General Hospital Recap: Lulu, Nathan & Spinelli Worry About Maxie, Bad News For Michael and More
On the February 18 episode of General Hospital, Maxie’s (Kirsten Storms) homecoming was a hot topic of conversation, as Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) shared his worry with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) that he’d lose his partner, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sought advice from Laura (Genie Francis) about the feelings she was harboring for her best friend’s husband, and Nathan (Ryan Paevey) confided in Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) his apprehension over reuniting with his wife. Elsewhere in Port Charles, Kristina (Kate Mansi) attempted to reason with Cody (Josh Kelly), and Molly (Kristen Vaganos) and Suzanne (Jen Ray) convinced Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) to accept the Congressional recommendation while Nina (Cynthia Watros) did the same with Willow (Katelyn MacMullen). Get all the details below.
Read Between The Lines
Hoping to fix the situation between Cody and Molly, Kristina tracked him down in the Quartermaine kitchen and was surprised to hear him on the phone with someone from his book club. Even though he was in the middle of reading Pride & Prejudice, Kristina wanted him to finish Molly’s manuscript, but when she divulged that she was there behind Molly’s back, Cody had no interest in reading the novel. Kristina tried to explain that Casey (the character based on Cody) evolves into someone compelling and deep by the end of the story, but Cody, still hurt by Molly’s depiction of Casey, wanted nothing to do with the novel until it was published.
Kristina revealed that Molly was turning down the book deal because she’d never gotten the opportunity to polish the manuscript, and the editor wanted the story as-is. When Cody wondered why Molly wouldn’t let her perfect book be published, Kristina suggested that was how much her sister cared about him and his feelings. She also didn’t want Molly to pass up the opportunity since the book was a lovely story about two people who take the time to get to know each other beyond first impressions, and her sister deserved to have her work published. Since Cody’s opinion mattered to Molly, Kristina hoped he’d finish the book with an open mind and then decide what he thought about it. When Cody questioned what would happen if he didn’t love Casey’s hero journey, Kristina answered that then her sister was wrong about him. “She thinks you’re a hero. And this is your chance to prove her right,” she declared. After Kristina left, Cody began reading Molly’s manuscript.
Persuasive Arguments
After meeting with Laura, Alexis went back to Miller & Davis and shared with Suzanne and Molly that the mayor wanted to recommend her to the governor as Drew’s replacement in Congress. Molly and Suzanne thought she’d be great for the job, but Alexis wasn’t sure she wanted to take Laura up on the offer, uncertain if she’d be able to compromise her values as a politician. Molly suggested she view it as compromising for the greater good, which she’d already done by defending Willow for Scout’s sake. Seconding that opinion, Suzanne added that Alexis might not like everyone she worked with, but if the endgame was doing what was best for her constituents, then perhaps the compromising is worthwhile. While they made good points, Alexis wondered if accepting the recommendation would actually be for the greater good or to boost her own ego, pointing out that Drew wasn’t always corrupt and maybe it was the politics that turned him into a psychopath. She was also worried that by taking the position, her past transgressions (being sent to prison, being an alcoholic, and being disbarred) would become public fodder, and she didn’t want to drag Molly, Kristina, and Scout into that. Molly countered that instead, Alexis would be showing Scout how to face challenges head-on and how to triumph over adversity. Convinced, Alexis announced that she wanted to serve in Congress.
Meanwhile, at Crimson, Nina suggested to Willow that they throw a party for Wiley and Amelia now that they would be spending more time at her house. Thinking it was a great idea, Willow agreed, noting that they’d all been through so much and there was still more to come. She explained that Michael only agreed to joint custody to avoid the visitation hearing since he was worried he’d lose custody altogether if he ended up being charged with Drew’s shooting. And on top of that, several of Drew’s political associates want her to serve out the remainder of his term in Congress. Nina felt it was a fantastic opportunity, but Willow protested she knew nothing about federal politics. Assuring her daughter that she had excellent people skills and was amazing as the spokesperson for The New Tomorrow Institute, Nina added that she’d be Willow’s secret weapon, facilitating all the necessary high-level introductions the way she had with Drew during his initial campaign. Unlike Drew, who used the power of the office to exact his personal vendettas, Nina was confident people would relate to Willow, and she could truly help the constituents she represented. And with only a year left on Drew’s term, Willow could walk away at the end if she didn’t like it. Willow wasn’t sure if taking a political office was a wise move, just as she was about to get her children back and was supposed to be taking care of Drew, but Nina countered that Michael would have to work around her schedule and urged her daughter to consider admitting her husband to a facility. Besides, Nina stated, if Drew couldn’t finish his term, Willow was the only person he’d want in his place.
Hooked On A Feeling
At once thrilled and freaked out that Maxie woke up, Lulu sought out advice from Laura now that Maxie was coming home to them — and to the love of her life, Nathan. Laura assured Lulu that she and Nathan developing feelings for one another didn’t lessen all she had done to help Maxie’s children, parents, and Spinelli over the past few months. Lulu insisted that any feelings between her and Nathan only came about because Maxie hadn’t been around, and Maxie had every right to reclaim her life. When Laura tried to console Lulu that the feelings between her and Nathan were legitimate, a guilt-stricken Lulu cried that a real friend wouldn’t kiss her best friend’s husband and then make excuses that it was okay to pursue a romantic relationship with him.
Refusing to let her daughter continue to beat herself up, Laura pointed out that Maxie hadn’t even known that Nathan was alive when she slipped into the coma and had moved on with Spinelli. Still, Lulu was certain that Nathan’s reappearance would change everything for Maxie, who had been wrecked by his death all those years ago. Correctly guessing that Lulu had realized her feelings for Nathan ran deeper than she initially thought, Laura asked if Lulu had spoken with Nathan about the situation. Revealing that she had not, Lulu assumed that Nathan was thrilled that he was about to be reunited with Maxie, since he never stopped loving her. Laura chuckled that Nathan was probably thrilled Maxie was awake, but also probably just as confused as Lulu, and she shouldn’t assume to know how he was feeling. Wishing her complicated feelings could just go away, Lulu thought Maxie and Nathan deserved a happy ending, but she really felt bad for Spinelli and figured he’d generously bow out so Maxie and Nathan could reunite. Thinking about Spinelli being in that kind of pain, it was good that she and Nathan barely got started, Lulu sighed, even if it didn’t feel that way.
Man With A Plan
Ahead of Maxie’s homecoming, Brook Lynn stopped by her house with groceries and encountered a forlorn Spinelli, who confided that he was worried about losing Maxie and his family to Nathan. Brook Lynn didn’t think Spinelli should assume he was going to lose Maxie without giving her a say, and Spinelli acknowledged that Jason had told him Maxie and Nathan reuniting wasn’t a foregone conclusion. Spinelli went on to say that even though what he and Maxie had was special on its own, and she was the great love of his life, she had been thoroughly in love with Nathan. While she hadn’t been in town when Maxie and Nathan got together, Brook Lynn reminded Spinelli that she’d had a front-row seat as he and Maxie had built their magical relationship and found their way back to one another. Brook Lynn also chastised him for assuming that Maxie’s relationship with Nathan meant more to her than everything she’d built together with him.
Replying that while he’d choose Maxie in every universe, Spinelli fretted that if circumstances hadn’t ripped Nathan out of Maxie’s life, the odds were low that she would have chosen him. Then, when Brook Lynn mused that the situation was probably scary for Maxie as well, Spinelli confided that he’d be devastated if she picked Nathan over him but would respect her decision. Declaring that Maxie didn’t settle for him but chose him, Brook Lynn urged Spinelli to let Maxie choose him again, then reminded him how he was the one who swept Maxie off her feet every day. With a renewed sense of purpose, Spinelli proclaimed that he was going to do exactly that and asked Brook Lynn for her assistance to pull it off.
Marriage Of Convenience
At the PCPD, Nathan updated Dante that Michael had willingly handed over his key ring, and forensics also had a few other loose keys that they’d found in his office at Aurora. Nathan speculated that it had to be a long shot, because the last thing a shooter would do was leave the key on his key ring, and Dante agreed, but insisted they had to do everything by the book and cover all bases. Since Nathan’s shift was almost over, Dante suggested he head out and get ready for Maxie’s homecoming, but Nathan wanted to hang around the precinct, worried about what would happen when he and Maxie came face to face. Nathan added that he didn’t want James to be confused if things went sideways, but Dante was sure Maxie would be happy to see him alive, just as the rest of them had been. Considering she’d moved on with Spinelli while he’d been presumed dead, Nathan also didn’t want to become an obligation Maxie had to deal with. When Dante said it sounded like Nathan was trying to talk himself into letting Maxie go, Nathan felt that was maybe for the best because so much had changed for her.
Nathan suggested Dante knew better than anyone what Maxie was going through, but Dante thought Nathan and Lulu were in a better position to empathize with Maxie. Nathan countered that time had stopped for him and Lulu, while the people in their lives had moved on, and wondered if Dante would have given up the life he built with Sam had he known Lulu would wake up. The timing was different, Dante replied, because he and Lulu weren’t together when she’d gotten hurt, then Sam died before Lulu woke up, but he’d been committed to Sam and planned to spend the rest of his life with her. Nathan wondered if Maxie would be just as committed to the life she’d created with Spinelli, but Dante advised him not to make assumptions about what Maxie wanted. Then they discussed how amazing it would be for James to have both his parents in his life, and when Nathan revealed that he’d give the marriage another try for James’s sake, Dante encouraged his friend only to recommit if that was what he wanted. Before Nathan could reply, Dante received a phone call: The forensics team found a match. “My brother lied,” Dante sighed. “He has a key to Drew’s house.”
