Sarah Can’t Hide Her True Feelings for Xander Anymore as Belle Hunts for Answers About John

Xander finishes reading to Victoria and can talk over what happened with Sarah a bit more. She’s convinced she made the wrong call with Destiny. Xander tries cheering her up, but Sarah just says that losing this patient was different. “This one got me.”

Sarah’s Torn Between Her Men!

Xander offers to talk about what happened or not, whatever she needs. Sarah thanks him, but what she needs is sleep — until Xander comes into bed and kisses her on the cheek. He’s decided he’s staying there forever because she and Victoria are his whole world. (Hello, dream.)

Sarah would love that! They kiss, but Sarah’s confused about how this is happening and realizes she’s dreaming. “‘Fraid so,” Xandream says, just before Dream Brady shows up to throw a fit. It’s then a wacky fight with her dream men over who she should choose until she wakes covered in sweat!

Xander Blackmails Gabi

Rafe and Gabi are celebrating Ari’s birthday at Small Bar. (Let’s hope this isn’t her turning 21. In a bar with her family?) It’s a feel-good family moment, but Gabi’s distracted and has to run out quick for a meeting. She’ll be back before the food arrives!

She meets with Xander in the square and he asks about her inheritance offer. Philip turned her down, so it’s not happening. Xander’s ticked. “Then please allow me to accept it on his behalf.” That’s a no for Gabi, so it’s blackmail time! Give them the money, or she’s going back to prison for corporate espionage.

Is Julie OK?

Julie takes a deep breath in her front hall and opens the door to Foster — bouquet in hand! Both their nerves are wound up, but they take off for their date. It’s also at Small Bar, but Julie’s on edge. She tries her first jalapeno popper, but isn’t sold on it. She prefers her spice in literature, so they, of course, chat about One Stormy Night.

Things ease a bit when they get to talking about Ian Fleming novels (you know, James Bond!) but Julie’s still making faces. They wrap up dinner and Julie insists it was lovely, turns Foster down for a karaoke night, then agrees to try trivia night — though she doesn’t look sure.

Ari takes a look out the window (Small Bar is on the camera side of the square! Who would have known??) and sees Gabi and Xander. She runs right back to rat her out to Rafe and complain about her mom’s love life, which leads into her love life. She’s determined to track Liam down, one way or another. When Gabi fumes back in, Ari spots her and Julie smiling at each other, which, as she points out, is very weird.

John’s Family Reminisces

Marlena’s frosty with Kate when she shows up at the Pub for her dinner with the kids. Kate’s so sorry this little kerfuffle has come between them. John would want the two working together for Basic Black. (Whatever helps you sleep at night, Kate.)

Belle and Brady paused outside the Pub, debating whether or not to tell Marlena about the missing pawn. (Well, we’ve got our own theory if the pawn isn’t meant to be John.) They head in as Marlena tells Kate to buzz off, and it’s then smiles all around. They reminisce about John and toast to him.

Marlena shows them the coin she found at John’s grave, and tells them about how she gave it to him at the hospital, only for it to disappear. She thinks it’s a message from John saying he’ll always be with them. The kids are touched, but… that’s not how things work, Marlena.

Belle brings up the mysterious lilacs that showed up at the funeral, so Brady changes the subject fast. They wrap and Marlena thanks Roman for the evening. Kate scowls in the background as they hug, then checks a voicemail from Xander saying they need to drop the lawsuit. Oh, and he’s coming clean about setting Johnny up. She’s not happy.

In the Show’s Final Moments

Outside, Belle muses over the coin and the pawn and wonders if it means… “That dad is still out there.” Brady shoots that down — Shane did a DNA test on John’s ashes. Belle points out, correctly, that that’s not how it works. But it does for the ISA! John’s dead dead. (And we have another idea of what it means.)

Xander gets home to find Sarah up, going through Destiny’s medical records. Her sister died of a supposed OD two years ago, and the sister’s emergency contact was Liam Selejko. Maybe he could tell her something helpful. It’s all too strange. Xander just tells her not to stay up too late and says goodnight. As soon as he’s gone, Sarah texts Brady to help her.

Foster takes Julie home, and he had a wonderful time. She thanks him for the evening, makes yet another face as he kisses her on the cheek, then rushes inside to talk to Doug. “You like him,” she asks in tears. Marlena looks at a photo of John as she clutches the coin.

On the next Days of Our Lives , when Abe leans on Marlena for support.  So he is uncertain!