Wednesday, March 12, 2008, Episode #5268

Eric and Donna get a surprise visitor.

Eric is sitting in his office with Donna on his lap, talking about wedding plans. He tells her that he wants to have a private ceremony, but he wants to take out ads in "Eye on Fashion," Jack Abbott's new "Restless Style" magazine and all the other trade magazines to let the world know how happy his new bride-to-be has made him. Donna loves all his ideas, but she thinks they might have to hire extra security to keep one person out away from the wedding. Guessing that she's talking about Pam, Eric assures Donna again that his sister in law is harmless, but Donna thinks Pam is as nutty as a loaf of her banana nut bread. Right on cue, Pam shows up with a loaf of banana nit bread, since she was worried that he's not eating right since leaving Stephanie. She offers Eric and Donna some, but Donna declines. Pam then tells Eric that she actually stopped by to talk to him and asks for a moment alone with him. Eric tells Pam that he wants to talk to her, too, so Donna takes that as her cue to excuse herself.

Pam asks Eric to bring Stephanie back to the company.

After Donna leaves, Pam tells Eric that his lover is a "piece of work." Eric tells her to stop that, informing her that he knows about her threats to Donna. Pam insists she just got caught up in the moment when she said those things because she saw her older sister in such pain and wanted to protect her. Eric admires her loyalty to her sister and says that he doesn't want to hurt Stephanie, either, but he needs Pam to understand that his heart belongs to Donna now and he intends to make a life with Donna once his divorce is final. "What about the life you built with Stephanie?" Pam asks, pointing out that he not only took away Stephanie's family, but he also took her part in the business as well. She begs Eric to let Stephanie come back to the company, since she thinks it would restore the last bit of dignity Stephanie has left. Eric reminds Pam that removing Stephanie from the company was a condition he agreed to when he bought back the company, but Pam points out that Stephanie's lawyers claim that condition is not enforceable. Eric concedes that the lawyers might be right, but he thinks Nick will see red when he finds out. "Do you care?" Pam asks. Eric admits that he doesn't and agrees to talk to his lawyers to see if it's possible. Outside the door, Donna eavesdrops and quietly gasps in horror as Eric agrees to consider Pam's request.

Nick winces after tasting Katie's smoothie.

At the Marone mansion, Nick comes down and finds Katie making some smoothies. He thanks Katie for staying over last night to help with Jack, although he asks why she slept on the couch instead of in one of his 20 guest rooms. Katie tells him she's slept in worse places and offers him a protein shake. Nick tells her to go first, so she takes a sip and winces. "That first sip's a little hard to swallow," she says, asking Nick to try. Nick takes a sip and agrees that the first drink is a bit nasty. Nick then offers her $100 for helping with Jack, but when she tells him that's barely minimum wage for an overnight stay-over for a nanny, he offers her another hundred. Katie happily takes the money and leaves, leaving Nick to clean up after them.

Bridget confides in Rick.

Bridget sits in her beach house, thinking about her kiss last night with Nick. Rick returns from his morning swim and sees that his sister is distracted, so she tells him that she's been thinking about Nick lately. Rick asks what brought this on, so she tells him how their Aunt Katie suggested that she help Nick out with the baby, since she and Nick share a history, and Nick certainly needs the help with Taylor gone. Rick asks her why she'd subject herself to the possibility of being hurt again, since she's so vulnerable to Nick. Bridget admits that she thought that she and Nick were finished, but she's always thought in the back of her mind that there might be a chance someday to reunite with Nick. "I think Nick and I are meant to be together," she states. Rick tells her that he's glad she seems so happy, but he also doesn't want to see her get hurt. He reminds her how close their mom is to Nick. Bridget says she knows full well about Brooke and Nick's connection, since she gave up her marriage so Brooke could be with Nick. But their mom is committed to Ridge now, she reminds Rick, and she even asked Brooke about it point blank, and Brooke gave her the green light to be with Nick. Rick still seems a bit skeptical, but he wants her to be happy, so he wishes her luck as she heads over to Nick's house.

Katie tells Brooke to be with Ridge and leave Nick for Bridget.

When Katie gets home, Brooke asks her sister where she was all night. When Katie explains that she was helping Nick with Jack, Brooke assumes that Katie was also pushing Bridget on Nick and scolds her sister for doing that. "I just want it to stop before somebody gets hurt," Brooke explains. Katie doesn't understand why Brooke is so concerned and asks what's going on. Brooke says that she knows Nick still has feelings for her, and she doesn't want Bridget to come in second place in Nick's heart again. Katie doesn't buy it and accuses Brooke of not being able to choose between Nick and Ridge. She tells Brooke that she can't have it both ways and urges her to make a choice. Brooke admits that she's being wishy-washy, and it's killing her. It's just that whatever decision she makes not only affects her, but it also affects her kids. She tells Katie that Ridge told her to take her time to sort out her feelings, but she feels like she comes back to that same conflict every times she tries and can't make up her mind. Katie reminds Brooke how long she has wanted a life with Ridge and suggests that Brooke finally take the chance to have that life and let Bridget reconnect with Nick in the process. She asserts, "Now is your chance to really have everything you've always wanted. Don't mess this up." Brooke decides to go over to Nick's to talk to him about it.

Jackie is surprised to learn that Katie helped Nick with Jack.

Jackie drops by the Marone mansion to see Jack, but Nick tells her that the baby is sleeping. When Jackie asks if he had problems last night dealing with the baby, Nick tells her that he actually had time to go over all the business documents she needed him to look at, since he had some help with the baby from Katie Logan. Jackie is surprised that Katie helped out, so Nick explains that it was Bridget's idea when Bridget found out she couldn't be there. Jackie asks him point blank what's going on with Bridget. "That's what I'd like to know, too," Brooke says as she enters the room. Jackie excuses herself so Nick can have a chance to talk to Brooke and heads for the office.