Friday, July 18, 2008, Episode #5358

Hope is thrilled to see Nick.

At Brooke's house, Beth makes some oatmeal raisin cookies for Katie and Hope. Katie bets that R.J. will be jealous that he decided to spend the night with Grandpa and raves that Beth's recipe is as good as she remembered. Beth says that she can't take the credit, since she found the recipe in Brooke's recipe box. "That's yours," Katie points out, but Beth clearly doesn't remember that. Sensing how uncomfortable her mom is by yet another lost memory, Katie asks Hope to go to the kitchen with her for some milk. While they're gone, Nick drops by to check on Beth. He's glad to see she seems much better. As Hope returns from the kitchen with Katie, she sees Nick and excitedly rushes over to him. Nick picks her up and tells her how glad he is to see her. Katie asks Nick why he's not on his honeymoon. Nick tells her that it got cut short because Bridget got called to the hospital and then tells her how great she looks. She tells him that he looks great, too, guessing that marriage agrees with him.

Beth and Katie chat with Nick.

Katie brings Hope upstairs to play and then returns to the living room, where Nick sits with Beth. Katie tells them that Hope is playing with her dollhouse and recalls how she used to love her dollhouse when she was little. She asks Beth if she remembers that. Beth says she does, thanks to the wonderful care she's gotten since Nick convinced her to come home. Nick's just glad she's getting the care she needs from his wife and the other geniuses at the hospital. Katie adds that Bridget has a team of specialists, including Taylor, working on Beth's case, and the change in Beth under their care has been amazing. Beth agrees that she's doing better, but she gives most of the credit to being around her family again, since she was all alone in Paris to face the unthinkable. Katie says she understands what that's like, but Beth laments that she didn't handle her crisis as well as Katie did. She had some fine doctors, but the prospect of losing her memory was so daunting that her fear made things worse, and she thinks she would have lost herself had Nick not come to bring her home. Now she's happy to be there, surrounded by the people she loves and making cookies for her grandchildren. Hope comes in and asks her grandma if she can have another cookie. Beth says she can and asks Hope to join her in the kitchen to help make another batch of cookies, so they go to the kitchen.

Nick commends Katie for her bravery.

Alone with Katie, Nick tells her that she and the other Logan women have a lot and common. Katie agrees with him, since neither she nor her mom would be there if it wasn't for him. Nick thinks the Logan women should give themselves more credit, since he's no hero. He tells Katie that she's braver than he'll ever be, as she proved by performing his wedding ceremony. Katie admits that she didn't know if she'd be able to do it, but Bridget was so excited, and it turned out OK in the end. Nick tells her that she did good. Katie says it was her pleasure, noting how amazing it was to see how committed he and Bridget are to each other and to think about how lucky Jack is to have Bridget in his life. She thinks it's rare to know you're making the right choice not only for yourself, but also for the people you love, which is why she was happy to be a part of that for him and Bridget.

Thorne and Felicia are stunned by Ridge and Brooke's news.

In Eric's office, Ridge and Brooke tell a shocked Thorne and Felicia that Eric is giving them Forrester as a wedding gift. Brooke explains that she and Ridge will have controlling interest, and the rest of the shares will be divided among the family. Felicia asks how they'll be divided, but Ridge thinks they can can discuss that at the meeting tomorrow. Thorne asks if Eric is really OK with this. Ridge says he is, and he hopes Thorne and Felicia are, too, since this is what they wanted. Felicia says that she only wanted Donna gone and didn't want to force their dad out. Ridge assures her that Eric can stay on and design if he wants to, but Donna will be gone. The important thing, Brooke and Ridge agree, is that they show that the company is moving forward when they announce their wedding and the change of ownership at tomorrow's board meeting. Thorne and Felicia ask if Eric agreed to include the press. Ridge replies that Eric wants the company back on top, but Thorne and Felicia are still surprised given how Eric's been adamantly opposed to a change in leadership. Ridge explains that Eric got a wake-up call during his trip to New York, so he had no choice but to admit that a change was needed. "Starting tomorrow," Brooke notes, "Forrester Creations is entering a new phase." Ridge tells his siblings that it's important to avoid any whispers of mutiny or hostile takeovers, since he wants this to be a smooth transition. "Tomorrow we will tell the world the torch has been passed," he proclaims. "Brooke and I are the new owners of Forrester Creations."

Ridge abd Brooke discuss their plans.

After Thorne and Felicia leave, Ridge and Brooke discuss how long they've prepared for this. Brooke remarks that everything is coming together for them, personally and professionally. None too soon, Ridge notes as he starts to kiss Brooke and takes off his jacket. Soon after, they're putting their clothes back on. Brooke laughs that doing it in Eric's office may not be the best way to get on his good side, but Ridge says Eric will never know. Brooke wonders if Pam heard them. If she didn't, Ridge suggests, there'll be a repeat performance tomorrow. Brooke asks if it's really the right time to throw confetti when Eric just handed them the keys to his kingdom. Ridge tells her that they can share a little private celebration once they give his dad the sendoff he deserves. Brooke notes that this is a big moment. Ridge agrees that he's been waiting all his life for this. And it's happening just like he wanted, Brooke comments, since Eric is giving them the company with his blessing.

Eric decides he's not ready to step down yet.

In his bedroom, Eric is making a martini with the gin Owen gave him at the engagement party when Donna comes in. As Donna rubs his shoulders to ease the tension, Eric tells her to thank Owen for the gin. Donna notes how worn out Eric looks. Eric sighs that he feels so empty. Donna guesses his mood stems from the document Ridge wanted him to sign and tells him to forget it, but he informs her that he agreed to turn the company over to Brooke and Ridge. Donna asks why he gave in to the pressure. He tells her that he trained Ridge to take over the company some day, so he thinks Ridge deserves his shot now that the company is in trouble. Donna asks if he really wants to do this in his heart, since he shouldn't hand over the company if he doesn't. Eric admits that he was so proud of his last collection, but it didn't hold up. Donna blames the press, who always were so enamored of Stephanie, but Eric points out that Stephanie's shooting and Storm's death had their name in the papers, even off the fashion pages. That's still no reason to give up the company he loves so much, Donna states, since it's like cutting off his arm. Eric tells her that it's done, but she begs him to be honest with himself. Eric admits that the company has come back from scandals in the past, and he thinks he can do it again, since this isn't really a scandal and is just gossip. He proclaims that this is the company that he built, so he'll be the one to run it and to decide when it's time to step down. Donna is pleased that he's not just throwing in the towel.