Days of our Lives recap for November 8, 2024: Marlena and Maggie celebrated their anniversaries

At the penthouse, Marlena read the card on a flower delivery. “Can’t wait to celebrate with you when I get home, Doc. Happy seventh anniversary, my darling. Love and miss you more than words could say, John.” Marlena read aloud. Kristen stopped by to talk to Brady, but Marlena noted that Brady was out with Tate. Kristen marched past Marlena into the apartment.

“I will just sit here and wait,” Kristen said. Kristen asked about the flowers, and Marlena noted that it was her wedding anniversary. “John is out of town with his dad,” Marlena said. “It is wonderful that the two of them found each other, but very, very disappointing that John is going to miss this special day,” Kristen said. Kristen fondled the flowers, and Marlena slapped her hand away. Marlena noted that John was on his way home.

“I’m glad he could squeeze you in,” Kristen said. “I’m not going to respond to your sarcasm,” Marlena grumbled. Kristen asked Marlena if she had enjoyed the cookies from Rachel. “I did. I would have liked them more if she had been allowed to bring them herself,” Marlena said. “That is actually what I wanted to talk to Brady about,” Kristen said. Before Marlena could respond, Belle rang the doorbell.

After Marlena and Belle greeted one another, Belle smirked at Kristen. “Hello, my future sister-in-law,” Kristen said. Belle laughed. Kristen asked about Shawn, but Belle refused to discuss him with Kristen. Marlena explained that Kristen had insisted on waiting for Brady. Andrew knocked on the door, and Marlena beamed when she saw him.

“Is Paul with you?” Marlena asked. Andrew noted that Paul was working. “I actually came to see you,” Andrew said. Andrew explained that John had been called to Washington, D.C. to consult on a case for the ISA. When Kristen started to complain on John’s behalf, Marlena warned Kristen to butt out. Andrew apologized for the inconvenience.

“And John wanted me to let you know that he hated so much to miss your special day, and he asked me to deliver this gift for you,” Andrew said. Marlena opened the box and saw a charm for her bracelet. “All my love. All my life, John,” was inscribed on a heart charm.

In the park, Johnny helped Brady set up for a family baseball game to honor the anniversary of John and Marlena’s anniversary. Brady asked Johnny how he was after the birthday fiasco. “We’re getting through it,” Johnny said. Johnny changed the subject to the ball game. “It’s gonna be good to have the whole family together,” Brady said.

In the town square, Tate was texting on his phone when he ran into Holly as she exited the bakery. “So how’s it going?” Tate asked. When Holly noted that she had picked up pastries for her grandmother’s anniversary, Tate said it was his grandmother’s anniversary as well. Tate noted that he was on his way to a family baseball game. “Have fun,” Holly muttered as she started to walk off. Tate stopped her.

“I just wanted to say that I feel really terrible about this whole situation,” Tate said. “Why? You didn’t know I wanted to get back together when you started sleeping with Sophia,” Holly countered. As Tate started to say more, Holly cut him off and walked away.

In the park, Brady told Johnny that he was happy he would get to be there for Tate’s final year of high school. “If [Eric] hadn’t figured out that I was innocent in that hit-and-run involving Sarah, Johnny, I’d have lost ten more years with my son,” Brady said. “Uncle Eric, he’s a hero,” Johnny agreed. As Brady noted that Eric was the best brother, Paul walked into the clearing. “What am I, chopped liver?” Paul joked. Brady laughed and hugged his brother. Paul promised to take it easy on everyone in the game.

When Tate arrived, he joked about the ringer for the game. “I got dibs on Paul,” Johnny said. Paul asked about Lacrosse camp, and Brady and Tate shared a look. “It’s a long story. Is Uncle Andrew here with you?” Tate asked. Paul explained that Andrew was on an assignment for the ISA. “Everything is okay with you two, right?” Brady asked. “Couldn’t be better,” Paul said. With a grin, Paul announced that he intended to propose to Andrew.

After the men played baseball, they returned to the bench and asked Paul about his proposal. Paul confirmed that he had purchased the ring, but he did not know when he would ask Andrew. “When we’re back at home and the moment just feels right,” Paul said. Paul admitted he was worried that Andrew would reject him. When Paul noted that he was also nervous because his wedding to Sonny had been interrupted, Brady stressed that the wedding to Sonny had been an unusual event.

“I know I should be more optimistic that there will be no such situation like that again. But I don’t know. It’s all dependent on if Andrew says yes,” Paul said. “He will!” Johnny said. Brady asked Paul how long he had been dating Andrew. “Two years,” Paul said. Paul noted that when John marched with them in the San Francisco Pride parade, it cemented Paul’s relationship with Andrew. “[John] was happy to be there. He wouldn’t stop talking about it when he came home,” Brady said. “Dude, he’s the best dad ever,” Paul said.

As the men packed up to return to the penthouse, Tate declined to join Brady on his visit with Maggie. “You don’t want to see Holly?” Brady asked. Tate explained that he had decided not to get back together with Holly because of Sophia. “Things will happen the way they’re supposed to happen,” Brady assured Tate.

When Johnny arrived at the penthouse with Paul, Andrew was surprised to see him. “I didn’t know you were going to be here. I took a flight to surprise Mom and Dad for their anniversary,” Paul explained. “I actually came to deliver the news that your dad won’t be here today,” Andrew said. Andrew explained that John was helping the ISA on a case.

Kristen groaned and rose to her feet. “This is wildly fascinating since I’ve been rudely ignored, patiently waiting for Brady. Can someone kindly tell me where the hell he is?” Kristen demanded. Johnny noted that Brady was running an errand. “Marlena, please tell Brady that I want to talk to him. And happy anniversary, without your husband,” Kristen said as she walked out.

As Belle and Paul hugged, Marlena lamented that John was not there for the family reunion. “Actually there is something that we can celebrate,” Paul said. Belle asked what Paul meant. “We’re all here. The moment seems right,” Paul said. Paul took the engagement ring out of his bag, he dropped to one knee, and he proposed to Andrew. “Yes! Of course!” Andrew said. Andrew and Paul kissed as their family cheered and congratulated them.

“I wish John were here with us to share this moment,” Marlena said. Marlena’s phone rang, and she yelped as she saw that the caller was John. Marlena and John wished one another a happy anniversary, and Marlena confirmed that Andrew had given her John’s gift. “I have a special surprise for you, too,” Marlena said. Marlena handed the phone to Paul.

After Paul told John the happy news, he handed the phone to Belle. “We all wish you were here too, Dad, but we know what you’re doing is important,” Belle said. Belle handed the phone back to Marlena. “We do have great kids. Yes, and we have great-grandkids, too. I’d say that we have built a wonderful family,” Marlena said. Marlena smiled as she looked at everyone.

In the Kiriakis living room, Maggie beamed up at Victor's portrait. “Happy anniversary,” Sarah said as she entered the room. Maggie thanked Sarah and asked about the stuffed animal on Sarah’s lap. “This is for you,” Sarah said. Confused, Maggie took the stuffed elephant and stared at it. “Ivory was the standard 14th-anniversary gift,” Sarah explained. “Clever. And ethical, too. Thank you,” Maggie said. Sarah asked Maggie if she was okay.

“I was thinking about my 13th anniversary last year, and I was staring at that same portrait, feeling very lost but comforted. Comforted by Konstantin’s presence,” Maggie said. Maggie chuckled as she and Sarah recalled the lace tablecloth that Konstantin had gifted her. “I had two wonderful marriages, Sarah. And I could never give my heart to anyone else now,” Maggie said. Sarah countered that was not true because Victoria had stolen Maggie’s heart.

“[Victoria] is the reason that I look forward to every new morning because she’s pure. She’s joy,” Maggie said. “That gift, for the record, is from Victoria,” Sarah said. Sarah asked Maggie if the old adage about elephants never forgetting was true. Maggie turned and looked at her husband’s portrait. “I don’t know. But I do know that I’ll always remember this amazing man,” Maggie said.

While Maggie and Sarah chatted, Sarah winced. Maggie offered to retrieve Sarah’s medication, but Sarah said no. “They just make me all groggy,” Sarah noted. Sarah assured Maggie that she was fine. “Philip was wrong to block that transfer of Titan. I don’t care what he says about protecting Victor’s legacy,” Maggie said. Maggie stressed that she believed Victor would agree with her.

“Hello, ladies! Anybody hungry?” Julie shouted as she walked into the room with a box of Alice’s donuts. Julie noted that Doug was sick with a cold and could not make it. “Doug’s been feeling down lately. I think it must be because of the Abigail situation,” Julie said. “And poor Chad. What he must be going through,” Maggie said. Julie told Maggie and Sarah that the woman who had conned Chad was the granddaughter of Konstantin.

“I don’t understand. Was it the same woman that John accidentally killed when he was The Pawn?” Maggie asked. “John didn’t kill anybody,” Julie said. Julie explained that Catharina had survived the shooting. “John must be so relieved,” Maggie said. “Not just John. Now we know that Victor didn’t use The Pawn to kill Catharina. Victor is exonerated, too,” Sarah said. Maggie smiled.

“I knew what kind of man Victor was when I married him. And then Konstantin came and stirred up a lot of doubt and guilt,” Maggie said. Sarah reminded Maggie that Konstantin had conned Maggie from the start. “I bet he knew his daughter was alive all along,” Sarah argued. Maggie disagreed. “That pain behind his eyes was real. But that drove his hatred for Victor,” Maggie said. Maggie noted that the exoneration meant that Victor’s death had been even more senseless than before. Julie apologized for having upset Maggie.

“I’m just grateful that I know now that Victor was innocent of all this. And especially today,” Maggie said. Holly arrived. As Holly fidgeted, Maggie asked if she was okay. “I just ran into Tate on my way home,” Holly said. “Did you have a chance to talk to him?” Maggie asked. With a nod yes, Holly explained that she had talked to Tate the previous day about a reconciliation, but he had declined in favor of her ex-best friend.

“Guess he and I are done for good now,” Holly said. “Oh, my dear, I wouldn’t be sure about that,” Julie countered. Maggie, Julie, and Sarah noted that it did not mean that Holly could not ask Tate to reconcile again. “For myself, I can say it does feel like Xander and I wrote the book on breaking up and getting back together,” Sarah said. Sarah reminded Holly that she had once been desperate to keep Xander away, and now she did not want to live without him.

Julie told Holly that she had been disfigured in a fire. “I walked out on my husband. I just couldn’t imagine how this wonderful man that I loved could continue to love me the way I looked then,” Julie said. Julie noted that she had underestimated herself and her husband. “When I came to my senses, I got a little plastic surgery, changed my attitude, and got my husband back. And I’m happy to report we celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary two months ago,” Julie said.

“Was he the first love of your life?” Holly asked. Julie noted that she had loved another teenage boy first, but he had run off with her best friend. “So, you see, I know what you’re going through,” Julie said. Julie argued that she, Maggie, and Sarah had all suffered broken hearts.

“But just think about this. There is more room in a broken heart. We’ve all lived to tell the tale,” Julie said. “And believe me, we’re not discounting the pain that you’re feeling right now,” Maggie added. Maggie assured Holly there would be more twists and turns for her and Tate.

“I never thought I’d fall in love again after my husband Mickey died. And good heavens, definitely not with Victor Kiriakis. Who, on the surface, is perhaps the least most romantic man in the world? But when I got to know him, when I fell in love with him, I discovered he had a very big heart. And he was also very romantic and very loving. So, I was twice blessed. And I’m never gonna stop being grateful for the wonderful life that I had with your Grandpa Victor,” Maggie said. Julie added that Maggie had seen all of Julie and Doug’s heartache before they had settled into a good marriage.

“Thank you all for giving me so much hope. You really lifted my spirits,” Holly said. Julie encouraged Holly to remember that heartache could turn to happiness quickly. “Never say never,” Julie said. Holly agreed.

After Julie and Holly left, Maggie told Sarah that her anniversary had been a nicer day than she had expected. “For me, too,” Sarah said. Brady walked in and gave Maggie an anniversary present. “I hope you’re having a good day so far,” Brady said. “It’s been an unexpectedly delightful day. And you just made it so much better,” Maggie said. Brady told Sarah that Kristen had confirmed that the serum was almost ready.

“Oh. Except, well, Xander’s been stopped from handing Titan over to Kristen, so the news about the serum really doesn’t mean much to me,” Sarah said. Brady was taken aback. “What do you mean?” Brady asked. Sarah explained the situation, and Brady left. Sarah apologized to Maggie. “I swear I thought he knew about the serum and what Kristen demanded of Xander,” Sarah said. “He obviously didn’t,” Maggie said. Maggie thanked Sarah for the lovely day together. After Sarah went upstairs, Maggie looked at Victor’s portrait. “Happy Anniversary, my love,” Maggie said.

In the park, Tate sat on a bench and played with a baseball. Holly entered the clearing, and she stopped in her tracks when she saw Tate. Holly started to speak, but she slipped away before Tate could notice her.

At the DiMera mansion, Kristen smiled as Brady walked into the living room. “Did Marlena tell you I stopped by?” Kristen said. “I just got done telling Tate what a wonderful and selfless thing that you did for Sarah,” Brady said. Kristen grinned. “Just too bad it was all a damn lie,” Brady growled.

At the Horton house, Julie caressed a picture of her and Doug on the fireplace mantel. Then, Julie picked up a tray with a bowl of soup and went upstairs to take it to Doug.

Happy 59th Anniversary, Days of our Lives!