One mother of a week

Victoria found out that she was pregnant. Nikki stood her ground in defense of her children. Chloe tried to procreate with Billy in the vain hope of recreating Delia. Chelsea agreed to keep Victoria's pregnancy secret, despite what had happened when Chelsea hid hers. Abby gushed about having babies, Lily acted like a baby, and Kelly cried like a baby as the women of Genoa City found out what Mother's Day had in store for each of them.

It was my pen pal, Bessie, who reminded me that Sunday is Mother's Day. I had forgotten because I don't have children and my own mother passed away many years ago, so I don't prepare for it, but when I open the Sunday paper, I'm reminded. I think of my own mother and the very strong women on both sides of the family from whom I'm descended and give thanks.

So happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there, and soon-to-be mothers, and surrogate mothers and grandmothers and aunts and big sisters and all you women who influence a child's life. Keep up the good work! Enjoy and appreciate your living mothers. I can tell you, from the very limited experience that I've had as an unofficial godmother, that children soak up attention like a sponge soaks up water. The more positive attention kids get, the better.

Okay, on to the show and the mothering -- or is it smothering -- going on there.

While Victoria is doing an admirable job of mothering Johnny, she is not so admirable when she smothers the truth, as Victoria did with both Nikki and Stitch when she ran into each of them in the hall outside her OB/GYN doctor's office.

Honestly, you'd think that with as much money as Victoria has, she could find a doctor that had an office in a medical plaza where she wasn't likely to run into someone that she wanted to avoid. I don't think that I've ever run into anyone that I knew in all the years that I've gone to doctor's offices, though I have run into people that I knew at the movies. Does that count? And how big is that hospital, anyway? Doesn't Stitch work in emergency, which is usually several floors removed from OB/GYN?

As I recall, Victoria warned Chelsea of the consequences of keeping Connor's paternity secret when Chelsea was pregnant and now Chelsea has returned the favor. I don't think it will be long until Stitch catches on. Personally, I want to know why a supposedly responsible doctor like Stitch didn't use protection. And even Billy, since he had slept with Kelly, should have used protection with Victoria until he was checked for STDs. Who will be Victoria's baby daddy? I can go either way. Bessie doesn't like DT as Billy and hopes the baby belongs to Stitch, but when I try to imagine BM saying the same dialogue with his voice as DT does with his, I can hear BM, but I still think Billy is being a jerk, and I don't care which actor plays the role. A jerk is a jerk. DT is playing the character the way it is written, which is to be a jerk, so I'm not giving up on him yet.

I can think of some possibilities for the baby story. We could either have a repeat of the Dylan-Chelsea-Adam thing, or Stitch will be the father and split up Billy and Victoria, or how about this: Stitch changes the paternity test so that it appears that he's the father. It ought to be a lot easier for Stitch to get into that lab and change the results than it was for Sharon.Sharon is definitely in the mothering, non-smothering mode, even going so far as to seek hypnosis to recover her buried secret. Will it emerge on Monday, as it seemed it was about to on Friday? Ha! I'm not holding my breath. The last time I fell for that trick, my face was red on Monday. I'll just wait and see this time.

Sharon meanwhile is beloved by her children and Nick. She should have a very lovely day with her family -- unless of course the secret is revealed and Nick goes nuts. I don't think that will happen, though. I loved those scenes of Nick and Sharon in high school and when they first got together. It reminded me of how awesome they were as a young couple back in the day and how the magic is still there now. I do believe that reuniting this couple was a good move by Y&R.

I much prefer this Sharon to the bipolar one, so I'm willing to accept any lame explanation for the change and go, "It's only a soap," and that takes care of all the medical inconsistencies for me. This Sharon is so kind, and she loves Nick completely. I really hope things work out for her, and like I said, I'm still rooting for Summer to be Jack's even if she has to be a nun because she's related to everyone else in town.

Sharon might be accused of smothering Mariah, whom she is still calling "Cassie," and certainly Mariah won't be sending a card. To the fan that bemoaned that Mariah had something to do with Ian Ward and could not be Cassie's twin, I say, "Don't lose hope." There was a lot sperm swapping going on in that Ian Ward cult.

If Dylan turns out to be Sharon's brother by another mother, I'll bet a nickel that somehow, some way, Mariah will be Cassie's twin, or better yet, her clone! And before long, her name will be changed to Cassie -- sort of It's a Wonderful Life, but in reverse, like Sharon's memory and slate getting wiped clean by ECT.

Now they can go back in time -- if Nick coughs up money for a Delorean -- and reunite the family that might have been. Actually, when you think of it, it's kind of like going back and not killing Delia. Hmm, maybe she'll be back in 10 or 15 years herself!

Nikki showed real maturity in her hotel scenes with Victor, and for the first time, I realized how and why Nikki and Victor ended up together. As Victor cajoled and begged Nikki to return to the ranch, he admitted his love. Nikki did the same when she said that they were soul mates but added sadly that they were not partners. Abjectly, Victor asked if she wanted to return home. Nikki said that she did, but what she needed and wanted were not the same thing. When Nikki asked Victor if Adam was the reason that he had turned from a loving father to a controlling tyrant, Victor zipped up and refused to discuss it. Obviously, Nikki hit a nerve.

For the Victor lovers out there who have written that Victor's character is being assassinated, I agree that he has been written exceptionally mean-spirited and conniving lately. However, Adam's death and Victor's grief may be an acceptable excuse for his behavior and eventual reconciliation with his family. Maybe Victor will have ECT, and all will be forgiven just like with Sharon, and they can all go back in time!

Nikki meanwhile, went to see Dylan, who had to mother Nikki when she almost fainted from low blood sugar. Nikki helped Dylan, who some fans have dubbed "Dullen," smother his angry response to Ian Ward when Ian showed up at the coffeehouse. Nikki solidified the mother-son bond when she told Dylan that she loved him, and he turned warm and fuzzy. I do think that this story, with all the tentacles that are just starting to unfold, has potential. There are a lot of ways it could go, and there are many lives that could be affected. I just wish the pace were faster.

(Like a lot of you fans, I also find the Dylan character bland. It's certainly not iconic, like Jason on GH. I've really missed Jason, but if either MM or BM is recast, I don't think GH will miss SB at all.)

Nikki held her own with Ian Ward and proved that, despite her illness and problems with Victor, she was still a strong woman with a mind of her own and would not let Ian intimidate her or insinuate his way into her life. To Nikki I say, "You've come a long way, baby!" Welcome to maturity.

Lily is still acting like a baby, though she will probably be well treated by both her husband and children, who love her to distraction, just as she loves them. I've often wondered how people who can be so shrewish to others can be so loving to their own family. I don't imagine that Lily's insults will be smothered when she finds out that Hilary might be Lily's next step mommy dearest.

Abby gushed about having babies, but I found no joy for her. She's a nosy, interfering busybody who can't even get the truth out of her fianc about his ex. Abby's looking forward to growing old with Tyler instead of seeing what's in front of her face. A marriage that is not founded on complete trust and honesty, on both sides, will never succeed. Tyler is evasive and not forthcoming. Abby should be running for the hills, but like poor Summer, there are very few men in town that are Abby's age and not relatives, so I guess if Abby wants to be a mommy dearest herself, Tyler is on a very short list of one. He needs a short leash also!

Poor Kelly, all undressed and then stunned, shunned, and no place to run. Been there, done that. I felt her pain. Cady McClain has not missed a step since she took over this part. She and Peter Bergman are great together. I have no doubt that Kelly and Jack will find their way to each other and make a grand couple. Once they do, we can expect Phyllis to open her eyes. Already, her doppelganger, Nina, has awakened from a coma, in another town, in a soapiverse far, far away. Surely, Phyllis won't be far behind.

Of course, no matter who the recast is, we won't like the new Phyllis, and we will hold her to high standards because we've had the best. But we'll get used to her, and she'll give Summer the mothering and smothering that she is missing so much right now.

Jill proved that she was one tough mother, both when she gave advice to Billy and when she smothered Colin with chloroform. This is another pairing I like. Colin and Jill are funny together and provide some much-needed comic relief. If Y&R is going to drag out the stories, they can at least make us laugh. I had hoped that Jill would stand behind Colin and help him out of his loan shark jam, and maybe she still will, after she teaches him a lesson about trust and truth that he sorely deserves.

Chloe hatched a harebrained plan to have sex with Billy so that she could create another baby and be a mother again. Billy refused, so Chloe watched Billy get drunk and then she helped him home and out of his clothes. Chloe did her best to convince a barely conscious Billy that she was Victoria and tried to fan his flame, but Billy's snores smothered any chance of that. I feel sorry for Chloe, but what she really needed for her grief was treatment, not a free pass for her actions.

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After reading the email response to my last column, I can see that I'm not the only one with rants. Lots of you had rants of your own. Here are a few of my favorites.

From your mouth to Katherine's ear:Wow; what a week? I'm trying to be happy for Neil, but I don't see him with Hilary at all!! I am NOT waiting for Lily's response when she finds out. I don't understand why the writers make her so miserable, catty, and unhappy all the time. For all that she has been through, you'd think she'd be more grateful for her life. Enough!! I'm not sure where the writers are going with any of their stories, except possibly Victoria, Billy, and Stitch. ... And Victor is SO mean, why does anyone even care about him?? He needs Katherine to straighten him out!! -- KATHIE G.

Best question of the decade:Why, considering all the times they have gotten coffee there (Crimson Lights), have Leslie or Tyler never said, "Hey, why is Mariah's picture on the wall?" -- JENNA

No more reruns:Who is the daddy game has been done to death, just let Jack and Billy be the actual fathers, and let Sharon just have wished to change the DNA but not really do it. Then we can move on to a new story instead of these reruns which always happens when the writers write themselves into a corner. -- TERESA

Phyllis dearest:I am so glad to hear that the character of Phyllis is coming back -- it would have been great to have Michelle Stafford come back but I understand her wish to do a different character; she is so incredibly talented!!!! -- ANNA

More Phyllis:In my opinion there are only two women who could do the character of Phyllis justice, Tamara Braun or Sarah Brown. Not only would it be a total coup since GH stole Michelle away, they are both crazy talented and play sexy vixens that you just have to root for! -- GWENDOLYN

Off with their heads:Fire Phelps. Y & R has lost too many essential actors, actors that can actually act and are superb at their craft (The actors that played Billy and Adam come to mind)!!! We the audience do not appreciate these changes. Come off the proverbial high horse, quit being jerks and hire them back!!! -- BETTY

Not carin' about Sharon:I'm about sick of Sharon & Nick and the prolonging of Sharon being found out. Bipolar my you know what! ... When is Phyllis coming back? -- PAM

Dead means dead:Are you guys seriously trying to bring back Sharon's daughter as a look-alike then keep her character alive by saying she's involved with Abbey's boyfriend. At first I was disappointed to see her back in Sharon's psychotic episodes even though she looked way older, so your course of storyline is to bring her back this way. Really!!! I think when a character dies off a soap they truly should stay dead. I guess sooner or later you guys will try to bring Mrs. C back for Jill... -- TRINA

Four questions and some comments:I just have a few comments:1. If Nick is so sick of his father trying to control his life and wants absolutely nothing to do with him for the umpteenth time, why doesn't he prove it by giving Victor his money back and moving off of the ranch? At least Adam could make his own money and had his own home. The Newman brats talk a good game, but they sure don't mind spending daddy's money, do they? None of them would be multimillionaires if it weren't for daddy...and none of them would be able to make it on their own.2. Why do TPTB keep putting Nikki and Victor together only to rip them apart again? This back and forth with them is exhausting and boring. Either leave them together or keep them apart permanently. Enough is enough.3. Why do TPTB keep writing Victor as some cold-hearted, unfeeling man who only does what he does to 'protect his family'? I remember Eric Braeden saying that he hates the relationship Victor has with his children...why don't TPTB change his character? He can still be a force to be reckoned with without all the vileness. I am a Victor fan and I am sick of how he is written.4. There is absolutely no chemistry between Neil and Hilary, IMO. Watching them get busy was like watching paint dry. Neil looks like he could be Hilary's father. Devon blew his chance to be with Hilary when he decided to 'date' brainless Esmeralda. I guess we will be in for more shrieking from Lily when it's revealed that Hilary may become her stepmommy. -- DENISE

Until next time, dear friends, be happy and keep soaping.

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