylor, and he sees that both women stand to be screwed by this. He also admits that he's never been thrilled with the idea of his mom marrying Ridge again because he feels she'll be hurt again, which is why he can't help but wonder if it's unfair and cruel to ask Taylor to be a mother to Jack. He suggests that it might be better for Nick and Taylor to cut their losses with this child to let Taylor be the strong woman she used to be and to prevent Brooke from facing more heartache with Ridge. "I love Taylor," Nick insists. Rick contends that if Nick really loves Taylor, then he'll let her go, but Nick is sure Taylor will pull herself together. Rick respects Nick for saying that, but he suggests that Nick should be thinking of his child's well being and asking himself if Taylor is really fit to be a mother to Jack.

Brooke explains her actions to Taylor...

Brooke is in her office, recalling her conversation in Insomnia earlier with Nick about Taylor. Taylor barges in and asks Brooke what part of "back off" she doesn't understand. She doesn't want Brooke calling, texting or even talking to Nick ever again. Brooke tells Taylor to calm down and insists that she only got concerned after hearing from Rick about his visit with Taylor earlier, but Taylor tells her to stop being concerned and just butt out of her life and her marriage! Brooke tells Taylor to take a look at herself, but Taylor seethes that she's rather look at Brooke and her schemes to steal Nick away, accusing Brooke of using Nick as a backup if things fall apart with Ridge. She rants about how Brooke ruined her marriage to Ridge by clinging to him, and she fears Brooke is now clinging to Nick the same way and calling it concern that Taylor isn't being a good mother to Jack. "I am a good mother!" she attests, and she thinks she can prove that if Brooke will just leave her and Nick alone. Brooke states that she's tried, but then someone keeps telling her that Taylor is having a hard time with that, so she has to react. Taylor asks Brooke why she has to react.