Not that Tane and Jo’s budding romance has gone smoothly. In fact, their attempts to take things to the next level have been fraught with interruptions and missteps. During their most recent date, the cracks really began to show. While Tane briefly stepped away to the bar, Jo noticed his phone light up with an incoming call from Harper. Tired of watching their evenings together being constantly disrupted by his ex, Jo made a snap decision — she reached over and declined the call herself. It was a bold move, one that spoke volumes about her frustration and her determination to carve out space in Tane’s life.

Of course, Jo couldn’t keep the incident a secret for long. She eventually came clean, admitting what she had done, but rather than earning Tane’s understanding, her actions sparked his irritation. He was visibly annoyed that she had overstepped, taking it as a breach of trust and a sign that she was inserting herself too far into his personal affairs. The tension between them left their date on rocky ground, casting doubt over whether their relationship could really withstand the baggage that Harper still represented.

Elsewhere, Harper was facing a bombshell of her own. Alongside her sister Dana (Ally Harris), she was stunned to learn that their landlady and close friend Irene (Lynne McGranger) had made the monumental decision to sell her beloved Beach House. The home has long been a cornerstone of Summer Bay life, and the sisters had always assumed it would remain Irene’s sanctuary. But Irene explained that her recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis had changed everything. Rather than let the illness dictate her future, she had resolved to take control by selling up and travelling the world while she still could. The revelation left Harper and Dana reeling, both saddened by the news and worried about what the future would hold without Irene’s steady presence in their lives.

The Beach House didn’t stay off the market for long. As soon as word spread about Irene’s decision to sell, the property quickly attracted attention, with prospective buyers lining up to get a look at one of Summer Bay’s most iconic homes. Among those attending the open house were Jo and her father, David (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), who had been keeping an eye out for a fresh start in the area. To Jo, the idea of owning a place so central in the Bay was exciting, and she eagerly followed her dad through the rooms, imagining how they might make the house their own.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Jo wandered into one of the bedrooms. At first, she was simply taking in the layout and eyeing up the space, mentally mapping where her own belongings could go. But then her gaze landed on a framed photograph resting nearby — a candid shot of Tane with baby Archie in his arms. The recognition hit her like a lightning bolt. In that instant, Jo realised exactly whose room she was standing in and, more importantly, whose house she was unknowingly trying to buy.

The discovery left her completely blindsided. What had started as an exciting opportunity suddenly turned awkward and deeply personal. Knowing that this was Harper’s home — the very woman whose life she had already complicated with her pursuit of Tane — cast a heavy shadow over her interest in the property. The situation became even more tangled, forcing Jo to confront the uncomfortable truth that her personal entanglements with Harper and Tane were beginning to bleed into every corner of her life.

Harper returned at that very moment, and awkwardness ensued.