[Spoiler] Sends Ava Another Threatening Text as Steve Tracks Their Location — and Marlena Finally Hears From John

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In the morning, Lani and Eli bring their toddlers to Abe and Paulina’s living room. In front of balloons, the grandparents exclaim, “Happy birthday, Carver and Jules, and Merry Christmas!” Despite Lani’s reservations about spoiling the kids, Paulina and Abe shower them with gifts. Lani asks Eli to supervise while she drops in on an old friend.

At the DiMera mansion, a surly Rachel passes on opening more presents with her mother. While she got everything she asked for — and more — Rachel points out she didn’t get what she really wanted: her parents back together. Rachel blames her mother. Kristen knows blackmailing Brady over Sarah’s serum was wrong, and it didn’t even help her get him back. Rachel knows he wants to be with Ava now. She overheard Kristen asking Stefano’s portrait how to get rid of her. “Did he give you any good ideas?”

Brady comes to the townhouse with a vase of flowers that were sent from Susan — not John, as Marlena assumed. Detecting how much she misses her husband, Brady gifts her a heart locket that belonged to his mother. He’s sure Isabella would want his other mother to have it. Inside is a photo of John and Marlena with Brady and Belle as kids. Marlena chokes up. Brady asks about John’s case, but all Shane has told Marlena is that it’s a matter of global security. She knows John will be coming back to them, but she wishes she could talk to him. Brady sympathizes because Kristen won’t allow him to see Rachel because he doesn’t want a relationship with her. And it doesn’t help matters that he’s seeing Ava.

At the hospital, Kayla asks Roman to play Santa for the party. Roman hesitates, considering the last time he was asked, Steve stole his Santa suit. Kayla corrects him: that was Stefano. “And we try not to say his name on Christmas.”

On the phone at the Pub, Steve wishes Joey a Merry Christmas. Sitting in front of his laptop, Steve explains he’s helping with John’s case for Shane and the ISA, but he can’t give any details. Ava approaches while on her phone with Tripp. Steve switches phones and learns Tripp and Wendy are engaged. After Steve hangs up, Ava asks if he can find the “freak” who’s been sending her harassing texts. Steve doesn’t think “Stay away from Brady” is much of a threat, but Ava assumes they’re from Kristen and asks him to look into it.

As Rachel asks if her Nonno told Kristen to lock Ava in the secret room, Lani comes to the mansion. Kristen excitedly embraces her friend. Lani marvels over how grown up and beautiful Rachel is, but Rachel calls female beauty a tool of the patriarchy. She then excuses herself to hide her snake’s shed skin in Harold’s bed. Kristen urges her daughter not to prank him, but Rachel insists he loves it.

After her mini-me has left, Kristen asks to see photos of the twins. As Lani shows them off with all their presents, she assumes the piles of gifts for Rachel are from both Kristen and Brady. Kristen corrects her. She won’t let Brady near Rachel while he’s seeing that “tramp.” Lani points out this isn’t about Brady but her daughter. Doesn’t she deserve to see her father for Christmas? Lani leaves when Rachel returns. Kristen tells her daughter she has a surprise.

In the townhouse, Marlena points out Brady’s pattern of getting involved with troubled, dangerous women. Brady sees her point but insists it’s not on purpose. She just doesn’t want to see him get hurt. He says it’s too early for that and fills her in about the texts they assume are from Kristen. His phone rings. “Speak of the devil,” Brady deadpans. “Please don’t,” Marlena cringes. “Not on Christmas.” Brady answers to Kristen, who invites him to spend Christmas with his daughter. When he arrives, Brady gifts Rachel with frozen rats. She happily rushes off to feed her snake.

Roman grows hot at the hospital while dressed in the Santa suit. He has trouble breathing and gets a strange feeling down his arm. “Am I having a having a heart attack?!” Later, as he lies in a hospital bed, Kayla informs her brother he had an allergic reaction to the suit. He might not be able to play Santa, but Kayla has an idea of who can.

After Eli has taken the kids sledding, Paulina gifts Abe a collection of books about the great soap opera creators. Abe, in turn, gives her a bracelet made up of all the birthstones of the Price family line. Seeing her sister Tamara’s stone, Paulina is hopeful they can repair their rocky relationship. She runs off to call her.

In the hospital lobby, Kayla welcomes Paulina, Eli, Lani, the twins, and a few other kids to the hospital party. Paulina reads The Christmas Story, and then the kids chant for Santa, played by Abe. Later, as Kayla and a recovering Roman fawn over the twins, Lani tells Eli she’ll miss this. He assures her they’ll be back in no time. He holds mistletoe over Lani’s head and she pulls him in for a kiss. Meanwhile, Paulina flirts with Santa and tells him all she wants for Christmas is the love of her wonderful husband. “You already have that,” Abe says. “Always and forever.”

Alone at home, Marlena calls Shane and asks to talk to John, but he denies her. She tearfully hangs up. Later, while talking with Sami on the phone, Marlena gets a call from Carrie, much to Sami’s irritation. Marlena assures her it’s not a competition as they disconnect. After briefly chatting with Carrie, Marlena receives a delivery. She opens a box of strawberries and cream. John’s note reads, “Here’s to being caught up in the rapture of your love for many Christmases to come.”

At the Pub, Steve uses an app to pinpoint the location of the burner phone texting Ava. It reveals the last message came from the DiMera mansion.

In the DiMera living room, Kristen gets in a dig about Ava, leading Brady to accuse her of sending the threatening texts. Kristen insists she didn’t. “Then who did?” he sternly asks. In the foyer, Rachel sends Ava a text. “Stay away from Brady, or else!” A menacing smile spreads across her face.