Previously
- Nicolette telling Chloe she doesn't love her anymore.
- Aaron and David trying to explain themselves to Britney...but being told to leave.
- Leo, Britney and Abigail leaving for Wollongong.
- Aaron unsure how he'll cope not seeing Abigail.
- Nicolette (and Isla) agreeing to move back into #32.
- Nicolette hearing why the boys didn't come to the morning tea she'd arranged.
- Paul defending his actions to get Isla back.
- Terese asking Paul if there are any more secrets?
- Paul reassuring Terese she knows everything...
- Aaron filling Terese in on a secret she didn't know - who it was that ran Jesse out of town.
- Terese furious at Paul and telling I'm to pack his bags!
- Paul begging forgiveness from Terese and that he's arranged for Jesse to visit.
- Terese not forgiving Paul and informing him she wants a separation!
Lassiters hotel foyer
Paul manages to catch Terese before she exits the hotel. He begs her for them "not to separate" but his words are futile as she walks out of the hotel front door.
Number 32
"It's time to let go," David tells Aaron after walking into the kitchen and catching him looking at a photo of them with Abigail.
In the lounge part of the kitchen, Nicolette doesn't look too amused at hearing their conversation. She turns down their offer of bathing Isla as it's too early and makes it clear that she doesn't want a routine for the baby, preferring to allow Isla to dictate things. The boys compromise and agree to bath Isla later, with the trio agreeing to hang out together until that happens.
Number 22
Terese breaks the news to Harlow and Roxy about separating from Paul. Roxy thinks its "completely understandable" and after hearing that #22 will still be her home, Harlow asks Terese not to be "too hasty." She cites that given the boys forgave Nicolette (which she thinks is worse), Terese should forgive Paul!
TERESE: I can't keep forgiving him! Enough is enough.
"I think you're making the right decision," Roxy reassures her aunt with after Harlow heads to her room. "Thanks Roxy," Terese replies before Roxy too heads to her room.
Music montage
As Wanted tonight, both Terese and Paul are deep in thought - Terese at home and Paul, touching and feeling his wedding band, as he walk through the Lassiters gardens.
Number 32 (next day)
Outside in the garden, David is literally inching to pick the crying Isla up but is told not to by Nicolette.
Jane comments on Isla crying when she arrives, and David fills her in that Nicolette wants Isla "to self-sooth."
Aaron also gets told not to pick Isla up either when he came to tell Nicolette that her breakfast is ready! Eventually, David can't stand it any longer and goes to pick Isla up, telling the bairn that "Mummy's being mean!"
Trying to diffuse the situation, Jane asks what everyone's plans are, and Aaron replies that both he and David are back to work today (David being on nightshift). Chloe asks when Nicolette plans to return to work and bets a blunt "not anytime soon obviously!" response back!
(Later)
Inside the house, Nicolette literally spits out the breakfast Aaron went to the bother of making for her - full of healthy ingredients to aid breastfeeding... but tastes like glue only glue tastes better!
After following her inside, Jane gets the brunt of Nicolette's frustrations on how things aren't working. Jane however isn't giving her daughter too much sympathy and points out she "created this situation."
NICOLETTE: I'm not the only one who behaved badly, this was a group effort.
Jane tells her daughter to have patience especially as she's only been back one night so far. Nicolette isn't dealing with the realities of being back and admits to her mum that she feels like leaving again. Jane looks stunned at hearing that and after a moment of silence, Nicolette realises what she's said and quickly backtracks, wishing she'd kept quiet!
Ramsay Street
Jane confides in Chloe over what Nicolette said to her, already fearful that she really does want to "throw in the towel and leave again." Chloe doesn't think Nicolette would do that... or at least hopes she wouldn't especially as she is very keen to make things work. With Chloe moving back to #24, both agree to keep an eye on the situation, especially as Chloe wants to support Aaron and David too.
CHLOE: If things are as stressful as you say they are, they're going to need me. It will all be fine.
Lassiters Complex
After getting a text from Leo, David meets up with Paul to see how he's doing. Seconds later Harlow arrives and Paul asks if Terese is "calmer" or "regretful" today. Harlow can't say as she's not Terese today, however does say that last night, she was "fairly adamant" but thinks if she said something, Terese will "cool down" and "see sense." Paul would rather she didn't get caught up especially since his "best chance of forgiveness has just arrived."
The trio then walk over to the hotel and see who has come out of the newly arrived car - Jesse!
Harlow warmly greets him, and Jesse thanks Paul for paying for the flight. David apologises for lying to him, but Jesse doesn't want to hold any grudges. Jesse is surprised not to see Terese among the welcoming party and at their silence, asks "what have I missed?" which is followed by more silence from the trio!
Number 22
Given the house is Paul-less, Roxy has prepared brekkie for her aunt with her favourite - sardines although brekkie is totally forgotten about when Harlow arrives home with Jesse.
After the girls leave on a coffee run to allow them to chat in private, Terese apologises for how David and Paul treated him. She seems happy surprised that Jesse knows the story behind his departure but then seems shocked when Jesse adds that while he was away, a bit of thinking time led him to believe Paul "may have been right."
Number 32
With Aaron coming home from work and David about to go out to his work, the pair have a brief catch up. David tells him how things went with Jesse (awkward for David but Jesse was gracious about everything) while Aaron says how things were with Isla... or not due to her "keeper" aka Nicolette. Both bemoan Nicolette "not making an effort" and they also admit to one another how much they miss Abigail too.
AARON: I feel guilty for feeling like that but the only way we're going to form a bond with Isla is if Nicolette lets us.
DAVID: I agree. So, let's tell her exactly what we need.
(Later)
Nicolette is enjoying her cuddle time with Isla in the garden when Chloe arrives to seek permission for moving back into #24. "Do I have a choice?" Nicolette asks before seconds later answering her own question with a "no." Barely another second later, Nicolette leaves Chloe standing when she heads inside the house, ignoring David and Aaron who pass her to get out into the garden.
AARON: What did we just interrupt?
CHLOE: Me making things worse... apparently.
She then tells the boys about moving back to #24, which they aren't too surprised to hear. What they are surprised to hear though is Chloe telling them what Nicolette said to Jane - that she feels like she is struggling and feels like taking off again.
Number 22
Jesse and Terese sit down for a chat over her calling him 'Josh'. She admits Jesse is like Josh but adds she never saw him "as the same person." "Would you have been invested in me if there weren't those similarities?" he asks, and her response is "I don't know." Jesse admits to feeling good being in Sydney, not relying on the family money and thanks her for helping him "believe in myself."
JESSE: I think that's the reason you came into my life.
TERESE: Well, I was hoping to stay in it!
JESSE: (shaking his head). You don't need that; you just need to remember Josh and tell yourself it's okay to miss him. That's the reason I came into your life.
Number 32
The boys have decided to say something to Nicolette, beginning with how she parents Isla "without any consideration for us." "We are Isla's fathers," Aaron reminds her with and that they "want a say in how she is raised." Nicolette agrees with them... but doesn't want to undo the routines she's already implemented.
DAVID: You still have to give us a chance to be dads. It feels like you've moved in just to shut us out.
NICOLETTE: That is not fair, I'm trying. But you also can't just be dads when it suits you.
David is taken aback by that remark, so Nicolette explains about them standing her (and Isla) up, preferring instead to spend the time with Abigail - Britney filled her in on that one!
DAVID: Don't pull that on us!!! You're the reason we developed an attachment to her in the first place!
Aaron tries to calm it down a bit by asking that she sees where they are coming from, which she does. She acknowledges having "a lot to make up for" and wants to find a "middle ground" because "the tension is killing me too!"
NICOLETTE: You believe me... don't you?
DAVID: It's hard to when you're threatening to leave.
Aaron fills her in on how they know that and while acknowledging that she said what she did, Nicolette tries to reassure them that she is "committed" and isn't "going anywhere." To prove that she wants them to draw up a routine for Isla so that everyone gets "equal time" with the bairn.
AARON: That's a good start.
NICOLETTE: Good. Just remember, I came back. I moved in because I want this to work despite what people say.
Number 22
"I feel like this is the goodbye we never got to say last time," Terese admits as the pair get off the sofa and head towards the door. Before he leaves, Jesse asks if she want to see his mum (yes) and how was it. "In a way, better than I expected," she replies, explaining that she was able to get rid of some of the anger to help her move on. Jesse is pleased to hear that and asks if she is really serious about leaving Paul.
TERESE: I can't get past the lies.
JESSE: Look, if that's because of me, don't hold it against him too much you know, I'm where I need to be.
Harold's café (rear exterior)
Nicolette's anger has manifested itself during the walk from Ramsay Street to the complex so she can confront Chloe about passing on "the casual comment" to the boys especially when she wasn't there when she said it to her mum! Chloe is trying to apologise but Nicolette jumps in to also point out it's "none of your business!" Jane comes across the pair and Nicolette accuses her mum of being "worse!"
NICOLETTE: When I told you I was thinking about leaving again, I said I didn't mean it. And then you go and blab to her, who goes and words up Aaron and David who give me the third degree as if things weren't stressful enough!
JANE: I only shared what you told me with Chloe because I'm concerned.
CHLOE: And I only told Aaron and David for the same reason.
Turning to her mum, she tells Jane "I don't need your concern" and then turning round to Chloe, tells her "I definitely don't need your interference."
NICOLETTE: So just please BOTH OF YOU BACK OFF!!!
Number 22
Terese is looking at the photo of Josh when Paul enters the house and asks if Jesse is still around and she replies that he isn't, he's gone to the prison to see his mum before his flight. He enquires how their chat went and she says it went well, they cleared up a lot of things and now "can move on happily with our lives." Paul is pleased to hear that and goes to sit down on the sofa next to her, but is firmly told that isn't on... and equally he's told not to swan into the house whenever he feels like it either!
TERESE: You don't live here anymore!
PAUL: Terese, you've got to give me a chance.
"No I don't," she is quick to say in reply and while she's glad he organised the meeting with Jesse, "just because he's moving on, doesn't mean that I am!" Terese then threatens that if he drops round unannounced in the future, she will change the locks!
PAUL: You've got to be joking!
TERESE: Do I look like I'm joking?!
Silently Paul gets up off the sofa and sees himself out of the house.
Harold's café (rear exterior)
Jane is back after running after Nicolette, trying (and failing) to talk to her. Chloe reassures Jane that Nicolette will be fine "once she cools down" although admits to being surprised how Nicolette reacted given what they said, "was true" and they "only acted out of concern." Jane is miffed that Chloe repeated a private conversation especially to Aaron David! Chloe is unrepentant as the boys had a right to know "Nic was that unhappy."
CHLOE: I wasn't trying to make things more difficult for her and the guys. Maybe this will make them give her a break? Let her parent the way she wants to.
JANE: Don't try and dress this up as ultraism! You've made your romantic feelings towards Nicolette perfectly clear and that's the reason you did what you did. You don't want her to leave because... well because you're desperate to get back with her. One of the reasons she's unhappy and feeling like leaving is because you continually breathing down her neck. For you to come back, well it's the last thing she needs, it will only make things worse.
Chloe decides that since she's upsetting Nicolette, she'll keep staying on at the hotel, but Jane thinks she needs to do more!
JANE: I think you need to remove yourself from the situation completely and leave the street.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Nicolette confiding in her mum.
- Hendrix annoyed at Mackenzie.
- Amy letting rip at Sheila!
- Sheila unloading to Toadie!
- A woman asking Levi to have a drink with her.
