Friday, May 30, 2008, Episode #5323

Ridge tells Brooke to go to the party without him.

At Forrester, Brooke asks Ridge to join her at Katie's birthday party. Ridge asks who else will be there. Not Rick and Taylor, Brooke assures him. Ridge is glad to hear that, but he was wondering about Donna. Brooke assumes Donna and Eric will be there, although she tells Ridge that Donna has been a bit on edge with the way he and his siblings have been ganging up on her. Ridge tells her the same thing he told Eric, that Donna has nothing to worry about if she stays clean. Brooke doesn't want to argue about Donna, but she can't help but notice that he's talking like he hopes to find some skeleton in Donna's closet to get her out of Eric's life. Ridge says he would never do that, because he knows that would hurt her and his dad. Brooke appreciates that and thanks him for reminding her why she loves him. She suggests they get going to the party, but Ridge gets buzzed that a conference call from the Philippines that he thought was tomorrow is actually set for today. Since he has to take the call, Brooke tells him she'll go to the party without him, but she warns that he owes her one. Ridge promises to pay her back tonight and sends her on her way.

Ashley checks in with Ridge.

As Ridge is ending his call, Ashley pops in to see how things are going. When she asks how Katie is, Ridge tells her about the party and about how he had to miss it because of the call from the Philippines. Once he mentions that Brooke is over there now, Ashley asks how things are going with Brooke. Ridge says things would be fine, except he can't hold back his paranoia about Brooke's sister Donna being married to his dad. He really hates being at odds with Eric. Ashley assures him that he's just looking out for his family. Ridge wishes Brooke could see that, but she and her family are loyal to each other, and that's part of the problem. He can't help wondering if his dad's loyalties are with his family, or with his "new" family, the Logans. Ridge then asks Ashley what brings her by. She says she wanted to ask if he'd seen Donna's plans for a "sky lounge" on their roof. Ridge thinks it's a great idea, but the timing his poor given the current economy. But even so, Donna has wormed her way into Eric's life with ideas like that which make it hard to get her out. Ashley wonders if they can get Donna out (and she should know, given how she had two different stepmothers who got close to her dad over the years). Ridge says that he just doesn't understand what Eric sees in Donna. [News flash, Ridge: You don't have to see it! But have you forgotten your own flirtations with Donna two years ago?] He admits his dad seems happy, but he still hopes Eric opens his eyes to the real Donna.

Donna asks Marcus to give her a moment with Eric.

At the Forrester mansion, Eric recognizes Marcus from Storm's funeral and asks if there's a problem. Donna lies to Eric that she asked Marcus over to help her plan a special catered dinner for two, but now the surprise is spoiled. She asks Marcus if she can have a moment to talk to Eric alone, so Marcus leaves the room. Alone with her husband, Donna tells him how much she loves him. Eric senses her trying to butter him up and thinks he knows where this is headed: he thinks she's pregnant, but she doesn't know how to tell him given his statement that he didn't want any more children. [Note from Scott: Did Eric have the vasectomy he got while married to Sheila reversed? Or has he seen signs that the procedure didn't work? They've never mentioned anything like that, but why would he think that Donna's pregnant otherwise?] Donna tells Eric that she's not pregnant and explains that she's just found an answer to a mystery that she's had since she was a teenage girl, and she hopes that her telling him about that mystery won't change his opinion of her.

Eric is confused when Donna asks Marcus to stay.

Before Eric can say anything, he gets a call from Pam. After dealing with some business, Eric tells Pam that they're done, because he wants to spend the rest of the night with his wife. After he hangs up, Eric tells Donna not to worry. He knows that she's been moping about the possibility of his losing the company, but he's sure that whatever she did in the past isn't going to be enough to cause him any kind of distress. Donna thanks him for being so understanding, since she really has to tell him something. Just then, Marcus comes back in. Eric asks Marcus to give him and Donna a few more minutes, but Donna tells Eric that she'd like Marcus to stay. Eric asks why. "Because it involves him," Donna says. Seeing that Eric is confused, Marcus offers to tell Eric the truth, but Donna says that this is her responsibility. Eric asks Donna just what's going on here. "Marcus is my son," she tells him.

Bridget has a birthday present for Katie.

At the Marone mansion, Bridget tells Nick that her mom is on the way. Nick asks if "the fiance" will be there, too. Not knowing about Ridge's call, Bridget says that Ridge will be there and asks him to be nice, since they don't want any drama while celebrating Katie's first birthday with her new heart. Nick is sure Katie will be fine, but Bridget says she's still watching for signs of rejection. Katie comes in and sees all the fussing. She tells Nick and Bridget that she really didn't want a big party. Nick tells her that this may not be a big deal for her, but all her family and friends want to celebrate the life that was given back to them - hers. Bridget agrees and gives Katie the present that she and Nick got, a necklace with the Chinese symbol for life. Nick then adds another, less significant gift: a Nerf basketball set that Katie can use until she's ready to get back on a real court outside. Katie thanks them both for the gifts.

Nick has a word with Jackie.

Soon after, Thorne arrives and gives Katie yet another gift that she loves. [Hopefully he's smarter than his big brother, who had to drag their feud with Donna into his talk earlier with Brooke about Katie's party.] Thorne sees Katie perspiring a bit and asks if she's OK. She assures him that she's just a bit excited. Meanwhile, Jackie drops by to see Jack and learns that Taylor took him to the zoo. Ms. M. can't help but get a few digs in about her son living with two women right now. Nick assures her that Katie is just here to recuperate and invites her to join the party. They go into the living room to say hello to Bridget and Katie just as Brooke arrives. Katie is glad to see her sister, who explains that Ridge got held at the office with an emergency.

Brooke arrives for the party.

While Brooke asks her kid sister how she's feeling, Dr. Patrick arrives. Bridget is glad to see that he made it, but Dr. Patrick explains that this isn't a social visit. He explains to Bridget that he got the results from Katie's last check-up back, and he's afraid that he sees signs of rejection. While Katie is inside opening gifts, Dr. Patrick advises Bridget to make sure that Katie gets plenty of rest. Bridget goes back inside, where Nick asks her what's wrong. Bridget tells him that everything's fine and reminds him that they have a party to tend to.