At the Newman ranch, Victoria and Claire recounted the events of the previous evening, regarding Victor's confrontation with Jordan. Claire remarked on Victor's fearlessness, while Victoria noted her father's stubbornness. Victoria and Claire were grateful that Nick had shown up in time and that Jordan was locked away in the "dungeon" in which Jordan had planned to keep Victor. Claire asked Victoria if Victor planned to keep Jordan in that basement indefinitely or if he was going to contact the authorities.
Victoria assured Claire that Victor was tough but not cruel and that he wouldn't leave Jordan to rot in a basement. Claire observed that Victor would really do anything to protect his family. Victoria reminded Claire that, as Victor's granddaughter, the family included Claire. Claire marveled at the thought of her new, big family, and how Jordan's having been locked up would prevent Jordan from hurting the family anymore. "Are we really all safe, finally?" Claire asked her mother.
Victoria assured Claire that their ordeal was over. Claire asked if the two of them could go out somewhere, anywhere, because after going from prison to the hospital to the ranch, Claire was eager to go out into the world and be with people. Victoria smiled and told Claire that was "a great idea."
Kyle and Summer were having a hard time finding a nanny for Harrison. After five failed interviews at the Abbott home, Kyle and Summer wished for Linda's return, but Kyle noted that Linda's mother's surgery would make Linda unavailable for an unknown length of time. Harrison's parents expected to make no more progress, since after every interview, Harrison had asked, "Why can't Mommy just come home?"
Kyle and Summer both suspected their young son was playing them. By disapproving of all the nanny candidates, Harrison would force Summer to return home to him. Kyle told Summer about how he had assured Harrison that even if his parents lived apart, they both still loved him. Further, Kyle had told Harrison that even if Mommy did return home, both of his parents had busy jobs, and someone else would have to pick up Harrison from school and be with him while Kyle and Summer were working. Kyle and Summer agreed to give Harrison a vote, but they would not let the boy control the situation. At that moment, they heard Harrison cry out in distress, "Mom!" Kyle and Summer ran up the stairs.
After Kyle and Summer took Harrison downstairs, Harrison explained to his parents that he had had a bad dream. "A lady I didn't know came and took me away," Harrison said. Kyle and Summer assured Harrison that his bad dream wasn't real. Kyle explained that until Linda returned, they had to find Harrison a new sitter. Harrison objected and told Summer, "If you can't come back, I want the old Linda or no one."
Kyle tried to change the subject. He suggested no more talk of Lindas, followed by trips for the three of them to the bookstore and then to Crimson Lights for hot chocolate. That made Harrison smile.
Sally and Audra continued their conversation at Crimson Lights. Audra appreciated Sally's advice about Audra fighting for her relationship with Tucker. Audra admitted she was torn between fighting and walking away. Sally offered to tell Audra about being torn between Adam and Nick, if Audra had "about a spare month or two." Audra considered Sally's advice to have arrived "at the right time."
Adam walked in and commented that seeing Sally and Audra alone together at the same table was "scary." The women explained to Adam that though they had met, they had not had a real conversation until that day. Audra called the conversation "long overdue." Sally told Adam that she and Audra had a lot in common.
Adam pointed out that Sally and Audra did have something in common: two high-powered businesswomen who had both been fired from Newman Media without good reason. Sally added that she and Audra were also both involved with "complicated men who aren't exactly popular or appreciated in Genoa City." Audra said she had to get back to the Athletic Club, so she thanked Sally for the advice, and she left.
Adam asked Sally what the advice had been about. Sally told Adam she "might have just found a new friend. And let's face it, I do not have too many of those," Adam told Sally to "proceed with caution." Sally replied, "If I knew the first thing about proceeding with caution, then..." "You and I would not be together. Point taken," Adam finished.
Adam got specific. He advised Sally to proceed with caution regarding Audra because Audra didn't like Adam. Adam reminded Sally that he had been instrumental in releasing information about Tucker's scandal cover-up to the press. Adam suggested that Audra might have an agenda for cultivating a friendship with Sally.
Sally told Adam that she didn't get the sense that Audra had been seeking payback. Adam asked again about the advice Sally had given Audra. Sally told Adam that it had been relationship advice, which had had nothing to do with Adam. Changing the subject, Adam told Sally that Victor was home, exhausted but safe and sound,
Sally asked Adam if there had been any new updates about Connor. Adam informed Sally that he and Chelsea had another appointment with Dr. Alcott. Adam admitted that he and Chelsea felt "pretty helpless" and that Connor felt "confused." Sally told Adam that he was doing "all the right things."
Adam admitted to feeling more overwhelmed the more he learned about OCD. He hoped the fact that Connor had been diagnosed early would make a difference. Adam checked the time then told Sally that he had to go. Sally gave Adam one more small pep talk. Adam thanked her then kissed her. They told each other, "I love you," and Adam left to gather some of Connor's comfort items before the next appointment with Dr. Alcott.
Ashley continued to try to make out with Tucker, but he pushed her away. "I told you. This is not working," Tucker said as he turned away from Ashley. Ashley disagreed and tried to embrace Tucker. He grabbed her by the wrists and pushed her off him again. "No matter how I look at this, it's problematic," Tucker said. He explained that if Ashley has been setting him up for something, it was not going to work. He told Ashley that if she was "going through something emotional or psychological," he would feel remiss if he didn't try to help her in any way he could.
Ashley suggested a third option: that she was being "100% sincere." Tucker replied, "I don't believe you. I can't. You're either lying to me, or you're lying to yourself." Ashley insisted, "I am not lying to myself." Tucker removed Ashley's hands from his shoulder and his thigh, then said, "Yes, you are. As long as it's one or the other, I can't help you." Tucker stood up and walked away. Ashley took a swig of her drink then felt a twinge of pain in her head.
Tucker sat at the bar in the Athletic Club. He ordered a double bourbon, neat. Ashley walked by and saw Tucker. He noticed her then turned back to his drink. Ashley turned to go, but Audra had just walked in through the revolving door. Ashley advised Audra to give up. "You don't have a chance. I've got him right where I want him," Ashley gloated as she left.
Audra sat at the bar and told Tucker what Ashley had just said. "What would make her think that?" Audra asked. "She kissed me again, and she thinks it meant something," Tucker said. He assured Audra that he had not returned the kiss and that he didn't want to discuss Ashley anymore. Audra said that every move Ashley had made was suspicious. Tucker wanted Audra to ignore Ashley. "The same way you're ignoring her?" Audra asked.
Tucker apologized to Audra for having stormed out of the room earlier. Audra asked what Ashley had said to Tucker "before that damned kiss." Tucker insisted that, in Ashley's state, it didn't matter what she had said or done. Tucker said, "I'm trying so hard right now to let all this go, Audra. I really am. Can you?" Audra responded, "I will if she will," but added that she didn't know how she was supposed to react when Tucker's ex-wife had told Audra that she "didn't stand a chance."
Tucker believed that Ashley had had some kind of "severe psychological break. She is not herself. She needs help." Audra was unconvinced. She said that Ashley had not seemed like "a psychological wreck." Audra accused Ashley of having put on a performance in order to reel Tucker back in, and she said that perhaps Tucker wanted to "play hero." Tucker maintained that Ashley needed professional help.
Audra grew angry for letting herself be vulnerable with Tucker again. Tucker declared, "I adore you! I want the world with you. What's going on with Ashley is a completely separate issue." Tucker told Audra that Ashley was no threat to her. He informed Audra of everything that Ashley had said before Ashley had kissed him. He assured Audra that whatever was going on with Ashley had nothing to do with love or romance. "It has to do with wanting to help someone I care about. Doing the right thing, which, as you know, is not my forte, but I swear to God, that's all this is."
Audra remarked that Tucker really couldn't see that Ashley was sucking him back in. Tucker denied it. Audra told Tucker that she had recently talked to someone who had advised her to fight for Tucker. She exclaimed, "But I can't fight this... especially when I'd be fighting all on my own. Good luck." Audra turned to leave, but Tucker grabbed her arm. Audra spun around and, through gritted teeth, demanded, "Let go!" Tucker released Audra, and she stormed out.
Audra went back to her room. There was a knock at the door. Audra looked through the peephole, saw it was Tucker, and demanded, "Go away!" Tucker said he had just one thing to ask her. "It's a crucial question. Please." Audra slid the door chain into place then opened the door. "Are you done with everything, or just me?" he asked. Tucker asked about Glissade. He pleaded with Audra not to let Ashley ruin that for them, too.
Ashley returned to the Abbott home and poured herself a glass of water. She smiled as she thought back on her recent kiss with Tucker. The emotional voice in Ashley's head spoke up. "I don't like this. This is gonna make things worse. I don't think we should trust you," the voice said. The part of Ashley's personality that was in control replied, "You don't really have a choice." Ashley dropped the glass and grabbed both sides of her head in pain as the inner voice screamed, "You have to be stopped! I think I-- I do! I do! I need to take over!"
Kyle, Summer, and Harrison walked in through the front entrance to Crimson Lights, just as Victoria and Claire walked in the back entrance. Victoria asked Claire, "How are you doing? Are you ready for this?" Claire replied, "Ready as I'll ever be." Victoria offered Claire a chance to back out of being there, but Claire wanted to stay. Victoria asked, "How would you like to say hello to one of your new family members?" Claire looked at Kyle, Summer, and Harrison, then back at Victoria.
Victoria led Claire inside and called to Summer. Summer stood up and rushed to hug her aunt. Victoria introduced Summer to Claire. Summer greeted Claire warmly and said, "Welcome to the family, cuz." Summer introduced her stepson, Harrison, who was still in a bad mood, though he was drawing on a piece of paper. Claire broke the ice. "Hey, what are you drawing? Is that a squirrel? Do you know how to get a squirrel to like you? Act like a nut!" Harrison smiled a bit.
Summer told Claire that Harrison liked squirrels and ducks. Claire noted that the ducks were gone, but they would "always come back. They just fly south for the winter. Do you know why? It's too far to walk!" Claire got another smile out of Harrison.
Claire explained that the kids' ward at the hospital had lots of good joke books. Summer predicted that Claire would get along great with Nick. Victoria and Summer told Claire about Nick's silly streak and awful dad jokes. "Just wait 'til you see him dance," Victoria remarked, to which Summer exclaimed, "Oof!" Claire promised Harrison more jokes the next time she saw him.
Kyle returned with his family's food and drink order. He asked where Harrison's scowl had gone. Summer explained that Harrison had "misplaced it when Claire showed up." "Claire's funny," Harrison said with a big smile. Kyle introduced himself to Claire. "It's a pleasure to finally meet a stranger who makes my son smile," Kyle said.
Adam arrived at Dr. Alcott's office, where Chelsea and Connor were already seated in the waiting room. Connor was morosely playing with his hoodie, alternating between adjusting the hood over his head and tugging on the hood's drawstrings. Adam and Chelsea tried to get a response out of Connor, but he wouldn't speak. Adam told Connor that he knew there was a lot going on in Connor's head, but they were ready to listen to anything Connor wanted to say. The dam broke. Connor exclaimed, "I hate this! I hate the doctor! I hate being here! I hate myself!" Adam and Chelsea looked at each other in desperation.
Kyle, Summer, Victoria, and Claire were seated at the table in Crimson Lights. Harrison joined them with a picture for Claire. Claire thanked Harrison. Harrison then caught sight of Ashley, who had walked in through the back entrance. Harrison rushed to her. Kyle followed.
Ashley was quite bubbly and asked Harrison, "How's kindergarten? Oh, wait. What grade are you in? I cannot believe how big you are. I mean, pretty soon, you're gonna be bigger than your dad!" Kyle grew confused and concerned. He asked if Ashley was okay. Ashley told them that she couldn't stay and talk, then bounced inside to get some cocoa. Kyle looked worried.