Recap
- Toadie leaving Steph at the altar
- Toadie telling Karl the "Steph and Toad show is over"
- Carmella and Marco walking in on Oliver and Mia's love-fest
Carmella & Marco's Flat
With flames shooting from his eyes, Marco angrily orders Mia outside for a chat while Oliver puts his shirt back on. Carmella isn't impressed with Oliver either, assuming that he's just using Mia to get to her brother. But Ollie frowns and says it's not like that at all - he genuinely likes Mia.
Outside CM's Flat
Marco chases Mia to her car (they're both wearing disastrous check-print clothing so we know they're definitely related), and says that Oliver is just using her. Mia tells him off for being over-protective and laughs when he tries to forbid her from seeing him. Oliver races out to try and get Mia to stay and chat, but Mia needs some time to herself and drives off.
Number 28
Karl is trying to reason with Toadie and get him to talk to Steph, but Toadie is too worked up to listen. Toadie says it's not an ego thing, it's about the fact that Steph felt sorry for him. He may be stupid, but he's not stupid enough to let her marry him out of pity. Craving some alone time, Toadie leaves and heads for the office.
Number 32
Libby is also trying her best to get Steph to open up, but Steph is focusing all her energies into organizing the wedding gifts so she can return them. Steph eventually snaps out of auto-pilot and sadly tells Lib that she doesn't know how to tell Toadie that she truly loves him. She can't imagine her life without him.
Rebecchi/Cammeniti
Rosie discovers Toadie hiding out and stops in to check on him. She gently tells him that he'd be better off dealing with his issues rather than pretending they don't exist, but Toadie just says he wants to be left alone.
Number 32
Steph's on the phone to Lyn, who is trying to convince her to come to Shelley Bay for a few days. Karl brings Ben over to see his mum and to check on Steph. Hanging up, Steph immediately asks Karl how Toadie is and if it's a good time to see him, but she can tell from Karl's wary tone that he's not up for visitors right now. Ben innocently wonders when they get to throw the confetti, so Lib bundles him off home with grandpa before he gets Steph too upset. At least he didn't shout it for once I guess. It's Steph's turn to say she needs some alone time, and tells Lib she'll ring her if she needs her.
Carmella & Marco's Flat
Marco's having a coronary about Oliver using Mia, but Carmella thinks that Ollie's telling the truth about having real feelings for her. Carmella wants to know why it's bothering Marco so much and Marco replies that Mia knows a lot of secrets about him. Carmella's face is all, "Uh-oh... What do you mean by secrets?" so Marco finally confesses to her that he can't have children.
Rebecchi/Cammeniti
Putting some mothering techniques into practice, Rosie brings Toadie a cuppa and some bickies (but proceeds to scoff them all herself). Toad says that she doesn't have to hold his hand, but Rosie actually wanted to tell him about the rough patch she and Frazer went through lately. Cottoning on, Toadie knows it's going to be one of those 'I can relate to your pain' moments, but Rosie tells him he's going to listen to her anyway. Steph walks in and eavesdrops from the reception area as Rosie tells Toadie that one person's love is enough to carry a couple through tough times. Toadie retorts that he and Steph were never equal, but Rosie disagrees; she always thought their relationship looked really loving, respectful and fun. Softening a bit, Toadie says that he and Steph had a pact to make one another laugh at least once a day and tells Rosie about the stupid stuff Steph did to crack him up. Listening to the trip down memory lane makes Steph upset and she leaves. Back in the office, Rosie tells him that it sounds like his relationship is worth fighting for.
Carmella & Marco's Flat
Flustered, Carmella asks Marco if he would have told her his secret if Oliver didn't spook him into it. Marco says that he would have eventually, but it's completely up to her where they go from here. Carmella admits that she doesn't want to lose him and that she's content enough with just him and Chloe in her life. Uh, Carm, I'd be asking more about why he chose to pursue a pregnant lady to begin with.
Charlie's
Cleaning up the decorations, Valda glumly offers Mia a flower centrepiece from one of the tables, but Mia laughs and says she's not about to get married anytime soon. Scrolling through her mobile, she calls Oliver and asks him to meet her.
Steph rocks up and it's clear that Valda's quite upset with her about what happened. Valda assures her that as her grandma, she'll always be on her side, but Toadie is a good man and he loves her so much. Steph says she loves him too and just wants to know how to fix things. Valda tells her that she has to find Toadie before it's too late.
Number 28
Karl's packing for the MS retreat and Libby wonders if they should save Susan the stress and keep quiet about the wedding. But Karl thinks that it would be better not to keep anymore secrets. Libby sighs and says that if Steph and Toadie can't make it work then what hope do the rest of them have? Giving her a hug, Karl says that she has to stay hopeful for the future.
KARL: Love and happiness are just around the corner, you've got to be ready when they come. You've got to be thankful for what you've got because...
(Libby gets the giggles over his schmaltzy words)
LIBBY: Please don't burst into song! Please!
Charlie's
Mia wants to know if Oliver was just using her to get at Marco. Haven't we had this conversation ONE HUNDRED times already? Oliver farts about avoiding the question until he finally confesses that yes, he was just using her in the beginning, but now he really likes her. Mia is angry, but then Oliver somehow hypnotizes her and is all, "Look into my eyes, look into my eyes. I am not using you, we have genuine feelings for one another and the scent of baby puke on my shirt is like a beacon of sexiness to you.... 3,2,1... Wake up!" So in the space of three seconds Mia is convinced and they resume their pash from earlier that was so rudely interrupted.
Carmella & Marco's Flat
Carmella melts when she sees Marco with Chloe and says she doesn't need anymore babies. Marco reckons she might change her mind in the future but Carmella doesn't think so. Chloe is fast asleep, snoring her little button head off. I'm right there with ya, cupcake.
Number 32
Toadie is looking at a framed picture of him, Steph and Charlie taken in happier times when Steph walks in and finds him. Noticing his packed bag on the couch she begs him to stay and chat. But Toadie wants to leave now so they can't hurt each other anymore. They chat about the picture and Steph says that was the day that he and Charlie promised to be best mates forever - and so did he and Steph. Toadie points out that's exactly their problem - Steph still thinks of them as best mates when he's already moved past that stage. Steph promises him it'll be different from now on, but Toadie isn't convinced.
Number 32
Steph says she doesn't want to lose Toadie but she just needs some more time. Toadie retorts that she only wants to be with him because it's convenient.
TOADIE: OK, I get it. I'm comfortable, I'm safe, I'm good for killing off time and staving off loneliness. I'm just not the marrying type right?
STEPH: Please Toad, you can't seriously think that's what you mean to me?
Steph says that if he wants to be mad at her then go right ahead if that's what it takes for them to get past it all. She just doesn't want to lose him.
STEPH: I can't imagine my life without you.
TOADIE: That's not true, is it? You have imagined life without me. You were thinking about leaving me when you went to Shepparton weren't you?
When Steph doesn't answer Toadie looks extremely hurt at being proven right and storms out of the house.