Cold Turkey

Brook Lynn tried to talk Chase out of cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, but he was adamant that he wanted to do something nice for the family and that by working together, he and his wife could break the Quartermaine turkey curse. When Michael then entered the living room, Brook Lynn asked her cousin if he wanted to help with the meal, but Michael didn’t think it was a good idea for him and Chase to be in a kitchen together “with all those knives.”

Repeating his belief that Willow was innocent, Chase stated that he wasn’t going to apologize for asking questions about who else could have shot Drew, including Michael. Accusing his cousin’s husband of having no objectivity when it came to their mutual ex, Michael wondered if Chase, who claimed to know Willow so well, was aware she was marrying Drew on Thanksgiving. Brook Lynn was shocked as Michael explained that he’d heard Willow tell Elizabeth all about it while he’d been at G.H. for an appointment — and that Willow was wearing Lila’s engagement ring.

Jumping to Willow’s defense, Chase insisted that the rushed nuptials must have been Drew’s idea, and Michael countered that Willow accepted the proposal. Brook Lynn couldn’t believe Willow had forgiven Drew for everything, and Michael mused that perhaps Willow believed marrying the man that she’s accused of shooting would make her look innocent. After declaring that he didn’t care anymore, Michael exited the room, and Brook Lynn turned to her husband. “He has a point,” she noted. “I mean, what if this is just Willow’s ploy to stay out of prison?”

Chase couldn’t believe Brook Lynn was defending her cousin, barking that he’d been under the impression she’d started to consider the possibility that Michael might be guilty. Brook Lynn then told her husband she’d changed her mind after Michael facilitated a sit-down between her and Gio the day before at the hospital. Explaining that the chat went better than she could have hoped for, Brook Lynn confided that she felt like a weight had been lifted, and Gio even called her mom. Hugging his wife, Chase conceded that he’d been so focused on Willow’s innocence that he’d forgotten how kind and caring Michael could be and voiced that he was grateful that Michael was there for her when he wasn’t. After promising to make each other a priority, Brook Lynn offered to help Chase cook a turkey for Thanksgiving, but teased that there was a new pizza place in town as backup.

Target Practice

Having made bail, a grateful Rocco returned home with Lulu. Examining her son’s bruised face, Lulu needed reassurance that he was feeling okay after his assault, and Rocco promised his mom that he was fine. Once inside the house, Rocco received hugs from Charlotte and Danny, who were waiting with Jason. Danny promised his brother that he and Charlotte would prove Dalton lied about the lab being trashed. Leaving the kids alone to catch up, Lulu stepped outside with Jason. She revealed that she’d heard Dalton was gone and wondered if the professor took off… or if Sonny was involved. “If that’s your way of asking if Sonny had Dalton killed, I can assure you, he didn’t,” Jason replied. Although relieved to hear that, Lulu worried that meant that Dalton took off on his own and could return at any time. Implying they had bigger concerns, Jason pointed out that all three kids had connections to people with a long list of enemies. “You’re right,” Lulu agreed. “Our children have targets on their backs, and we have to keep them safe.”

Meanwhile, Rocco told Danny and Charlotte that he stood by his actions in protecting them because it was the right thing to do — so was breaking into the lab, even if they didn’t find any proof of illegal animal testing. He got Charlotte to admit that it wasn’t the same as being on the run in Europe, but their adventure had been a thrill. The kids hoped that Dalton was gone for good since, without the professor present to testify against Rocco, there was no case.

Warning Label

At the Jerome Gallery, Ava asked Trina if Jordan had been interested in any of the pieces she’d seen, and Trina replied that they’d likely lost that client after she threatened to make sure Curtis never went back to the woman again. A surprised Ava was under the impression that Trina liked Jordan, but Trina said she’d realized her parents’ marriage never stood a chance with Jordan waiting in the wings to jump in. Ava didn’t think Trina could stop her father from seeing Jordan, but Trina insisted he’d stay away if she asked him to. When Ava warned that issuing ultimatums only leads to resentment, Trina wondered if her father cared how much she resented “her” (Jordan). Just then, Portia arrived, wanting to take her daughter for dinner, but Trina already had plans with Curtis and Stella. Declining an invitation to join them, Portia asked her daughter to relay the message that she had to work on Thanksgiving. Saddened by how the family was being torn apart, Trina expressed her fear that she’d lose one of her parents, but Portia promised her daughter that would never happen. Then, as mother and daughter embraced, Ava flashed back to a conversation with Nina in which her friend divulged that she’d named someone else as a possible suspect in Drew’s shooting — and rightly worried that Nina had been referring to Portia.

After Trina left, Portia stayed behind and confided to Ava that her daughter was having a difficult time with the divorce. Revealing that she’d heard Trina say she “resented her,” Portia wondered if she or Jordan was the “her” in question. Although glad to hear that Trina hadn’t been talking about her, Portia was concerned that might change if Curtis wasn’t the baby’s father and shared how scared she was to lose her daughter. Deciding to break Nina’s confidence, Ava alerted Portia that when Nina’s alibi fell apart, she was desperate to protect Willow and had suggested an alternate suspect. Portia assumed that meant Nina told the police Drew was blackmailing her, but Ava quickly replied that Nina hadn’t said who she threw under the bus, or that she even went to the cops. But if she had to venture a guess, Ava added, it was likely Portia. Hurt that she was potentially betrayed by someone she’d believed was her friend, Portia was also worried that she might be arrested for attempted murder — and have to give birth in prison if convicted.

Then, Ava informed Portia that, according to Nina, there might be a way to prove that Michael was not with Jacinda the night Drew was shot and that disproving his alibi would put him at the top of the suspect list. Portia appreciated Ava giving her a warning and divulged that because of Nina, she might now have to account for her whereabouts that night. “And that could land me in a different kind of trouble,” she fretted.

Best Served Cold

Stella met Curtis for dinner at the Grill. He asked her if she wanted to go elsewhere since Drew and Martin were at the bar, but Stella refused to leave. After Curtis caught her glaring at Drew, she told her nephew to distract her with an update on how things were going with Portia. Despite the baby on the way, Curtis replied, he and Portia were moving forward with the divorce. Then, as he happily shared the sonogram photo with his aunt, Stella argued that experiencing all the pregnancy and childhood milestones was reason enough to stay married.

Meanwhile, at the bar, Drew shared the news of his and Willow’s engagement with Martin and asked his attorney to officiate the Thanksgiving Day ceremony. Martin accepted but questioned if his rush to marry was to bolster Willow’s image at trial. Drew acknowledged that he felt it would make a good impression on the jury, but he did love Willow and wanted to make her his wife. Martin didn’t think that after the last wedding, Drew would ever win Willow back, but the congressman laughed that he always got what he wanted, like Willow and revenge on those who had crossed him. Martin wanted to know if Michael was still at the top of that list, and Drew wished he’d said months ago that he remembered Michael shooting him, because it would have prevented Willow from facing trial, and now it was too late. But once Michael was behind bars and Willow had her children back, then he could focus on the others who had crossed him, Drew stated, looking across the dining room to Curtis.

Arriving at the restaurant, Trina told Curtis and Stella that she’d done all the shopping for Thanksgiving dinner and shared that Portia wouldn’t be there due to work. Curtis suggested they focus on their blessings, and Trina shared how grateful she was that Stella had been cleared of the fraud charges. Getting all riled up about the investigation against her, Stella decided it was time that she confronted Drew for abusing his position to target their family. Stalking across the restaurant, she ripped into the congressman for using her just to settle a score with her nephew. Martin and Curtis managed to get Stella to return to her table, and as Curtis walked away, Drew suggested he remind his aunt that investigations could be reopened.

Once Stella was back at the table, Trina commented that the exchange had been pretty intense. Stella revealed it felt good to give “that fool” a piece of her mind, but wondered if it had been wise to provoke him. Curtis told his aunt not to worry about Drew, declaring that he would protect his family against the congressman by any means necessary. Meanwhile, Martin reminded Drew about their prior agreement to keep Stella off his revenge list, but Drew gleefully announced that Stella would suffer enough when he destroyed her beloved nephew for shooting him. As they looked over at the Ashfords, Martin asked if Drew still believed Curtis was the one who shot him. Drew replied he was more convinced than ever, especially since the blackmail material against Portia had magically disappeared from his safe that night. But since he was determined to have Michael go down for the shooting, Drew declared, he’d find another way to make Curtis pay.

Forgive But Not Forget

Lisel dropped in to visit Willow, who assumed her great aunt was there to tell her she was making a huge mistake by marrying Drew. Instead, Liesl declared that while she didn’t agree with her decision, Willow had her support — and it was Nina who’d made her see that Willow was happy with Drew. Liesl then suggested that Willow make amends with her mother, but Willow insisted Nina had made too many mistakes to keep forgiving her. Accusing Willow of acting like a petulant child, Liesl pointed out all the ways Nina has tried to protect Willow out of love and informed her yet again that it was time to make peace. Then, there was a knock on the door. “And now’s your chance,” Liesl declared, opening the door to Nina.

When Liesl explained that Nina had been waiting in the car, Willow accused her great-aunt of buttering her up before the ambush. Uncomfortable, Nina moved to leave, but Liesl grabbed her arm and made her enter the house, insisting that her relatives work things out before the wedding. Nina offered not to attend the ceremony, and Willow angrily wanted to know why she’d even want to be there. Growing emotional, Nina begged for forgiveness, promising to love and support her daughter for the rest of her life. Although she couldn’t guarantee that she’d ever fully trust Nina again, Willow agreed to work on their relationship and to let her mother back into her life. With a fresh start between them, Willow invited her mother to the wedding, and Liesl cheered that they had something to truly celebrate.

Alternate Reality

At the PCPD, Dante hared his appreciation for his former partner for taking care of his son, who was now back at home after making bail. Then, Dante asked for Nathan’s input on who else may have shot Drew. Nathan wondered if they were reopening the investigation, but Dante explained that Turner suspected Alexis might blame the PCPD for botching the investigation, so they needed to craft a counterargument. Nathan suggested Chase might be a better detective to do that, so Dante revealed that he wanted Det. Harrison as far away as possible since Chase had a bias toward Willow. Nathan pointed out that he is Willow’s uncle, but Dante noted he had no personal relationship with her. Then, the men began combing through the files of the other potential suspects in the case, starting with Michael, who had motive and opportunity. Nathan thought his sister, Nina, was a long shot, but he and Dante figured Curtis and Carly were also worth a closer look at.

Nathan claimed that as an ex-cop and former PI, Curtis knew how to cover his tracks; plus, his whereabouts for the entire evening were unaccounted for. Dante felt that Curtis had the weakest motive, but Nathan reminded him that the investigation into Stella was deeply personal, and everybody knew Drew was behind it. Then, after the shooting, the investigation just went away. Agreeing, Dante decided they needed to take a deeper look at Curtis’s alibi.