Friday, June 17, 2005
After pulling and all-nighter catching up, Taylor and her father spent some time with Phoebe and Steffy in the living room. The girls teased that grandpa Jack had to let go of Taylor, because she had a date with Ridge at the beach house. Later, a frustrated Jack was sure Ridge still loved her, but Taylor raised the big issue of his children with Brooke. Then, she left him to go get ready for her date.

Later, a handsome stranger who somehow knew Phoebe's name showed up at the manse. A protective grandpa Jack came up behind her to find out that the man was "a friend" of Taylor's who wanted to say a quick hello. When he was told that Taylor was with Ridge until tomorrow, he responded, "Where she belongs," and viewers were finally treated to that famous Antonio Sabato Jr. smile! He left without leaving a message for Taylor — or giving up his name.

At the beach house, Ridge was on the phone with Eric, thanking him for his support. Just as he wished everyone, "especially Mother," would butt out and let him resolve the "who's my wife" conflict on his own, a knock on the door came. Of course, it was Stephanie and she started reprimanding him for this date idea before she'd even crossed the threshold. The two sparred for a bit, until Ridge told her, "I'm sick of listening to you cheerlead for Taylor at Brooke's expense. I don't really care whether you think this is a good idea or not!" Stephanie kept pushing, even comparing the situation to a sick reality show. Things eventually calmed down, but not because Stephanie had left up. It was the same message: New approach. She was still working on him when Taylor arrived and left them alone smiling, "Remember, this is the first day of the rest of your lives."

Unlike Stephanie, Taylor said she understood why Ridge needed to spend time with both of them. "Maybe I can somehow make this easier for you," she said, as she started kissing him. (I suppose that's a form of "spending time.") "You call that making it easier on me?" Ridge teased and they quickly fell back into kissing. They talked how they still can't keep their hands off each other and Ridge acknowledged that it "says a lot about our feelings, about how connected our hearts are." Then, he left her side with a difficult sigh. He felt guilty for the way things were, considering how much she'd already been through. Taylor was typically empathetic (codependent?) and promised to love and support him through any and all decisions, because "that's what love is." Then, the camera pulled back, to show a smiling Stephanie watching on from outside. (Yuck!)

Thomas found Gaby packing up to leave, because she feared her illegal alien status would get Stephanie in trouble. She was — understandably — a wreck about the way her life had fallen apart so quickly. Unable to convince her that everything would magically work out, Thomas slowly worked up to a marriage proposal! He told her he'd envisioned his time at college as a time with her and insisted he didn't want to do it without her. Though she was touched, she pointed out there was nothing to do about the situation. "There is something," he started, ultimately explaining that there was a not-so-kosher solution. He insisted he couldn't let her give up her dreams, "especially now..." Then, instead of finishing his sentence, he got down on one knee and said, "Be my wife Gaby. Marry me."

Thursday, June 16, 2005
With word quickly spreading about Taylor's return, Eric called a press conference and the tension backstage was thick. Taylor was upset that she still hadn't talked to her dad, but Ridge said, "Let's go with it and do it with style." Eric was worried for her, but Stephanie suspected Ridge had called Taylor down to the office for the express purpose of announcing that he'd chosen Taylor. "I wouldn't bet the house on it," Brooke interrupted.

A sexy stranger (Dante!) arrived and though he was confused when asked if he was part of the press pool, he played it off and joined the press just as Ridge took the stage. Before Ridge could even get his announcement out, reporters started questioning him about grave diggings, sightings and rumors. "Anybody out there believe in miracles?" Ridge posed and one reporter jumped on him in disbelief, so Ridge called his "proof" up to the podium. Among the gasps and applause, Brooke watched Taylor take the stage, tears welling in her eyes. The press clamored for an explanation about how Taylor had come back from the dead, to which Taylor quipped, "Obviously, I wasn't dead." Ridge promised a press release would explain everything, but the press pushed for immediate answers. Taylor explained they'd kept quiet because she'd been trying to track down her father.

Then suddenly, it was Taylor who looked like she was seeing a a ghost — that handsome Dante in the background! A half smile from him left her speechless, but she pulled it together enough to say, "Like I said, I don't know where my father is," to which a voice answered, "I can tell you exactly where Jack Hamilton is. He's right here looking at the most beautiful girl in the world." It was Jack himself and a tearful Taylor dissolved into her father's arms. (Talk about good press!) Brooke was not pleased to hear Ridge ask the press to give "my wife" and her father some privacy. Of course, the press picked up on the magic issue and called Brooke out, so Ridge turned the floor over to Eric to quiet them. Instead, Brooke came out on her own. She sold the miracle angle of Taylor's return, but didn't answer questions about her marriage to Ridge or the future.

After the conference, Eric comforted her with a big hug that Stephanie was lucky enough to catch. The whole thing left Brooke shaken, sure that the press was laughing at them, so she asked Ridge to let her know where she stood. This time, Stephanie managed to walk in just in time to learn about Ridge's plan to spend a day at the beach house with each of his wives. Like Stephanie, Taylor's father was furious to see Brooke and Ridge together, but Taylor assured him that Ridge was "just" in the process of letting her go.

Back at the manse, a giddy Gaby and Thomas returned to find bad news about her college scholarship. Not only didn't she get the assistance she needed, but she learned that she was an illegal alien. Gaby was floored, since she'd been in The States her whole life and even had a social security number. The letter promised to hold her spot till September, so she can get her citizenship straightened out. It also informed her that if she couldn't correct it, she'd have to reapply after going back to her homeland to get a student visa. Thomas took her to see attorney Connor Davis, who quickly confirmed the bad news. He told her she had to go back and warned that because her status had expired, it could be some time before she was considered for the visa. It became clear that her mother, whose very dreams were being dashed, had dropped the ball. When Gaby told Thomas and Connor she had no family in her "homeland," Connor suggested an illegal solution, noting that she could stay if she were married to a citizen. Wedding bells, anyone?

Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Taylor and Brooke asked Ridge who he has chosen. Ridge held both of their hands and said that they may not like what he's decided. Ridge revealed he needed time alone with each of them before he could make his decision. He suggested he and Taylor go to the beach house in Malibu, then Brooke would come down the next day so they could spend time alone together (sounds a lot like THE BACHELOR). Brooke agreed, then Ridge asked for a moment alone with each of them. Taylor admitted to Ridge she is having a hard time with this and that she still feels like his wife. They kissed and she urged him to keep what they have together. Then it was Brooke's turn, and she revealed she sees this as a positive sign. Brooke turned on the sexual charm and declared that their love will prevail.

Gaby met up with Thomas for dinner and they flirted. They talked about going to college in the fall and Gaby said she wanted to make her mother proud of her. Thomas took her to the beach and they shared their first kiss.

Stephanie told Eric that Brooke really did a number on him and he asked her when her attacks on Brooke was going to stop. Eric was upset that she brought Bridget into this. Eric said she needed to stay out of it and Stephanie insisted that Brooke would go after Nick so Bridget needed to be warned. Eric said her actions were hurtful and this had to end. Stephanie revealed she's still bitter at Brooke for stealing Eric years ago, and that the war was still on. Eric feared he lost his loving, caring wife and now she's just a bully. He needed his friend back, not Stephanie the warrior.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Taylor and Thomas were hanging out in his bedroom rehashing the current conflict when Ridge called from the limo to ask Taylor to meet him at the office. He hung up with a, "Taylor, I love you, sweetheart," but the look on his face showed that nothing was settled. Thomas was sure the meeting meant Ridge was choosing his mother.

Ridge put another call in — this one to Brooke, who was still talking with Eric. Having just promised to be there for her if she loses Ridge, Eric definitely seemed to be offering more than just the shoulder he mentioned! Ridge asked her to wait at the office for him and signed off with an "I love you, Logan." A thrilled Eric was certain that meant Ridge would choose her. When Megan joined, she assumed the same.

Taylor arrived at Forrester, scaring the wits out of a model who didn't know she was back from the dead. Caitlin answered the scream and took a second to introduce herself before Brooke walked in. Brooke demanded to know what happened to keeping Taylor's return a secret until her dad was informed, but that seemed unimportant as the pair quickly realized their husband had called them both in. Taylor suggested that they promise to support his decision, but Brooke countered that Taylor wouldn't even ask unless she assumed she was going to win and then warned that all the pressure from Stephanie would backfire.

Stephanie arrived to find Caitlin trying to calm the model, but all La Forrester heard was that Taylor was in the building. She rushed to Eric's office to confirm and Eric again warned her to stay out of things. Ridge's entrance interrupted them, but he refused to answer Stephanie's assertion that Taylor is the one for him. After Ridge left, a disgusted Eric continued his tirade against her, saying Taylor's return had brought out the worst in her. He cautioned he couldn't love the person she'd become.

On the Shady Marlin, Nick insisted Bridget drop the Stephanie talk...to no avail. She was upset that in addition to Jackie and Stephanie, Taylor recognized feelings between Nick and Brooke. He started to get sucked in, but stopped, took a deep breath and showed her her ring again as he promised to love her forever. Then he pretended his heart had stopped and dragged Bridget onto the bed crying, "Oh no! I think I'm going. Stephanie's getting to me...and Taylor..." The couple soon dissolved into a kissing frenzy that turned into a glorious afterglow. Bridget was reassured. She mentioned Massimo offer of his yacht off the coast of Mystique, which includes a captain that could marry them. The couple considered the option, with Bridget reveling in the look on Stephanie's face if they returned married. She then cooed that she needed more "reassurance" and the couple went back to smooching.

Back at Forrester, Ridge joined Brooke and Taylor, sharing a wet kiss with both of them. He sympathized with Taylor, saying he wished he could make up for the time she'd lost, and told Brooke that no one deserves to lose the dream they've created together. Taylor pushed him to make a decision and stop the pain. The episode closed on a pensive Ridge.

Monday, June 13, 2005
The week opened with Brooke telling Nick, "You'll always be there for me." She was still bemoaning Stephanie's claim that Brooke would go after Nick "when" Ridge didn't choose her. Nick told her to focus on her family, not Stephanie, and remained confident Ridge would choose her. Brooke asked if she deserved a friend like him, which he brushed off. He left her by kissing his finger and touching it to her nose.

At the Shady Marlin, Bridget called Stephanie on pushing her mom and her fiancè together in order to make room for Taylor. Stephanie swore she was just trying to warn her, but Bridget told her to back off and stop trying to draw them into her plot to oust Brooke. When Stephanie persisted, an impatient Bridget raised her voice. Nick came home and told Stephanie that was enough! Stephanie got the sting she deserved when Nick said he wouldn't jump into bed with Brooke because "I'm not your sons or your husband." He held Bridget as he again swore he'd stand by his commitment to her, which gave Stephanie time to bounce back, reiterating that Brooke's damaging ways are coming at them and that they need to be prepared. When she insisted she was the least of their problems, Nick went off on her, replying that she WAS the problem.

At Forrester Creations, Eric was struggling over a design when Megan came in to tell him Ridge's plane was landing. They commiserated over Ridge's position and Megan admitted she was pulling for Brooke, just as the lady herself walked in. Brooke thanked Megan for her support and started talking business with Eric, but he wouldn't let her ignore the real issues at hand. Brooke filled him in on Stephanie's latest machinations. Eric's frustration with his wife turned to anger when he heard Stephanie was involving Bridget and Nick. He was sure she'd go to Bridget with her theories — which was in fact happening as he spoke! — and reassured Brooke that he didn't believe she was capable of stealing Nick from Bridget. Eric promised to support her, as he has through everything — their children, their marriage and the biz — and announced that he believed she, and not Taylor, belongs with Ridge. Brooke swore that if he does choose Taylor, she would never run to Nick, but wondered where she would turn. Eric offered himself!