Xander Orders Sloan to Go For the Jugular In His Custody Case, While Sarah Reels Upon Learning Susan Is Alive

At the mansion, Kate is thrilled to learn that Sarah asked Rex for a divorce. A furious Rex tells his mother he doesn’t want that and doesn’t want to turn his back on his daughter. “You mean Xander’s daughter,” Kate says. “No,” he fires back, “I mean my daughter.” She knows Xander won’t step aside and let him raise his child. Plus, Sarah still has it bad for Xander, and he deserves someone who isn’t hot for the gardener. She urges him let her go.

Sarah is stunned to see Susan in the Square. EJ joins them with bear claws for his mother. He helps Sarah sit as she reels over being angry with Xander for Susan’s death. “Now you’re not angry anymore, right?” Susan asks. EJ says, of course, she’s still angry. Xander still kidnapped Susan, which led to her losing a year of her life. When Susan asks what Sarah thinks, she says Xander’s not a murderer. “Not this time,” EJ snarks. Sarah leaves in a daze.

Xander comes to Sloan’s place to meet with his lawyer. Displeased, Eric asks what the Scot did this time. Xander proclaims he’s the injured party. Eric says Sloan should have told him. A contrite Sloan knows. After Eric leaves for coffee, Sloan asks Xander why he thinks she can win him custody of his daughter. Xander points out Susan’s alive, so he’s not a murderer. Sloan reminds him he still kidnapped her. Besides, it’ll be tough to take a newborn from her mother.

Xander points out Sarah kept his child from him. Just like she did to Eric. Who would keep a parent from their own child? A monster, that’s who, Xander says, answering his own question unironically. A guilty-looking Sloan asks for more details, like who did Sarah say was the baby’s father? “Well, that’s not important,” Xander says. All that’s important is that Sarah has a history of lying to keep men away from their own children. Sloan isn’t sure that makes her an unfit mother, but it does give them a play in court. He needs her to go for the jugular. Sloan notes he really hates Sarah’s guts. “Yes,” he scowls. “Yes, I do.”

From the Pub, Harris calls Ava, who is staying at Tripp’s place. After catching up on their respective living arrangements, Harris notes he needs to find a job to pay for rent. When he bemoans the poor job prospects for a washed-up Seal whose last job was mercenary/hitman, she calls him a hero. A concerned Tripp approaches, overhearing. Ava hangs up and offers to make her son and Wendy breakfast. He says Wendy’s at a job interview, which he’s sure she’ll get because she’s super smart and capable. Ava asks how serious things are. Tripp admits he’s in love with her, then asks about Ava’s feelings for Harris. They’re just friends, she insists.

When Sarah returns to the mansion, Kate gets in digs before Rex asks her to leave. Once she’s gone, Sarah tells Rex she saw a not-dead Susan. He asks what her reaction was. Hedging, Sarah notes it gives Xander a leg to stand on in court, but it doesn’t change her mind about the divorce. Kate’s right. It’s time for all of them to move on. He tells her to send the divorce papers to him in Chicago. He just hopes she won’t be taken in by Xander, again. They say a tearful goodbye.

In the Square, Susan and EJ debate his need for vengeance against Xander and Susan. She demands he swear on her life that he won’t harm a single hair on their heads. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he says, laying it on thick. She hopes he’s telling the truth because she’s not going to be there to keep an eye on him. She’s going home to Memphis.

When Eric comes to the Pub, he finds Harris at the bar. They get acquainted as Kate joins them. As the trio discusses Dimitri’s arrest and Vivian skipping town, Kate throws shade at police commissioner, Rafe. She then suggests Harris apply for a job at the police station. Before he leaves, Eric offers to help Harris out if he needs anything. Harris appreciates that, and then faces Kate, who offers to put in a good word with Jada, the only competent cop on the force. He’ll think about it.

At Sloan’s place, the lawyer tells Xander his custody suit will be an uphill battle. She asks if he’d consider co-parenting. After what Sarah did, Xander refuses. As far as he’s concerned, a woman like that doesn’t deserve a second chance. He leaves Sloan to gape in shame.

Xander barges into the Kiriakis mansion, demanding to see his daughter. Sarah asks him to let Rex say goodbye before he goes back to Chicago. She tells him about the divorce and that she saw Susan. She never thought he was a terrible person, she was just scared to let him back into her life. But now, here he is.

As Tripp heads out, he opens the door to Harris. Tripp thanks him for saving their lives, but warns that Ava doesn’t need to deal with anyone else’s baggage. Ava shoos her son out. She apologizes for Tripp, but her son knows how obsessed she can get over a guy. Harris has experience with obsession, recalling his time with Hope. They lock eyes as Ava says they both know what it’s like to go to extremes for what they want. Taking her hand, Harris leans in to kiss her.

As Marlena and Kate catch up at the Pub, Rex barrels through with his suitcase. Kate’s dismayed to learn Rex is leaving Salem, especially after Philip just left. He tells his mother he loves her, but he and Sarah are getting a divorce, and that’s exactly what she wanted.

Eric brings Sloan an apology scone for earlier. Xander just pushes his buttons. Sloan understands and reveals she learned how Sarah kept him from his child. Eric understands why Sarah did what she did, but the pain of what happened was due to a lie. It’s not easy to forget the pain she caused not only to him, but everyone else. Sloan’s compassionate expression grows distraught as they hug.

In the Square, EJ gets riled up wondering who would bring Susan to Crumb, thereby putting her through hell. Elsewhere, an unidentified man, who wears a blue denim shirt, holds a tablet. He reads an article about Ava bringing Susan home alive.