Days of our Lives Recap, August 12, 2025: EJ has a startling realization

Here’s your Days of our Lives recap for Tuesday, August 12, 2025, when Rachel took the stand, Amy made an observation about Tesoro, and EJ made a startling discovery.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In the Hernandez kitchen, Leo told Javi that he was enjoying the trial, but he wished he were covering it. Javi opened a letter that had been dropped off at the firehouse for Tesoro by his mother. “My decision to give you up came from [my love for you] and wanting you to have the best life possible. Still letting you go is the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” the letter read. Leo noted that there was no reason given for why the mother had given up her son.

“I wonder if Tesoro’s mom saw the picture in the paper of me holding him,” Javi said. “Probably. I hope she takes comfort in knowing that he’s being very well taken care of until he has a permanent home,” Leo said. With a grin, Leo noted that Javi was a natural father.

At the cafe in the town square, Sophia talked to Melinda on the phone. In Chicago, Melinda confirmed that Tate had sent a package to the adoptive parents. Sophia argued that even if Melinda wrote back to Tate, she did not think he would stop reaching out to the parents. “Sophia!” Amy said as she walked up to her daughter’s table. Sophia ended her call as Amy joined her for breakfast. When Amy questioned Sophia about the call, Sophia lied and said she had been talking to Ari.

“I’m just wondering if you’re telling the truth,” Amy said. Amy noted that she and Sophia had not been close since before Sophia’s pregnancy. “Let’s work on rebuilding our relationship,” Amy said. “I’d like that. But it’s just that I’m not a little girl any more,” Sophia said. Sophia explained that she was worried that Amy would not understand Sophia’s life experiences and decisions. Amy asked Sophia to give her a chance and talk to her. When Sophia declined, Amy urged Sophia to talk to their pastor or a therapist to deal with her trauma instead.

When Amy suggested that Sophia go back to Sarah for a checkup, Sophia refused. “I don’t have postpartum depression, okay?” Sophia yelled. Amy leaned forward to check Sophia’s forehead, but Sophia stressed that she was an adult. “I’m totally fine,” Sophia said. Javi was walking by with Tesoro, and he stopped to say hello.

“Looks like you had your baby,” Javi said. Sophia said yes. “Who’s your friend?” Amy asked. Javi introduced himself. Amy started to ask about the baby, but then realized that it was Tesoro. “You know him?” Javi said. Amy explained that she had a special bond with Tesoro. The blood drained from Sophia’s face. “What are you talking about?” Sophia asked. Amy explained that she had spent time with Tesoro during jury selection.

“How do you know Tesoro’s foster dad?” Amy asked. “He’s my boyfriend,” Javi said. Amy forced a smile, and she noted that Tesoro had two foster dads. “Actually, he has three,” Javi said. Amy’s smile faltered, then she forced a smile again and said, “How progressive.” Javi noted that it was not so much progressive as it was amazing that Tesoro had a houseful of people that loved him. Sophia encouraged Amy to place an order for breakfast.

As Amy got up, she noted that Tesoro looked a lot like Sophia’s brother. “Let’s go,” Sophia said as she ushered Amy away from the table. Javi waved goodbye, but his smile disappeared after the women walked away.

At the penthouse, Belle hurried to leave for court before EJ arrived for his session with Marlena. EJ knocked on the front door, and Belle groaned. Belle walked past EJ. “I was hoping your daughter might be more willing to forgive me after she had time to cool off,” EJ said. “Why in the world would she ever want to forgive you after what you did to her in court?” Marlena said. Marlena told EJ that she was elated that Belle was done with EJ. Marlena stressed that she was only helping EJ in order to help Johnny.

“I want you to do whatever it takes to get me past my mental block, no matter how hard you have to push,” EJ said. Marlena agreed. “I just hope you’re able to handle the truth,” Marlena countered. EJ said he would do anything to protect his son. Under hypnosis, EJ said he could not see the shooter. Marlena asked EJ how he felt about the person. “I’m not sure. I just want her to put the gun down,” EJ said. Marlena pushed EJ for details about the woman. Frustrated, EJ gritted his teeth, and he yelled, “Why can’t I remember?”

When Marlena brought EJ out from under the hypnosis, EJ confirmed that he had remembered that the shooter was a woman. “Which means it couldn’t have been Johnny!” EJ said. “Will this hold up in court?” Marlena asked. EJ admitted that his lack of recall on the actual suspect was not ideal, but that his testimony could be used to eliminate Johnny as a suspect. EJ recounted that the four women that had been at the house on the night of the shooting had been Ava, Gabi, Chanel, and Kristen.

Kristen met up with Brady at the pub while Rachel was in the kitchen. “How’s [Rachel] holding up?” Kristen asked. “She’s nervous about testifying today,” Brady said. Brady told Kristen that Belle would be gentle with Rachel. “Right, like she was with Johnny?” Kristen countered. Brady noted that Belle was not the problem. “Let’s hope EJ, for once, is a decent human being,” Brady said.

Rachel joined her parents, and she worried aloud that she would be responsible for Johnny’s conviction. Brady reminded Rachel that there were multiple witnesses, so Rachel would not be responsible for the outcome of the trial. “All you have to do is tell the truth about what you saw and heard that night,” Kristen added. Rachel worried aloud that what she witnessed would convince the jury that Johnny was guilty. Kristen noted that there were other suspects in the case.

“Are you one of them, mommy?” Rachel asked. Brady reminded Rachel that the police had questioned Kristen and let her go. “I was with you upstairs at the time of the shooting. I was watching you sleep,” Kristen said. “But then I woke up and went downstairs,” Rachel noted. Kristen promised Rachel that she had not shot EJ.

At the courthouse, Johnny stood in the empty courtroom and thought about when Belle had questioned him on the stand. When Belle arrived, she saw Johnny and started to leave. Johnny apologized for having embarrassed Belle in court. Belle stressed that she only blamed EJ for what happened.

“I also know [EJ] loves you. So I have to ask if there is any way you could ever forgive him?” Johnny said. Belle told Johnny that she appreciated his love for his father, but that EJ had crossed a line. “But he did it for me, and I feel terrible,” Johnny said. “We didn’t break up because of what your father did. We broke up because of who your father is,” Belle explained. Johnny said he understood.

When Kristen, Brady, and Rachel arrived at the courthouse, Kristen said goodbye to her daughter in the hallway. “Since I have to testify, I’m not allowed [in the courtroom for your testimony],” Kristen said. Brady told Rachel to look to him in the courtroom for support while she testified.

Belle assured Brady that she would go easy on Rachel. “I’m not worried about you. I’m worried about EJ,” Brady said. Belle told Brady that she did not believe that EJ would be hard on Rachel, but if he did, she and the judge would intervene. Brady asked Belle if she was okay. “Honestly, I’ve never hated my job more than I do today,” Belle confessed.

The bailiff called the court to order, and Judge Dabney addressed the jury about the testimony regarding the personal lives of the attorneys. “[The information] should not be considered when deciding your verdict,” Judge Dabney said. The judge announced that she was sequestering the jury because there had been too many leaks to the press. Leo objected, but quickly retracted his vocal outburst.

When Rachel took the stand, Dabney gently told her that she needed to answer the questions truthfully. Rachel said she understood. Belle asked Rachel about the night of the shooting. Rachel testified that she had heard an argument in the living room, and she had seen Johnny pointing a gun at EJ. “Do you remember what they said?” Belle asked. “Johnny said, ‘It’s what you deserve.’ And then Uncle EJ said, ‘Please, you don’t want to do this. Put down that gun,’” Rachel testified. Rachel said she had returned upstairs.

“Is that all you remember?” Belle asked. Rachel said she had heard a gunshot. “Did you see anyone else there?” Belle asked. Rachel said no. “I got back in bed and pretended to be asleep,” Rachel said. Belle asked how much time had lapsed between when Rachel had seen the argument and when she had heard the gunshot. “I don’t know,” Rachel whispered. Belle asked Rachel if she believed that Johnny had shot EJ. EJ objected, and Belle retracted her question. Belle told Rachel that she had been brave.

EJ asked Rachel if she had seen Johnny fire the gun. Rachel said no. Rachel reconfirmed that she did not know how much time had passed between the argument and the gunfire. “Was there enough time for Johnny to leave the house and someone else come into the house and shoot me?” EJ asked. After a moment, Rachel said yes. EJ looked at the jury and said, “That’s all I needed to know.”

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