Two dinners, two emotional worlds, one soap opera twist still waiting to unfold

A Cliff House Thanksgiving Filled with Hope

Thanksgiving unfolds gently at the Cliff House, where Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) and Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) join Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (Tanner Novlan) for a traditional meal with Kelly and little Hayes.

The mood is warm, even nostalgic. It’s a moment of reprieve after weeks of emotional turmoil. As the family gathers around the table, they take turns sharing what they’re thankful for—family, health, love, and the hope for peace after pain.

For Ridge and Taylor, it’s a particularly meaningful day. Reunited with their daughter and surrounded by grandchildren, it almost feels like old wounds are beginning to heal. Even Steffy, still shaken from Luna’s death, finds herself able to smile—if only for a moment.

But beneath the calm, something lingers. Unfinished grief, subtle tension, and quiet questions still hover. Has the storm truly passed?

Sheila and Deacon Host an Unconventional Feast

Across Los Angeles, Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) are creating their own brand of Thanksgiving at Il Giardino—and it’s anything but traditional.

Instead of a romantic dinner for two, the guest list unexpectedly expands. Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne Rose (Murielle Hilaire) join the table, turning the evening into an unlikely foursome.

There’s no turkey carving ceremony or dramatic toasts, but the room still fills with something like gratitude. Deacon and Carter cautiously dance around each other, with Daphne mediating and offering polite conversation. Sheila, however, remains the unpredictable force at the center.

This dinner is about survival, not celebration. For Sheila, the fact that she’s alive, still married, and able to enjoy a glass of wine on her own terms feels like a hard-won victory.

She even jokes—darkly—about being thankful for her “eight remaining toes,” referencing the trauma that nearly ended her. But beneath the humor lies something more complex: defiance, resilience, and the quiet knowledge that her peace could be temporary.

Two Worlds, One Lingering Question

While both meals end with some version of gratitude, the difference in tone is striking.

At the Cliff House, love is expressed openly, and forgiveness is within reach. At Il Giardino, it’s a fragile truce held together by wine, banter, and a shared refusal to be alone.

Ridge’s joy is authentic—but also slightly haunted by past missteps. Sheila’s smile is real—but built on fragile ground.

And as the night closes, viewers are left to wonder: Which family is truly moving forward, and which is merely pretending?