MEN OF MYSTERY…

Aidan, Maureen, Maggie and Henry are sharing a table at S.O.S., enjoying the music of a very talented young guitar player. Maggie tells Henry he should be the one up there, and he laughs, "Yeah, when you own the club!" When Aidan and Henry go to get drinks, Maureen notes that Henry seems pretty solid and asks how they're doing? Maggie reports so far, so good, but he always has this Man of Mystery thing going. Maureen looks over at Aidan as she agrees, "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean."

Aidan asks Maggie how the chemistry mid-term went, and she proudly says she aced it, just like Maureen and Henry. Maureen modestly says she didn't, and tells Aidan that Shambala told her Henry was the top student in the class. Uncomfortable, Henry goes to order some food, and Maggie goes after him, as Aidan and Maureen agree that something weird definitely just went down!

Maggie tells Henry he aced the exam, too, but he morosely says that's only because he copied from her paper; otherwise he would have flunked. Maggie repeats that he just had a panic attack. He's brilliant, and no exam is going to change that, and nobody is going to take that away from him. Henry kisses her hand as he says she kept him in the program, and Maggie assures him she's do it again in a minute.

Back at the table, Maureen watches them and comments that they're young; she doesn't know what she's thinking! If she goes back to medical school, it's going to be really rough, with residency and 48-hour shifts. Aidan says medicine is still her thing, and he thinks she should go back to it; he'll be her biggest fan, cheering until she can't take anymore! Maureen kisses him as she asks how she got so lucky?

Maureen asks Maggie if she and Henry are starting to get serious? Maggie is, but says it's hard to know what he's thinking. Maureen agrees that some guys are just naturally secretive; she was watching them, and thinks he really does want to break down some walls, but he's a guy and it's hard for them. Maggie shares that it's his mother, not just the pressure to succeed. His mother equates being a doctor with being successful; meanwhile, Henry has this artist trapped inside, crying to get out.

Henry chats with the musician and asks if he wrote that? It's fantastic! The guy goes to find his girlfriend, and Henry stares after him with the same rapt expression he wore when meeting David. Aidan comes up and agrees with Henry that he's really good. He laughs that he'll be coming to him with sprained fingers in a few years, and asks if Henry plays and writes music, too? Henry tells him he never studied, and he never plays for other people. Aidan asks if that's not like painting and not showing other people his pictures? Henry maintains he's not really that good; he played for Maggie a couple of times, and it made him nervous. Devane insists he'll get more comfortable with performing, but Henry tells him it's not practical; medicine is practical, and it's going to be his life. Aidan notes that sometimes life doesn't count for much if you don't follow your dream. They return to the ladies, and the couples enjoy a slow dance and kisses.

THE LAST TIME I WANT AN UPDATE ON YOUR LOVE LIFE…

Edmund sees Brooke on the phone in her office and comes in as she's saying it's good to be back. He laughs as he says she's lying, but Brooke says it really is, although she has some things to straighten out here and on the home front. Edmund agrees he heard about Jamie's run-in with Laurie's father, and she confides she's had to deal with some of the fallout at home. Getting away from that, she asks him to tell her something pleasant. Edmund clears his throat and says he wanted to talk to her before the office rumor mill did any damage; he was doing the article on Fusion, and while conducting the interviews, he went out with Mia Saunders a few times. Brooke looks up at him in surprise and says she hates to break it to him, but his personal life is none of her concern. "So this is the last time that I want an update on your love life, okay?"

Edmund is waiting when Brooke comes back to her office, and says he owes her an explanation. Brooke coolly replies that she doesn't need one - she's kept track. She recounts that she sort of fooled him into going through with their marriage, "And then Maria came back, and you chose her, and then Maria chose Aidan, and then you chose Mia; did I miss anything?" Edmund protests it isn't that simple. Brooke says they have lived in this town and worked together at the magazine, and everything has been fine, and now he is seeing Mia, "So, congratulations." She says she has a lot on her plate right now, like her son's romantic personal life, and she can't deal with his, too! He insists that's not what he wants, and Brooke wonders what it is that he does want, so she can give it to him and she can get back to business. Edmund says he just wanted to tell her he went out with Mia a couple of times before the office turned this into the romance of the century. Brooke thinks that's fine, but his dates are none of her concern, "Got it?" Edmund agrees to keep their relationship strictly as co-workers and professionals and, in time, maybe good friends again. Brooke tells him she didn't stop loving him, she just stopped expecting him to come back. Edmund says he's sorry for everything; Brooke agrees she is, too. She gets a call and has to leave the office. Before going, she lightly touches his arm and tells him to be careful, but not too careful, because life is too short to stop taking chances.

THE STREET KID AND THE CHURCH LADY…

Jack finds Reggie grooving to his music while all of the community center volunteers carry boxes into the kitchen. He tries to get his attention by saying he's decided to give him that fifty thousand dollars, but Reggie's in his own world behind his headphones, and jumps out of his chair when Jack taps him on the shoulder. Jackson tells him to take the headphones off - somebody might get hurt. Reggie argues that the music is keeping him awake, adding that he was in charge of making sure the boxes got here; they got here, so he's going to take off. Jackson tells him he's not going anywhere until the job's done, and Reggie sighs that he hopes Jackson's woman comes by and drops off some of that sweet stuff so he'll lighten up a bit! Jack tells him that will be enough of that kind of talk, and to stay out of his personal business. He gives Reggie a box to take into his office, with the admonition that he's to do it himself. Reggie goes off grumbling that no one can put anything over on the D.A. except that Enchantment chick! Joni comes in and greets Jack, explaining that her church group is helping with the project. She spots Reggie, and asks Jack what he's doing here? Jack tells her not much, but his charge insists he's busting his hump. Jackson reminds Reggie that Joni's parents are big supporters of this program, so he's to be nice! Jack walks away, and Joni reminds Reggie of that day in the park with his gangster friend when they traumatized little Maddie. He repeats that he's sorry, and Joni stiffly says they don't need gang members hanging around here. "I'm not a gang member, Miss Church Lady," he tells her. He winces when he bangs into a dolly, and Joni taunts that he's a little too delicate to be a gang member. "I took this beating for you!" he exclaims. Joni's eyes widen as she asks if that guy at the park beat him up after they left? She asks how badly that creep hurt him, and if he reported it to the police? Reggie says he didn't get beat up because of her; he just doesn't want to move these boxes and thought he'd try out his injured act on her first. He convinces her that he's faking, and Joni leaves with the comment, "Anything to get away from you!" Seeing the exchange, Jack asks Reggie if he's spreading around more of that natural charm? "Not around Saint Joni!" Reggie exclaims. He remarks that he thought Jack was the man with all the answers; Jack sighs as he tells him, "Not me, son, not me."

A RETURN ENGAGEMENT…

Mia comes home with take-out Indian food, and Liza tells her she had a phone call, "He couldn't get through on your cell." Mia agrees that she turned it off because of the Fusion's lawsuit, and asks if it was a lawyer or reporter? "It was Jake," Liza tells her. Mia listens to the message, and Liza explains that she was screening calls and heard his voice on the machine, but didn't pick up. She asks if Mia's okay, and Mia says she's fine; her ex called to tell her where he wants his mail sent, and it's no biggie, just practical stuff. "How am I?' she repeats, "I'm completely over Jake - the cheating creep!" Liza thinks her sister is putting on a brave front, but Mia tells her she's moving on with her life - but not with Edmund Grey; that's just sort of a rebound thing, a 3-day infatuation thing to take her mind off things and set her in the right direction. "So, you're not seeing Edmund anymore?" Liza asks. Mia tells her no, but asks why, "Do you have a problem with me seeing Edmund?" Liza says she doesn't disapprove of her seeing Edmund, but she doesn't trust that he's ready for a relationship. Mia says that's okay, because they're not in one; they both agreed the timing wasn't right, so they bailed; at least it was mutual this time, and it's not the end of the world. Liza says Colby told her that Edmund and Maddie were here, and she's acting like a replacement mommy! Maybe Maddie is filling a spot of pain and loss for her for not having William, and maybe Edmund is keeping her mind off Jake. Mia wonders if that's so terrible? Liza gently tells her no, but if Maria gets her memory back, she's going to want Edmund, too, and she doesn't want to see her suffer that kind of loss all over again. Mia feels that is Maria does remember and wants Edmund back, it's not her problem - it's Aidan's; she's not in the mix. As Liza goes to check on Colby, someone knocks on the door. Mia opens it and smiles at seeing Edmund. When she asks why he's here, he tells her, "To kiss you, I think." He adds that he'd like her reaction to that idea, but Ms. Saunders thinks her reaction to the kiss is more important. They agree they're both thinking too much, and come together for a kiss.

WHY RISK IT?

Anna comes out of the bedroom looking beautiful in a sexy black dress, only to find David on the floor, putting together yet another mobile for Leora. When she tells him to hurry and get changed, David informs her that they're not going out, and he's cancelled the babysitter because Leora's too much for them to handle right now. Anna protests that she's a trained nurse! David agrees, and know she's taken care of Leora before, but asks why risk it? They can have a nice, romantic dinner here; he'll make some pasta, and they can have a great time. Disappointed, Anna says she wants to go out - she doesn't want to stay in with him in his sweats and have bowtie pasta. David demands to know which is more important, going out to dinner or staying home and taking care of their daughter? Anna angrily tells him not to pull that one on her - she won't put up with it! David says he'll interview some qualified applicants and find them a proper sitter, but Anna asks if he can do that in the next ten minutes? He asks what's the big deal - she can't wait a couple of weeks to go to dinner at the Valley Inn? Anna tries to explain that it's not just the date, but that he seems to be putting their lives on hold. David says this is their life! Anna just wants to get out for a couple of hours, to have an adult dinner and conversation, and maybe come back here and have sex for the first time since Leora was born - but he makes a unilateral decision, and that's that. It's really annoying! David tells her they can have a romantic evening here, and he'll even dress for the occasion; Leora will sleep for another hour, and then he'll change her and feed her and put her down. Anna questions if he thinks she's such an inept mother that she can't look after her own child, and David argues that he lets her look after Leora all the time! Wrong thing to say, Doc! He quickly says that's not what he meant, but Anna suggests he needs to rethink everything, or they're going to have a very different conversation soon - one that he doesn't want to have! He asks if she's threatening to leave him? Anna says no, if he can't cope with Leora the way that she is, she's going to take the advice of another surgeon and get her a pacemaker because she deserves to have a normal life! David tells her not to dare throw this at him, but Anna promises that's what she'll do if he won't do what's right for any of them! David thinks all this drama is ridiculous because he would rather stay home with his daughter than go out to dinner! Anna points out that she's their daughter, not just his. When he says she means everything to him, Anna notes that that's the problem. They made Leora, she's theirs, and she doesn't know when that changed, but she feels like she's being shut out of the picture. David insists that's not true, "Leora means everything to me because she came from you." He says she's right, they created her, and he didn't mean to exclude her. He apologizes, and swears there won't be any more unilateral decisions made where Leora's concerned. David thinks they need to mellow out and suggests they open some wine, have some pasta, lie by the fire and have a great time. Anna has tears in her eyes as she agrees wine is good, and laughs when he adds that he doesn't want to waste this sexy dress. As he hugs her, the baby starts to cry, and David immediately goes to her.

David comes back and announces that the diaper is clean and changed; once he gets her a bottle, they're good to go. Anna starts to get up, but David insists he'll go while she starts on the wine. The phone rings, and Anna is surprised to hear from Jackson. He asks if she'd be free for dinner any time soon, so they can catch up? Anna tells him, "Actually, I'm available right now."

TALKING TURKEY…

Erica is on the phone, obviously displeased with the proposed advertising campaign, when Myrtle comes into her office. Erica ends her call and sniffs before wondering aloud what she smells? Myrtle opens the lid of a crock pot and asks if she recognizes her mother's meat stew with winter vegetables? Of course Erica does, but says she never expected to smell it in her office. Myrtle asks for a couple of mugs to serve it in, but Erica insists she doesn't have time for this. When Mrs. Fargate argues that she's got to take time to have a real last, hearty meal before Winter turns to Spring, Erica notes, "Yeah, one last meal? You have no idea how ironic that is!" Myrtle is not to be denied, insisting it's time they had a chat and a bite together, but Erica declares that her life is falling apart, so no amount of carny wisdom and her mother's beef stew is going to fix that! Myrtle chuckles that the stew was just her ticket to get in here. Erica repeats that she doesn't have time for this right now, but the wise old carny gal tells her, "Sweetheart, you're going to make time, because you and I are going to talk turkey."

Myrtle serves the stew as she says this building is buzzing with talk about Erica and Chris. Erica knows, slamming her fist on the desk as she quotes, "Stamp Cancelled," and says she set up a press conference so she could rise from the ashes on the evening news. Erica sniffs the soup and sighs, "Oh, boy, I miss my mother." Myrtle knows, and that's why she's here, pitch-hitting for her. She asks if the engagement with Chris is really over, and Erica says it's over and dead. She breaks down as she says she knows she'll have to work through the pain, and the humiliating press coverage, and she's hurting so badly! Myrtle comforts her with a hug as she says that foolish heart of hers has always been her downfall. Erica sobs that she knows it, and wonders why she can't just get over it? Myrtle replies that there's nothing wrong with looking for love, but Erica questions why she can't keep it? When Myrtle suggests that maybe Chris' love wasn't the one she was meant to keep, Erica cries that she loved him and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She insists the breakup wasn't entirely her fault, and Myrtle is sure that Chris did his part, but Erica tells her it was Jack's fault; he's impossible, and wouldn't leave her alone! She asks what she can do about him, and Myrtle says she can either love him, or let him go - completely! Erica insists she has tried to back off from Jack many times, but he's always hanging around waiting for her to fall in love with somebody else so he can swoop in and ruin her life. Myrtle doesn't think that sounds like the Jack she knows, and Erica retorts that she doesn't know him the way she does. Mrs. Fargate agrees, but if she did, she'd reel him in and hang on to him! Erica snaps that she can have him, but Myrtle points out that she can, too, if she wants him, but if she doesn't, it's time to make a complete break. When Erica protests that she's tried, Myrtle asks if she really has? She knows he's Bianca's uncle, but she could cut him out of her life if she wanted to. Erica angrily asks if she thinks she likes him shattering her happiness, but Myrtle says she thinks Erica likes Jack, maybe even loves Jack, but she makes it complicated. What she's terrified of is being with Jack, afraid of saying "I do", because when every one of her romances hits the fan, Jack is her go-to guy; if she's with him, he's not going to be standing around, waiting to pick up pieces. Erica exclaims that she's right, and Myrtle agrees, "Well, of course I'm right! Did you think I was just an old crackpot with a crock pot?" Erica has to smile. She asks if Myrtle is saying if she had Jack as the only man in her life, the right man, she wouldn't need another man in a fallback-guy position? Myrtle agrees, if she could forget the poison her daddy put in her head. Erica doesn't want to talk about her father, saying Jack blames him, too. Myrtle goes on that her father brainwashed her into believing she could never, ever hold a man; now she can show him that he's wrong, and she can be happy, that she can have a man and hold him. Erica thanks God that there's no shortage of men, and she does still have her looks, but Myrtle insists that her power isn't in her looks - she can have any man she wants. Erica sighs that all she really wants is happiness, and Myrtle understands that she wants one man to fill her heart, the one man she says goodnight to every night. She tells Erica to ask herself, if she gives her heart to Jack and it turns out not to be permanent and she loses him, can she really show herself that she hasn't lost herself? "You mean that I wouldn't have given up my power?" Erica asks, and Myrtle tells her that's it exactly, "You have everything it takes to be happy inside yourself, where it counts."

Erica shows the ring from Jack to Myrtle, who asks if she's going to wear it or use it as a paperweight? Erica says she doesn't know what she's going to do, reminding her friend that she was wearing Chris' ring a week ago. When she says she doesn't know what she wants, or feels or needs, Myrtle assures her she'll find out real soon, when it's right, and then she'll have her answer and Jack will have his. Myrtle looks up and asks, "Do you suppose Mona is smiling down on us?" Erica thinks her mom's smiling down on Myrtle, but she's fed up with her! Myrtle gives her a hug and says she knows how much Erica loves her mother; Erica can't think of a better stand-in for Mona. Myrtle tells Erica to trust herself and remember her power. She'll stop by in a few days, and Erica can bring her up to date. She leaves, and Erica once again opens the ring box; she looks at it thoughtfully. She looks out at the skyline of the town before sitting down and putting the ring on her finger. She holds out her hand, admiring the magnificent gem, before quickly taking it off and replacing it in the box, then slamming the desk drawer. She shakes her head, and then looks at the box again before looking up to the heavens and pleading, "Oh, Mother, please - tell me this is going to turn out right."

--Karen Watkins