"As you can see, I let myself in," Edmund said nonchalantly. Alexandra sighed slightly and muttered that the lodge was his property so he could come and go as he pleased. Not wanting to come off too assuming, Edmund mused that he had knocked before he'd entered. By now Alexandra knew that she'd need to explain why she'd taken Maria's medical book. Edmund continued paging through the book and told Alexandra that he did not take her for a reckless woman, the type of woman who would tear a tag off of a mattress or leave before the end of a movie---or tear the page out of a book. Alex's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She suggested that Maria might have torn out the page rather than carrying the "cumbersome" book around with her. Perhaps, she added, one of the kids had ripped out the page. Kids, she said with a smiled, are notoriously hard on books. Alex turned her back to Edmund, her eyes shifting back and forth nervously. Edmund told Alex that his wife had "treasured her books to much to damage them." So, he said, it must have been one of the kids. Alex turned around abruptly and told Edmund that he should not punish them because they don't know any better. Alex told Edmund that if he was looking for something to explain Dimitri's death---something to make it "more real"---this book did not have the answers. She suggested that Edmund talk to Dr. Silbert at Seaview. Alex explained that the doctor had stepped aside with her and helped her understand what had happened to Dimitri in layman's terms. Edmund nodded and said that he might take Alex up on the offer. After Edmund left, Alex raced to the phone and called Dr. Silbert to give him a "heads up" about Edmund's possible call. She then told the doctor that she had a book to check out at Pine Valley's research library.
Scott dropped by Tad and Dixie's house to discuss the future of his documentary with Becca. Becca greeted Scott with a hug, one of comfort not romance. Becca asked Scott for some help in putting away the video equipment. He looked at Becca and told her that he wanted to have the cameras rolling when Dixie returned home. Becca questioned Scott's decision to tape Dixie in her time of grief. "This is not a happy ending," Becca said softly. Scott agreed. This wasn't a happy ending or an ending at all. Scott said that Dixie and Tad's hardship might serve to inspire others. He said that he was sure that there would be a happy ending. Becca remained unsure about shoving cameras into Tad and Dixie's faces. She did, however, cede that this was Scott's film. Without agreeing one way or the other, Becca asked Scott to get Tad and Dixie's permission before filming them.
At the health club, Jake worked out on one of the machines unaware that he was being eyed. From across the club, Greenlee ogled Jake as well as several other gentlemen passersby. "Well, Dr. Martin. Who knew your white coat concealed chiseled biceps?" Greenlee purred upon approaching Jake. Jake didn't even turn in the woman's direction. Instead, he simply asked if they had met somewhere. Greenlee smiled slightly and told Jake that he had stitched up a gash on her leg a little while back. Jake didn't remember Greenlee, but he was intrigued by her unusual name. "It goes great with dinner and a bottle of wine," she replied sexily. Jake was somewhat intimidated by Greenlee's forwardness and said that dinner would be something to look forward to one day. "My work here is done," Greenlee chirped. She said nothing more as she turned and walked away. Elsewhere in the club, Adrian and Belinda worked out together. Fresh from their vacation to space camp, both remained in another orbit. Jake passed by as the couple was sharing a kiss and jokingly slapped Adrian with his towel. After an exchange of niceties, Jake broke the news that Dixie had suffered a miscarriage. Adrian and Belinda were both saddened. Adrian told Jake that he wanted to go and talk to them. "I lost a nephew or a niece," he said softly. Jake shook his head and said that it might not be the best time. Tad and Dixie, he explained, needed some time alone to deal with their loss. Adrian nodded understandingly. He lowered his head ever so slightly and mentioned that he hopes that he will have a little one---especially a girl---to dote over. Belinda was mesmerized by her lover's words and for just a moment seemed to contemplate all of the possibilities. Jake headed on his way allowing Belinda to ask Adrian about his soft spot for children. "You are a remarkable man," she smiled. Adrian chuckled to himself and teased Belinda about just noticing that. Belinda shrugged off Adrian's inflated ego and simply noted that Adrian was "full of surprises."
In his office at Pine Valley Hospital, David received a phone call from Erica. David told Erica that his "bed is definitely way too big" without her.
"I'm such a jerk," Tad lamented. Dixie began to weep openly. She pleaded with Tad not to be so hard on himself. "Please forgive me," she sniffled. Tad looked curiously at Dixie and asked her why he should forgive her. "I thought you didn't love the baby. But you do!" Dixie sobbed. "Of course I did," Tad replied. He told Dixie that he was so fearful that he might lose her and the baby that his behavior became somewhat irrational. "Naming something makes it yours," Dixie said. She was truly touched that Tad loved her baby enough to give it a name. And the name he'd chosen couldn't have had more meaning. They embraced, both fighting back tears. Dixie sighed heavily and said that she's been told that everything happens for a reason. If that was true, Dixie wanted to know what she had done to cause her baby to die. Again Tad assured her that she'd done nothing wrong. It was hard for Dixie to accept that the death might have been caused by something beyond her control. She said that she'd heard a news story about a woman who had burned her child's legs with a cigarette repeatedly. What type of woman does that, she asked. The implication was that "monsters" should not be allowed to have children. Tad interjected that if that was the way things should be, Ray Gardner should not have been allowed to father children. Dr. Clader entered the room and asked Dixie why she hadn't gone home yet. Dixie asked the doctor if he had time to answer a few questions. He nodded and sat down beside Dixie. Tad told his wife that he was going to step out in the hall for a while.
In the hallway, David approached Tad and asked him how Dixie was doing. Tad turned to face the doctor and vented his rage. "You should've seen this coming," Tad snarled. He accused David of "negligence" for having missed the warning signs that Dixie might lose the baby. David assured Tad that Dixie was fine when he checked her. Joe wandered over and asked if something was wrong. David said that Tad had "legitimate concerns" about Dixie's care. David told Joe that he had done a routine check of Dixie's vitals and found her to be in perfect condition. She'd shown no sign of problems, but he noted that it was not his place to do a pelvic exam. David said that before he could do a more thorough exam, Dixie had disappeared from his office to pick the boys up from camp.
Back inside, Dixie asked Dr. Clader why her baby died. It might not have sounded at all comforting, but the doctor informed Dixie that between ten and thirty percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. He said that it was a "natural" occurrence. Something about what happened just didn't seem natural to Dixie. Dr. Clader knew what Dixie's next question would be: Could she have another child. Dr. Clader assured Dixie that her health had not played a role in the miscarriage. As Tad returned to the room, Dixie asked the doctor how soon she and Tad could start trying to have a baby. Tad's face froze, but he said nothing. Dixie climbed into the wheelchair that Tad had brought and prepared to leave. Dr. Clader told Dixie that she should not be in a hurry to try again because her body needed time to heal.
Edmund waited in Joe's office with his copy of the neurology book. When Joe arrived, Edmund told Joe that in spite of everything he still had some questions about Dimitri's death. Joe nodded slightly and told Edmund that he would be glad to answer any questions that he might have. Edmund showed Joe the book and mentioned that he wanted to know what was on the missing page. Joe placed a call to the research library and asked if the hospital's copy of the book could be sent to his office. To Joe's surprise the book was not on the shelves. Edmund asked Joe if the book had been checked out. Joe shook his head and said that the book was just disappeared.
Alexandra moved through the hallways of the hospital with the book carefully hidden under her arm. Suddenly, David appeared before her and Alexandra froze in her tracks. "Well, well Dr. Devane. And what brings you to Pine Valley?"
Ryan met Hayley at the mall to talk because of their agreement only to see each other in public places. Hayley looks terrible and Ryan tells her so. She tells him about Raquel sleeping with Mateo. How can you be sure that Raquel was telling you the truth, he asks. She wasn't so sure, until Mateo came to her and wanted to talk things out and get back together. She thinks he only did that because he slept with Raquel and now considers them "even." Mateo shows up at the mall and wants to talk to Hayley alone. Ryan refuses to leave and Hayley says she doesn't want to talk to him, she knows that he slept with Raquel. As Ryan and Mateo argue, since Mateo thinks it was Ryan that told Hayley this lie, Hayley slowly moves away from them and when Mateo turns to talk to her again, she has disappeared.
At Tad and Dixie's house, Becca and Scott waited for them to arrive home from the hospital. Scott had agreed not to tape their arrival. Dixie looked weak when she and Tad got there, and she quickly headed upstairs to get in bed. Becca made some tea and brought it up to her, while Tad talked to Scott about the video he had shot so far. Scott was willing to scrap their whole part in the project if that's what Dixie and Tad wanted, but Tad told him to wait a while and he would go through the tapes with Scott and say what he could use. Tad went back upstairs to Dixie, who was still devastated by their loss of Bess, yet hopeful at the same time because they could still have a baby together. Tad asked Dixie not to rush anything, they had plenty of time to talk about the idea of having another baby in the future. Dixie softly told Tad that when they do have another child, it can never be named Bess.
Alex ran into David Hayward at the hospital and he recognized her as "Dr. Alexandra Devane." They had apparently met at a conference and Alex reluctantly admits she remembers him, too. She doesn't have a very high opinion of him either, her main concern as a doctor was trying to help people, unlike David, who's main goal was trying to help himself. They are interrupted by Edmund, who asks what Alex is doing there. Alex, hiding the book she stole from the hospital library under her shawl, makes up a lie that she had come back to look for a lost bracelet and Dr. Hayward was just giving her directions since she had lost her way. David doesn't contradict her and Alex allows Edmund to take her back to Wildwind. David goes back to his office and calls a friend trying to find out more information about Alex. When Edmund and Alex arrive at Wildwind, they sit on the couch and have a conversation about David Hayward and how he broke up Ryan and Gillian's relationship. Alex says she likes Gillian, and her unusual grasp of the English language. Edmund, unable to resist a chance to dig, asks Alex if she speaks any foreign languages. She recognizes his digging and calls him on it, she really wishes he would stop interrogating her. He heads upstairs to see Maddie and just after he leaves, David Hayward bursts through the front door, ignoring the protests of the maid and demands to speak to Alex.
Still at the mall, Ryan and Mateo split up with the hopes of tracking down Hayley. Their search was fruitless. Ryan told Mateo that Hayley could not have gotten far because he had driven her to the mall. Upset by Hayley's disappearance, Mateo lashed out at Ryan for his knack of always being around when Hayley needs a hand. "You slept with Raquel," Ryan snapped in return. Mateo shook his head and sighed deeply. He insisted that he had not slept with Raquel and demanded to know where Ryan had come up with such a ridiculous tale. When Ryan said that Raquel had told Hayley about the affair, Mateo threw his hands in the air. Instinctively he knew that Raquel had started the lie. Mateo moved to distance himself from the fallacy. He admitted that Raquel had tried to put the moves on him---but he insisted that nothing had happened because he'd pushed Raquel away. The reason, he said, was that he still loved Hayley.
Hayley returned to Trevor and Janet's and plopped herself down on the sofa. A tall bottle of clear liquid sat just a few inches away on the coffeetable. Hayley reached out in yearning for the bottle. Inexplicably, she broke into maniacal laughter. As she turned the bottle, the label revealed its cruel hoax: it was spring water not vodka. Hayley placed the bottle back on the table and wandered around the room in search of the Dillon family liquor cabinet. She carefully removed a bottle of whiskey and looked longingly at it. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and tried desperately to distract herself by watching television or reading magazines. Nothing could divert her attention. To make matters worse, she was haunted by Mateo and Raquel's voices. She recalled how Mateo had angrily told her that he and Raquel had slept together. That, of course, came long before Raquel claimed that she and Mateo had had an affair.
Dixie woke from her nap and looked around for Tad. As she sat up in bed, Tad jumped into the room wearing a fake handlebar moustache and a cape. Dubbed The Great Martini, Tad proceeded to do a mini magic show for his wife. Dixie was suitably amused and even offered to be a part of the act. Tad sat down on the bed next to Dixie and told her that he's not really as good a magician as she thinks. "I [wish I] could snap my fingers and make all your dreams come true," Tad said softly. Dixie smiled lasciviously and asked Tad if he had a magic wand in his pocket or if he was just happy to see her. The couple kissed gently, but their kiss was cut short by the sound of the doorbell. Tad hurried downstairs to answer the front door. Ruth and Jake filed into the house to check on Dixie. Ruth excused herself to run upstairs and see Dixie for herself. Meanwhile, Jake asked Tad how he and Dixie were getting along. Tad said that Dixie now understood that he'd loved their baby and that he did not want anything bad to happen to her. However, there was still the delicate issue of whether or not to try for another child down the road. Tad bowed his head and timidly told Jake that he'd already decided that he did not want to try again. The risk, Tad explained, was entirely too great.
Upstairs, Dixie told Ruth how she enjoys watching Tad with the boys. She laughed slightly and said that Tad appears to be going through a "second childhood." It was this relationship that made Dixie so intent upon trying to have another baby. "You suffered a terrible loss," Ruth said in an attempt to urge Dixie to put her plans on the back burner. "It's not realistic." Dixie explained that Dr. Clader had assured her that her health did not play a part in losing the baby. She agreed that adding an addition to the family was more of a fantasy than anything else, but Dixie didn't see any harm in dreaming. "I wanna tell the hostess at McKay's that [we're] a part of five," Dixie said in a tiny voice. The five, of course, would be Tad, Dixie, Junior, Jamie, and a new baby.
Meanwhile back downstairs, Jake was on his way out when Liza arrived at the front door toting Colby. Jake and Liza doted endlessly over "their" little girl as Tad looked on with a great deal of concern. Jake headed off for the hospital and Liza and Tad were cleared to discuss business. Before saying anything else, Liza asked Tad why he was dressed so ridiculously. Tad blushed ever so slightly and said that he was using the costume to cheer up Dixie. Liza cocked her head to one side and asked Tad if he really walked around the hospital in his magician get-up. Tad shook his head and informed Liza that Dixie was resting upstairs. Liza's eyes widened and she quickly began gathering her belongings. She told Tad that she would never have dropped by if she knew that Dixie was home from the hospital. Before Liza could scurry off, Dixie and Ruth entered the room. Tad tried telling Dixie that Liza had to be on her way, but Dixie begged Liza to stick around for a little while longer. Silently in the background, Ruth looked very worried. Liza carefully handed Colby over to Dixie and Dixie's heart melted immediately. When she called Colby "mommy's little angel," Tad flashed a look of concern. Dixie, though, was not mistaking Colby for her own child. Dixie sat down on the sofa and fondly recalled Junior's first step, his first word, and his first day of school. The trip down memory lane seemed to pain everyone but Dixie. Tad took a deep breath and told Dixie that Liza had to be going. Again Dixie refused to let Liza leave. Liza smiled warmly and explained that she and Colby had a lunch date with Adam. Liza did agreed to walk Dixie up to bed. When they left the room, Ruth assured Tad that it was perfectly natural for Dixie to be "drawn" to Colby because she needs something to fill the void in her life. Tad snapped that he and the boys should be enough to fill that void. Ruth understood why Tad was upset, but he said that Dixie was dealing with the loss of a dream.
In bed, Dixie gently stroked Colby's head. She looked at Liza and ordered her to spend as much time with Colby as possible. Tearfully, Dixie returned her attention to the baby. She apologized for not being able to give Colby a playmate.
Ryan arrived at Trevor and Janet's and rapped loudly on the front door. There was no response. Since Hayley's car was still in the driveway, Ryan had reason to suspect that Hayley was holed up inside. He peeked through the window and his worst fears came true. Hayley laid lifelessly on the floor. Ryan rammed himself against the door until it gave way. He raced to Hayley's side and gently shook her. There was no response. Ryan then carefully hoisted Hayley into the air and carried her off to the hospital.
At the hospital, Jake ordered Ryan to carry Hayley into an examining room. The first question Jake asked was whether or not Hayley had had anything to drink. Her breath did not reek of alcohol, but Jake was aware that Hayley was battling for keep her sobriety. All of Hayley's vital signs checked out normally and Jake determined that Hayley had not had anything to drink. He waved some smelling salts under Hayley's nose and Hayley quickly regained consciousness. Upon waking, Hayley gave Ryan an embrace.
Mateo phoned the Dillon home from the airport, but there was no answer. He left a message on the answering for Hayley. He then called SOS to see if anyone had seen Hayley at the club. He left strict orders for the person answering the phone to do whatever it takes to keep Hayley from leaving the club if and when she shows up.
"What do you want?" Alexandra grumbled upon seeing David. David smiled wryly and scolded Alex for giving him the "cold shoulder" treatment. Alex accused David of following her, but David said that that was not the case. "Everyone knows that the Widow Marick is shacked up at Wildwind," he sneered. Alex quickly closed the doors to the parlor so that David's loud voice would not echo through the house. Alex told the doctor that she was on her way out, but David said that he wanted to stick around and find out how well Edmund really knew his new sister-in-law. David mentioned that Alex was one of the top neurologists in the world---past tense. For some unknown reason she dropped out of sight and had not practiced medicine in some time. It seemed odd that she'd given up such a promising career. Alexandra tried to downplay her withdrawal from medicine. David, however, continued to probe for an explanation. He asked Alexandra if she'd made "a fatal error," a gentle way of implying that she'd killed a patient. Alex vehemently denied making any mistakes and said that it was not important to know why she'd stepped out of the limelight. David walked slowly towards Alexandra's belongings and plucked the book she'd taken from the hospital out of her purse. He demanded to know what Alex was doing with a neurology book---considering that she was no longer practicing medicine. Alex demanded that David unhand her book. David flipped to the inside cover and noticed a stamp that marked the book as the property of Pine Valley Hospital. Before long, David was scanning the book's index. He came across the entry he was looking for: Dr. Alexandra Devane. Alex pleaded with David to keep quiet about her medical career. David, however, turned a deaf ear and told Alex that he would do no such thing. He reminded Alex that not so long ago, he had asked her to help him out of a jam---and she refused. Whatever it was that David had asked of Alex, Alex felt that it was "despicable." David nodded understandingly and said that considering their rocky past, Alex must really be in a jam to ask him for help. Edmund strolled into the room and demanded to know why David was there.
Hayley came to in the hospital bed and asked< Ryan what happened. He told her he had found her passed out at Trevor and Janet's house, and had brought her to the hospital. Ryan assured Hayley he will always be there to help her. Outside the room, Gillian anxiously asked Jake if Hayley was OK. Jake explained that she will be all right, but will be staying overnight for observation, adding that Ryan was with Hayley. Gillian's face fell, and she went to phone Mateo and tell him about Hayley, but he wasn't home.
Then Adam came rushing in, demanding to know about his daughter. Jake filled him in, saying that in addition to malnourishment and exhaustion, Hayley had been under a lot of stress lately and hadn't been eating or sleeping. "Hayley should fill you in on the details," Jake told Adam, who thanked Jake for notifying him that Hayley was in the hospital. Jake said he'd want to know if there were anything wrong with his daughter.
Adam went to Hayley's side and asked her what happened, but didn't
buy her answer that she forgot breakfast and skipped lunch. "Malnourishment
and dehydration aren't caused by skipped meals," he frowned. Adam, thinking
he was to blame for Hayley's condition, told her that he thought fixing
the custody hearing was what she and Mateo wanted. Hayley assured him it
wasn't his fault. So what caused the stress Jake mentioned, he queried.
Was it something to do with Mateo?
Outside in the hallway, Ryan was anxiously pacing as Mateo
burst in and yelled at Ryan to get out of his way. Ryan told him that he
wasn't going anywhere near Hayley. "Try doing what's best for her," he
angrily told Mateo. Jake intervened, telling them to keep the noise down
or take it somewhere else. He reassured Mateo that Hayley would be all
right, she just needed sleep and rest. Ryan explained to Mateo how he had
found Hayley. "What was she drinking?" asked a suspicious Mateo. "It's
not alcohol, it's you that is the problem," Ryan shot back at him.
Mateo yelled that he did not sleep with Raquel - as Adam emerged from Hayley's
room in time to hear those words! He lunged at Mateo, "You cheated on my
daughter?!" Ryan grabbed at Adam to stop him from attacking Mateo. "You've
got it wrong, and it's none of your business!" Mateo yelled at Adam. "Everything
concerning my daughter is my business," Adam replied, "And she's off limits
to you!" Jake angrily told everyone to calm down, and allowed Ryan to go
back in to see Hayley. "Why is HE allowed to go in?" Mateo angrily demanded,
scowling at Jake. Jake said he had sedated Hayley and it was in her best
interests for Mateo not to see her. Mateo then accused Adam of paying Jake
off. "I'm not leaving till I see my wife!" Adam retaliated, "She is not
your wife! She is not obligated to you in any way! You have no claim on
her. You're leaving NOW!" Gillian was listening to all this from a distance.
Adam then called security to come and throw Mateo out of the hospital.
Mateo angrily shrugged off the guard and made his exit, escorted by two
other guards who saw him out of the door. Adam thanked Jake for his stance
and Jake told him he did what he had to do. "And so will I," muttered Adam.
He spotted an intern and slipped him some cash to stay on after his shift
and make sure Mateo didn't get in to see Hayley. But then Gillian quietly
brought Mateo in, and he convinced her he needed to see Hayley, who was
sleeping fitfully, then called Mateo's name in her sleep.
Meanwhile at the Glamorama, Myrtle interviewed and hired a new manicurist, a giggling blonde named Tiffany. She and Becca are introduced and soon become friends. Greenlee's grandmother, Millicent, showed up for an appointment, and greeted Greenlee who had just finished a session with Sven the masseur. Greenlee and her grandmother discussed Scott as a prospect for Greenlee to pursue. Becca watched and listened. Scott showed up and invited Becca to lunch and a swim, but she turned him down until Myrtle gave her a pep talk - and she saw Greenlee planning to move in on Scott! Before they went in to swim, Scott suggested they should put sunblock on each other, but Becca got nervous and asked Scott to take her back to work.
Marian arrived in a flourish, wearing her flowered hat and waving a photo album of her and Stuart's trip to England and the Royal Garden Party. She proudly showed her pictures to Millicent who perked up at the sight of Stuart with Prince Charles, whom Stuart had invited to Pine Valley, a proud Marian told Millicent. But when Stuart showed up to take Marian home, her bubble was burst when Stuart explained that the prince had his picture taken with him because he thought he was Adam! Marian was crushed, and hurried Stuart out of the Glamorama. Greenlee talked Scott into making up a foursome at tennis and Scott agreed, much to Becca's annoyance.
At Wildwind, Edmund demanded to know what David was doing there. Alex quickly told him that she hadn't recognized David at the hospital and he was "gentleman enough" to go along with her. David skirted around any further explanation, but mentioned their past "affiliation." Alex told Edmund that she and David met in England, introduced by a mutual friend - not Sean, she replied to Edmund's question. David hinted there was a mystery about the "self-effacing " Alexandra Devane. He toyed with her, speculating why she hadn't returned to England. Alex said she finds comfort at Wildwind, among Dimitri's friends. David then pushed her for some medical answers, any previous symptoms? etc. "It's been a long day, and I'd rather not mull over the details of my husband's death with you," Alex replied, grabbing the medical book from him.
David was about to leave when Edmund stopped him, demanding to know
what was going on. Alex thrust the book at Edmund, "Here, this will explain
it." Edmund saw her picture with her medical colleagues. "You're a doctor?
Why have you lied all this time?" Alex claimed that the fact wasn't important.
David looked pleased with himself and told them he was leaving them to
sort everything out, commenting to Edmund that is was so tragic that such
a talented doctor couldn't save his brother's life, "even though she was
with him in those final moments!"
Edmund was furious with Alex for deceiving him. "It changes everything,"
he said. "Why couldn't you save him? You couldn't save him, or you wouldn't?"
Alex retorted, "What are you suggesting? That I did nothing to help my
own husband?"
Edmund accused her, "You had the means to save him or the means to
do him in!" Alex told him she did everything she could, but an upset
Edmund accused her of lying about everything. Then after Alex reminded
Edmund that she was Dimitri's wife, he angrily reminded her of her actions
with Dimitri's coffin - which she had refused to open - and brought up
the subject of the new will - which would undoubtedly leave everything
to her!
My brother trusted you with his life," he said as he angrily threw
the medical book. "And now he's dead," storming out to the telephone. "I'm
calling Derek Frye and having the police investigate my brother's death,"
he told Alex. "No, you can't do that," she said, grabbing at the phone.
"You want to know the truth - I'll tell you!"
Fresh from her whirlwind tour of Europe, Opal returned home to the Glamorama. Upon her return, Tiffany scurried over to Opal and chirped the news that she was the new manicurist. Opal gushed proudly and welcomed the woman aboard. Tiffany's mother, Ethel, had worked for Opal at the old Glamorama. Vanessa strolled into the salon and told Opal that needed to speak to her. Opal turned her back on Vanessa and diverted her attention to getting caught up with Myrtle. Myrtle didn't want to dump bad news on Opal so soon, but she felt that she needed to know about Tad and Dixie's loss.
Erica was also back from her trip with Bianca. Upstairs in her bedroom, Erica gently brushed her hair. Suddenly, the sounds of a piano filled the room. Erica slowly rose from her seat and headed off to investigate. She made her way down the stairs and found David sitting at her piano. It came as somewhat of a surprise to Erica that David knew how to play the piano. Perhaps it shouldn't have since David's livelihood depended upon the skillful and delicate use of her hands. As the piece concluded, David rose from the bench and made his way towards Erica. Without so much as a word, David and Erica fell into each other's arms and kissed passionately. Their lips separated momentarily and David welcomed Erica home. "I missed you," he said softly just before admitting that he'd bribed Coral, Erica's housekeeper, to let him into the house. Erica puckered her lips slightly and noted that Coral would do anything for David because she has a crush on him. Erica and David kissed again. This time, however, David hoisted Erica into his arms and carefully carried her upstairs.
The news that "jill" was going to have babies failed to move Tad. In fact, he became somewhat concerned when the boys burst into the house and asked if they could have one of them. Junior explained that "jill" was the term used to refer to a female ferret. Tad told the boys that they'd have to ask Dixie if they could get a new pet---and that they'd have to wait to ask her because she was sleeping. Junior worried that his mother wasn't well, but Tad explained that she was "just really tired." Opal arrived at the house with gifts for everyone. After Junior and Jamie raced to her car to get their packages, Opal approached her son and gave him a big hug. "I wish I could do something for you and Dixie," she sighed heavily. Tad nodded his head. "You could talk her out of having another baby," he replied. Opal tried to convince Tad that trying for another baby might not be such a bad thing...in time. Tad didn't agree. "Why tempt fate all over again?" he asked with a twinge of anger. "I'm not gonna lose her." Always optimistic, Opal noted that Tad didn't have to lose anything. In fact, he might actually "gain a child." Tad, however, was not prepared to "gamble" with Dixie's life. Tad burst into laughter as Opal urged him to "side with the angels." He was amazed that Opal could continually look on the bright side. "You survived Ray Gardner and Palmer Cortlandt," Tad conceded. "That would have killed most people." Adrian and Belinda entered the house through the still ajar from door. Carrying flowers, Belinda offered her condolences to Tad. She asked if she could see Dixie, but Tad was sure that Dixie was still fast asleep. Opal offered to go and check on Dixie. Adrian approached Tad and the two men embraced. Opal looked on from the background with a proud smile. Adrian offered to take the boys for a little while if Tad and Dixie needed some time alone. Opal returned and said that Dixie was now awake, but still resting. Belinda decided that it was a good time to put the flowers in a vase and for Adrian to make some iced tea. Of course, this was just an excuse to allow Tad and Opal some time to talk. Opal told Tad that Dixie had mentioned her desire to have another baby. Opal understood that Tad was afraid of what might happen. "Stare down those fears," she encouraged her son. After Opal left, Tad thought about what his mother had said and realized that maybe it was time to talk openly with Dixie. Adrian and Belinda returned to the den. The boys returned to the house looking for Tad. When Belinda said that Tad was upstairs with Dixie, Junior put two and two together and determined that his mom must have lost the baby. Adrian sat on the sofa and prepared to talk to the two boys. In the back of the room, Tad looked on unnoticed. Adrian confirmed that Dixie had suffered a miscarriage. He told Junior and Jamie that under normal circumstances, Tad and Dixie would not keep secrets from them. But this was something different. Tad and Dixie were so upset by what had happened that they were not sure how or when to tell the boys about the bad news. Adrian's explanation really seemed to help. Jamie, however, still had one question. "Does this mean we'll never have a baby sister?" That, though, was a question that Adrian could not answer. The boys headed on their way and Tad returned to the room. He thanked Adrian for handling the question so well. Adrian said that it may not be any of his business, but he too was wondering if Tad and Dixie were going to try to have another baby. Tad said that his gut feeling was no---but that a little bird had urged him to "go for the gusto." Adrian smiled and asked Tad if that little bird was a "spunky, [wearing] bright colors, and lots of jewelry."
For privacy's sake, Alexandra took Edmund to the hunting lodge. Once there, Edmund vented his frustration over Alex's constantly changing stories. "I am a neurologist," Alex said clearing up any doubt about her medical background. She said that it was her career, not social life, that led her and Dimitri to their first meeting. Edmund angrily grabbed Alex by the arm and demanded that she tell him the whole truth---not just bits and pieces of it. "I never wanted this to happen," she sighed as she began recounting the past.
As before, Alex recalled her first date with Dimitri. He had said that Alex would never have met him if she knew the reason he was there. That, of course, hinted that this was more than a social call. "Perhaps there are some things that I don't want to see," Alex replied as she tried to avoid the subject. Where Alex's flashbacks previously ended at this point, this time there was more... much more. "I'm dying," Dimitri said with noticeable concern. Alex continued eating, between bites informing Dimitri that she was no longer practicing medicine. "Your last patient was a nine-year old boy. You struggled for fifteen months to save him [but] he died in your arms," Dimitri responded. It became clear that he had done his homework. "I've had my life. Whatever you can give me would be gravy. I'm not afraid to die but I want to live. Life is sweet and I want it."
Edmund was stunned that his brother was ill. He and Dimitri had gone on a skiing trip just a few weeks before Dimitri and Alex first met and Dimitri seemed fine. Alex nodded her head and said that the disease that Dimitri suffered from has no real physical symptoms. If Alex had not been practicing medicine, Edmund to know how and why she'd decided to treat Dimitri. "I could never refuse [Dimitri] anything," she said with a smile. Dimitri had dropped by Alex's office the day after their first date.
Alex carefully reviewed the medical files that Dimitri had given her. The doctors Dimitri had seen were all top-notch, but Alex badmouthed their practices. One doctor, she said, gives up entirely too easily. According to Dimitri, he first noticed that something was wrong a few days after he and Edmund escaped from the aqueduct. He felt slightly dizzy, but thought that he had some water trapped in his inner ear. When he checked with a doctor, he was told that the problem was much more severe. The final diagnosis was a rare but fatal disease for which there was no cure. Alexandra explained that the cell regeneration process in Dimitri's brain had become flawed. Instead of shedding and replacing cells on a one-to-one basis, the shedding process had become extremely accelerated and the replenishment almost non-existent. In essence, Dimitri's brain was slowly dying. Dimitri told Alex that he could not tell his brother about his health problems because Edmund was still mourning the loss of his wife. After an extended treatment period, Alex had someone managed to cure Dimitri of his previously untreatable ailment. Although she preferred to say that the disease was in remission rather than fully cured. Dimitri became jubilant and kissed Alex in thanks. He pulled away when he realized that he might have overstepped the bounds of their relationship. To his surprise, Alex stepped towards him and gave him a kiss in return.
Something about Alex's explanation just didn't jive with Edmund. Dimitri had been cured of a strange disease---and died anyway. Alex explained that Dimitri's death had been the result of something entirely different; he did not die from the disease. Edmund wanted to know if Dimitri knew that he was healthy when he asked Alex to marry him. She reminded Edmund that it was Dimitri's wish not to have his loved ones know the full-extent of his illness. Edmund snapped that Alex, not Dimitri, was the one causing him heartache. Furious that more uncertainty had been raised, Edmund stormed out of the lodge. Alex threw her arms in the air and began pacing about the lodge. She took off her shoes and slowly walked over to the chest of drawers. There she opened the lid to the music box that Dimitri had given her and listened to the tune. Her mind drifted once again to the past.
David and Erica returned downstairs, their wardrobe slightly altered. David's shirt was now wrinkled and untucked and Erica was wearing a white bathrobe. David asked Erica to play him something on the piano. Erica smiled slightly and informed him that "the only thing I play is the radio." David asked Erica about her time with Bianca and Erica was only too eager to talk about the most important thing in her life---her daughter. She said that Bianca was doing better every day, but that she was disappointed that she would not get to have Dimitri's horse, Maximillian. David wondered if it was possible that Alexandra was a "horseman" and wanted Maximillian for herself. Erica doubted it, but conceded that it was a remote possibility. She was still convinced that Alex was up to something. She also said that she resented that way that Alex carried on as though she loved Dimitri more than anyone. She muttered that Alex would probably keep Dimitri "under lock and key" if he were still alive. The ringing of David's cellular phone interrupted the conversation. On the other end of the line was Edmund, though David never once offered a hint as to who he was talking to. Edmund told David that he was at the mausoleum and that he needed to talk to him about Alexandra. David told Edmund that he'd be there in a few minutes.
Inside the Marick family crypt, Edmund crouched before his brother's vault with a somber face. "Did you love her Dimitri?" Edmund asked aloud. "Did she love you... or did she kill you? I have to know."
Opal returned to the Glamorama just as Tiffany was putting the final touches on Vanessa's manicure. Opal praised her new hire's work, but encouraged Vanessa to return to the salon. "Come back next week," Opal said. "We're having a special on declawings." Vanessa said that she would be taking her business elsewhere---Paris, in fact. Opal's eyes lit up and in a roundabout way told Vanessa that she'd be happy to see her go. Opal hurried Vanessa to the front door, but before she could get rid of the customer, Palmer appeared. Opal assumed that her former husband had dropped by to see their son, but that was not the case. Palmer smiled lovingly at Vanessa. He admired her recently touched up hands, but couldn't help but notice that they looked unusually bare. Vanessa explained that she'd had to take off all of her jewelry for the manicure. Palmer then produced a stunning diamond ring and helped ease it on to Vanessa's finger. Opal's face turned a ghostly shade of white. Myrtle entered the foyer and also looked on in shock. "May I present the new Mrs. Palmer Cortlandt," Palmer smiled proudly.
