Days of our Lives recap for Tuesday, December 31, 2024: Sophia's mother makes a devastating decision

At the Horton house, Doug III stared at the envelope of money that Leo had given him for selling Alice’s diamond necklace. “Damn. Still not enough to get me out of this whole [mess],” Doug whispered. Holly knocked on the front door. “I thought you were going to call,” Doug said. Holly apologized. Doug asked what was wrong, and Holly noted that Tate had not cared about her going to the concert with Doug. “He’s got other problems to deal with,” Holly said.

As Holly walked into the living room, Doug asked Holly if she wanted to talk about her boyfriend. “I’d rather not,” Holly said as she sniffled back tears. “That’s fine. But whatever it is, it’s obviously upsetting you a lot. Would it help you to talk about it?” Doug asked. “Maybe it would,” Holly said. Holly asked Doug to promise not to tell anyone about it, and he agreed. Holly told Doug that her boyfriend had been leaving town with his ex to get an abortion. Holly gave Doug a brief recap of her love triangle and the reasons why Sophia and Tate needed to leave town.

“[Tate] told me he was visiting his grandparents so I wouldn’t have to find out,” Holly added. “Of course. And do you think he was ever going to tell you the truth?” Doug asked. With a shrug, Holly said no. Holly told Doug about the conversation and how Tate had promised that things would return to normal after the abortion.

“He said it doesn’t have to change things between us,” Holly said bitterly. “I’m getting the sense that you don’t feel the same way,” Doug said. Holly complained about how this revelation would always be a wedge between her and Tate. Holly started to confess that she and Tate had not slept together, but she stopped. Doug said he understood. “I know Tate didn’t mean to hurt me,” Holly said. “Still, Holly, you have every right to be upset,” Doug said. With a shake of her head, Holly noted that her and Tate’s relationship was forever altered. Doug handed Holly a box of tissues.

“Bet when you accepted those tickets, you weren’t expecting to end up on an episode of ‘Teen Mom’,” Holly joked. Doug chuckled. As Holly blew her nose, Doug suggested that they go to the concert. “It’s New Year’s Eve. Tate’s going away anyway. It might be good for you not to think about him for a few hours,” Doug said. “I don’t think I’d be really good company,” Holly said. With a shake of his head, Doug said that did not matter to him.

“I really want to see the show. And I think you could use the distraction,” Doug said. Holly sighed, and she noted that since she had purchased the tickets for Tate, the concert would just remind her of Tate. Holly thanked Doug for listening to her complaints. “What are you going to do [tonight]?” Doug asked. Holly said she planned to stay in her room. Doug argued that it was bad luck to ring in the new year alone. “Why don’t you just stay here and watch [the ball drop] with me?” Doug asked. Holly smiled sadly. “Sure. Why not?” Holly said.

When Sophia returned to the penthouse, she told Tate, “I can’t go.” I talked to Holly. She understands,” Tate said. Before Sophia could explain that her mother knew everything, Amy walked into the penthouse. Amy introduced herself. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Choi,” Tate said. “I’m not sure I believe you,” Amy said. Sophia apologized to Tate, but Amy demanded that Tate apologize to her. Confused, Tate asked why.

“For sneaking around with my daughter behind my back and for getting her pregnant,” Amy said. Furious, Amy argued that Tate and Sophia never should have had sex. “I thought I raised my daughter better than this,” Amy muttered. When Amy pointed out that Sophia had plans for a bright future, Tate agreed. “So do I. Which is why we can’t have this baby, why this would be a mistake,” Tate said. “Tate, stop!” Sophia interjected. Amy announced that the appointment was canceled.

“My daughter will have an abortion over my dead body,” Amy said. “Mom, please, can we not have this discussion right now?” Sophia pleaded. Amy argued that Tate did not understand her opposition to abortion. “My religion forbids it, which means I forbid it,” Amy said. Amy argued that every life was precious. “You are going to have this baby. And the two of you are going to raise it together,” Amy said. Tate reminded Amy that he and Sophia were no longer a couple.

“That’s not really up to you, now is it? You two created this baby together, which means you’re going to raise this baby together. As I said, my grandchild will not be born out of wedlock,” Amy argued. Tate gasped. “Mom, what are you even talking about?” Sophia said. Amy stressed that for the sake of the child, Tate and Sophia would need to marry. “With all due respect, I’m not going to marry your daughter. Like I said, we’re not even in a relationship,” Tate said. Sophia nodded in agreement.

“I have a girlfriend now,” Tate protested. “But you got my daughter pregnant,” Amy countered. Sophia explained that Tate and his girlfriend had been broken up at the time that Tate and Sophia had gotten together. “So you were just using my daughter?” Amy asked. “It wasn’t like that,” Sophia said. Frustrated, Amy announced that she would not discuss the matter further. “We need to start planning a wedding,” Amy said. Tate gaped. “In the end, this child will be a blessing,” Amy said. Amy left with Sophia. “How am I going to tell [Holly] this?” Tate said.

At the pub, Brady met up with Ava after she texted him to talk. “You didn’t get another threatening text, did you?” Brady asked. With a chuckle, Ava showed Brady her latest text. After a moment, Brady noted that the last text had been delivered on Christmas day when he had been with Kristen. “She called and asked me if I wanted to see Rachel,” Brady explained. “Talk about a Christmas miracle,” Ava said. Brady admitted he had mentioned the texts to Kristen but that she had denied that she had sent them. Ava smirked.

“I know her, and I think she was being sincere,” Brady said. Brady argued that the plan was not conniving enough to be one of Kristen’s. “Look, I would really like to put faith in Kristen’s sincerity, but I got to say, Brady, I think you’re way off on this one,” Ava said. Ava explained that she had hired Steve to look into the threats, and he had confirmed that the texts had originated in the DiMera mansion. Brady groaned, and he apologized. Ava told Brady not to worry because she wanted to talk about something more pressing.

“I need to tell you something about your son,” Ava said. Ava told Brady about her run-in with Sophia’s mother in the square. “Then Sophia showed up, and she admitted that she and Tate, well, that they had sex,” Ava said. Brady thanked Ava for the heads up. “It’s a little more complicated than that,” Ava said. Ava explained that Sophia had said she was pregnant. “Why didn’t they use protection? No, this is not your problem,” Brady said as he shook his head.

“You know, I know it’s not my problem. But I am really sorry,” Ava said. Brady lamented that Tate and Sophia’s lives were going to be upended. “This is going to change everything for both of them,” Brady said. Brady asked Ava if she knew about Sophia’s intentions for the baby. With a shrug, Ava explained that Amy had rushed Sophia out of the square before Sophia could say anything else. Brady thanked Ava for being a good friend, and she wished him luck.

When Brady returned to the penthouse, Tate was sitting in the living room alone. “You okay?” Brady asked. “Yeah,” Tate said. After a moment, Brady admitted that he had talked to Ava, who had been in the square with Amy when they had run into Sophia. “Is there anything that you want to tell me?” Brady asked. “Something tells me that you already know,” Tate whispered. Brady nodded yes. “But I want to hear the details from you,” Brady said.

In the commissioner’s office, Paulina fired EJ. “You’re replacing me?” a stunned EJ asked. Paulina explained that she and Jada had decided to change things in light of recent cases. “Was this your idea?” EJ asked Jada. Jada sipped her coffee. “It doesn’t matter whose idea it was. Ultimately, it’s my decision,” Paulina said. EJ demanded an explanation.

“To put it bluntly, you’ve been botching cases left and right, bending the laws when you’re not outright breaking them, using the power of the office to settle your own personal issues. Is that enough of an explanation for you?” Paulina asked. EJ stressed that he stood by his decisions as DA.

“And I don’t stand by even one of those self-serving, amoral decisions. Which is why, and this time, there’s no coming back from this no matter what the hell you threaten, EJ DiMera, you are fired,” Paulina said. EJ gritted his teeth and asked about his replacement. Paulina refused to say. EJ reminded Paulina that they were family.

“I’m aware. But unlike you, I do not let my personal life dictate my professional one,” Paulina argued. “You are making a huge mistake,” EJ said. Paulina shrugged. EJ turned his ire onto Jada, and he growled, “I know you pushed her into this. And rest assured, Commissioner, you are not going to get away with it.” Jada stared at EJ in steely silence, and EJ stormed out. “All things considered, I thought that went pretty well,” Paulina said. Jada worried aloud that EJ would not let the matter go.

“You mean when he threatened you? Are you surprised?” Paulina asked. “I guess a little bit. I don’t know. I guess I thought maybe he would be relieved. That he would see it coming,” Jada said. With a chuckle, Paulina noted that EJ was immature, but he would get over the slight. Jada argued that EJ was dangerous. “That man, he could stand to be knocked down a few pegs,” Paulina said. Paulina stressed that EJ was all talk.

“Not from what I’ve seen and heard. When that man wants something, he seems to be very much about the follow through,” Jada said. Paulina argued that EJ would not go after the police commissioner. “He might be mad, but he’s not stupid,” Paulina said. “I guess we’ll see,” Jada said. Paulina advised Jada to call Rafe and share the good news.

Suspicious of EJ’s behavior during questioning, Rafe broke into the DiMera mansion to have a look around. As Rafe inspected the living room, he spotted EJ’s robe and slippers on the floor. Arnold returned from upstairs, and Rafe was shocked to see his doppelganger in the doorway. “What the hell?” Rafe said. “Hiya, Rafe. Your old pal, Arnold Feniger. Remember me?” Rafe said. “But, you’re dead,” Rafe stammered. Arnold admitted that EJ had faked his death.

“[EJ and Stefano] were afraid that I was gonna testify against them for the whole ‘stealing your life’ scheme, which was actually pretty smart of them because I totally was,” Arnold confessed. Arnold explained that EJ and Stefano had shipped Arnold off to Argentina. “You should have done a better job sneaking around,” Rafe said. Arnold pointed out that Rafe had also been sneaking around the house. Rafe ignored the accusation, and he started to call the police. Arnold grabbed a granite ball off the foyer table, and he hit Rafe over the head. Rafe collapsed on the couch.

“Sorry, pal. I guess the best Rafe won,” Arnold said. Arnold noted that he had done what he needed to do to stay out of prison. As Arnold knocked back a drink, EJ returned from the police station. “What the hell?” EJ yelled. EJ checked Rafe’s pulse, and he was relieved that Rafe was still alive.

“What the hell was he still doing here? I thought I got rid of him?” EJ said. “Guess not,” Arnold said. Arnold explained that he had needed to knock out Rafe because Rafe had been calling the police. Worried, EJ asked if Rafe had mentioned his name. Arnold averted his eyes, and he confessed that he had told Rafe that EJ and Stefano had helped fake Arnold’s death. Rafe’s phone rang.

“What do we do?” EJ said. “I got this,” Arnold countered. Arnold pulled Rafe’s phone out of his pocket, and he noted Jada was calling. EJ told Arnold that Jada was Rafe’s fiancee and the police commissioner. Arnold answered the phone. Jada asked “Rafe” to meet her at the pub. Arnold reluctantly agreed. When Arnold ended the call, EJ asked him why he had agreed to meet Jada. EJ argued that Jada would be suspicious when Rafe did not meet up with her.

“Okay, I didn’t think it through completely,” Arnold admitted. “It’s not enough that this woman got me fired, but now she’s gonna have me arrested, too?” EJ grumbled. Arnold asked about the job, but EJ yelled that he did not want to discuss it. “You may have made this disaster, but now we both have to clean it up,” EJ said. Arnold left for the pub to meet Jada, and EJ dragged Rafe’s unconscious body into the tunnels.

When Arnold arrived at the pub, he sat down at Jada’s table. “What’s the big news?” Arnold asked. Jada started to tell Arnold about the D.A. situation, but then she stopped when she noticed what Arnold was wearing. “Did you change your clothes?” Jada asked.

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