Episode 7423

Extended Summary

Ryder returns from a surf and finds Roo sitting outside the house with the food she’d gathered. Roo explains that Owen didn’t want to see her. Ryder wonders if Alf did something last night but Roo doesn’t think it’s that. Ryder decides to go and talk to Owen. Later, Marilyn comes out of the house and also finds Roo there and gets an update. Marilyn wonders if her calling Owen Roo’s partner upset him, while Roo wonders if it was because of her saying fate brought them together. Marilyn convinces Roo to come to the Diner with her, saying they can tell Ryder where they’re going.

At the Diner, Leah is telling Irene that Grace has been an angel, at which point Grace wakes up. Jasmine comes in and asks if Tori’s working; Leah confirms she is, so she’s taking Grace to see Justin, who is getting better although Christian hasn’t given him the all clear yet. He also received a visit from Ava yesterday which helped. Leah gets her coffee and leaves. Irene wonders about the AVO and Jasmine says she and Tori haven’t talked about it. Leah heads to the hospital, with Grace now sleeping. Justin is now dressed and sat next to his bed and says he feels better. Christian has ordered an MRI scan for him to check the bleeding and swelling are okay. He is hoping to get out.

Ryder goes to Owen’s caravan and hears him playing his guitar inside. When he knocks on the door, Owen assumes it’s Roo and says he’s still not in the mood. Ryder goes inside and recognises one of Evan’s tunes. Owen says he’s been thinking about him a lot. Ryder brings up Roo; Owen says he didn’t want to hurt her. Ryder says he owes her an explanation and leaves. Owen gets a text from one of his daughters, Emma, wishing him a happy birthday. At the Diner, Jasmine chats to Irene and Marilyn about how she has nothing to do on her day off except gym paperwork and needs a hobby. Irene gets a call saying a casual can’t come in, meaning she won’t be able to get away to take Justin his lunch. Jasmine volunteers to go. Ryder arrives and tells Roo about his brief chat with Owen. Roo decides to go see him. She passes Marilyn, who was bringing her a cup of tea. Ryder takes it.

Roo finds Owen outside his caravan and sits down next to him. Owen still isn’t keen on having company but Roo says she’s not the sort of person to walk away. At the hospital, Justin gives Leah some insurance paperwork for the garage that Ziggy needed his signature on. Leah is worried about waking Grace. Justin thinks she’ll sleep in the car but Leah says she was awake during the night. Justin suggests leaving her there so he can keep an eye on her. As they’re kissing goodbye, Jasmine arrives with the takeaway. Leah leaves and Jasmine prepares to leave as well but Justin gets her to stay.

Roo brings Owen a drink of water. She asks if he was bothered by Alf’s questioning or by what she said. Owen says it was just the timing that was the problem, explaining it’s his birthday which means it would have been Evan’s birthday too. Outside the house, Alf isn’t happy that Owen upset Roo while Ryder wonders if Alf upset him. Roo arrives and tells them they’re both wrong, explaining it’s Evan’s birthday. Ryder is upset that he didn’t remember. Alf and Roo point out he never celebrated a birthday with Evan but Ryder says he looks at the order of service for his funeral all the time, with the dates, and worries that he’s forgetting him.

Roo arrives at the Diner and explains the situation to Irene and Marilyn. They note that Owen never got to celebrate a birthday with Evan or meet him. Roo has an idea and asks for Marilyn’s help. Irene says the Diner has settled down so she can go. Roo says it involves food. Meanwhile, Justin and Jasmine watch over Grace and Justin notes he’s hoping he can keep up with her and Ava as they grow up. He apologises for not always treating Jasmine fair. Jasmine says he was just protecting his family. Nurse Ruby comes to collect Justin for his scan. Jasmine wonders if they should call Leah to collect Grace but Justin asks Jasmine to watch her. Jasmine looks uncomfortable but agrees.

Roo goes back to Owen’s caravan and he reflects on knowing he had a twin brother and not getting to spend his birthday with him. He wonders if he’d have found him sooner if his parents had told him he was adopted. Roo convinces him to come up to the house for lunch and bring his guitar. As they approach, Owen senses something else is going on. Ryder approaches and he and Owen exchange apologies. Marilyn calls them over to join her and Alf, who have a table set out for a meal. Roo explains she thought they could celebrate Owen’s birthday and Evan’s life. After a long pause, Owen says he loves it, getting to spend time with Evan’s and his family.

Later, Owen is teaching Ryder to play one of Evan’s songs. He says he didn’t know Evan but thinks he’d be proud of Ryder. He leads everyone in a toast to Evan and notes he wishes he’d lived more like him. Marilyn says it’s never too late to start afresh. Later, Ryder finds Alf sorting out a mower. He notes Evan knew himself and he’s not sure he does: He needs to be more than he is.

Jasmine tries to settle a crying Grace by rocking her pushchair and then lifting her up. Leah arrives and wonders what’s going on, taking Grace off her. Jasmine explains about Justin’s scan and how there was no time to call her. She quickly leaves. Later, when Justin has returned, Leah asks him if he left Grace with Jasmine. Justin realises he forgot about the AVO. Leah says it’s lucky it was her that found them and not Tori.