At the gala in the Square, Cat flashes back to reading Wuthering Heights to the bandaged man in the facility. EJ approaches and relays that Tony’s phone was discovered on a beach with the location tracking turned off. He’s hired his own people to find him because he can’t trust Shane Donovan or that “idiot” Rafe Hernandez. When he steps away, Cat calls Rafe to report EJ seems legitimately worried about his brother. If he had anything to do with it, he put on a pretty good act.

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After Belle promises Marlena she’ll be civil with Sami, she leaves for the gala. Marlena stays behind at the townhouse for some alone time before they honor John. Marlena remembers John giving her a gold bracelet with a tree charm, symbolizing the trees he wanted to plant in Salem to honor the life they were building together.

In the Pub, Eric suggests to Sami that he hop over from Paris and visit her in Italy sometime. Sami assumes their mother put him up to it. Eric insists he can worry about her all on his own, especially since she’s suddenly engaged. Sami throws his love life in his face, wondering what she did for her brother to end up with the one woman she hates more than anyone on this earth. Eric points out that she once hated John, too. Aghast, Sami declares there’s no comparison between John Black and Nicole Walker. Besides, even when she hated John, “I always loved him.”

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As they exit, they run into Ariana, who ditched a loved-up Holly and Tate. Will joins them as they catch up and then takes a call from Sonny. Ariana follows, leaving Sami to marvel over her son and granddaughter being all grown up. “Where does the time go?”

After Sami has a nice moment with EJ in the Square about Johnny, she happily reunites with Brady, Rachel and Tate. EJ takes Rachel aside to dissuade her from pulling Thomas into her pranks. He’s not like them. Brady interrupts and orders EJ to stay away from his daughter.

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After getting ready in the Salem Inn room where they spent their honeymoon, Andrew and Paul arrive. They discuss Tony and how EJ is following in Stefano’s footsteps. Gwen rushes up to EJ and reports that their delivery has been delayed. EJ sends her off to handle it since the gala’s about to begin. As she leaves, Sami accuses EJ of sleeping with his nephew’s wife. “Why would you care?” he smugly wonders. She stammers and stomps off.

Sami later approaches Belle with a mixture of taunts and sincerity over her sister and EJ not working out. Now that Sami has found love, she hopes Belle finds that happiness too. Belle accuses her of coming there just to flaunt her engagement in her face.

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As EJ and Will contentiously catch up, Will says there’s a reason both he and Kristen put bullets in him. Rachel overhears as Will says, “If my dad didn’t take the fall for me, I’d still be in prison.” She walks off with a troubled expression.

After EJ calls everyone’s attention, Belle, Paul and Brady get up to honor their father. John’s estate bestowed a generous bequest to fund pancreatic cancer research in honor of Brady’s mother, Isabella. Brady also pays tribute to Marlena, who recalls what a force Isabella was. Marlena could not be more proud of her husband for funding research that will hopefully lead to a cure one day.

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After Cat finds Leo trying to break into the secret lab, they return to the gala during a break in the festivities. Cat discreetly approaches Andrew for advice. She’s having memories from when she was recovering from her accident. She remembers reading to a man, who feels familiar to her, but he was covered in bandages. She doesn’t know who he is, but she recalls Sami visiting him. Andrew points out Cat and EJ were held in the same Italian facility.

Across the Square, Paul tells Marlena, Will and Ariana that he and Andrew are looking into adoption. Sami joins them before departing for a surprise engagement trip with her fiancé. She shares a lingering look with EJ as she leaves. Later, Marlena clutches her chest as she sits with Rachel. Kayla and Belle rush over, and Marlena asks them not to make a scene. However, she needs to get to the hospital.

At the clinic, Gwen oversees the delivery of a large, rectangular crate. Alone with it, she cryptically says, “Welcome home.”

Next on Days of Our Lives, Eli questions EJ, and Maggie updates Sarah about about Xander.