Episode 7291

Extended Summary

Jasmine comes across Willow on the beach and jokingly asks if she’s enjoying the view while she can. Willow says she’s not going away anymore because Alex doesn’t want her to. She says she’s not sure what happened but won’t discuss it further and says she’ll see Jasmine at work. Later, in the gym office, Willow tries to explain the banking system to Jasmine. Jasmine wonders if she even needs to know, since if Willow’s sticking around she’d want her to stay on as manager. Willow doesn’t know whether she and Alex have broken up or not but is reluctant to talk to her.

Justin is sitting in front of the laptop constantly refreshing it, hoping for a response to his message. Tori comes in with Grace and suggests they go out for breakfast. She wonders if Justin is worried the police are right. Justin says if Leah was going to leave him, she’d tell him, not just disappear. Tori convinces him to get some fresh air and come up with a new plan. Meanwhile, a man, Douglas, finds a table neatly set out with a large breakfast for one. He calls out that his coffee cup is empty and Leah scurries forward to fill it, adding that she made the scones how he likes them with buttermilk. He points out it’s 7.32; she initially says it’s only two minutes late, then nervously says it won’t happen again. Douglas says she’s forgotten something and taps his cheek. Leah reluctantly kisses him, then retreats several paces and stands behind him as he eats.

Ben and Maggie are arriving at the surf club for a coffee when Justin and Tori also arrive with Grace. They ask if there’s any news of Leah. Tori sends Justin upstairs then explains that the police have spoken to Leah, say she’s safe and have closed the case. She heads upstairs to join Justin so he doesn’t decide to leave. Ben thinks Justin needs a friend but is reluctant to follow him uninvited. Maggie reminds him that sometimes being there is the important thing. Later, the four of them are on the Salt balcony. Ben, Maggie and Tori discuss Tori going back to work, with Ben recalling Maggie having difficulty leaving the girls. Justin has been staring at his phone and ends up excusing himself and heading home. Tori doesn’t know if the police have actually seen Leah or if they know who the man with her is, and they won’t tell Justin because they see him as a crazed ex-boyfriend.

Alex and Jasmine run into each other in a park area. Jasmine makes it clear she isn’t happy with Alex for hurting Willow and leaving her confused. Alex insists it’s not like that and isn’t sure whether they’ve broken up or not either. Jasmine suggests she work it out. Alex goes to the surf club and tells Willow to talk to her if she’s got something to say, suspecting she sent Jasmine. Willow says she wouldn’t do that. Alex points out that Willow had doubts about Queensland as well. Willow acknowledges it but says Alex was the one who ran away and they’re clearly over whether she admits it or not.

A short time later, Willow finds Alex waiting for her in the gym. Alex apologises if she left Willow feeling she didn’t love her and Willow lets her into the office. Willow insists she was willing to go with Alex but Alex thinks she has doubts and recalls her previous relationship ended for similar reasons. Willow asks to at least talk about it. Meanwhile, Ben helps Tori carry Grace’s pram down the stairs from Salt. Tori says she missed a lot being in the safe house and asks Ben and Maggie if Leah really does love Justin as much as he loves her; they assure her she does. Tori bumps into Jasmine, who greets Grace. Jasmine suggests getting a coffee but Tori wants to get back to Justin.

Justin is back constantly refreshing the screen. Still not getting a response, he ends up posting a message saying he needs to know that Leah’s okay. Back in his house, Douglas has the blog up on a screen and notes Justin won’t take a hint. He calls Leah in and asks her about it. Leah says Douglas is too clever to let Justin find them. Douglas wonders how he should reply and Leah, somewhat mechanically, says he knows best. Douglas is pleased but tells her to wait in her room. Leah suggests she bake a cake instead and Douglas shouts that he doesn’t like back chat. He escorts her to a somewhat spartan room, containing a bed and little else, and locks her in. Leah stifles a sob.

Willow and Alex are back at the beach house. Alex worries that Willow will end up hating her if she drags her away from Colby, Bella and Dean. She asks if Willow can look her in the eye and say she really wants to go. Willow admits she can’t but she’d like to. Alex understands and kisses her on the forehead before leaving. At the gym, Jasmine tells Willow that she’s going to look into hiring a new manager. Willow however tells her not to bother, saying she’s broken up with Alex.

Tori arrives home with Grace to find a frustrated Justin. He considers hiring a hacker or pestering the liaison officer again but Tori thinks that would just convince the police that he’s stalking Leah. Justin heads out. As he walks, he gets a phone call from Leah. Somewhat mechanically, she says that he needs to stop messaging her, accept that she doesn’t love him anymore and let her be happy. Douglas points to phrases he has written out for her and she continues that she’ll call the police if he keeps trying to find her and he won’t hear from her again. Douglas ends the call. Leah tries to hide the fact she’s crying but Douglas tells her to look at him and threateningly says they need to have a talk.

Justin arrives home and tells Tori that he spoke to Leah and she said she doesn’t love him anymore and to leave her alone. Tori is confused as to why he’s not upset and Justin explains that he knows she didn’t mean it: She was scared, so someone must be forcing her to do it. He is determined to do whatever it takes to find her. Meanwhile, Douglas retrieves Leah from her room: She now has a bruised and cut lip. He says he doesn’t like seeing her upset but she needs to learn. He adds that he has a nice surprise for her, to show her she’s his woman. Leading her to a room where a wedding dress is hung up, he says it’s time he made her his wife.