Friday, July 11, 2008, Episode #5353

Katie peeks at her scar as she thinks about the wedding.

Upstairs at the Marone mansion, a pensive Katie opens her robe and gazes at her transplant scar in the mirror. After closing her robe, she looks first at her maid of honor dress and then at Bridget's wedding gown across the room. Downstairs, Bridget rushes in the house. Nick asks where she's been, but she tells him that it's a secret before running upstairs to get ready. She races into the bedroom, lamenting how late she's running, but Katie tells her she's fine and gets her to calm down. Katie puts on a happy face as she tells Bridget that the big day she's been waiting for is finally here.

Beth doesn't want to be a distraction.

Outside in the garden, Stephen tries to calm an anxious Beth, assuring her that no one will be expecting her to make a big speech on Bridget's big day. Beth worries that she'll be a distraction on her granddaughter's big day. Stephen tells her that he'll be the one distracted by her until the beautiful bride comes down the aisle, at which point all eyes will be on the bride. Stephen sees Marcus enter the garden and calls him over to join them. Marcus tells his grandparents that they look very happy. An agreeing Stephen thanks him, while Beth adds that one of the reasons they're so happy is because Marcus is here.

Brooke and Ridge ask how Bridget and Katie are.

Brooke and Ridge arrive and are greeted by Nick, who tells them that everyone is in the garden. Brooke asks him how Bridget and Katie are doing. Nick tells her that his bride-to-be is over the moon, while Katie is doing great, despite all the pressures of pulling the wedding together. Brooke's glad to hear that, since she knows that this wedding is a labor of love for Katie. Brooke then goes upstairs to see Bridget, who's putting on her makeup. Brooke notes that she passed an excited Katie in the hall and then presents Bridget with a gift for her special day. Bridget is stunned to see her great-grandma's pearls, that she always used to wear when she played dress-up growing up and acted out her wedding. Brooke proudly puts the pearls around Bridget's neck, remarking that no bride is more beautiful or more deserving of this happiness.

Jackie and Donna disagree.

Down in the garden, Donna walks over to Jackie and muses over the fact that they used to be friends, and now they're practically related. Jackie says that they will be related, but Donna suggests that it might not happen if Nick comes to his senses. Jackie points out that her son adores Bridget, but Donna counters that Nick loves Katie. Jackie reminds Donna that Nick says his future is with Bridget, but Donna thinks that might change if they get Nick and Katie in a room together. There may have been a time when that might have made a difference, Jackie states, but it's too late now, so she warns the newest Mrs. Forrester not to even think of interfering with the wedding.

Things are tense for Rick and Taylor.

Brooke comes down to the garden and greets Beth and Marcus. As Donna comes over to join them, Brooke tells her mom and nephew how much it means to have them here on this special day for their family. Rick and Taylor arrive and come over to greet the others. Brooke says hi to Rick but doesn't say a word to Taylor. As Donna takes Marcus aside, Taylor compliments Beth on how good she looks and comments about how excited everyone must be today. Brooke icily remarks that Bridget wanted it to be an intimate occasion, but Taylor retorts that Bridget invited her knowing that Jack would be there with his mother. Ridge and Jackie come over as talk turns to the wonderful job Katie did planning the wedding. Jackie thinks Katie might have a future as a wedding planner and suggests that Katie plan Taylor and Rick's wedding. Taylor laughs that they haven't set a date, but Rick says they will soon. Feeling uncomfortable, Brooke excuses herself and Ridge and they walk away. Seeing how tense Taylor seems, Rick puts his hands on her shoulders and kisses the back of her neck.

Stephen thanks Nick for including him in the ceremony.

In the house, Stephen thanks Nick for including him in the ceremony. Nick says that it means a lot that Stephen brought his family together for them today, but Stephen credits a large part of that to everything Nick has done for the family, including bringing Beth back to L.A. He admits he's impressed by the connections Nick seems to share both with Bridget and with Katie, but Nick says he can't take all the credit, since the Logan women have had such an impact on him. After Stephen helps him with his tie, Nick goes downstairs and finds Brooke sitting in the living room. When she tells him that she needed a moment alone, he guesses that she has those mother-of-the-bride jitters. Not really, Brooke says, since she sees how committed he is to her daughter. She says she has no doubts about that commitment now and just wants her daughter to be happy. Nick gives her his word that Bridget will be happy, and that's all she needs to hear.

Katie learns about Bridget's surprise.

Rick comes up to see his sister the bride on her big day. He tells Bridget how happy he is that she's getting a second chance with Nick. Bridget tells him that it's really going to work for Nick and her this time, and she's glad Rick is there to share it with her. As they share a hug, Katie comes in. Katie offers to leave, but Rick tells her that he was about to go and lets the two of them get ready for the wedding. Katie sees the tears in Bridget's eyes and asks if they're happy ones. Bridget says they are, but she worries that she smudged her makeup, so Katie offers to help her fix it. Bridget then tells Katie that she's happy to have her here, since this day wouldn't be happening without her. She then reveals that she has a surprise planned for Nick, but she's going to need Katie's help to pull it off. Katie leaves to get dressed. When she returns in her shiny fuchsia dress, Bridget tells her how hot she looks. Katie smiles as she tells Bridget not to cry again, but Bridget isn't worried about that, since she wants to get back to the surprise she mentioned earlier.

Bridget and the Justice of the Peace explain Bridget's plan.

Bridget says that she'll understand if Katie doesn't agree, but the Justice of the Peace is on his way - and he's coming here not for her, but for Katie! A confused Katie doesn't understand, so Bridget explains that she feels like this is as much Katie's day as it is hers, since Katie was instrumental in reuniting her and Nick. Katie protests, but Bridget says that she respects how honest Katie has been, which is why she wants Katie standing up there at the altar today. She knows it's what Katie wants, and she thinks Nick will be thrilled, too. Katie doesn't know what to say. Before she can find the words, Mr. Morton, the Justice of the Peace, arrives. He tells Katie that once he heard what her niece had in mind, he agreed that it seemed appropriate, albeit a bit unconventional, so it will only take a few minutes to deputize Katie so she can perform the ceremony today. Katie is stunned (and disappointed) as Bridget explains that she got the idea when Katie said the other day that she'd perform the ceremony herself if she could. Mr. Morton can perform the ceremony if Katie's not up to it, but she hopes Katie will agree.

Eric escorts Bridget down the aisle.

Down in the garden, Nick and his best man, Stephen, take their places at the altar. As Brooke wonders where the Justice of the Peace is, the music starts to play. As Katie appears and starts to walk down the aisle, she tells herself, "I can do this." Then the wedding march starts to play as Eric escorts Bridget down the aisle and presents her to Nick, who asks her how they can proceed without the Justice of the Peace. Bridget tells him that the JoP is there, but he's not going to perform the ceremony, since Katie is!

Nick and Bridget are shocked when Katie stops the ceremony.

As Katie motions for everyone to sit down, she informs them that there's been a slight change of plans, since she'll be officiating, and she assures them that it's all perfectly legal. She nervously starts to read from some prepared text, but when she starts to talk about joining Bridget and Dominick together in everlasting unity, she pauses and says, "I can't do this!" She sobs that she's sorry, but this is wrong. As the assembled guests wonder what's going on, Katie tells them that they probably think that they know how she feels about Nick and Bridget, but she herself didn't really know until she stood up here in front of them today, watching them get ready to commit their lives to each other. "This wedding can't go on until you know how I really feel," she tells a shocked Nick and Bridget.