The Horton Square is bustling with Halloween festivities — and extras! Stephanie (dressed like she’s going to a masquerade ball) is worried

about her big coming out, but Alex reassures her, then sends her into the bookstore. He then tracks Jeremy down, and threatens him with a drowning of his own.

 

 

Jeremy insists he’s a changed man, but yikes, his anger comes bursting out as he tells Alex to back off — until Cooper Choi (Sophia’s brother?!?) says hi and Jeremy turns the charm back on. Alex leaves Jeremy clenching his fists.

 

 

Alex rejoins Stephanie in the bookstore, all set up with Julie, then Chanel and Johnny arrive so she can lament to Alex about the adoption. Because they’re just obsessed with adopting Tesoro when there are plenty of babies out there in need who don’t come with angry family members. But OK.

 

 

Leo, meanwhile, speechifies to Tesoro on the way to the launch about how incredible he is. Cat walks by and Leo gives her the chance to hold her nephew. They talk about Aaron and Leo’s struggle with letting go of baby T and Leo gets all mushy with the baby once again.

Are the Kids Alright?

 

Marlena and Rachel work on a pumpkin carving, but when the kid starts complaining about her teacher, Mr. Horton, Marlena snaps at her to respect her teacher, snatches her pencil and lays down the law. Give Mr. Horton a chance. (But should she?) Fine. Marlena drops her off at the pumpkin tossing with Jeremy.

At home, Thomas tells his dad he’s not doing Halloween. But Chad convinces Thomas not to punish himself and brings him over to Jeremy. Rachel, of course, latches right on and pushes the poor kid back towards the edge, saying he needs to keep making his dad miserable so he doesn’t get back with Cat.

Marlena and Chad make their way into the bookstore, and Johnny escorts Bonnie to the front of the line at Alex’s behest. Then, everyone in place, Julie welcomes them all to Bookclub’s reopening, introduces Anastasia Sands and Alex and they get down to unveiling the author’s true identity.

Stephanie drops her mask and robe and voila! She’s been revealed! But life goes on, so Alex gripes to Chanel about how Chad’s the only ex who seems surprised about Stephanie’s writing identity. Marlena and Julie, meanwhile, chat about Bookclub and all its new programs like a discussion group about grief. Clearly, that’s her sneaky way of getting Marlena to grief counseling, but the doc doesn’t commit!

Out in the square, Leo asks Johnny to keep an eye on the baby while he rushes in to talk to Stephanie. The interview’s already getting millions of hits, he tells her! (What an amazing world, where insta-novelists become mega celebrities who are so beloved that a local paper can get web traffic that would make an international news site salivate!)

Johnny pushes Tesoro into the bookstore and reunites him with Leo — who gets a text saying a family has been found. At the same time, Chanel gets a call from her mom about social services.

Wait… Will Jeremy Kill Alex??
Susan’s running late, so Bonnie fills her in on the big reveal outside the Pub. Susan then corners Stephanie when she wanders out looking for Alex and Susan excitedly tells her what she wrote in her second book is about to come true. OK…

Out in the square, Chad makes small talk with Cat. Jeremy wraps up the pumpkin launching and Rachel points Chad and Cat out to Thomas. “See? I told you: Adults always lie.” Well, they do in Salem, but actually not this time, kid!