Bold & Beautiful viewers, much like Dr. John ‘Finn’ Finnegan, have been desperate to know when Jacqueline MacInnes Wood will bring Steffy back to Los Angeles. Well, we now have the answer — and it’s surprising!

As most fans are aware, Wood gave birth to her fourth child, a son named Valor, on August 27. The star had taped scenes ahead of her maternity leave, so her character aired until September 7.

That’s part of the reason her return is so surprising — it seems like Steffy hasn’t been gone all that long.

The character, of course, is huddled in Rome with her children Kelly and Hayes, unwilling to subject herself to the dangers associated with her husband’s mother, the notorious Sheila Carter, who left her and Finn for dead after shooting them in an alley, and who managed to extricate herself from a certain lifelong jail sentence, as we now know, thanks to the help of her lover Deacon.

Steffy informed Finn and other family members that she would not be returning to Los Angeles until there was no longer a threat presented by Sheila.

Given that Sheila is now firmly ensconced not only in Deacon’s life as his fiancee, but as a waitress at his successful restaurant, Il Giardino, we’re not sure why Steffy decides it’s OK to return, but return she will.

Chile it may not be entirely unexpected to learn that Wood has been back filming on Bold & Beautiful given that her maternity leaves have typically been on the shorter side, it will definitely be surprising for Steffy’s loved ones to see her turn up back in town while Sheila’s still on the loose. But no one will be more taken off guard than her husband, Finn.

Finn, according to a teaser in SOD, will have no idea that his wife has headed back to L.A. from Rome, and will be utterly taken by surprise by her return, which happens the week after next.

Whether Steffy is back for good or just for the fashion showdown between her father Ridge and her grandfather Eric, which also takes place the week of October 30, remains to be seen. But we’ll be keen to find out if anything has changed in the meantime.

Has Steffy changed her stance on Sheila? Has she been spending time with Liam, who hasn’t been seen lately and who told Finn he planned to go visit Steffy and the kids overseas? Is she ready to move back into the cliff house? And what will she make of Finn bonding with Hope while she was away?