Tate Throws a Wrench In Sophia’s Adoption Plans — and Ari Lies to a Frantic Gabi
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Javi Ponders His Future
Leo and Javi eat in the Square after spending the night in the Salem Inn due to the tension between Javi and Gabi. Since working for her didn’t work out, he needs to find a job. Leo suggests he return to his dream of being a firefighter paramedic. Javi isn’t sure he’s ready to do that after his experience with his homophobic captain in Corpus Christi. Leo assures him that if anyone gives him trouble this time, he’ll be there to back him up. Plus, Javi’s great in a crisis and shouldn’t let his skills go to waste. Javi promises to think about it. They get flirty and decide to go back to the hotel since they still have time before check-out.
Gabi’s Little Girl Would Never
At the Hernandez house, Gabi panics over Ari being gone all night and not answering her messages. Gabi gets snippy with JJ but then thanks him for helping her, especially since they haven’t been on the best of terms.
As they eat, Gabi anxiously leaps to worst-case scenarios. JJ confirms many of these cases result from involvement in drugs and alcohol, but there’s another possibility: she may have gone to meet a boy. Gabi refuses to consider the possibility.
In bed at the Salem Inn, Ari and Doug marvel over how easy it is to talk to each other and extend their rendezvous with a passionate kiss. Later, as they get dressed, they decide they’d like to do this again, especially after Doug assures her he does not have a girlfriend.
A Meeting of Mothers
Sophia meets Melinda at the Pub for help with her baby’s adoption process. Sophia assures Melinda that the father of her baby is on board. However, her mother isn’t. Melinda confirms it’s not an issue since she’s 18 but suggests it’ll go a lot smoother without her mother’s objections. Amy enters, angrily wondering what she is doing with the former D.A., whom she clearly doesn’t approve of. Sophia states that Melinda is helping her put her baby up for adoption. “Like hell you are!” Amy bellows.
As Sophia tries to reason with her resistant mother, Melinda steps in. “You have no say in the matter, Mrs. Choi.” She then recounts her experience giving up her own daughter, Haley, to her parents when she got pregnant as a teen. They eventually made amends but then she died. There isn’t a day that goes by that she doesn’t wish she had more time to be her mother, but she knows giving her up was the right thing to do. Melinda urges Amy not to lose her daughter over this.
News of John Continues to Spread
At home, Tate bounds into the penthouse living room having beaten the flu. He sees the Welcome Home decorations for John, but no one’s there. After calling Brady, he rushes out.
Johnny and Chanel canoodle on the couch after sex in their mostly empty apartment. When Chanel notes they need to start filling it up, Johnny hedges, assuming she means with children. She knows he needs more time — she was talking about furniture. He checks his phone to see a series of messages from his family about his Grandpa John.
After talking to Sami on the phone, Johnny updates Chanel about John. Sami and Sydney are trying to get back but a volcanic eruption grounded all the planes in Sicily. Chanel knows John is going to pull through. He’s the strongest man they know. Having lost Stefano, Johnny has learned that even the strongest men can’t live forever.
After Tate visits John at the hospital, he runs into Chanel and Johnny in the Square. Shaken, he relays it doesn’t look good for their grandpa. Chanel comforts Tate as Ari and Doug leave the Salem Inn in the distance. Ari spots her uncle and cousin and pulls Doug to the side. They can’t see them together. Doug leaves, telling her to call him. Tate tells Johnny and Chanel about meeting Sophia and the adoption lawyer. They share awkward pleasantries before parting ways.
Ari Wouldn’t Lie to Her Mother
As Ari later marvels over her mother’s many “insane” texts, Gabi rushes into the Square. JJ follows as Gabi demands to know where her daughter’s been. A defiant Ari lies that she was at a childhood friend’s house. Javi joins them as they argue, and Gabi’s ire pivots to Javi. Things thaw when Gabi apologizes for firing him and asks if they’re okay. “We’re getting there,” Javi offers.
After Javi leaves and JJ steps away to take a work call, Ari swears to Gabi that she wouldn’t lie about where she was. “Even if you had spent the night with a boy?” Gabi asks. They argue again until JJ interrupts with news about Ari’s Great Grandpa John. Gabi sincerely thanks JJ for his help and leaves with a rattled Ari.
Shady Friends In Need
Doug meets Leo at the Hernandez house to ask for help finding the person to whom Melinda sold Julie’s necklace. He needs someone “who knows how to deal with people on the other side of the law.” Leo agrees to help and Doug leaves, passing Javi on his way out. Javi tells Leo he’s decided to apply to the Salem fire department. Leo is thrilled.
Looking to the Future
At home, Johnny reels after seeing John hooked up to machines. As Chanel comforts him, Johnny mentions he wanted to use John as a name for their baby. Chanel thinks it’s a great idea for when that day comes. Conversation turns to his job at Titan, and Chanel asks if he really wants to work with Xander. Johnny points out he wasn’t arrested for Philip’s attack. Plus, he needs a job so he doesn’t have to rely on DiMera money to support his family when they have kids. Chanel lights up over him saying, kids, plural. He thanks her for being there for him and they express their love.
Back at the Pub, an emotional Amy thanks Melinda for sharing her story and tells Sophia how much she loves her. She just wants the best for her. She gets a message about work and reluctantly leaves to put out some fires. As Sophia thanks Melinda for helping her, Tate enters. He adamantly refuses the lawyer’s help and fills Sophia in on Melinda’s role in Nicole and Eric’s baby being stolen. Melinda defends herself, pointing out that it shows the lengths she’ll go to help her clients. She sees so much of herself in Sophia and tells her to call if she and her mom can agree on what she wants to do.
