Bold and Beautiful Recaps: The week of January 8, 2024 on B&B

R.J. lit into Zende for luring Luna into a romantic dinner with him. After another visit from Xander, Finn urged Steffy to get the truth from Thomas. Liam learned that Hope was wearing an engagement ring around her neck. Thomas admitted to Hope that he'd been chasing Emma.

Xander doubles down on his claims about Thomas

Monday, January 8, 2024

by Chanel S. Garner

From a laptop, Xander read an online article about Thomas and Hope's potential as the next "Forrester and Logan" coupling. He flashed back to revealing his suspicions about Thomas.

In Finn's office, Thomas mimicked Finn, mocking his threat to keep Hope away from Thomas, and asked if Finn really thought Hope deserved better than Thomas. Finn replied that Hope deserved a stable relationship with a guy she could trust and depend on. Thomas wished Finn didn't distrust him and said he'd worked hard to prove himself. Thomas insisted that no one needed to protect Hope from him.

Not so sure about it, Finn said he'd heard questionable things. Thomas said Finn wasn't looking at Thomas or watching his actions. Thomas said that he and Hope were really a couple, and he was looking forward to a relationship with her. He insisted that Hope was his future. Finn recalled that Thomas had felt that way before, but Hope hadn't.

Certain that Xander's statements had tripped Finn up, Thomas asked Finn to remember who Thomas was. He said he was the uncle of Finn's kid, and as family, they should be on the same side. He asked Finn not to let Xander drive a wedge between them -- and not to drive one between Hope and Thomas.

Finn asserted that he was trying to find out the truth. Thomas replied that it wouldn't come from Xander. "Or from you," Finn quipped. Thomas insisted that Xander was wrong, and the accusations were false. Thomas stated that Hope could make her own decisions about who was in her life. "And she's making the wrong one with you," Finn concluded.

Later, Thomas had gone, and Finn was studying an online article about Emma. Xander arrived and thanked Finn for seeing him again. Finn said he'd been surprised to hear from Xander again. Xander disclosed that he'd been freaked out to learn who Finn was related to, and Finn responded that he'd been freaked out by Xander's assertions.

Xander said he'd understand if Finn didn't believe it. Xander understood that he was a stranger who'd waltzed in and said something horrible about Finn's family, but Xander promised that he was telling the truth. Finn asked if Xander could prove it. Xander said he couldn't beyond a reasonable doubt, and neither could the cops, which was why Thomas wasn't in jail. Xander insisted that Thomas was dangerous and responsible for Emma Barber's death.

Xander permitted Finn to be skeptical of Xander, and Xander worried about Hope. "Are they seriously in a relationship?" Xander asked. Finn replied that he was concerned, too.

Xander implored Finn to listen to Xander. Xander insisted that Thomas had run Emma off the road because he hadn't been able to risk Hope knowing the truth about Beth. Finn warned that it was a serious accusation. Fully aware, Xander claimed it was why he'd returned. He didn't care if the investigation had ended; he said Thomas had threatened him, and he knew what Thomas was capable of -- murder.

In the salon, Steffy shuddered at the thought of her conversation with Finn earlier that day about Thomas' association with Emma's death. She sent a text message and left.

Later, Steffy was in Eric's office when Thomas arrived, telling her that her text timing had been great. He revealed that he'd been getting an earful from her husband when he'd received it. Thomas claimed that he'd overheard Finn bashing him to Hope and saying that Hope, who hadn't been herself, had been lashing out since she'd been with Thomas.

"You want me to disagree?" Steffy asked. She said Thomas hadn't been corrupting Hope, but Hope had changed. Steffy felt that Finn was right about that. Thomas said that Finn had said Thomas wasn't good enough for Hope, especially after Xander's accusations had come up.

Thomas insisted that he loved Hope, and Hope loved him, too. He said they had a wonderful relationship, and it would be amazing for Douglas. Thomas asked Steffy to talk to Finn and convince him that Thomas wasn't a threat. "Don't let him interfere in my relationship with Hope," Thomas said.

In Eric's office, Zende met with R.J. at R.J.'s request but quipped that R.J. should be doing "big, important work" with Ridge. R.J. asked his cousin not to be like that. R.J. had wanted to talk to Zende to suggest that they could all work together on Eric's line. Zende concluded that R.J. was inviting him to join R.J.'s project. Zende asked if Ridge needed R.J. to draw for him. "Because that's what you are. A draftsman. I'm a designer," Zende concluded.

Zende declared that it was great that R.J. wanted to be a part of the family business, but Zende insisted that "this collection" was different. R.J. said Eric had thought R.J. could handle it. Zende remarked that R.J. had been Eric's assistant, not protg. Unhappy that they were back to that, R.J. asked why they couldn't all work together. Zende maintained that R.J. had been given special treatment around there because he was the golden child, Ridge Jr.

R.J. refused to apologize for whose child he was, but Zende said R.J. needed to understand the privilege it afforded him. R.J. claimed to know, and he said he'd been lucky to spend time with Eric. R.J. hadn't taken any of it for granted. Zende insisted that it wasn't luck; it was who R.J. was. Replying that they were both Forresters, R.J. didn't get Zende's argument. Zende concluded that R.J. didn't have the chops to work on a historic collection like Eric's.

R.J. reasoned that he might not, but he'd learned a lot from Eric. Zende figured that R.J. had learned a little and felt entitled to finish Eric's collection. Zende said R.J. was doing what a Ridge Forrester would do best -- flirting with interns, camping out in the CEO's office, and walking around with his nose in the air. R.J. said he was done trying to see things from Zende's point of view. "Good luck, Zende. I have plans!" R.J. said, and he rushed out.

In the design office, Luna had hoodwinked her mother into bringing her coffee in order to find out how Poppy's date with Bill had gone. Poppy revealed that it was true that she and Bill had met each other awhile back. Poppy wasn't surprised because she'd met many people on the craft circuit. Luna replied that Bill hardly seemed the type to be into crafts. Poppy admitted that she'd met him at a music festival.

Poppy announced that she had a booth at the farmer's market that weekend and asked if Luna wanted to join her like old times. Luna, who'd thought Poppy was supposed to take a break after the holidays, asked if R.J. could go with them. As Poppy invited Luna out for dinner, someone slipped a note between the doors to the office. It was for Luna, inviting her to dinner in the salon in one hour. Poppy thought the invitation was romantic. Luna replied it was classic R.J., but she couldn't show up to the fancy dinner, looking the way she did.

Poppy thought the outfit Luna wore was fine. Luna said it was a go-grab-burgers outfit, not a secret-note-through-the-door outfit. Luna didn't have time to go home and change. "Fortunately, you work at a fashion house," Poppy replied.

Later, upbeat music played as Poppy and Luna went through racks of clothes. Luna tried on dress after dress until she finally settled on a short pink sheath dress with a bow train. Poppy said her daughter would blow R.J. away. Luna bragged about R.J. and how he paid attention to every detail, whether it be lunch, flowers, or chocolates. Poppy advised Luna to enjoy being in love. Luna said he'd waited her entire life for a guy like R.J.

In the salon later, Luna arrived in her dress. Soft light enveloped the room, and she marveled at the candlelit table setting. She checked her breath and popped a mint. To her surprise, Zende arrived. He told her that she looked fantastic. She asked if he'd seen R.J. Zende claimed that he hadn't. Luna remarked that she was supposed to meet R.J. there.

Zende asked if Luna was sure, and she said R.J. had slipped her a note. Zende repeated what the note had said, and Luna looked confused. Zende stated that he was glad she was there and looking forward to their evening together.

At the hospital, R.J. arrived in Eric's room, but Eric had been taken for tests. The nurse remarked that R.J. was a wonderful grandson to visit often.

Finn continues to dig despite Steffy and Thomas' warnings

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

by Chanel S. Garner

At the hospital, R.J. visited Eric, who'd returned from testing. Eric spoke slowly in incomplete sentences. "Stitches...healing..." he said. He joked, warning the funny-looking R.J. not to make him laugh. R.J. noted that Eric's sense of humor was still intact. Sighing, Eric hoped it was.

"Soon," Eric responded when R.J. said everyone missed Eric at work. R.J. agreed and offered to bust Eric out of the hospital when the time was right; however, until then, R.J. would be there to check on Eric every day. Eric took his grandson's hand and said he loved R.J.

R.J. helped Eric drink water and said they had to get him well enough to drink martinis. R.J. offered to sneak in pizza. Eric asked about Luna, and R.J. responded enthusiastically, saying she was pulling for Eric. Eric hinted at a relationship between the young adults, and R.J. bashfully said they were doing great. "I knew it," Eric replied, grinning.

R.J. discussed his burgeoning relationship with the thoughtful and loving Luna. He liked having someone to count on. He felt lucky to have her and liked where it was headed. Eric advised his grandson to hang onto Luna. R.J. replied that he definitely would, and he'd learned from Eric's illness how much it meant to have Luna.

In the salon, Luna asked where R.J. was. Assuming she was confused, Zende said that R.J. had gone to see their grandfather. Luna still insisted that R.J. had sent her the note. Zende shrugged. "Are you saying that was you?" Luna asked, and he grinned.

Zende claimed he hadn't meant to throw her off or be sneaky. He told her that she looked beautiful. She said Angelo had let her borrow the dress from the archives. Zende replied that he couldn't take his eyes off her, and it wasn't about the dress. She said that she knew what Zende was doing and about the whole competitive vibe with R.J.

Zende said the issue was about work, but Luna insisted that it was about everything. Zende denied it, saying he just wanted to get to know her better. He invited her to dance with him. "In these shoes?" she asked. He suggested that she remove them. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked. He teased that he could think of a few things.

Luna looked away, and Zende asserted that there was nothing wrong with them having dinner. In her silence, he said he got it; R.J. was the golden child, son of Brooke and Ridge. Luna defended R.J., who she said didn't play that card. She suggested the cousins find a way to be friends because she and R.J. didn't want problems. She said she liked Zende but had to go.

Zende tried to entice Luna to stay. She told him that she was seeing R.J., but Zende said she was still single. He invited her to enjoy the evening and all he had planned. Luna appreciated it but said she couldn't have dinner with Zende. Guessing that it was because of R.J., Zende replied that she could at least tell Zende who the better kisser was.

Luna replied that she couldn't do that because she hadn't kissed Zende. Zende moved in to kiss her, but she turned her cheek to him. He kissed her cheek, and she called him crazy. She said that she was flattered, and all her experiences at Forrester had been beyond her wildest dreams. "But me and R.J..." she stated. Zende threw out words like "engaged" and "married." Luna denied it was that; however, she was happy with R.J. and loved him.

Luna said she wasn't used to that kind of attention. Zende didn't believe it, and she said she'd been in the chess club in high school. Zende said he had, too, and offered to play with her sometime. She looked away, and he decided not to push. Luna hoped he'd respect her feelings for R.J.

Zende agreed to do that, and Luna said that she'd have to tell R.J. about it. Zende wondered what there was to tell about a romantic dinner setting and impromptu kiss on the cheek. Zende said it had been a pretty good cheek kiss. Luna called Zende a friend and asked him not to send notes, pretending to be R.J., or trick her into cheek kisses. Zende replied that it was too bad R.J. had met her first. She replied that R.J. had stolen her heart.

In Eric's office, Thomas said he hadn't killed anyone. Steffy believed him and said she didn't want Finn to dredge up the events surrounding Emma's death, either. Thomas doubted Finn would let it go, but Steffy insisted that Finn wouldn't bring it up anymore.

It pained Thomas that Finn thought Thomas had intentionally killed someone. Steffy said she'd told Finn that it had been a terrible accident that they wanted to put behind them. Thomas remarked that Finn was throwing gas on the flames. Thomas revealed that Finn had said Thomas was a bad person, and Finn had started listening to a stranger who had it out for Thomas. Steffy stated that Finn had met Xander once by accident, and it wouldn't happen again.

Thomas didn't want bad blood between him and Finn, but he said Finn was between Thomas and Hope and fanning the flames. Thomas stated that Hope knew what a tragedy Emma's death had been, and he didn't need Finn saying crazy things about him. Thomas insisted that he loved Hope and never wanted to hurt her. "This is about Emma's death. I had nothing to do with that," Thomas claimed. Steffy said she'd told Finn not to communicate with Xander. She insisted that she was on Thomas' side and believed in him.

Wondering what more he had to prove, Thomas admitted that he'd been in a dark place, but he said he'd found therapy and ways to center himself. He said he continued to do those practices, he'd turned things around, and he'd made amends. He asked why Finn couldn't show him the tiniest bit of grace or understanding. Thomas claimed he just wanted peace. Steffy said she wanted it, too. She called Emma's death a painful and volatile subject and said it was important that Finn stop bringing it up.

In Finn's office, Xander implored Finn to believe that Thomas was dangerous and had killed someone. Finn noted that Xander seemed certain. Xander said he wouldn't be there if it was just a hunch, and Thomas hadn't just stopped at keeping the baby secret. Finn asserted that he needed to know if Thomas was a murderer, and he asked if Xander was certain.

Xander said there was no limit, and Thomas would do anything to protect his own interests. Xander got the creeps just looking at Thomas, and Xander didn't know what Hope was thinking to be involved with Thomas. Finn replied that Hope and Finn's wife had bought into Thomas' "changed" mantra.

Finn didn't want to rush to judgment and asked for the details about what had happened the night Emma had died. Xander said he'd had to put the pieces together to determine a theory about how it had gone down. Flashbacks played as Xander said Emma had confronted Thomas at Forrester and had refused to keep the secret. Thomas had threatened Emma, who'd run off to tell Hope the truth. Thomas had followed her and had made sure she had never gotten to Hope.

Flashbacks played of Thomas chasing Emma, riding her bumper, and flashing his high beams at her. Xander, who admitted he hadn't been there, was certain about how it had gone down. He said Thomas had chased Emma and forced her to drive fast on the dark, winding road. Thomas had dangerously tailed her.

Finn asked if Xander believed that Thomas had driven Emma off the road. Xander repeated that he hadn't been there, but he'd put those pieces together. Xander said Thomas had threatened and bullied them, and Xander had known Emma to be a cautious driver. In his mind, the only thing that had gotten Emma killed had been trying to tell Hope the truth about Beth.

Finn noted that the police had found no foul play. Xander said it had been ruled an accidental death, but Xander knew better. Flashbacks played of Xander going through Forrester security footage and tapping into the GPS from Thomas' car. Xander explained that he'd seen Thomas on the surveillance footage as he'd run out of Forrester, chasing after Emma, and Xander had seen on the GPS that Thomas had been at the scene of the accident.

Xander stated that Thomas had somehow weaseled his way out of the investigation, but Thomas was responsible for Emma's death. Xander asked what he and Finn would do about it. "We need to put an end to Thomas once and for all," Xander asserted.

R.J. lashes out at Zende about his private dinner stunt

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

by Chanel S. Garner

In Eric's office, Steffy thought about when she'd told Finn to get murder out of his mind. Hope arrived and noticed that Steffy was preoccupied. Steffy revealed that she was concerned that things from Thomas' past might drag him down again. Hope assumed Steffy meant Hope, but Steffy said she hadn't been referring to merely Hope.

Thomas arrived, and Steffy told him that she'd just been saying that she was proud of her brother, who'd earned the right to put the pain and misfortune behind him. Thomas replied that it was thanks to Hope, and Steffy didn't have to worry about things from the past. Staring at Hope's necklace, he said he was focused on the future and joys to come. Hope smiled and covered the ring with her hand.

Later, Steffy had gone, and Hope remarked that her and Thomas' relationship should be between them. Thomas agreed, but he wished that they could get some support from their families. Hope reasoned that the only opinions that really mattered belonged to her and Thomas. Thomas told Hope how he felt about her and how proud he was that she was his. He said he looked forward to the ring going onto her finger.

Hope stated that that she appreciated his marriage proposal. Thomas wished she'd agreed to it, but he was glad she hadn't, because he didn't want her to agree to a wedding she wasn't ready for. Hope joked that they'd been down that road before, and Thomas said he felt as if he'd been a different person back then. Thomas had waited his whole life to be married to her, and he believed that he could wait longer. Hope kissed him and mouthed, "Thank you."

Later, Thomas was holding Hope. He said he wanted her, and she replied that she wanted him, too. They began kissing. Hope stopped, saying, "About the engagement..." Thomas claimed he understood that she wasn't ready yet. He said it was okay, and he could live with it. To him, things felt promising and as if her acceptance was just around the corner.

Thomas was happy that Hope had seen the changes in him. He said he'd become a completely new human being. He felt that he was finally worthy of her and worthy of her love.

In Finn's office, Finn received a positive report about Eric. Finn gazed at an online article about Thomas and Hope and said Eric wasn't the only Forrester that Finn was worried about.

Later, Steffy and Finn were kissing. She joked that she'd dropped everything when he'd asked her to come there. Finn gave her a positive report about Eric. Glad to hear it, Steffy admitted it was hard to handle the stress of Eric's condition, Thomas and Hope's situation, and the lies Xander had been spreading. Finn said he'd asked her there to tell her that Xander had returned.

Steffy grew upset that Finn had met with Xander again. Finn said he hadn't sought out Xander, and Xander had been the one who'd wanted to see Finn. "So, hang up!" Steffy yelled, saying Finn hadn't had to engage. Finn got that it was difficult for Steffy, who wanted to support her brother. Steffy said she wanted Finn to support Thomas and see that he'd become a better man.

Finn assumed that implied Thomas hadn't been good before and had probably done things that Steffy didn't want to face. After what Xander had told Finn, Finn was more convinced that Thomas might be responsible for Emma Barber's death. Steffy insisted that Finn drop it because the police had determined that Emma had died by her own reckless driving.

"Her own or Thomas'?" Finn asked. Finn recounted Xander's theory that Thomas and Emma had been arguing at Forrester about her telling Hope the truth, and when Emma had taken off in her car, Thomas had followed her, dangerously tailgating her. Steffy asked how Xander knew if he hadn't been there. Disclosing Xander's certainty, Finn said Xander had viewed security footage and Thomas' GPS record. Finn asserted that Thomas had been on that road.

Steffy reasoned that Thomas could have been on his way to Brooke's house. In Steffy's view, none of it meant that Thomas had been near Emma or had maliciously run her off the road. Steffy was sorry for Emma's death but insisted that Xander was wrong. Finn stated that there was evidence, but Steffy said the police had already investigated and cleared Thomas.

Steffy explained that she hadn't wanted Finn to dig things up because it could be dangerous. Finn's brows rose, but she clarified that she wasn't referring to Thomas. She meant that Xander's lies and Hope's decisions could trigger Thomas and make him backslide.

Finn asked if Thomas could become obsessed again. Steffy hoped not. Finn respected that Steffy was a protective and loving sister, but "you're wrong." Finn urged Steffy to talk to Thomas and get the truth.

In the salon, Zende flashed back on his moments with Luna the previous night, and he grinned.

In the design office, R.J. apologized for not telling Luna he'd visited his grandfather the previous night and asked what she'd done that evening. Not wanting to keep secrets, she admitted that she'd thought she'd been about to have dinner with him, but it had turned out to be with Zende.

Later, R.J. was livid that Zende had pretended to be him. Luna tried to explain that she'd assumed the note had been from him, but it had been from Zende. Luna promised R.J. that it had seen innocent enough. R.J. asked if Zende had come on to her, and she admitted that Zende had kissed her on the cheek.

Just then, Zende arrived, and R.J. called him pathetic. R.J. yelled that Zende couldn't get anyone else to kiss him, so he kissed R.J.'s girlfriend. Zende advised R.J. to relax because it had just been a friendly thing. R.J. questioned how "friendly" it was to invite someone else's girlfriend to a private dinner and then kiss her. Claiming he'd grown up in Europe, Zende said it had been nothing, and R.J. probably had to be there to get the vibe.

R.J. noted that he hadn't been there, but Zende had led Luna to believe that R.J. had been. R.J. asked if Zende was trying to get to R.J. through Luna. Luna asked the men not to let things get weird. She didn't want them fighting over her. R.J. noted that Zende hadn't liked R.J. working with Eric or Ridge, and next, Zende had kissed R.J.'s girlfriend. R.J. said Eric's situation had made him feel that life was precious. It had made him patient with Zende and caused him to ask Zende to work on the collection; however, R.J.'s patience had reached its end. He ordered Zende to grab his sketchpad and back off Luna.

Later, Luna and R.J. were alone, discussing whether Zende was using her to get to R.J. R.J. said he hadn't meant to imply that she wasn't hot. Luna wasn't offended, but she also didn't feel like a pawn in a game. She believed that Zende might be attracted to her and might also enjoy sticking it to R.J. at the same time. Luna insisted she wouldn't have gone if she hadn't thought the invitation had been from R.J. She said Zende was charming, but her heart was with R.J.

As R.J. and Luna kissed, Zende watched through a crack in the door.

Liam asks Hope to consider that Thomas could be capable of murder

Thursday, January 11, 2024

by Dan J Kroll

In Finn's office at the hospital, Steffy agreed to talk to Thomas if would finally put the Emma matter to rest. Steffy insisted that she believed Thomas had told her the truth the first time she'd spoken to him. She pursed her lips and sighed that she wished Finn believed Thomas. Finn insisted that he was not trying to cause trouble for anyone. "None of this would have started if you hadn't spoken to Xander," Steffy grumbled.

Finn explained that there were a lot of "unanswered questions" and instructed Steffy to "be direct" and ask Thomas specifically if he had been in any way responsible for Emma's death. Steffy pointed out that the police had already questioned and cleared Thomas of any wrongdoing. Finn suggested that Thomas might be holding something back, "something that he's never shared before for whatever reason." Before leaving, Steffy repeated her belief that Thomas had not done anything to harm Emma.

Moments after Steffy left, Li entered Finn's office and said that she'd seen Steffy leaving. Li asked if Finn and Steffy had been arguing. Finn glossed over the details of the situation with Thomas. Li advised Finn against getting caught up as "Hope's protector." Finn assured his mother that his first priority was to his family, not Hope.

Thomas and Hope kissed tenderly in the executive office. Thomas wished that he could spend the entire day kissing Hope, but he reminded Hope that he had work to do on a design for her. Thomas walked across the office and looked down at some sketches. Hope slowly walked after him and told Thomas that when he was done with his work, he should meet her at her cabin for some more "collaborating." Thomas thanked Hope for always seeing the good inside him.

At the cabin, as she put wine glasses out on the table, Hope stared across the room at a photo of Thomas and Douglas. She remembered Finn's warning that Thomas might still pose a danger. Hope was roused back to the present when Liam burst into the cabin. Liam spotted the wine on the table and asked if Thomas was on his way over.

Liam sensed that something was troubling Hope. Hope was reluctant to tell Liam what she was thinking, but she eventually told him that Xander Avant had resurfaced with allegations against Thomas. Liam said that it wasn't that far-fetched to believe that someone might believe that Thomas -- a man who had convinced them that their daughter had been dead for months -- might have been involved in Emma Barber's death.

Hope angrily snapped that the investigation against Thomas had been dropped. She also noted that Thomas was not the same person that he'd been back then. Liam spotted the ring hanging on a chain around Hope's neck and asked if it was an engagement ring. Hope confirmed that Thomas had proposed. "That ring is not where rings go. That ring is on a chain around your neck. Why?" Liam asked as he pointed toward the chain. Hope told Liam it was none of his business why the ring was not on her finger.

Liam was pleased that Hope hadn't accepted Thomas' proposal and grumbled that the ring shouldn't even be on a chain. "That's not exactly up to you," Hope retorted. Liam hoped that Hope would come to her senses before Thomas hurt her again. "I hate to break it to you, but Thomas isn't the only one who's hurt me," Hope replied.

Hope started to recount the ways that Liam had hurt her, but she stopped midsentence and said that it no longer mattered because both she and Liam had moved on. Liam shared that he wished Hope had moved on with someone other than Thomas. Hope shot down the rumors that Thomas had been responsible for Emma's car accident and subsequent death. Liam asked what Xander had to gain by returning years after the accident. Hope said that Xander had "an axe to grind."

Hope snarled that she did not need to be protected by anyone and did not want to go back to a "dark chapter" of her life. Liam told Hope that as long as she was in a relationship with Thomas she would never be able to move past Emma's death. Liam asked Hope to admit that it was at least possible that Thomas had committed murder. Hope played with the ring hanging around her neck and looked back at Liam with a look of concern.

Later, as Thomas sketched, he thought back to his proposal. When Steffy arrived, Thomas told her that he didn't have a lot of time to chat. Steffy told Thomas that Xander had again shown up at Finn's office. Steffy called Emma's death an accident and stated that she wasn't sure why anyone would believe otherwise. Still, Steffy said that she'd promised Finn that she would ask Thomas one more time if he knew anything about Emma's death.

"Xander is right about one thing," Thomas said cryptically. Before telling Steffy what Xander had been right about, Thomas expressed his regret that Emma had lost her life. Thomas noted that he, as Xander had stated, had been a person of interest. Thomas quickly added that he had been cleared of any wrongdoing. Thomas insisted that he had not killed Emma. "It was a senseless car accident," Thomas said.

After listening to Thomas, Steffy remarked that Thomas' account didn't explain anything. "Somehow, the truth needs to come out -- all of it, Thomas," Steffy said. Thomas agreed.

Thomas tells Hope everything that happened the night Emma died

Friday, January 12, 2024

by Dan J Kroll

Still in the executive office at Forrester Creations, Thomas repeated that he was not responsible for Emma's death. "It's no secret I wasn't a saint back then, but I'm not responsible," Thomas said intensely. Thomas hugged Steffy and thanked her for believing in him.

In the cabin, Liam knew that Hope didn't want to hear his warning about Thomas, but he insisted that she had to listen to him. "You are not safe with Thomas, not emotionally and not physically," Liam said. He asked Hope what would happen if she were to say something that set Thomas off. "What if he runs you off a cliff, too?" Liam quipped.

Hope again refuted claims that Thomas was a murderer. "I know the man he really is," Hope snapped. Liam pressed Hope for details on who Thomas really was. "Do you love him?" Liam asked. Hope said that she would tell Liam what she had told everyone else -- her feelings for Thomas were private. Liam agreed not to push. Before leaving, Liam begged Hope to promise that she would not be "blindsided by whatever the next round of Thomas' dark secrets" might be.

At the hospital, Finn gave Eric an examination. "What's the verdict, doc?" Eric asked, his words still slightly slurred. Finn smiled and announced that Eric was making "excellent progress." Eric thanked Finn for taking such good care of him. Finn joked that the Forresters would have come after him with pitchforks had he not -- with Steffy leading the charge.

R.J. and Luna arrived to visit with Eric. Finn told the pair to have a nice visit with Eric but asked if they could convince Eric to "take it easy." Before Finn could leave, Eric again told Finn that he was incredibly grateful for all Finn had done.

After Finn had left the room, Luna announced that she and R.J. had not shown up empty-handed. Luna reached into her purse and pulled out the old stapler that meant so much to Eric. "The guardian of the stapler," Eric said with a laugh. Eric sent R.J. to get some water. While his grandson was away, Eric asked Luna about her feelings for R.J. As Luna shared how R.J. had added "so much" to her life, R.J. returned and listened quietly from the doorway.

"Perfect timing," Eric said when he spotted R.J. "Life is precious. If love finds you, give it all you got," Eric told the couple.

Later in his office, Finn met back up with Steffy. Finn gave Steffy an update on Eric's improving condition. She, in turn, updated Finn on the conversation she'd had with Thomas. Reading Steffy's face, Finn knew that Thomas had denied any involvement in Emma's death. Steffy claimed that Finn might believe Thomas if he made more of an effort to get to know Thomas.

The idea that Thomas could kill someone was "absurd," according to Steffy. Finn said that he didn't want to upset Steffy. If that was true, Steffy replied, then Finn needed to drop his belief that Thomas had been involved in Emma's death.

Hope was lighting candles when Thomas arrived at the cabin. Thomas was touched that Hope had gone to such lengths for their evening together. Hope laughed and mused that she intended to reap the benefits of her efforts, as well.

A somber Thomas said that he needed to delay the start of their romantic evening for a bit. Thomas shared that Finn had pressured Steffy to talk to him about the night that Emma had died. Hope said that she really didn't want to talk about that, but Thomas claimed to be relieved that the matter had resurfaced. Thomas explained that he wanted to tell her everything about that night because it was an important piece of their being able to move forward together.

Hope said that she thought she already knew everything about that night and told Thomas that she needed to know "the whole truth." Thomas agreed. Thomas turned and took a few steps away from Hope. He took a deep breath and started to recount everything that had happened.

Thomas said that he and Emma had gotten into an argument because Emma had wanted to tell Hope the truth about her supposedly dead baby. Thomas acknowledged that the video footage that Xander had pulled showed him chasing after Emma in an attempt to stop her. Thomas said that Xander had tried to pull GPS data from Thomas' car to prove that Thomas had been at the spot of Emma's accident. Thomas revealed that by the time the police had arrived, he had erased the data.

Thomas said that with the truth about him knowing about baby Beth being known, he did not think that anyone would believe that his presence at Emma's crash site had been anything but nefarious. "So, you were there?" Hope asked, her voice shaking. Thomas told Hope that he had been in a car chase with Emma when she'd lost control of her car on the dangerous curves of Mulholland Drive and crashed. "I saw it, but I didn't cause it, Hope. I didn't kill her," Thomas professed.

Hope asked Thomas if he had tried to help Emma. He replied that he had not because there was no way that anyone could have survived the impact of the crash. "I never meant for Emma to die," Thomas said softly. Since he had told Hope everything, Thomas asked if Hope could forgive him. Hope stood silent, a tear streaming down her cheek.