Stephanie starts the morning still kicking herself over being caught as Anastasia. So Alex offers her a suggestion to keep EJ from outing her: Out herself! He thinks it’ll help her PR brand. Sort of a, “I’ll do your PR and give you a free copy of steamy smut!” Or something.
But she’s more worried about her ex than her career. He’s coming to Salem. Right now. Stephanie starts weaving the sorry tale of Jeremy Horton, from his smuggling to his abusive treatment of her. (If you want more information about it all and who Jeremy is, we’ve got you covered here.)
Once Alex realizes how bad things were, he’s ready to knock Jeremy’s lights out. Stephanie’s shaken and ashamed she ended up with Jeremy, and more ashamed that she stayed with him. Alex says exactly the right thing: She has nothing to be ashamed of and this was not her fault.
She knows, but it’s harder to believe that in others than yourself. Alex keeps trying and Stephanie thanks him, but she’s clearly not convinced. She doesn’t think about him that much, but now that he’s back, she’s shaken. Alex, understandably, just wants to hurt Jeremy, but Stephanie promises she’s OK.
Chad and Cat are just about falling over in bliss when they spot each other in the square. It’s all smiles and joy now that they finally released some of that sexual tension. She is worried about his family’s reaction, but Chad just wants it all out in the open.
After he leaves, Paulina corners Cat demanding to know where EJ is, since he caused the blackout. The second she’s gone, though, a shocked Cat calls Rafe instead of EJ.
Is Jeremy Here to Stay?
Julie brings Thomas home from school, who’s claiming to be sick, and Chad gets home shortly after. She asks how his evening was. With Cat Greene. Her thorny attitude makes Chad understandably nervous, and before he can work up the nerve to tell Julie he and Cat are over the moon with love, Jeremy appears in front of the stairs. (And here are the deets on who’s playing him!)
Julie’s overcome with emotion that her cousin’s home! (Are we going to get into the whole part of his last visit where he fled Salem and went on the run?) Jeremy just says he hit a crossroads, got certified as a teacher and came back to be a long-term fifth grade sub — for Thomas and Rachel!
Jeremy can’t stick around long, though, because he’s got an errand to run. And it’s probably tracking down Stephanie! But he’ll be back soon enough. As Julie walks her cousin out, Thomas comes downstairs and Chad knows right away that something’s wrong.
Can EJ Keep Paulina at Bay?
When EJ finally gets home, Gwen doesn’t waste a second in yelling at him for leaving her trapped. He’s got no interest in her complaints until she tells him Leo rescued her. She assures EJ she handled Leo’s snooping — he’s gullible.
They then get back to yelling at each other, until Paulina barges in to give EJ a piece of her mind — and Gwen happily runs off to leave EJ to be torn apart!
Paulina got confirmation from the power company that this started at the hospital. But EJ refuses to cooperate, so Paulina launches a threat and EJ throws one right back. If she escalates this, he’ll blame it on Salem’s aging power grid. If she sues him, he’ll sue the city. Accountability? Never heard of it!
Did Gwen Tip Off Cat?
Cat and Gwen meet for lunch at the bistro, where Gwen weaves her tail of investing that she told Leo. Except Cat’s not Gullible Leo and she knows something’s up the second Gwen mentions a security door.
Cat trades her own blackout story, and Gwen’s surprised Chad had forgiven her. “He’s quite good at holding grudges.” (Well, Gwen, you’ve done a bit more under a lot less duress than Cat has so… yeah, there’s a reason he holds one with you.) The ladies then debate which of them Jennifer hates more.
In the Show’s Final Moments
Paulina reluctantly calls a truce — for now. But she’ll be back. EJ tries asking how the kids are doing, but Paulina just snaps at him for faking that Chanel video. He lost the right to know.
Cat and Gwen part ways and Cat texts Chad to ask how it went with the family. It’s… not going well. Thomas tells his dad that his heart hurts — Rachel told him the truth about Cat. “You lied. You’re a liar.”
Alex leaves to meet with his family, only after Stephanie insists she’s OK and thanks him for listening. She tearfully tells herself it’s all in the past, but that gets blown up when Jeremy shows up at her door with flowers.
