Thurs Jan 4, 2024: Today on Young and Restless, Audra finds Nikki fighting with the temptation to drink, Chance has a confession for Sharon, and Victoria works on her relationship with Claire.
Wednesday’s recap: Nate Unwittingly Keeps Nikki From Drinking, Audra Reveals Her Dad Was an Alcoholic & Claire Worries Victoria Will Abandon Her
(This day ahead recap episode airs in the USA on Jan 4. Expect spoilers! Recaps go live by 4:15 PM EST daily.)
Clairie wakes up at Memorial, surprised to see Victoria at her side.
When Victoria asks how she is, she’s unsure how to answer that.
She has nightmares where she shoots and kills Aunt Jordan.
Victoria’s sorry but it makes sense.
Maybe her mind is trying to kill her connection to Jordan so her hold over her would be gone.
Maybe it’s a positive sign. Claire asks why she feels guilty.
Victoria imagines she feels guilty about a lot of what’s happened and it’s her way of getting beyond the hurt.
She can talk to her doctor about it and asks if she’s more comfortable there.
Claire just feels more frightened. Victoria tries to reassure that Jordan won’t come back for her.
Claire worries she’ll never escape her past or feel normal or safe.
Victoria knows it feels like it’ll never end but she needs time, rest and therapy. She and Cole will be there for her.
Claire cries that she never imagined Victoria would care about her. She doesn’t know what comes next or if she can face it.
Victoria says she’s survived so much. She’ll get to the other side.
Claire’s not sure she deserves to get better. Victoria denies that is true.
She was manipulated. Claire says she knows the difference between right and wrong but she followed Jordan’s directive.
She went along with it willingly and it was wrong. Victoria agrees but knows Jordan raised her that way. Groomed her.
Claire is anxious that Jordan will get out but Victoria won’t let that happen.
Claire doesn’t get how she can support her let alone look at her.
Victoria says she’s stood up to her aunt, saved her mom’s life, and she’s been so brave through this whole thing.
Claire recalls how she looked at her with fear and anger at the lakehouse.
Victoria knows it won’t be easy to forget but she has faith in her daughter and the life she can have.
They’ll work on it together. Claire worries she’ll see that she’s just a horrible broken person and it’ll kill her.
She points out that Eve died. 
Her daughter died and she’s just an angry broken person. Victoria cries that she’s not in this alone.
Claire says she’s not strong or brave and tells her mother to leave and not return.
She’s asking that she not be let in to see her. Victoria asks her not to do this but Claire starts screaming for her to get out.
At work, Nikki looks over some documents and flashes back to the realization that she was pushed into losing her sobriety.
She can’t get the intrusive thoughts out of her mind and clutches at her head.
“Get out of my head!”
Audra finds her like that, shaken up, and asks if she’s alright.
She knows a little about her history and has some idea of what she’s going through. “Do ya now?” Nikki says.
Audra knows stress and trauma can have an ongoing effect on her fight.
Nikki asks how she knew. Audra says lived with an alcoholic father for a long time until he lost his battle.
Nikki’s so sorry and thinks it must be difficult sharing.
Audra doesn’t want to make it about her but she just wants her to know she understands the guilt and fear and toll it can take on her and her family.
She offers to lend an ear. She knows the process since she’s been in Al-Anon.
Nikki assures Audra that she’s dealing with her issues with her family and there’s no need for her to worry.
They’ll be fine. She thanks her for her concern.
Related Links:
Let SoapsSpoilers notify you of new posts
At Crimson Lights, Summer leaves and when Chance asks what they were talking about, Sharon lies that they were singing his praises.
He’s suspicious since he got a different vibe but decides to drop it.
He asks about the business.
The launch is set for next week, she says. He talks about his job and Billy offering to be his mentor.
He doesn’t like it but she knows he has a lot of experience.
He knows but doesn’t want his brand of business sense influencing how he approaches this.
Sharon takes a chance and asks him if they weren’t dating, would he ask Summer out? He’s confused. She says she noticed Summer’s interested in him.
Chance thinks she’s reading into it but Sharon says she lights up when he comes into a room.
She’s developed feelings for him. Sharon asks again if he’d go out with her if he was single. He still doesn’t know how to answer.
He’s with Sharon. She asks him to put a label on what they have. He’s not sure what she’s going for.
Is she accusing him of having something going on with Summer? She says no. Then he asks why.
Does she think he’s into Summer? Sharon wouldn’t blame him if he did.
She’s smart, beautiful and successful. Chance reminds her she is too.
He feels like she’s provoking a response so she can dump him. She says not at all.
She adores spending time with him.
His charm and passion rolled into one sexy package? They kiss and he calls her a sexy package, too.
Sharon isn’t looking for anything serious though. Chance is happy with the way things are.
Summer drops by Daniel’s condo and likes what Sally did with it. It’s warm and inviting. He snarks that she saw all this at Christmas.
Why is she there? She asks if he’s bonding with Lucy or doing winter activities.
He stops her and she admits she needs a sane person — not mom to talk to.
He can see it’s about Chance. She’s embarrassed that everyone knows how she feels.
She doesn’t have time to be tied in knots over some guy, especially not one who is into someone else.
Daniel doesn’t know what to tell her because he’s going through his own emotional mess. She pushes him to tell her what and he admits Lucy’s trying to play matchmaker with Heather.
Summer can see why Heather would want to rekindle things. To be happy, in love and put her family back together.
Daniel says they’ve moved on. “That doesn’t stop people from feeling their feelings and acting on it.”
Daniel says really, it has stopped her from feeling hers over Chance.
She says Chance wasn’t hers to begin with. They have no history when Daniel and Heather were at one time.
He knows if he hadn’t screwed up, they’d still be together. Summer isn’t even sure she’d be compatible with Chance and doesn’t want to go after him. Daniel gets it but says he and Lily are fine. Summer asks him to give her a second to let it sink in.
As long as he’s not sending mixed messages, they’re good. He asks what mom said and guesses that she told Summer to go after Chance.
He wonders what Summer wants him to say. Should he back mom up or not?
She talks about how she can’t help but wonder if Chance likes her. She finally realizes she’s going to find out.
Nikki strolls on up to the bar at Society and asks for a sparkline water and when nobody’s looking, she dumps her vodka into it from her bag.
Nate wanders up to Nikki who isn’t thrilled with him because he told her husband she was drinking.
He gets it. But he asks if he was wrong. She lets him know they’re all going through something right now and they’re aware of what’s happening and will take care of it together.
He’s glad and asks her to stay strong and take care of herself.
He sits at a nearby table and Nikki impatiently drops some cash on the bar and takes off without taking a drink.
Nikki arrives back at work and is in a meeting with Audra about approving a project.
Victoria arrives and Audra leaves so the two can chat. Nikki worries about her kid who looks anxious. Victoria’s more worried about Nikki who admits that she almost drank earlier.
Nate pulled her back. Victoria’s supportive but asks how Nate fits in.
Nikki tells her and finds it all so confusing since he was caring. She asks if she’s seen the man.
She hasn’t and agrees that Nate is caring and compassionate.
The talk moves to Claire and Victoria opens up about her worries that she’ll lose her daughter again. Forever this time.
Have you joined SoapsSpoilers in our Facebook groups yet? Chat with other like-minded soap fans in our groups, dedicated to recaps, spoilers, rumors, gossip and comings and goings. Check out Official Bold and Beautiful Lovers, as well as Official Days of our Lives Lovers, our Official General Hospital Soaps Spoilers group in addition to our Young and Restless Canadian Day Ahead Recaps Facebook group.