Bill’s Health Problems Worsen, Vanessa Learns of Doug’s Debt — and Eva Makes a Move on Tomas!
We pick up with at Orphey Gene’s, where Eva is speaking with Laura over the phone, telling her to reach out if she needs help with anything else.
Kat overhears Eva mention that she’ll be at the diner all day, so Kat seizes the opportunity to do more sleuthing.
Kat makes tracks for the hotel, where she sweet talks one of the employees into letting her enter Eva’s room. Even while actively telling Jacob over the phone that she won’t interfere with his investigation, Kat is actively rummaging through Eva’s closet, desperate to find something — anything — to connect her to Laura’s accident.
Meanwhile, Tomas stops by Orphey Gene’s and immediately strikes up a conversation with Eva. The focus is initially Tomas’ impressive six pack (flirt alert!), but it then turns to the latest drama with Leslie. Eva tells Tomas that she’s living in the hotel after Leslie kicked her out, adding that she has “insurance” to make sure Leslie doesn’t give her any more trouble.
“You know I want to know what it is,” Tomas says, but Eva wisely conceals the truth, telling Tomas it’s the kind of leverage she’s keeping “safe and secret.” One thing she isn’t keeping to herself, however, is the new fantasy romance book she can’t get enough of. When Tomas reveals that he’s also a fiction lover, she offers to let him borrow the book she just finished — and he happily accepts.
Kat manages to hide under the bed before Eva and Tomas enter the room, where she overhears… a lot. Eva even tries to kiss Tomas, but he stops her. “Eva, you mean a lot to me, but my heart is somewhere else,” he explains, adding that there’s “something special” between him and Kat. “She’s got me hooked, and I have to see where this goes.”
A phone call from Laura pulls Eva away from the hotel room, giving Kat enough time to slip out unnoticed. And she’s not leaving empty-handed; while she was under the bed, she discovered the bag containing Leslie’s leather gloves and helmet. Busted!
Bill’s Health Scare Gets… Scarier!
Against Doug’s orders, Bill returns to work just one day after his hospital stay. Hayley is concerned when her husband comes home early, but he promises he just wants to spend more time with his beautiful wife. She falls for Bill’s explanation, but we’re not buying it, especially when Bill still looks visibly unwell. This man needs a doctor!
Hayley isn’t just worried, she’s scared. He says he hears her, but he’s not going anywhere. “I promise to stick around for a long, long time — for you, for our baby and for us.” She demands that he start taking better care of himself, which he agrees.
Things seem OK at first, with Bill and Hayley even fantasizing about their son or daughter’s future as a baseball player or ballet dancer. Their flirting leads to the couch, where Ted hopes to treat his “terminal attraction” to his wife. The only treatment is sex, which begins well enough… until he passes out on top of her.
Hayley immediately calls 9-1-1, and Bill is rushed back to the hospital.
Naomi Meets Chelsea’s Mystery Woman
During a sisterly lunch at Uptown, Chelsea vents to Naomi that Kat is too focused on the Eva situation when she should be more concerned with launching their new line. Naomi understands Chelsea’s annoyance, but she reminds her that police work can be thrilling, something she has learned after being married to a police officer for years.
The topic then shifts to Bill, with Naomi explaining that his TIA could be a sign that there’s something else wrong with their dad; they both agree to stay on top of his health, complete with regular check-ins.
Chelsea also mentions that she’s been seeing someone, and Naomi makes it clear that she supports her no matter what. “Gay, bi, still exploring, I just want you happy,” Naomi says. And just like that, Madison enters the establishment.
Here’s the thing, though — Madison acts like Chelsea is a total stranger. When Naomi asks how they know each other, Madison quickly replies, “We don’t.” And when Chelsea tries to strike up a conversation about dessert, Madison hastily excuses herself and leaves the restaurant.
Naomi makes it clear that she supports anyone Chelsea wants to date, but Madison is giving her “weird vibes.” She even brings up the possibility that Madison could be married, despite not noticing a wedding ring on her finger.
The girls then receive a phone call from Derek, who lets them know that Bill is back in the hospital. As he suspects, Hayley was too distraught to think clearly enough to call Bill’s daughters.
Joey Lays His Cards on the Table
At the casino, Joey compliments Vanessa on her ability to, you know, have sex on a poker table. She says it wasn’t her first time on a makeshift bed, having already done it on a pool table once. “The 8 ball wasn’t the only thing getting pocketed,” she tells him.
Their twosome then becomes a threesome when Joey invites Doug to join them, rocking Vanessa’s world in the process. When she asks how Doug and Joey know each other, Joey wastes no time dropping the bombshell: “Your husband isn’t exactly Lucky Larry,” he tells Vanessa. “He’s into me for a quarter of a million dollars.”
Vanessa thinks Joey expects her to write a check to clear Doug’s debts, but Joey instead proposes a “mutually beneficial” alternative in which she allows him to launder money through her real estate company. He even tries to put a cutesy spin on it, calling it “financial choreography.” Nice try, buddy.
Once Doug leaves the room, Vanessa unleashes hell on Joey. “You played me, made me believe you cared,” she says. “We had sex, for God’s sake. I felt something with you. It was the first real attraction that wasn’t just about sex that I’ve had in years. You are nothing but a liar, you manipulative bastard.” She then follows Doug out the door, giving Joey a solid slap for good measure.
So *That’s* Who Madison Really Is!
The episode ends at the hospital, where Naomi and Chelsea are understandably panicked about their father’s condition. Ashley tells them that it’s too early to know anything, but he’s in great hands with Dr. Montgomery.
Who is Dr. Montgomery, you ask? We don’t think she’s anyone we’ve met… until she turns around and reveals herself to be none other than Madison, Chelsea’s flaky mystery woman! What are the chances of that happening?! (Oh, right, this is a soap opera. The chances are actually quite high.)
And things had just been so nice at the hospital earlier in the hour, with Derek and Ashley flirting up a storm, showing more chemistry as a couple than ever. Not living together has clearly done wonders for their relationship.
