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Grace’s Gravesite

E.J. laments not being there for Grace. Lexie appears and says she was on her way to the carnival, but saw E.J.’s car. She expresses how sorry she is and hugs him. “Do you still have feelings for her?” she questions in regards to Sami. E.J. says he can’t and won’t have feelings for Samantha after what she put him through. He is thankful to have his son, but regrets the fact that he has to share Johnny with her.

He declares that Sami is out of his mind and out of his life and intends to discipline himself to stop thinking about her. Lexie notes that it sounds like he’s trying to convince himself that he doesn’t have feelings for Sami. E.J. insists that he has to hate Sami and has to constantly remind himself what she did to him.

E.J. tells Lexie that he has a loving wife and daughter at home who mean more to him than anything else in the world. He recalls how incredibly supportive Nicole has been. Lexie concludes that he’s grateful to Nicole. E.J. accuses her of making an insinuation and suggesting that his devotion to Nicole is based on gratitude and not love. Lexie wonders if something has changed with Sami. E.J. reveals that she and Rafe split up and knows he shouldn’t really care one way or the other. “But you do,” assumes Lexie. E.J. doesn’t understand why it’s an issue, since Nicole is everything he could ask for and is very supportive. “And yet, you can’t stop thinking about Sami,” assumes Lexie, who wishes he could have peace of mind about everything.

They embrace.

Back at the Carnival

Lexie joins Abe and Theo and says hi to Ellen. She apologizes to Abe for being late, recalling how she saw E.J.’s car at the cemetery and stopped to check on him. One of the children hurts her hand. While Ellen checks on her, Ciara goes over to the strange guy, who presents her with Tommy Bear.

Lexie checks on the injured girl while Ciara thanks Kyle for finding the bear. Kyle lies to Ciara, claiming that her daddy called and said she was to stay with him now instead of her friend’s house. The guy concocts a story about Ciara’s mommy having an accident and being in the hospital, which is why they need to go see her. He takes a willing Ciara by the hand and they run off, leaving the pink water bottle behind.

Back at the DiMera Mansion

Nicole arrives home and warns Stefano that they have a major problem. “Dr. Dick Baker called me,” she reveals. “How much does he want?” questions Stefano. Nicole tells him $100,000 for his gambling debts. She worries about Dr. Baker spilling the secret about the baby-switch. She urges Stefano to write Dr. Baker a check, but he refuses to give the doc one penny. Nicole warns him that E.J. will find out about the baby switch if they don’t placate Dr. Baker. Stefano believes that even if he gives “this greedy swine” a check, he could still come back for more. Nicole warns him that if E.J. finds out that Sydney is Sami’s daughter, then Stefano will have another Brady grandchild. He takes a drink and reluctantly agrees to give her the money, but urges her to warn the greedy doctor that his line of credit has come to an end. “It is not good for one’s health to blackmail a DiMera,” he sneers.

Stefano hands Nicole the account number from which to wire Dr. Baker the money, warning that the number can’t be traced. Nicole thanks him. Stefano asserts that this is the last time they’ll give the parasite doctor anything. Nicole asks where E.J. is. Stefano tells her there was a change of plans, since Johnny was under the weather. “Then why isn’t he home?” asks Nicole. Stefano clarifies that E.J. was home, but he didn’t tell where he was going. Nicole assumes that E.J. is comforting Sami, who is probably sobbing on his shoulder as they speak. “E.J. doesn’t really hate Sami, does he?” she concludes.

E.J. arrives home and asks Nicole what she’s doing. “Waiting for you,” she replies. She questions if he was with Sami, but E.J. says no. “Did you wanna be?” she asks. He admits that he considered it, but the more he thought about it, the more he thought about the two of them. Nicole insists that she tried to be everything for him, and all she ever wanted was for him to love her the way he loved Sami. E.J. admits that he’s concerned about Sami, since he’s Johnny’s mother. Thus, he can’t just push her out of his mind. “I love you, so much more. The love that I have for you is deeper than anything I’ve ever experienced before,” he professes. He expresses how sorry he is that he’s hurt her, assuring her that he’s a hundred percent committed to her. They share a kiss.

Back in the living room, Stefano makes a call and insists that there’s something or someone he needs his recipient to take care of.

Back at the Pub

Rafe sits at the bar and drinks a beer, then states his intentions to head over to Java and use the computer. Arianna offers to let him use hers. He wants to do some research on Dr. Baker, believing that Sami needs his help. Bo, Hope, and Justin arrive at the pub. Hope wants to give Ellen a call to check on Ciara. Bo tells her to stop worrying, assuring her that Abe and Lexie are at the carnival. Hope agrees that she’s obsessing and jokes about being the cool, unhovering mother she inspires to be. She can’t hold back and decides to call.

Rafe makes a call to someone at the FBI for a favor. He needs access codes to some of the classified websites. Afterwards, he does a search on Dr. Richard Baker and finds that the doctor basically fell off the face of the earth. He gives Ari back her computer, then heads out.

Justin, Bo, and Hope finish eating. Justin apologizes for not being able to get back for Grandpa Shawn’s funeral. Hope knows that Dubai isn’t exactly a hop, skip, and a jump away. Arianna brings them beer as Hope proceeds to call Ellen again to say goodnight to Ciara. Hope begins to worry about Ellen not answering. Justin encourages them to just enjoy “chillin’ at the pub.” Bo has a disturbing vision of finding Ciara’s Tommy Bear in the forest. At that moment, Ciara drops Tommy Bear as Kyle leads her away.