"Max wandered out the front door and headed across the courtyard to his mother's apartment. Mateo quickly chased after his son and instructed him to turn around. Mateo reminded his son that he had promised to live with them. "How long to I have to stay?" Max whined. As Mateo was trying to explain that Max would like living with him and Hayley, Raquel arrived and told her son that she had something for his bedroom. "My bedroom is at your house," Max said softly. Raquel smiled and told her son that he had two bedrooms---one at her house and one at his daddy's house. Max remarked that he liked Raquel's house better than Mateo's. Raquel chuckled and commented that the two condos were virtually identical. Max complained that mothers and fathers were supposed to live together and made special note that Hayley was not his mother. "I don't like Hayley," he yelled. "She's not my mommy." Mateo asked his son to be more respectful, but Max was too upset to listen. Raquel smiled nervously and told Max to run over to her apartment and see how things looked in his other bedroom. Hayley offered to walk Max across the courtyard, but Mateo flatly refused to have Hayley anywhere near him. Hayley was noticeably hurt by Max's rejection and announced that she's take a walk while Mateo and Raquel figured out what to do about Max.
At Wildwind, Kit begged Jack to reconsider his resignation. Edmund also added that he thought Jack was making a big mistake by giving up his position. Jack, on the other hands, felt that resigning was the first thing he'd done right in a long time. Kit worried that her mistaken identification somehow lead to Jack's decision to step down as District Attorney. "It's been coming for a long time," Jack replied, indicating that the rape trial was not the deciding factor. Jack went on to say that he feels he's lost faith in himself and his job and that resigning his post would allow him to refocus on his life and career. Edmund suggested that Jack take a leave of absence, but Jack shook his head and stated that a temporary leave wouldn't solve anything. Jack and Kit left the room to further discuss things. Meanwhile, Dimitri told Edmund that it took a great deal for Jack to "own up to the mess" he'd caused. Edmund briefly mentioned that he wanted to offer an apology to Ryan, but he was almost certain that Ryan wanted nothing to do with him. In a strange case of coincidence, Ryan arrived at the front door and rang the doorbell. Obviously, Edmund was surprised to see his former houseguest. Edmund stepped aside and allowed Ryan into Wildwind. Upon seeing his bruised face, Dimitri wanted to know what had happened. Ryan claimed that it was "nothing" and continued on to the reason for his visit. He asked if he could speak to Jack. Edmund and Dimitri both agreed that Ryan's timing was a bit off. Not knowing if Ryan wanted to yell at Jack, the explained that Jack was a bit out of kilter and had recently given up his post as District Attorney. Ryan said that he'd wait until Jack was done speaking to Kit before talking to him. While they waited, Edmund apologized for being "very wrong" about Ryan and for not believing his word. "I'm sorry for everything I put you through," he added humbly. "I appreciate you saying that," Ryan smiled. With all the unpleasant business out of the way, Edmund and Dimitri concurred that it might not be a bad idea for Gillian and Ryan to move back to Wildwind. Ryan shrugged indifferently and stated that he can't think about his future plans because of Braden.
On the sun porch at the hospital, Myrtle struggled to come up with an answer to her crossword puzzle. Luckily, Adrian and Belinda happened by and offered her a few suggestions. Myrtle mentioned that she'd been meaning to invite the couple over for dinner. Belinda asked Myrtle if she'd seen Opal. On cue, Opal strolled into the room and smiled warmly at her son and his love interest. Belinda grinned broadly and proudly proclaimed that Opal's divorce from Palmer was now final. Opal looked like she'd been hit by a brick. She forced a smile and commented that she was now "a free woman." Opal had no idea that the proceedings had been held. She asked if Palmer knew anything about the hearing, but Belinda replied that she wasn't sure. From the questions she asked and the way she reacted to the answers, Opal looked as though she had been hoping that Palmer would have had a last minute change of heart and reverted to her "Love Bug." Opal bowed her head and told everyone that she'd always thought that she and palmer would be together until the "bitter end." Now, she knew exactly what the bitter end was all about. "I loved him. I really loved that man---even when he ran off with those paintings," she reflected sadly. "I guess there's nothing left to do but this." Opal bowed her head and looked at down at her wedding ring. She attempted to remove the ring, but it wouldn't budge. Opal burst into tears as she continued to tug on the ring. Adrian walked over to his mother and gave her a comforting embrace. After several minutes of bawling, Opal wiped her eyes and tried to regain her composure. She thanked Belinda for assisting her in the divorce proceedings. Opal knew that divorce would never have gone so swiftly had it not been for Adrian's help. To thank him for his help, Opal announced that she planned to give her half of Cortlandt Electronics to him. Adrian's eyes widened in astonishment. Opal figured that since Palmer had been responsible for Adrian losing his job, he might as well be the one who helped him find a new occupation. Adrian turned down Opal's offer. His cell phone began ringing and he excused himself to take the call. Opal was stunned that Adrian had acted so coldly to her offer. Belinda walked off to check on Adrian. Adrian told Belinda that he hadn't meant to sound so rude to Opal, but she couldn't just "give [him] the world on a silver platter." Belinda agreed that Opal had gone over the top, but she reminded Adrian that Opal does things differently than most people. Back on the sun porch, Myrtle tried to explain to Opal why Adrian had turned down her gift. She said that Adrian's refusal showed that he was an "honest, good man." Myrtle warned Opal that going into "gift overdrive" might have unwanted effects---like losing Adrian.
Hayley sat alone in the park at the edge of a sandbox. She gently ran her hands through the sand as Gillian approached from behind. Gillian wondered why Hayley was sitting by herself on moving day. Hayley explained that she had had another bad encounter with Max. Hayley asked Gillian what happened in the courtroom after Ryan's trial. Gillian informed Hayley that she'd approached Ryan and asked him to go back to Myrtle's with her. Hayley smiled broadly until Gillian told her that Ryan turned her down. She then spoke softly and passionately about the night before. Her eyes lit up as she told Hayley that Ryan arrived at Myrtle's and allowed her to "comfort and take care of him." In the morning, however, Gillian couldn't help but notice that Ryan looked at her with the "same look of distrust" as he had in the past. Hayley took Gillian's hand and tried to offer some strength. Gillian dipped her head for a moment. She looked up slowly and brushed the hair from her face. Today, Gillian said melancholically, was her wedding anniversary. She said that she wished she'd have known on her wedding day how lucky she was to have Ryan.
In the dining room at Wildwind, Kit demanded to know if Jack was resigning because of public pressure. Jack shook his head and firmly stated that the decision to step down was all his own. He explained that he'd abused the power of the District Attorney's office. When he went after Ryan, he was out for revenge---not justice. And that ended up costing everyone dearly---Kit's rapist went free, Ryan spent time in jail and had his relationship with Gillian destroyed, Hayley was sent to jail and prevented from seeing Mateo when he was in the hospital, and countless others had their lives altered in some way. Kit gave her brother a hug as Ryan entered the room. Suddenly, she and Jack broke their embrace and pulled away. Jack wanted to know how Ryan had gotten his bumps and bruises. Finally, he admitted that Braden had beaten him up. Fearful that Braden might seek out Kit, Edmund demanded that Kit stay at Wildwind until Braden was found. Kit and Jack also agreed that it wasn't such a bad idea to hold of their cohabitation plans. Ryan asked Jack for help in getting his brother the help he needs. Surprisingly, Jack remained calm and composed. He told that he might be the only one who can help his brother. Jack continued on, suggesting that Ryan file assault charges against Braden. By doing that, it might be the best way to get Braden the counseling he so obviously requires. Ryan wasn't sure that putting his brother behind bars was the way to go. Jack pledged that he would try to have Braden's jail time reduced if he were to agree to counseling. Ryan was stunned by Jack's reaction. He had expected that Jack would want to see Braden punished to the fullest extent of the law. Ryan worried that Braden had already fled town. Jack suggested that they enlist Adrian's help in tracking down Braden. As everyone filed out of the room, Kit called out to Ryan and asked him if she could speak to him. Ryan turned and agreed to speak to Kit, offering her an apology for having made things worse by lying about the attack. Kit was surprised that Ryan was offering her an apology. Kit thanked Ryan for what he'd said to her when she visited him in jail---the assault was not her fault. She said that his words lifted a great weight from her shoulders. Ryan asked Kit if she thought it would be possible to end the fighting once Braden was caught and held accountable for the harm he'd caused. Kit nodded and held out her hand to Ryan. The two former enemies shook hands and signaled the resumption of their lives.
"Things are getting worse," Mateo observed. He was right. Max seemed more opposed to living with him than ever before. Mateo thought that Max would be able to adjust to living with him because Raquel was just across the courtyard from him. Raquel remarked that it was "killing [her] to see [Max] torn apart." Mateo saw only one way to end the suffering. "I'm gonna give up custody of Max. He'll live with you," Mateo announced softly. Raquel was floored. Even in the most remote corner of her mind, she never expected Mateo to give up custody. "I thought you loved him?" she asked sadly. "How can you give up on him?" Mateo argued that he wasn't giving up on anyone. If having Max live with him made Max so unhappy, he felt that there was no other way to resolve the problem. "I'm not giving up on him," explained Mateo. "I'm giving him back." Raquel had a pipedream of an idea to solve all of their problems. She said that when she and Mateo first met, it was their dream to become a family. They both knew that Max dreamt of having his mother and father live together under one roof. "Can't we try to live as a family?" Raquel asked. The reaction from Mateo was immediate and pronounced. He told Raquel that it was not possible for them to live as a family. He had moved on from their childhood fantasies and found a life with Hayley. He then urged Raquel to "find a new dream." When she did, Mateo was certain that she and Max would once again know happiness. Raquel was overcome by Mateo's generosity. She realized that Mateo was trying to do what he thought was best for their son. "I'd do anything for you because I love you," Raquel said to Mateo. She then said that she would give Mateo the best gift she could---his freedom."
- Soap Central