Brooke shows her true colors!
The situation between Taylor and Ridge remained tense. He continued to meet with Brooke, including Jack. Taylor tried, as best she could, to accept the circumstances. Steffy and Phoebe watched anxiously as their parents grew further and further apart. They shared their worries with their brother and the three of them tried everything to bring their parents closer together again. But the cheerful, easy-going atmosphere between them was gone. Taylor poured her heart out to Felicia. Recently, the two women had grown closer again and Felicia had become an important supporter for her. Taylor was glad she had someone in the family with whom she could talk openly about anything. Felicia also tried to mediate between her brother and Taylor, but her efforts were also unsuccessful. Still, Taylor didn't mind when Ridge went to Big Bear with Jack for two days. Ridge hadn't been there in a long time. He wanted to spend some relaxing time with Jack. Despite all their disagreements, in this particular case, Taylor supported Ridge's plans.
Today was Stephanie's birthday. She planned a dinner with the whole family to celebrate so she also had invited Taylor and Jack. Taylor sat with Jack in Ridge's office waiting for him. They had arranged to meet here and then go to the birthday party together. She was playing and goofing around with Jack when the door opened and Brooke walked in.
"Hi Taylor, what a surprise to see you!"
"Hi Brooke, I'm just waiting for Ridge. We're about to go to Stephanie's birthday party."
"Oh yes, of course, the entire Forrester family at one table. By the way, where is Ridge?"
"He's just getting changed."
"Oh okay..." Brooke hesitated for a moment. She reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope, which she placed on Ridge's desk.
"Please tell Ridge I just wanted to drop off these pictures." She was about to leave again when she 'accidentally' knocked the envelope to the floor and all the photos fell out. Brooke frantically began to gather them back up, Taylor rose and came to her aid. As she did so, she took a closer look at the pictures and froze. They showed Brooke with Ridge and Jack. She looked at them even more closely. They had been taken in Big Bear. Taylor's mind raced with thoughts. Brooke hurriedly put the photos back in the envelope and then left the office. Taylor was shocked. Brooke had been in Big Bear with Ridge and Jack; there was no other explanation to it. She was getting extremely angry. Ridge appeared and said they could leave. At the same moment Pam stuck her head in the door.
"Hey, we should go now! You know how uncomfortable my dear sister can be when someone dares to be late." But Taylor grabbed Jack's stroller and turned to her.
"Pam, would you please watch Jack for a moment. I have something important to discuss with Ridge." She glared angrily at him. Pam and Ridge gave each other irritated looks, but finally Pam grabbed the stroller.
"Come with me Jack. Do you want me to tell you what a little tomboy your grandma used to be?" She left the office and closed the door.
"Would you explain to me what that's all about?" Instead of an answer, Taylor reached for the envelope, pulled out the pictures and held them under Ridge's nose. The latter turned pale.
"First you can explain this to me? Brooke was with you guys in Big Bear and you didn't say a word!"
"Now don't get upset. There's really nothing to it. I told Brooke about my plans and she mentioned that she hadn't been there in a long time too and would love to go again and since Hope was at a friend's house that weekend I spontaneously invited her to join us. It was all quite harmless, so there's no need to make a drama out of it."
"It was all quite harmless and why didn't you tell me about it? How I am supposed to trust you and be on good terms with you if you keep hiding things like this from me. It's the same thing over and over again Ridge, you do your thing and you don't care at all how I feel about it!"
"Sorry, but I don't think I have to ask your permission for every step I take with my son! I also don't interfere with you when you let Ally play with Jack. "
"You can't compare the two at all. Ally is Jack's cousin. Besides, you know the reason why I'm doing this with Ally. It's good for her to be around Jack."
"It's the same with Brooke, it helps her too when she spends time with Jack."
"But I've never kept Ally's visits from you. But you're playing 'happy family' with Brooke and Jack behind my back."
"That's not true. I was in the mountains with my son and Brooke accompanied us. That's all there was to it. Now can we leave? We're already late anyway."
"Honestly, I'm not in the mood for this dinner anymore. I just want to go home!"
"Oh please, you can't do that! You know how much it means to Mother to celebrate with the whole family." But Taylor stayed firm. She said goodbye to Pam and Jack and stormed off.
A short time later, Pam and Ridge arrived at the birthday party with Jack. Ridge excused Taylor and told everyone she was suffering from a migraine and therefore couldn't come. Pam covered his white lie. Stephanie was very disappointed about this news. She had looked forward to having the whole family at one table again. Moreover, she had hoped that the two would become closer again on this occasion. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a wonderful party. Later, as everyone chatted with each other, Felicia pulled her brother out onto the patio with her.
"Does Taylor really have a migraine, or has something happened between you two again?" Ridge was glad to have someone to talk to.
"To be honest, we just had a terrible fight and after that she refused to come to the party."
"What happened?" asked Felicia, concerned.
"Taylor just completely lost her temper over something totally trivial."
"What was it about? Was it about Brooke again?"
"Kind of, Brooke was with us the weekend I was in Big Bear with Jack. Taylor found out about it and got pretty mad."
"Wait, she didn't know about it? You just went to Big Bear with Brooke and Jack and didn't tell Taylor beforehand?!" Ridge gave an embarrassed squeeze.
"Well... you know how she reacts to Brooke. She would never have agreed to the trip."
"And you're surprised she's freaking out?! If it were me, I would have ripped your head off! Seriously Ridge, sometimes you're an insensitive klutz. Taylor is Jack's mother, you can't just do something like that without telling her first. Especially not with Brooke! You know how she feels about Brooke."
"Exactly! That's why I didn't tell her. Because I know she goes ballistic whenever she even hears the name 'Brooke'. I just didn't want it to cause trouble again. I mean, nothing happened. We had a wonderful weekend together and finished."
"Still Ridge, that wasn't okay and you know it. I mean, I understand that you're trying to help Brooke, but you can't keep ignoring Taylor's feelings and in the end it's Jack who suffers the most when you two don't get along. I mean, you have to admit, during this whole story Taylor has been very fair. She's agreed to share custody with you without a second thought and she's doing everything to make sure that Jack and you form a close relationship. She has always reached out to you and you were on such a good path. Despite everything that happened between you, you got along pretty well and you even did things as a family occasionally. Thomas and the girls were so happy and now the same thing happens as always. You're putting everything at risk because of Brooke. You shouldn't always demand Taylor to put up with everything. You should have some consideration for her and not always just impose your stubbornness!" After this speech, Felicia left her brother alone.
The next day, Ridge showed up at Taylor's house with a bouquet of flowers. He sincerely apologized to her for his behavior. His sister's words had made a big impression on him. He admitted that he had made a mistake in not telling Taylor about Brooke. Taylor accepted his apology. They sat down and discussed the matter peacefully and objectively. Taylor explained to him again she just hadn't a good feeling about Jack spending too much time with Brooke. She was afraid Brooke would play too big a part in Jack's life. Ridge assured her again he had no interest in a future with Brooke. He just wanted to give her a chance to spend time with Jack because it made her feel better. He promised to be more considerate of her feelings. They agreed Brooke could see Jack when he was at the office, but nowhere else. They said goodbye not in a fight, but with a friendly hug. Ridge was positive that in time Taylor would surely find it easier to accept Brooke's contact with Jack.
Over the next few weeks, Taylor truly tried hard to cope with the arrangement, but Brooke didn't make it easy for her. When Ridge was around, she was the kindest person ever, but once Ridge wasn't there, she showed her true colors. She never missed an opportunity to pick on Taylor. She criticized Taylor's parenting methods incessantly. She made reservations to her when she saw Taylor giving Jack a pacifier. Also, she claimed Jack's stroller was not safe at all. Taylor tried very hard to ignore Brooke's 'well-intentioned suggestions' but she had to grit her teeth each time to keep from losing her temper.
The other day, Taylor went to pick up Jack at Ridge, he wasn't in his office. Instead Brooke was frolicking with Jack on the floor.
"Where's Ridge?" wanted Taylor to know.
"Oh, he has a very important meeting with Eric and Thorne."
"And he left you alone with Jack?"
"Well, actually he asked me to bring Jack to Stephanie, but Jack rather much wants to stay with me, am I right Jack?" She tickled his belly.
"Well I would doubt it. Jack is very attached to Stephanie. She's his grandma after all." Taylor picked Jack up off the floor. "There you go Sweety, now it's time to go home." Brooke glanced at her urgently.
"By the way Taylor, you shouldn't be so tough on Ridge. He is Jack's father after all. He doesn't deserve the way you're treating him and it's not good for Jack either if you guys keep fighting" Taylor scowled at Brooke.
"For one thing, we haven't been fighting at all lately and besides, it's none of your business how Ridge and I deal with each other!"
"It is very much my business. Ridge is a friend of mine and I just can't stand to see him suffer because of you. You really should treat him with more respect."
"I do respect Ridge and I know he's a good father. I'll give you some good advice, Brooke! You'd better take care of your kids and their fathers and stay out of Ridge's and mine business. How is Hope and her father?"
"Hope is at least a child created by love. You only got pregnant with Jack because you were afraid of losing Nick to me. You could never stand the fact that the men loved me more than you, Ridge and Nick. Actually it's no wonder, as hysterical and unstable as you are. I really feel sorry for your children, with a wreck for a mother. At least Thomas, Phoebe and Steffy were lucky. They were able to experience most of their childhood without you. And who knows? Maybe Jack will be spared growing up with you too."
*SMATCH* Taylor saw red. She slapped Brooke across the face. Brooke stared at her, aghast. Taylor was startled at herself. Ridge was standing in the doorway.
"What's going on here?" Without a word, Brooke stormed past him, Ridge stepped toward Taylor.
"What was that about? Why are you going after Brooke?" Taylor was a mess. She almost couldn't get a word out.
"I don't know either...Brooke provoked me…She pushed my buttons...You can't imagine the things she threw at me."
"Even if Brooke might have stepped on your toes, that's no reason to get violent with her, and with Jack around."
"Stepped on my toes a little bit? You really have no idea, Brooke has been so mean and conniving and not just today. It's been going on for weeks! She never misses an opportunity to bully and humiliate me. In her eyes, I'm doing everything wrong with Jack, she's constantly lecturing me about what an unfit mother I am."
"I'm sure she doesn't mean it like that, she probably just wants to give you some advice and help you. Don't always take everything so personally."
"Oh no, I know very well how Brooke means it. She's out to get on me!"
"I think you're just exaggerating a bit."
"And you're not objective when it comes to Brooke. But please, go to her and comfort her. Maybe she'll even have the decency to tell you what she said to me!" With those words, Taylor left and rushed out of the room with Jack, who had fallen asleep in his stroller and was oblivious to all the commotion. Ridge gave her a concerned stare.
After this ugly scene, Taylor drove home. She called Felicia and asked her to come over. She immediately left when she heard how upset Taylor sounded on the phone. Taylor described to her in detail what had occurred in Ridge's office. Felicia was stunned by Brooke's insolence.
"This woman really knows no bounds! How dare she insult you like that? You didn't do anything to her."
"She just can't help it, yet I shouldn't have let her provoke me like that. I should have kept my control."
"Oh come on, don't beat yourself up over it. Brooke isn't made of sugar and with those insults I would have slapped her too. I just wonder..." reflected Felicia "...why is Brooke constantly insulting you? What is her motivation?"
"She just hates me. She never could stand me, she probably just enjoys it making me miserable. Besides I assume she's jealous of my motherhood. She can't stand the fact that I got pregnant and she didn't."
"But that alone is no reason to keep attacking you."
"You mean Brooke is up to something else?"
"I don't know, but it wouldn't be the first time. I think I'll keep an eye on Brooke in the near future. And you definitely shouldn't let her provoke you any further! Avoid any open confrontation with her. No matter how much she pushes your buttons, you need to stay calm."
"That's easier said than done!"
A few days later, Taylor just finished the week's shopping and loaded the groceries into her car when her cell phone rang. It was Ridge.
"Hey Taylor, I just want to let you know I really need to get to the office. Dad wants to discuss something with me about the new collection. I left Jack with Brooke, they're at the guest house right now."
"With Brooke?" Taylor almost shouted.
"Now please don't get mad, but this is an emergency. Brooke happened to be there when Dad called and Mother isn't at home. What was I supposed to do?" Taylor struggled to stay calm.
"Okay! Don't mind, thanks for calling. I'll go right there now and pick him up." As quickly as she could, she packed up the rest of her stuff, got in the car and headed for the Forrester estate. When she arrived at the guest house, she heard Brooke's humming and her son's giggling through the open window. Unnoticed, Taylor watched the scene unfold. Brooke just received a message on her cell phone.
"Hold on Jack, let's see who's texting us. Oh look, it's your daddy!" Brooke sighed as she read the message. "Do you know what your dad just texted me? Your lunatic mother is already on her way. That means she'll be here any minute... Yeah, I know we both don't like that at all!... But shall I tell you a secret, Jack?!... A very big secret. Soon your father will realize that your mother is incapable of taking care of you and then you will stay with him forever... and with me!...We will be a real family!... You like that, don't you, Jack?!... Then I'll be your mommy...come on say mommy…..say mommy to me..."
Taylor leaned against the wall. She felt like she was falling into a deep black hole .