Abe Courts Disaster as He Tries Reclaiming His Job and Dimitri May Have Just Overplayed His Hand!
Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI
Tuesday, August 15, 2023: Today on Days of Our Lives, Abe tries taking his role back, Chanel, Johnny and Talia wrestle with their feelings and Leo jumps into Gwen and Dimitri’s honeymoon.
Over in Iceland, Gwen is lamenting the lack of ice outside (despite it being summer) as Dimitri is distractedly texting Leo. She lays out their itinerary and thinks they should get moving, but as he thinks about Leo, Gwen asks if he wants to do something else, instead… like have a little fun just themselves. Dimitri hurriedly assures her they need to see the sites, then sends her off to get started.
Seconds later, Leo knocks on the door, bundled up for the arctic. Dimitri hurries him in and starts kissing him, then wonders what he’s wearing. “It’s August, Leo…” He then tries getting Leo out before Gwen comes back — which she does! She could have sworn she heard him talking to someone, but Dimitri makes up an excuse about practicing Icelandic, thoroughly impressing her.
But when she tries to leave with him, he says he’s having some “issues” from eating bad Icelandic yogurt and insists she leave without him. “No way! No! I am your wife! Your devoted wife!” She’s not leaving his side, especially on their honeymoon. Leo, meanwhile, shakes his head in the bathroom as Dimitri babbles on trying to push her out the door. It would “lift” his spirits knowing she was having fun. Leo, understandably, rolls his eyes.
“Right, well, since you’ve obviously not given me a choice, I suppose I’ll see you later then.” She kisses him, grabs her bag and uncertainly heads out. Leo emerges from the bathroom the second she’s gone and wants to be ravaged.
Chanel’s pensive over at Paulina’s and tells her mom about Talia saying she has feelings for her. Paulina wonders if those feelings are real or not, but Chanel believes her. Paulina would rather Chanel be with someone who hasn’t hurt her like Talia, but wonders how Chanel feels about her. “I’m not really sure… it’s complicated.” Her heart skipped a beat, but she isn’t ready to trust Talia just yet. Paulina tells her to take her time and Chanel asks her mom how she’s faring about Abe. Paulina’s trying to wait and be patient, but she can’t wait for him to come back.
Kayla stops by Marlena’s office and admits she doesn’t think Abe’s ready to go back to being mayor. Marlena’s taken aback too. There’s so much pressure being mayor, plus the press is going to devour him. If he goes back too soon, “he’s going to get burned.”
Back at Steve and Kayla’s, Abe’s preparing for his first press conference back as mayor. He’s planning on crashing Deputy Mayor Rawling’s press conference and announce his “demotion.” Steve doesn’t know if that’s a great decision, but Abe somewhat gently, but forcefully says whatever the particulars of their friendship, he’s pretty sure it doesn’t involve asking for Steve’s permission.
Fair enough, but respectfully, Steve and Kayla think it’s too soon to go back to work. “I hate to say this, but I think you’re going to crash and burn.” Paulina shows up to take Abe to the press conference. Steve tries to insist he’s not ready and Abe gets ticked and tells him to mind his own business. Paulina’s thrilled, at least. But while Steve wishes him luck as Abe slowly rises on his own and leaves, he can’t hide the worry on his face.
Acting mayor Rawlings is holding his press conference, excited to announce his plan for the rest of his term. Abe walks in on Paulina’s arm announcing, “That won’t be necessary, deputy mayor Rawlings.” The upstart applauds Abe but says he should be resting. Nah, Abe announces, he’s returning to being mayor “and my first official act will be to reopen my stepdaughter’s bakery.”
Rawlings insists he had every right to shut down the bakery after the poisoning. Paulina goes off on him and Abe calms her down and demands the acting mayor’s resignation. He refuses to step down for the good of the town and Abe insists he’s more than well enough. Rawlings says Abe’s decision making was questionable even before his brain injury, what with making Rafe commissioner. Paulina snaps back at him, and he fires back with reminding everyone of her scheme to get rid of the square and claiming she dragged Abe from his “sickbed” to do her bidding now.
Abe storms over and declares himself fully recovered and Rawlings turns the press loose on him as the two glare at each other.
Talia’s leaving Brady’s Pub as Johnny’s entering, but he tries to run off as she says she needs to talk to him. About Chanel. She wants to assure him she won’t hurt Chanel. Both flash back to talking to Marlena about their feelings for Chanel and Talia hopes that if they can’t be friends, they can at least be civil. She then offers him a coffee just the way he likes it as a peacemaker.
Johnny visits grandma Marlena in her office and insists he’s 100 percent sure he has feelings for Chanel but isn’t sure if he should act on them. He knew he had feelings but didn’t realize how strong until Talia tried making a move. He wants to protect Chanel, though. He’s liked being her “go-to.” Their marriage in Italy was so real, but it just… ended. “But grandma, before it did, it was amazing.”
It felt more real than anything else he’s felt. Marlena takes a deep breath and asks if he’s told Chanel that. No. “Why not?” He doesn’t know if it’s the right time. Everything just keeps piling up on her, plus he just whiffed with Wendy. Then there’s Allie. She’s moved on and happy, but he’s worried about Chanel coming between them again. “It sounds to me like you’re concerned about other people.” But the only thing that matters is how he feels.
Opening up is always a risk, but it’s worth it. No matter what happens, Johnny can handle it. He thanks her and decides he’s going to tell Chanel.
Talia, meanwhile, shows up at Chanel’s just as she’s about to go for a run. She hesitantly brings up the whole feelings thing and tries taking it back. Chanel’s confused about how she can take it back. Talia insists her feelings are her own problem and she doesn’t want to ruin the chance for a friendship. “Well… what if I don’t want to forget it?”
She was caught off guard, but she felt something for Talia. What now? Chanel doesn’t know, but they should take it slow. They agree and decide to hang out tonight, declaring it a date just as Johnny shows up on the other side of the door to overhear.
In the last few minutes, Abe has a tough time with the questions and Rawlings suggests that Abe doesn’t even know any names in his administration. He gets upset when asked about his memory and one of the reporters presses him to name any member of the city council. “How about your own daughter?”
Marlena shows up at Steve and Kayla’s to let them know Abe’s being savaged on social media.
And back in honeymoonville, Dimitri and Leo are canoodling after sex and Leo’s hit by an attack of conscience. That’s all well and good, but “here we are,” Dimitri responds. Leo checked, though, and there’s a direct flight back to Salem. Then they go at it again, but eventually Leo gets ready to leave, despite Dimitri trying to convince him otherwise. Leo opens the door… to find Gwen on the other side!
Next on Days of Our Lives: Victor’s fate is revealed, and Gabi is determined to get to the bottom of Rachel’s secret.
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