Marlena comes to her living room and finds Carrie looking through a photo album. Though emotional, they delight in the old photos of John. Amy and Sophia stop by to pick up Tate for the hospital tour and to give Marlena a plate of Mandu, Korean dumplings. Marlena is polite but detached. Amy offers kind words about John, who once helped her with a flat tire. Tate joins them, surprised to learn that Amy is joining them. “You don’t have a problem with that, do you, Tate?”
After they leave, Marlena gets a call from Sami with good news about Sydney’s surgery. Marlena chokes up, knowing Sami would have liked to say goodbye to John. But he always understood and never held a grudge.
Steamy Reading and Birthing Videos
At the hospital, Kate edits Stephanie’s novel as Anna approaches. “What are you doing here?!” they exclaim in unison. Anna explains that she and Tony cut their trip short to be at John’s funeral tomorrow. (For a photo-filled preview of the funeral, click here.) She motions to her face, further explaining that she’s at the hospital for “a touch… a checkup.” Kate, in turn, updates her on Philip, who is currently undergoing tests. When Anna asks what she’s reading, Kate explains it’s a new project she’s working on because she always likes to have a few irons in the fire.
To brighten Kate’s day, Anna pulls out her phone to show off photos of Noah’s graduation. Kate rolls her eyes. She’s already seen a video from Austin but Anna gets in digs about Kate not being there. Kate gets a message and rushes off to see Philip. Anna realizes Kate left the manuscript and reads a little of the steamy novel. Fanning herself, she muses that if Kate wrote it, Roman’s a very lucky guy. She sets it on a chair and departs. Later, Kate searches for the manuscript around the nurses’ hub.
Across the hub, Amy dominates as she, Sophia, and Tate meet with a birthing nurse. Amy picks up the manuscript as Kate approaches. Amy hides it behind her bag as she and Kate compare notes about parenting.
Later, the nurse pushes a queasy-looking Sophia in a wheelchair back to the nurse’s hub. Amy rattles on about epidural needles and c-sections, and Sophia darts away, fearing she’ll be sick. She returns while Amy is off getting her a bottle of water. Sophia tells Tate that watching the birthing video and listening to her mother go on and on was a lot. She didn’t know childbirth was going to be so gross and painful. Tate promises to be by her side the whole time but Sophia doesn’t want him to see her like that. Tate respects that but assures her he won’t run away. A returning Amy stops at the hub, engrossed in the manuscript. She leaves it on the counter when Sophia calls out, ready to go.
Kate Makes a Promise
At Philip’s bedside, Kate tells her comatose son that his test results aren’t back yet. He has to wake up though so they can prove that Xander did this to him. Kate gets a call from Belle and learns Xander got out on bail. After hanging up, Kate promises that while Belle may have fallen down on the job, she won’t. “I promise you that Xander will never ever lay a finger on you again.”
Letting Go
At the Horton House, Jennifer fills Jack in on Chad risking his life by going sky diving — with Cat Greene. She won’t let Cat get away with manipulating him. Jack calls what Cat did to them indefensible but Chad is lonely and will never get over losing Abigail. If he felt something for Cat when she was pretending to be Abigail, maybe some of that feeling lingered. Despite her feelings of revulsion for Cat, Jennifer knows Clyde was behind all the misery she put them through.
Jack recalls how Jennifer was the only one who knew Cat wasn’t their daughter. “What is your soul telling you about Abigail now?” Jennifer’s soul is telling her Abigail is gone. They can’t cling to the hope for a miracle that may never come. They tearfully note that next week will mark three years since they lost her. Jack says they have to move on with their lives, and so does Chad. Jennifer knows. “Just not with Cat Greene.”
Chad’s Big Adventure
At the skydiving facility, Chad balks as the instructor goes over liability forms. Later, in full gear, Chad grows more anxious as they go over instructions. The instructor’s glib demeanor only makes things worse.
After their jump, Cat helps Chad limp back to the facility after landing hard on his ankle. The instructor dryly tells him to tuck into the L-shape upon landing next time. Chad continues to find him unhelpful. When the instructor leaves for ice, Chad assures Cat he had an amazing time, feeling at peace and in the moment while in the air.
Later, Cat helps Chad into the Horton House, where they encounter a grave-looking Jennifer and Jack. Jennifer orders Cat out of her family’s home. Once she’s left, Jennifer confronts Chad about spending time with the woman who hurt them all so badly. She’s glad the kids weren’t there because Cat is the last thing they need in their lives.
Alone, Chad calls Cat to apologize for what happened. Cat knows Jack and Jennifer have every right to hate her. She promises to stay away so as not to cause more problems for him.
Facing a New Reality
Anna comes to the townhouse to see Carrie and to pay her respects to Marlena. As they sit, Marlena stares off while Carrie and Anna look at photos of Noah. She dutifully admires a photo and then flinches when Anna expresses how heartbroken she is for her. Marlena muses that after the funeral and everyone’s gone home, it’ll be quiet around there. She apologizes for self-pity, assuring them she’ll be just fine. Carrie offers to stay as long as she needs her to. Marlena knows she has her own life to get back to and that she’ll have to find a way to move forward in her new life. Anna knows she will. When Marlena goes to lie down, Anna and Carrie comfort each other over their heartbreak for Marlena.
