Vikki fails to distract her Mom by asking about her trip. OK, she and Ashland do have news – which will be revealed when they meet at the ranch in an hour.
Returning to find Naya in her suite, Amanda hopes her Mother’s not there to try talk her out of filing a civil suit against Sutton. Naya’s come to the conclusion that giving Amanda and Hilary up was the best thing she ever did. Amanda shakes her head and huffs angrily.
Ashland’s back to update Vikki on Tara – she’s been transferred to NY for arraignment. Having enlisted an old acquaintance to defend her, she’ll likely make bail but won’t be able to leave the State. Harrison adores his Mother, Ashland opines. Vikki’s so impressed that he’s putting his son first (and even being willing to work with Kyle)
Jack’s joined Nick and Phyllis at TGP just in time for Kyle and Summer’s video chat. After a night of discussion, they’ve decided to stay in Milan.
Summer doesn’t want to give up the new job she already loves. This is definitely what we want, Kyle assures his Dad that he can work from Italy and is hoping Ashland will let Harrison come live there. After the kids log off to go celebrate, Nick’s not as surprised as Jack and Phyllis (who need to go out for some air)
Vikki’s not sure that Tara will lose custody. Maybe not but Ashland’s ready to fight her in court. And now they must go to the ranch to announce their engagement to Vikki’s parents. It’ll go over well, she expects.
Nikki returns home to tell Victor that Vikki and Ashland are coming over to see them. She has some theories ‘about what’, but let’s wait and see. Victor’s ‘intrigued’.
Hear me out, Sally wants to clear up this misunderstanding with Lauren. Not possible – I have proof. On cue, Phyllis arrives to say that Tara admitted to working with Sally to force Summer out of town. And who’d you hear that from? Sally loses her confidence when Jack comes in to growl ‘ME’!
Abandoning me and my sister was the best thing you ever did? How am I supposed to react to that? Amanda asks. Naya explains that she’s in awe of how strong her daughters turned out (which likely wouldn’t be the case if she raised them. Imani? Her Father shielded her from Sutton. Even if Naya married Richard and kept her babies, she was so insecure and under Sutton’s thumb that she’d have eventually run back to him.
Sally claims that Tara’s using her as a scapegoat. Lauren’s not having it – you called Eric to recommend Summer for the job in Milan. Jack adds that she went to Ashland first (info he just found out and which is news to Phyllis) My daughter lost everything; her job, the love of her life! You’re fired, Lauren piles on.
Dressed and ready to go to the ranch, Ashland pops open a jewelry box to reveal a ‘stunning’ sapphire ring that matches Vikki’s eyes. Again on bended knee, he proposes and puts the ring on her finger when she accepts.
Don’t do this – I’m good at my job, Sally whines. I was your mentor, Lauren’s emotional – I took you under my wing, but I could never trust you again. Please don’t look at me like that, Sally’s hurt by Jack’s visible disappointment. I’m gone, he leaves. So am I, Lauren follows. I’m still here, Phyllis taunts. You’ll regret this, Sally warns, then leaves without further word when it’s clear she’s not intimidating Phyllis.
Naya wants to be in Amanda’s life more than anything, but how can I even ask that when I’ve been so much less of a Mother than you deserve? It’s all in the past, Amanda cries – you’re my Mom!
On the patio, Phyllis videochats with Summer. Good news! Lauren fired Sally. You can come home. Summer will – to visit. Phyllis dissolves into tears. I did this for YOU. I went after Sally for YOU. I got hammered by everyone – but I kept going for YOU. You need to come home. Don’t look at me with pity in your eyes. It’s not pity – it’s love and gratitude. Exchanging weepy I love yous, Phyllis closes her tablet to shed some more tears.
Ashland and Vikki arrive at the ranch hand in hand. After a brief chat about Harrison, Nikki spots the ring on Vikki’s finger. We’re engaged, Vikki blurts out. We don’t want to waste any time. Dad, how do you feel about this? she asks tentatively.
My Thoughts: Oh, boo hoo Phyllis. If you stopped obsessing about your daughter, you might remember that you have a son and a granddaughter wandering around South Africa somewhere. Not to mention that ‘family means everything to me’ Jack has a son he never mentions … And are we expected to believe that just a few days ago, Kyle, who was barely able to let Harrison out of his eyesight at the park, now shunts his kid off on his Dad and expects to be able to work remotely from Italy without any notice or preparation – AND then raise a toddler who’ll be presumably shipped overseas to him? Even without knowing that Ashland expects to exceed his 6-month expiry date, didn’t Kyle think he’d want to spend some time with the kid before he died? As much upheaval as that poor child has endured, I had to laugh at Nikki making it sound as if Kyle and Jack were the most responsible guardians on the planet. Also, does Ashland really think Tara will lose all custody because she committed fraud? I had to rewind – then see if I had a streak on my TV. But no – when Lauren stomped out of CL’s after Jack, there was an obvious and dark stain on the butt of her red dress. Maybe she shouldn’t fire her fashion director just yet.