Tuesday, May 27, 2008, Episode #5320

Phoebe shares some insight with Rick.

Phoebe is sitting at Insomnia when Rick comes in and sees her. He comes over and asks how she is. She tells him that she was thinking about what they shared and how precious it was to her, but then she realized that life moves on - and in his case, he moved on with her mother, so she can either play the victim over it or accept it. Rick thinks that's enlightened of her, but she says it's just practical. He asks how she feels about her mom; she says her mom must love her if she broke up with him for her sake. "Your mother DOES love you, more than she loves me," Rick assures a tearful Phoebe, "so she would never betray you."

Rick and Taylor defend themselves.

In his office, Ridge is discussing Taylor's "betrayal" of Phoebe with Brooke when Taylor comes in. "Look what you did to our daughter," Ridge accuses. Taylor tells him that she doesn't intend to defend herself to him or to Brooke, but she never wanted to hurt Phoebe. But she did, Ridge points out. Brooke agrees. Taylor points out that she hasn't slept with Rick, but Ridge contends that Phoebe was still hurt by finding out what's going on. Nothing is going on, Taylor insists, because she ended things with Rick for her daughter's sake, and Phoebe knows that now. Ridge asks if Rick feels the same way. Taylor says that Rick wants what she wants, because he made her the center of his universe. "So my son's universe is crumbling?!" Brooke shouts. Just then, Rick barges in, having overheard from outside the door. He tells his mother that he's just fine, even though Taylor IS the center of his universe. Ridge asks Rick if his ex-girlfriend Phoebe is part of that universe. Rick says that she is, which is why he never wanted to hurt Phoebe. Still, Phoebe ended things long ago, so he doesn't intend to ask for his ex-girlfriend's approval to get involved with someone new. Rick thinks Phoebe will be just fine, but Ridge disagrees.

Brooke and Ridge hope Phoebe knows what she's doing.

Before Rick can answer, Phoebe interrupts and tells the bickering quartet that she has something to say to them. Ridge assures her that her mother never actually meant to hurt her, but Phoebe thinks Taylor can speak for herself. Taylor tells Phoebe that she feels terrible about what happened, but she's given her word that it's over between Rick and her. Rick tries to apologize, but Phoebe him off and tells them all to listen to her. "Rick says he's in love with you," Phoebe tells her mother, "and I guess you love him, too." "But it's over. My commitment is to you," Taylor insists. Phoebe states that she's not a child anymore, so she understands how much it hurt for her mom to end things with Rick for her sake. Brooke claims that Rick and Taylor will both get over it, but Phoebe doesn't want to wake up every morning knowing she made two of the most important people in her life so miserable. "If you two want each other," Phoebe asks, "how can I stand in your way?" Ridge asks if she knows what she's doing. Phoebe says that she does. She knows what it's like to be denied love, and she won't do that to her mom and Rick. Having given her blessing, Phoebe leaves. Once Phoebe's gone, Rick takes out the engagement ring he gave Taylor and asks her again to marry him. Brooke asks Rick to wait, but he says he's waited long enough. Brooke turns to Taylor and begs her not to accept. "Don't do this to our children," Brooke pleads.

Eric has a talk with Donna.

Meanwhile, in Eric's office, another Logan/Forrester drama unfolds as Eric asks Donna what she wants to tell him. Donna thanks him for having so much faith in her. Eric agrees that he has faith in her, which is why he made a promise to Ridge and the rest of the family to ease their concerns. "About what?" Donna asks. Eric tells her about his family's concern that she's going to bring some scandal down on the company. He, however, is sure she could never do that, which is why he told his family that he'd leave Forrester if it ever happened. Donna tells him that it's unfair for his family to force him out of the company he built, but Eric isn't concerned, because he knows it's not going to happen. He tells her that his family just doesn't know her, but he thinks they'll come around once they see he was right about her. In the meantime, he just wants her to be herself. Eric then asks her what she wanted to tell him. Donna tells him that it's not important anymore. Eric apologizes for bringing her down by telling her this, but there's one other thing she should know. He explains that his family is worried about what might happen if they had a child, but he told them that children wouldn't be part of his new marriage. "Because you already have a family," Donna states. Eric asks how she feels about that. Donna admits that she never really thought about it. Eric confirms that's what he thought and tells Donna not to worry. He's sure this will all go away once his family sees that she has no skeletons in her closet.

Pam wonders what Donna is up to.

Right outside, Pam takes a call from Marcus, who is asking for Donna. Pam tells him that Donna isn't available and offers to take a message. Marcus gives his name and asks Pam to tell Donna to call him. Since his cell battery is running low, he offers to leave the number of the pay phone he's calling from, but Pam says she has it on caller I.D. After Marcus hangs up, Pam looks at the caller I.D. and sees that Marcus was calling from Insomnia. "I wonder what you're up to, Donna," Pam says to herself. Soon after, Eric comes out and asks Pam to track some packages they sent to Europe. Pam notes how tense everything has been around here lately and asks Eric if Donna is worth all that. Eric tells her that he and Donna are in love. He knows she's loyal to Stephanie, but he warns her to stop interfering in his marriage, or he'll have no choice but to let her go.

Katie comes to talk to Donna.

Later, Donna is checking Pam's desk for messages when Katie arrives. Donna scolds her sister for not being at home resting. Katie tells Donna that they need to talk. Just then, Pam returns. Donna asks if she had any messages, but Pam lies that she didn't and asks if Donna was expecting a call from someone special. Donna takes Katie inside the office to talk. Katie asks Donna how Eric reacted to the news about Marcus. Donna says that she didn't tell him and explains about the promise Eric made to his family. Stunned, Katie points out that what's going on with Marcus isn't a scandal, but Donna doesn't think Eric's family would agree. Donna then tells Katie that Eric told her that he doesn't want to have kids. Katie says she's sorry, although Donna actually has a son already. She hopes Donna isn't beating herself up over what happened with Marcus. Donna says she can't help it after seeing the rejection in his eyes. She wonders if she did the right thing putting him for adoption. Katie assures her that she did. Donna just hopes she can make it up to her son.

Donna hides what's on her mind from Eric.

Eric comes in and sees that Donna is upset, so he asks what's wrong. He hopes it's not about his not wanting children. Donna covers that she just hates what his family is doing to him. Katie agrees that Eric's kids will never give her sister a fair shot. Eric tells them to just ignore his family; they may look for a reason to get Donna out of his life, but there is none... Or is there? Katie says that there isn't, so Eric tells Donna that they have nothing to worry about and assures her that he loves her.