Diane Tells Jack She’s Leaving Him — and Tucker Has a Strange Encounter In Paris
In Paris, Audra is working on her laptop in her suite when Tucker knocks on the door. Sighing, she opens the door and asks what the hell he’s doing there. He says, “I could ask you the same question, couldn’t I?” Tucker tells Audra he’s sent her legal documents; an order to cease and desist any and all Glissade interactions. Audra rants that he doesn’t get to decide who she speaks to. Tucker tells her the company is his… does she think she can rip it out from under him? Audra tells him to leave and go back to Genoa City to the people he claims to care so much about.
Also in Paris, Ashley, Traci, and Alan arrive at Ashley’s apartment. Ashley looks around and says everything seems the same. She worried one of her alters might have done something to it and says she can’t recall anything happening there. Ashley goes to freshen up, and Alan tells Traci that, hopefully, being in her own apartment will help her relax and unravel what happened. As they talk, Ashley’s alters tell her they need to get out of there fast, before it’s too late. She holds her head as Alan tells Traci they’ll need to take their cues from Ashley. Traci thinks the risk to her is unnerving. She has to face something terribly painful. Alan says it all hinges on whether or not she can control her alters. Traci thought she’d have the strength to resist. Alan thinks the alters have a fairly firm grip on her psyche. In the next room, Ashley listens as her alters tell her to let go.
At Crimson Lights, Claire agonizes over which treat to take for her first day as Harrison’s nanny.
Outside the Abbott mansion, Summer and Kyle watch Harrison, who has just learned to ride a bike. Kyle notes it’s a big day for all of them. Summer admits it’s nerve-wracking for her. Kyle is proud of her. She doesn’t need him to be proud of her… she just needs him to be right about Claire. Jack watches from the door and then joins Diane in the living room. They chat about Harrison before talk turns to her being upset over him agreeing to be Nikki’s sponsor again. Diane confirms that the more she thinks about it, the more upset she becomes. She announces that she’s made a decision. “I can’t take this anymore. I’m done.”
Jack gawps that she said that like she’s done with them. “You can’t mean that!” Diane marvels at them getting to this point. This breaks her heart, “But maybe this is what it has to come to.” Jack frowns, “All because I agreed to be Nikki’s sponsor?!” Diane cries that it’s more than that. This situation has been tearing her up inside and she can’t pretend anymore that it doesn’t bother her when he jumps every time Nikki calls. He’s made his priorities clear. Jack vows he won’t go too far again. Diane doesn’t think that’s a promise he can keep. “You made a decision in that moment to put Nikki above everything, including your own life.” That can’t be promised away. Jack swears it will never happen again. Diane reminds him he swore he wouldn’t use again, but he did. “You told me before that an addict will use any excuse to use.” What if on some deeper level, watching Nikki give in to her addiction made him want to give into his… to feel that high again?
Jack rails that he can’t think any part of Diane would think taking pills appealed to him. Diane says he did it anyway. She can’t live with worrying he’ll give in again. Is she supposed to play the supportive wife wondering every time he runs after Nikki that he may not come home or will use again? Jack isn’t going to do anything to jeopardize their future together. Diane can’t stop him from helping Nikki, but she can’t be there to watch. Jack hears her. She’s very serious. “What do we do now?” Diane will give him time to think about this and let it all sink in. She walks out. Jack opens the door and calls after her.
In Paris, Tucker asks, “How did we get here, Audra?” They were on top of the world; genuinely happy. “At least I was. I was ready to commit my entire life to you. With or without the ring. With or without the vows. I still am. Why? Why are you doing this?” Audra muses, “You can be so smart about some things, and so utterly oblivious about others. You chose everyone else over me.” He chose Devon and Ashley and couldn’t put her at the forefront of his life, not once. She fell for the oldest lie in the book, “That I could change you. That my love could change you. But you will never change.” She’ll never believe him again.
In Ashley’s apartment, Alan has to head home to shower but will be back soon. Traci asks what she can do to keep her sister safe. Ashley shakes off the alters and joins them in time to hug him goodbye. Traci suggests her sister sleep, but she’s afraid. She can hear the alters in her head; they’re looking for a chance. Traci assures her they’re on track to finding out what’s going on with her. Ashley knows the alters are trying to protect her from something, but she can’t let them. “I can’t let them take over right now.” Over tea, they discuss how scared Ashley is. She laments having no control over her own being. She doesn’t understand why she would reconnect with Tucker? If they’re trying to protect her, why would the alters drag Tucker back into this. Traci thinks maybe they think he can protect her. Ashley sighs that she has family for that. Traci asks what she wants or needs. Ashley says, “Just keep an eye on me.”
At the Abbott mansion, Summer tells Harrison today is a big day. Claire is going to hang out with him while she and Daddy are at work. Harrison’s sure they’ll have a lot of fun. Summer tells him if he gets sad or misses them, he should have Claire call them… or he can pick up the phone and press ‘1’, it’s all set for him. The doorbell rings and Harrison lets Claire in. Summer looks worried.
In Paris, Tucker asks if Audra is really going to throw away what they have because he wasn’t willing to walk out on family. What kind of person does that? Audra retorts that it’s what he wanted Ashley to do. “You were willing to walk away because she wouldn’t sever her relationship with her family. Sounds like you’re getting a bit of karmic payback.” She’s just pointing out his hypocrisy. Tucker argues the situations are very different. Audra says he’s right… Ashley’s family truly cares for her, while his son doesn’t give a damn about him. Tucker supposes he should just give up on Devon and Dom then? Audra never said that, she only asked him to follow through on the plans he made with her. Tucker argues there was never a scenario where it was either or. Audra is tired of this argument. Her eyes are finally opened. “You will never make me a priority, so I’m done.” She opens the door, and tells him to get out and leave her alone. Tucker asks, “So that’s it. Really? It’s over?” He tells her to stay away from Glissade and walks out.
At the Abbott mansion, Summer instructs Claire that the brownies have to wait until after lunch. Claire understands. Summer asks that they not leave the property for now. Kyle’s impressed that Claire had researched booster seats, but Summer says she’ll be picking it out.
In the park, Jack catches up with Diane and insists they have to talk this through. Diane feels there’s nothing left to talk about. Jack repeats that he regrets that night and it will never happen again. Diane goes over how horrible that night was for her. Jack is determined to build their life together. Diane says he put himself in harm’s way without thinking about her. “How am I supposed to live with that?!” She’s seen how far he’ll go for Nikki and how not far he’ll go for her. She has to end things now, “I don’t have another choice.” Just then, Jack gets a text from Nikki, who wants to have coffee. Jack tells Diane that this isn’t fair… Nikki needs help. Walking out on him isn’t the solution Diane is the only one who gets to decide what she can live with and what she can’t.
In the apartment in Paris, Traci vows to make sure Ashley stays present and in control. Ashley thanks her. “I couldn’t do this without you.” She knows Alan does have much of a plan… he’s counting on her to guide them, but her head’s like a dead zone. She’s put all of her faith in him, but he’s counting on her.
By the water in Paris, Tucker runs into Alan, who is wearing a black leather jacket. Tucker chortles, “Hey, Alan!” Alan gives him a shifty look and takes off. Tucker looks puzzled.
At Ashley’s apartment, Alan arrives and asks if Ashley slept. She shares that she’s afraid of the alters taking over. He urges her not to put so much pressure on herself. Ashley wants to do this now. Alan tells her and Traci they’ll piece this all together. He’ll try and revive the memories of what happened between the time she fought with Tucker and when she went home. Ashley’s been wracking her brain, but she has nothing. Alan asks if she remembers where she went or what she did. Ashley recalls that she’d been up the whole night, the night before her row with Tucker. Alan asks if she went somewhere after the fight to clear her mind. He urges her to close her eyes and retrace her steps. Ashley becomes frightened. He thinks that’s because her subconscious doesn’t want her to remember what happened.
Y&R’s new doctor isn’t ‘new’ at allAt the Abbott mansion, Summer and Kyle say they’re leaving. Summer thinks maybe she should work from there. Kyle is sure Harrison and Claire will be fine. The kid tells his mom Claire will take good care of him and they’ll have a lot of fun. Hugs are doled out and then they go. Harrison takes Claire to see a helicopter as Kyle pulls Summer out the front door.
In the park, Diane tells Jack that he’s not the only option for Nikki… even Victor thought he was a terrible choice as her sponsor. Jack scoffs at the Mustache’s opinion. They have history and trust. To ask Nikki to start over with someone else is cruel. Diane asks if he’s considered the possibility that Nikki chose him because she knew he’d go easier on her. She managed to do a lot of drinking on his watch. Jack says it’s a lot more complicated than that. If he hadn’t been there, it could have been worse. Diane says she can help her find another sponsor. She’s drawing a line in the sand. Jack gawps, “And that’s it?” Diane says he’s brought this on himself. He’s the one making the choice. This is breaking her heart, but right now she needs to walk away from him. Jack can’t let her do this. He refuses to lose her over this. Diane refuses to lose him to an overdose. Jack tears up over her giving up on their marriage. Diane doesn’t know what else to do. Jack does. “Nikki will have to find herself another sponsor. Diane says she’s sorry and they embrace.
At Crimson Lights, Summer tells Kyle she needed to ease into this transition and take a breather before going to work. Kyle doesn’t understand what there is to be uneasy about, but he acknowledges it’s been a while since they’ve left their son with a caregiver. Summer goes over Claire’s connection to Jordan. She knows she agreed to go along with this decision, but she hopes she never has reason to regret it. Kyle thinks it will be a good reset for them all.
In Ashley’s apartment, Alan tells her memories can’t hurt her. She’s safe with them. He asks if she came back there that night. Ashley says she went for a walk. “I called you and asked you to meet me.” Alan looks puzzled when she says they spoke. “Are you sure you called me.” Ashley says she remembers that he told her he would meet her after his last session. Alan frowns, “Ashley, I was in Florence the last week of September.” Ashley says that can’t be. “I know it was the same evening. I know it.” Alan’s afraid that’s not possible.
Next on The Young and the Restless: Victor holds Michael accountable for his actions, Jack and Nikki reach an understanding, and Summer calls a truce with Sally.
