Previously
- JJ getting upset over Remi and Cara arguing about his identity.
- DNA tests being undertaken to see if Andrew is JJ's dad.
- JJ being reassured that he is loved.
- Reece impressed at the family photographs Jane has on display.
- Reece begging for more time from Tess.
- Paul suspicious after seeing Tess/Reece together.
- Paul blabbing to Tess that Reece is seeing Byron.
- Reece being ordered back to the US.
Lassiters hotel, Reece's room
Reece breaks the news to Byron that she is being sent back to the USA... then reveals she is going to ignore her dad's instructions even if it means she risks being fired or disinherited! Byron wonders if that will really happen and Reece is unsure.
Number 30
There is still serious tension between Cara and Remi while they wait for the DNA results, which are due tomorrow. It isn't much better between the boys either, with Dex doing his best to ignore his brother.
Number 26
Over at #26, Andrew is on tender hooks too waiting for the results to come in as he chats with Toadie, and the trying not to be seen Sadie lurking in the background! Toad asks if he's thought what changes might happen if he does have another child?
ANDREW: If JJ is my son, I can't imagine not being part of his life. I don't know what that looks like or how that would work, but I have to try.
Toadie is sure his strong marriage will allow them to handle things, "whichever way it goes" adding too that Andrew "will be richer for it."
After Toadie heads home, Andrew realises that Sadie overheard their chat and is okay about that. He asks if she's got anything she wants to say or ask and her reply is that she is worried about them both.
SADIE: I know it sounds dumb or selfish, but I'm just scared about having to share you with someone else because I've never had to do that.
ANDREW: My place in your life will never change no matter what.
Number 32 (next day)
While Byron makes breakfast, Reece remarks about how "uncomplicated" his life was before they got involved. Byron dismisses that, instead saying she has been the best thing "for a long time" to happen to him. They get round to talking about her dad and he wonders why she doesn't stand up to him.
REECE: Because there's a three- dimensional game of chess being played, and I'm a move behind.
BYRON: See, life's not a game of chess.
Reece thinks she's been "in the system so long, I've lost sight of that." She also has now finally understood her sister and how she tried "to run her own race away from the family."
Number 26
Andrew sits nervously waiting for the results to be revealed. He apologises again to Wendy but she doesn't think it's that simple - he might be sorry for the hurt caused but wonders if he doesn't regret it?
WENDY: You want that boy to be your son, don't you?
"No," is Andrew's reply but Wendy picks up on the hesitation before he actually replied.
ANDREW: I'm taken aback Wendy.
WENDY: But you like JJ and you would have liked to have another child at some point.
ANDREW: He's a good kid. It doesn't mean I want to be his father.
"But on some level, you are not entirely opposed to it?" she follows it up with but Andrew wants to stop the hypothetical conversation until the results comes in. He then rushes over and takes Wendy's hand in his, to reassure his wife that he loves her and Sadie. Wendy can't cope though and pulls her hand away, leaving him kneeling on the floor as she heads through to the bedroom.
Number 30
Remi is still giving Cara the cold shoulder until the results come in although both are at least on the same page with supporting JJ "through whatever he needs." "Of course, none of this is his fault," Remi adds in before admitting her curiosity over the lengths JJ went to, to track Andrew down. Cara had that conversation with JJ and his response was that he "became curious because of the diary." Remi isn't quite believing that, wondering instead if its because "he's growing up without a father?" and "there's something we can't give him?"
CARA: We can only go by what he says.
REMI: Words are one thing, JJ's actions are another. No, he's yearning and I hate the thought that my kids need something I can't give them.
"Let's not overthink it," Cara says to calm Remi down but she's still angry.
REMI: Yeah, well, at least it's better than making choices without thinking at all. Look where that's got us!
Remi goes to walk away but Cara calls her back.
CARA: Whatever the results say today, we need to make sure this doesn't come between us.
REMI: I'm not sure I can agree to that.
Cara wants to know that Remi means by that, but she dodges the answer, instead simply replying that they need to get through the day.
Lassiters hotel, Reece's room
Reece makes it abundantly clear to Tess that she is not leaving Australia without her sister. Tess wonders if she actually meant Byron, and while acknowledging she's been "unlucky in love" and the divorce "burned you so badly" she isn't impressed at Reece "cavorting with the staff!"
REECE: Byron is a sweet, kind, intelligent man.
TESS: He's a grifter.
REECE: I'm sure that's how Paul portrayed him, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Reece wants to drop that subject since Tess is unlikely to ever understand and is sure that she doesn't want her dad to have to choose "between my wishes and your recommendations" especially given "the outcome may not be what you want." Tess then reveals she's "cleared my schedule to stay here" but is told to "unclear it, because I'm not going anywhere!"
Ramsay Street
Andrew gets the cold treatment from his wife and daughter after he returns from a spin on Mike's motorbike.
From the other side of the street as they unpack their belongings, Cara interprets this action as Wendy "taking the moral high ground." "Wendy is not the bad guy here," Remi points out but Cara wasn't meaning that, rather "what she did to our family."
REMI: The Linwells are the least of our problems right now.
Dex is still peeved at his brother and puts the box falling to the ground as being "heavy" rather than handing it over so that JJ would drop it... but then again maybe paying more attention might have helped rather than staring over towards #26.
The Waterhole
After exchanging pleasantries, Tess wants information from Paul about Byron, starting with if he is trustworthy (no) before then wondering what he wants from Reece? "The Sinclair wealth," is Paul's reply before adding that given who his mum is, Byron isn't "completely bad" however does feel that the relationship is "obviously doomed." Paul makes it clear that Reece contributes nothing towards the running of the hotel and reassures Tess that as per their agreement, Conrad will get his quarterly share of the profits.
PAUL: But we do not need Reece roaming the corridors conducting her market research.
That last part confuses Tess but she doesn't comment about what Reece is really doing the research on and turns down an invite to tour the hotel with Paul.
Lassiters Park
Susan finds an upset Wendy as she strolls through the park and gives her a much needed hug.
Harolds café (rear)
Having calmed down, Wendy apologises for the mess Susan found her in. Susan gets how "incredibly hard" it is for them all waiting the results. After telling Susan about accusing Andrew of wanting to be JJ's father, she isn't sure whether to believe his denial or not. Wendy explains that when this happened, they were trying for another baby but it didn't happen "but I know he would have always liked to have another child."
WENDY: And if Andrew turns out to be this boy's father, part of him is gonna belong to someone else forever. I mean, how am I supposed to rearrange my life? I mean, my heart to make room for something like that?
"I don't know," is Susan's reply before going on to add that she does know what Wendy is going through thanks to the "ups and downs over the years over Holly and Isabelle." "How did you make peace with it?" Wendy asks and with a laugh first, Susan replies "for a long time, I didn't."
SUSAN: I felt just the way you feel, as though my family had been hijacked, that Karl's love was divided, that I would have to share it forever. Then over time, I came to love Holly as though she was one of my own. And full disclosure, I said exactly the same thing to Remi.
REMI: Well I guess she'd feel just as insecure as I am.
SUSAN: The point is that love, it isn't finite. It doesn't shrink when it's shared. It just grows to include whoever needs it. A new family member is not gonna take Andrew's love away from you. Nothing will.
Lassiters Complex
Unseen, Tess watches on as Byron and Reece share a kiss together (they were parting) before making her way over towards Reece. "I guess there's no hope of me changing your mind?" Tess says to her but Reece has had enough of the talking. Despite saying it isn't, Tess plays the emotional card by telling Reece that her dad is struggling without her, "too proud" to admit that being in his 70s means he isn't as young as he used to be.
REECE: Well then, all the more reason for me to find Krista and make him happy.
Realising she isn't going to win, Tess comments on how different Reece is from her sister. Reece agrees but can now see some similarities. Tess now offers Reece her assistance and that she can come back any time if required.
REECE: I think we both want what's best for Kirsta and for dad.
Tess does have a parting word for Reece â€" for her to be "careful with Byron," and she knows that "when you find Krista, it will have to end." Reece doesn't respond to that last bit and watching from the other side of the complex, Paul looks on perplexed at what he's seen.
Number 30
The tension is getting to everyone waiting for the results to come in. Cara goes off on one about Dex's shoes lying around and after he shifts them, Remi chastises her saying it was "a bit much."
REMI: I know you're mad about being in the doghouse but don't take it out on the kids.
Cara didn't like that comment and sensing trouble ahead, JJ quickly bales from the house! She agrees to perhaps being hard on Dex but adds she is "sick to death of walking on eggshells" when trying to talk to Remi and finds "you shut down and get sulky." Remi denies that but Cara points out that she's doing that right now!
CARA: How are we meant to work though what's happening with this family if I'm the only one sitting at the table?
REMI: This isn't something that's happening to this family. Its something you did to us, and not just once, every day for 17 years. You woke up and chose to keep me in the dark about who JJ's father is. So you can keep waiting at the table by yourself until I'm ready because right now, I don't know how to forgive you!
Lassiters foyer
Leo isn't at all interested in listening to what Paul saw going on between Tess and Reece and instead tells his dad that perhaps "its time you got a hobby!" "Not when I'm this close to finding out what Reece's game is!" Paul replies back and his plan is to spend more time with Tess... who just so happens to arrive to check out! He tries to stall her departure but she gives him short shrift before heading to go and get her waiting car.
"Doesn't any of this strike you as being a bit strange?!" Paul says to Leo after Tess leaves but again he isn't interested at all.
PAUL: Hey, you might think that this is a joke, but my instincts are never wrong. Now there is something weird going on here.
Ramsay Street
JJ is standing admiring the bike when Andrew comes down the driveway. The pair start to chat about the bike when Wendy comes along and comments on how good it is Andrew has someone to chat bike with given it's a different language to her.
The lad is about to head home when Wendy stops him. She acknowledges that what is going on, isn't easy on him either and now gets why JJ snuck into the house before adding "none of this is on you."
JJ: Are you going to be okay? Whatever the answer is? You can be honest.
WENDY: Um... I don't know. But I understand that you need answers.
Number 32 (pool)
With Tess relegated to telling Conrad that Reece isn't heading home, Byron wishes he could have met her as she "sounds like a piece of work!" Reece defends Tess, pointing out that "she's really what happens when you give your whole life over to a job and have nothing left for yourself," something Byron promises to let happen to Reece.
Reece questions what happens when they find Krista, as that will mean having to make decisions about her future. Byron has a solution for that â€" staying here with him, but with her dad being unwell, Reece isn't sure she could do that. He's got that solution â€" they visit him or since Conrad has businesses in Australia, she bases herself here as head of Asia- Pacific. "If he'll let me!" she replies back but Byron twists it around to ask if would be "unthinkable to strike out on your own?!" Reece thinks that would be "mildly terrifying" and questions if she isn't Conrad Sinclair's daughter, "then who am I?"
BYRON: You are you. The most amazing person I happen to know.
REECE: I want to stay.
Number 30
After Dex throws a bag of JJ's stuff onto floor, the brothers end up arguing with each other, so much so that it continues on the floor with the pair grappling with each other. The parents hear the commotion and rush into the living room to pull the boys apart
DEX: I told him to stop and he wouldn't! You ruined this family!
An upset Dex runs out of the house and despite Remi trying to pull him back, JJ follows his brother out of the house. Seconds after this has happened, Remi's phone alerts her to an incoming email.
REMI: It's the results.
Number 26
Andrew has had the same notification too.
Ramsay Street
An upset JJ can't see his brother... but he can see Mike's bike!
Number 30
Cara joins Remi so they can read the email.
Number 26
Sadie now joins Andrew and Wendy to see the result but before they read it, they hear Mike's motorbike start up.
Ramsay Street
Remi and Cara rush outside in time to see the motorbike with JJ on it take off down the street. They both yell "JJ" but the lad keeps on going.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Paul unwilling to deal with a loose cannon aka Reece!
- Terese chatting with Paul about it.
- JJ churning up the kilometres on the bike.
- Wendy trying to get her head around things.
- Andrew asking Wendy what she wants from him?
- Mackenzie not doing her wing woman duties for Holly.
- Mackenzie giving Haz love advice.