At Abbott-Chancellor, Phyllis stepped off the elevator, her face obscured by a large plant. She entered Billy’s office, and he asked if she’d been gardening. She tipsily proclaimed that she’d been celebrating her new job with her children. He guessed it had been over a few cocktails, and he observed that it had put her in a good mood. She credited her kids for her buoyant attitude, since it had been a tough year, but it seemed like things were looking up for all three of them.
Phyllis pondered where to put the plant to create the most positive energy in the office, noting that Chance was a great guy but not a decorator. Billy asked how things had been between Phyllis and Summer since Phyllis had taken Chance’s job. Phyllis flatly pointed out that Chance had quit, and she doubted he’d been a good fit in the corporate world. She contended that businesspeople had to ride the edge of right and wrong when they wanted a deal, and Chance would have been reading them their rights all day.
Phyllis rambled that she was happy because Chance made her daughter happy, and she was even happier to be working there after Chance had quit. Phyllis remarked that it would be a “happiness trifecta” if Billy considered letting Daniel work there, but Billy preferred that Phyllis focus on the big things. Billy offered to drive her back to the club, but she insisted on finding a “wealth corner” to put the plant in first. He directed her to find it in her own office. Phyllis agreed to let the issue of hiring Daniel slide.
At the Athletic Club bar, Phyllis crowed to Billy that it felt like she’d won because her kids were content and in love, and their families were happy. She quickly apologized for doing cartwheels over her life when things weren’t going well for him. Billy figured that he was running his own company, and his kids were home, so he was good. Phyllis reminded him that his relationship had fallen apart, Adam had hit him, and Victor was declaring war.
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Phyllis swore that she cared, and she was worried about what it would do to Billy’s family if Victor attacked Billy and Abbott-Chancellor. Billy conceded that it could get tricky, since Johnny and Katie were old enough to be aware of what the adults around them were doing. Phyllis wondered if he’d consider changing his mind about Victoria’s buyout offer. Billy questioned what had happened to Phyllis being all in.
Phyllis swore she wanted what was best for Billy and the company, and she knew Victor would be willing to pay a lot of money for a company he was determined to own. Billy reiterated that it had never been about money but had been all about cementing his mother’s legacy. Phyllis suspected he was also fighting to prove himself. Billy planned on proving to his mom, Jack, Victor, and all the haters that they were wrong, and he wasn’t the screwup they thought he was. “Abbott-Chancellor is not for sale,” he vehemently stated.
Billy grumbled that Phyllis was already assuming he’d lose. Phyllis asserted that she thought he could beat Victor, but Billy would take the hit if Victor won. She inquired whether Billy was willing to watch Victor remove the Abbott name from the company and publicly humiliate Billy. Billy swore it wouldn’t happen, and he urged her to move on from it.
Phyllis noted that Billy liked the thrill of high stakes, and he was an incredible businessman because he was willing to take risks; however, she also knew he wanted to protect his kids. She questioned whether it was worth going after Victor when there were other options. Billy insisted that his kids were the most important thing in the world to him, and it was why he had a plan. Billy cited Victoria’s reservations about Victor’s attack against them, and he intended to use that to his advantage.
Phyllis scoffed at the idea of Victoria whispering Victor’s corporate secrets in Billy’s ear. Billy contended that he and Victoria would always be bonded because of their kids, and neither of them wanted a war with Victor. Billy hoped Victoria would let him in on what Victor had planned, so Billy could be prepared. Phyllis realized that Billy was using his kids to guilt Victoria into telling him things about Victor. Phyllis warned that the plan could backfire, but Billy figured he was just helping Victoria help him.
Phyllis sensed that Billy had been feeling a lot of betrayal and that he had conflicted emotions. She warned that the feelings of anger and rage wouldn’t go away if he sat on them, since they’d just fester and cloud his judgment. Phyllis stressed that he was about to go in for the fight of his life, and he couldn’t act impulsively. She implored him to be strong, steady, and analytical, with zero emotion. Billy swore he’d never felt more prepared, and he was ready for whatever happened next.
Daniel and Lucy returned home after seeing a movie, and they called out for Heather. Daniel found it strange that Heather wasn’t home when her job interview had been over hours earlier, and she hadn’t sent any messages. Lucy recalled that she and her mom had just been talking about having peanut butter and banana sandwiches for breakfast, and she speculated that Heather was out shopping for bananas. Daniel figured there was only one way to find out.
At the cottage, Sharon hovered on the stairs as she flashed back to dragging Heather’s bloody body out of the Romalottis’ apartment and dumping it off a bridge. Sharon joined Nick and Mariah in the living room and reported that Faith was exhausted. Nick pointed out that Faith had been worried sick about Sharon for days. Sharon regretted what she’d put everyone through, and she apologized for the way she’d spoken to Mariah on the phone. Mariah recognized that her mom had been under a lot of pressure, but Sharon firmly stated that it didn’t excuse her behavior.
Sharon admitted that she’d been in a bad place, and all she’d seen had been her family trying to fix her when she hadn’t known what was wrong herself. She brightly continued that she was home safe and doing a lot better than she had been in a long time, and she saw that her loved ones had only been trying to help her. Mariah asked where Sharon had gone and what she’d been doing, but Nick assured Sharon that they could wait if she wasn’t ready to answer. Sharon thought they deserved the truth.
Sharon explained that she’d left and lied to her family because she’d felt desperate and overwhelmed, and the pressure from constantly being checked in on had been too much. Nick apologized, but Sharon indicated that wasn’t just pressure from them but also from herself, since it had terrified her to think she might lose control. Sharon tearfully added that she’d done what she’d had to do, and she whimpered that she was sorry. Sharon said she’d felt she’d made the most logical choice at the time, but she was no longer sure, and it was why she’d confessed. “Confessed what?” Nick asked.
Sharon reasoned that the only way to stop the things that had been going around in her head had been to confess the things she’d done when she hadn’t been herself, so she’d confessed to Cassie. Nick and Mariah exchanged a concerned glance, but Sharon clarified that she’d simply gone to Cassie’s grave and talked about everything that had happened since they’d lost her. Sharon claimed that hearing herself say it out loud had made her take a good look at the things she’d done and why she’d done them.
Sharon continued that she’d thought she’d learned to live with Cassie’s death, but in reality, she was still feeling grief, anger, and guilt for letting Cassie go out on the night of the party. Nick swore that no one was to blame for that. Sharon recognized that she knew it intellectually, but she’d buried the emotions, which had festered and hardened, leading her to dark places where she’d made dark choices. Sharon insisted that talking to Cassie had made her see things very clearly, and she’d been able to face her feelings and get to the bottom of what had been going on for far too long.
Sharon proclaimed that she was finally getting off the rollercoaster ride, and she felt steady, resolved, and aware of what she had to do. Nick hoped Sharon intended to reach out to her doctor. She announced that she’d already made two appointments because she was ready to talk things through. Sharon declared that there would be no more tears, since she was home and ready to take her life back.
Nick encouraged Sharon to stay on the path of getting better because she deserved it. Sharon promised things would settle down and go back to normal soon. A phone chimed from inside Sharon’s purse when Daniel tried calling Heather. Mariah asked if Sharon had a new ringtone. Sharon covered by saying it was a reminder to take her meds to ensure she didn’t miss another dose. She pulled out her prescription bottle and popped a pill into her mouth.
Daniel left a voicemail, asking Heather if she’d be back soon. “With bananas and peanut butter!” Lucy called out. Lucy imagined that her mother had aced the interview and gotten the job, and didn’t want to spoil the surprise. Daniel bet Heather would walk through the door any minute.
Sharon exclaimed that it was good news that her family didn’t have to worry or wonder anymore, since she’d be fine. Sharon swore that everything Nick and Mariah had said over the past few weeks had sunk in, and their words and love had gotten her home. Nick cautioned that the support and constant check-ins wouldn’t go away, because it was how their family rolled. Sharon invited them to check in as much as they liked, but she was tired, and she was sure they were, too.
After Nick and Mariah headed out, Sharon retrieved Heather’s phone from her purse and cursed when she saw the message from Daniel. “Cameron” appeared and commented that it had been a close one. Sharon listened to the voicemail from Daniel and Lucy and realized they were at home. Cameron jeered that it was too bad Heather wouldn’t be joining them. Sharon fretted that Daniel would be worried about Heather, but Cameron lectured that Sharon had bigger problems than crying about Daniel getting what he deserved.
Sharon contemplated why she couldn’t remember what had happened or how she’d possibly killed Heather, but Cameron advised her to focus on how not to get caught. Sharon recounted that she’d been careful cleaning up, and no one had seen her. Cameron applauded her for staying strong and not panicking. Sharon cried that she didn’t feel strong, but Cameron swore she was and that she couldn’t let up then.
Cameron suggested that the first order of business was Heather’s phone, and he lauded Sharon’s great save with the lie about the reminder for her meds. He continued that it had been genius of her to take Heather’s phone, realize that facial recognition worked on a dead body, change the access code, and download an app to block location and tracking. Sharon anticipated that Daniel would keep trying to reach Heather, and Lucy might start doing the same. Sharon grimaced at the thought of hearing Lucy’s voice.
Cameron ordered Sharon to stop because it wasn’t the time to get sentimental. He implored her to stay free and safe and to focus on the life she had ahead of her. Sharon decided to send Daniel a text message to make him believe Heather was still alive. Cameron coached that the most convincing lies had a grain of truth in them—and sometimes that truth needed to hurt.
Meanwhile, Lucy thanked Daniel for the fun night. She acknowledged that she’d screwed up a lot that summer, but he admired that she’d accepted responsibility. Daniel recognized that he’d messed up even worse at her age, and he knew it was hard to try to learn a lesson from making a mistake. Lucy noted that he’d turned out okay, so she guessed she had a shot.
Lucy reiterated that she was glad her parents were back together. Daniel called himself the lucky one for having an incredible daughter who was growing up to be a smart, strong woman like her mother. Daniel assured Lucy that Heather was proud of her, but Lucy wanted to apologize to her mom again and tell her how much Lucy loved her and their family. Daniel’s phone pinged with a message, and his face fell when he read it. “Your mom’s not coming home,” he blurted out.
Daniel read the message and relayed that the situation with Sharon had upset Heather more than she’d admitted, so Heather needed to get out of town to clear her head for a little while. The message urged them not to worry, since she’d reach out in a few days, and she loved them. Daniel sent a return message to ask where Heather was and request that she call so they could talk.
Lucy sobbed that it was all her fault, since she’d been the reason Sharon had gone off on them. Daniel countered that it had happened because of Sharon’s own issues. Lucy surmised that her mom hadn’t been able to forgive her and had gone out of town to punish her. Daniel swore that Heather would never do anything like that, and the one to blame was Sharon.
After looking around the apartment, Lucy reported that it looked like Heather had taken an overnight bag with some clothes. Daniel shared that Heather’s car was still in the garage, so she might have taken a car service to the airport. Lucy guessed that her mom had gone to Lisbon to visit Paul and wouldn’t be back for a while. Daniel believed that Heather would only be gone a few days, but he found it bizarre that she’d left after she’d seemed fine that afternoon. Lucy thought it made sense that Sharon’s attacks had been too much for Heather. Daniel sympathized that Sharon had been having a hard time recently, but the way she’d gone after them had been over the top. He added that her family was still worried about her—and he didn’t blame them.
Sharon read Daniel’s reply and opted to do nothing. Sharon rationalized that if she engaged in a conversation with Daniel, she might slip and somehow tip him off that he wasn’t dealing with Heather. Sharon was satisfied that she’d bought herself time before Daniel reported Heather missing to the police, but she expected the body would eventually wash up somewhere. Cameron was certain that she’d be in the clear as time passed.
Sharon recalled that she’d gone off on the Romalotti family more than once in public, but Cameron pointed out that she’d apologized. Sharon predicted that she’d be questioned if the police got involved, but Cameron expected that she’d just “turn on the waterworks” like she had for Nick and Mariah. Cameron quipped that Sharon was “the queen of tears on demand,” but Sharon snapped that the tears with her family had been real. Cameron guffawed that she’d had them in the palm of her hand.
Sharon insisted that she wanted to heal. She spat that a woman was dead, and a young girl had lost her mother because of Cameron’s influence over Sharon, and she was done with him. Cameron snickered at the idea of a doctor waving a magic wand to make Sharon’s unresolved issues disappear. He insisted that the only way to get out of it was with his help, and she needed someone who understood the stakes and wasn’t afraid to see it all through.
Sharon demanded that Cameron go away. He contended that if she meant it, he’d already be gone, but they both knew one thing still needed to be done. Sharon was determined to make peace with what had happened to Heather, but Cameron barked that there would be no resolution while Daniel was still alive. Sharon imagined that Daniel might leave town once he thought Heather had left him, and she’d be home free. Cameron clucked that even if Daniel left town, justice still wouldn’t be served.
Cameron argued that Daniel was still alive and able to move on—unlike Cassie. Cameron questioned how that was fair or gave closure. Cameron swore that Sharon deserved the peace she’d been seeking and the future she’d been dreaming of, and sometimes getting those things took work and getting one’s hands dirty. Sharon protested that an innocent woman was dead because of her, and she was done. Cameron noted that she’d already thrown the proverbial stone. “Why don’t you kill two birds with it?” he proposed.
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