Days of our Lives Recap, January 20, 2026: Leo and Javi say goodbye as Javi leaves Salem

Here is your Days of our Lives recap for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, when Marlena made a decision, Gwen and Dimitri traded barbs, Kristen and Brady fought about Rachel, and Leo and Javi said goodbye to one another.

What happened on Days of our Lives

At the hospital, Sarah and Marlena talked about Marlena’s recovery. “It’s been a great relief to feel better, to feel like myself again,” Marlena said. Marlena noted that without John, she still did not fully feel like herself. “I dream about him all the time,” Marlena said as she fought back tears. Marlena thanked Sarah for having figured out what had been wrong with her. Sarah told Marlena that everyone at the hospital missed Marlena, and they hoped she would resume her practice.

With a sigh, Marlena admitted that after Rachel’s breakdown, she had doubted her abilities. Marlena noted that Rachel was getting help and doing better. “I like helping people. That’s what I’m trained for, so would I come back? I think I would,” Marlena said. Marlena added that if she returned, she wanted to do it part-time so that she could travel and enjoy life more.

“I do miss seeing my patients,” Marlena said. “I’m very grateful to you for continuing to see Xander during your hiatus. And I am so sorry about him firing Brady, especially after everything that you’ve done for Xander. If you’re wondering what brought that on, it’s just to get back at me,” Sarah said. After a moment, Marlena asked, “Because of your relationship with Brady?” Marlena told Sarah that the looks between Sarah and Brady had made it obvious. Marlena admitted that she was concerned about whether Brady could take any more heartache.

“I promise Brady and I are being cautious. For our sake, and for Rachel,” Sarah said. Marlena told Sarah that she was concerned about Rachel’s future living situation after Bayview. “I can’t imagine she would find any stability living with Brady at the Kiriakis mansion,” Marlena said.

Brady visited Kristen at the DiMera mansion. Brady told Kristen about Rachel and Sophia’s scheme and the stolen money. Brady explained that Sophia had claimed that she had snuck out to visit the library to do schoolwork. Neither Kristen nor Rachel believed Sophia’s story. Kristen asked if Brady had told Dr. Gregory about the stolen money.

“I didn’t want to get Rachel in any more trouble, especially when I’m not sure if she did it or not,” Brady admitted. Brady explained that the plan was to keep Rachel separated from Sophia. “Get our daughter the hell out of that place now,” Kristen growled. Brady pointed out that the facility was the closest one. “I want her home, where she belongs,” Kristen clarified. Brady disagreed.

“How many years have we tried to deal with her issues and it hasn’t done a damn bit of good,” Brady argued. Kristen countered that Rachel needed her mother, not doctors. “She needs structure. She needs boundaries,” Brady stressed. Brady argued that their priority was to make Rachel understand that her parents would never get back together. Kristen stressed that she had told Rachel on multiple occasions that her parents would never get back together. “Stop trying to pin our daughter’s problems on me!” Kristen yelled. Brady explained that he had made many mistakes, but he wanted to move on from the past.

“Rachel needs to understand that the three of us being this happy family, it’s just not gonna happen,” Brady said. Kristen told Brady that she no longer imagined a romantic future with him. “What I expect now is that you and I, we, work together to help our daughter have a really great future,” Kristen said. Brady told Kristen that he was happy that she had finally realized that they were toxic for one another.

“Now I just need you to convince Rachel to see that too,” Brady said. “Because you think it will give you permission to be with Sarah?” Kristen asked. Brady said no. Kristen told Brady that Rachel had seen Brady hug Sarah. “She thought I would flip out, but I didn’t,” Kristen said. Kristen noted that Brady’s romantic life was not her business, but that she felt it was selfish of Brady to start a new relationship while his daughter was still struggling.

“If it does get more serious with Sarah, what a great opportunity that would be to show Rachel that she has to have boundaries and she can’t manipulate her way into controlling her father’s life or yours, for that matter, in case you enter into another relationship,” Brady said. Kristen called Brady condescending. When Kristen argued that Brady wanted to flaunt his new girlfriend in her face, Brady walked out.

In the bookstore, Julie reluctantly rang up a book for Gwen at the register. All of Gwen’s credit cards were rejected. Gwen walked out in a huff. Julie told Foster that Gwen’s credit card had been refused. “Usually, I don’t want to see anybody’s feelings hurt, but that ice queen came back to Salem flaunting her wealth like an oligarch. Just pleased me to see the universe give her a little comeuppance," Julie said.

Foster and Julie talked about the big change in Foster’s life. “I love it! I get all the good parts of working here. The customer interaction, surrounded by great books. And I leave all the stressful parts to you,” Foster said with a chuckle. Julie admitted that she enjoyed the challenge of running the business. Julie told Foster about the bereavement book club, and she asked him for advice on how to run the meeting.

“My advice is don’t do it,” Foster said. Foster explained that he had attempted one after his wife’s death, but he had fallen apart. Julie told Foster that grief over the loss of Doug often hit her unexpectedly. With a sigh, Julie told Foster that she should take his advice and cancel. Foster offered to lead the book club for Julie instead.

Gwen marched over to Dimitri’s table at the Brady pub, and she demanded to know why her credit card had been declined. Dimitri said that he was excited to get his life and Leo back, all while Gwen’s life fell apart. “Do you know what I despise you for more than anything? Destroying my friendship with Matty, the most important friendship I ever had,” Gwen said. Dimitri mocked Gwen’s sadness, and he noted that his attraction to Leo was unstoppable.

“I just saw [Leo] in Horton Town Square with the love of his life, Javi Hernandez. Let me tell you, they were locked in a passionate kiss,” Gwen said. Dimitri’s smile fell away. “I don’t believe you,” Dimitri said. Gwen told Dimitri to go look for himself. “Do you want to go out there and see what real love looks like?” Gwen asked. Dimitri smirked and said, “As if you have any idea.” Gwen vowed to have revenge on Dimitri, and she dumped his beer on his head.

In the square, Leo told Javi that he could not let Javi leave without learning if Javi would return once his father was better. With tears in his eyes, Javi told Leo that Dimitri had told him about the kiss and that they had both felt something. Leo admitted he had felt something when Dimitri had kissed him. Javi deflated and plopped down into a nearby chair. “Javi, I love you. I want to spend my life with you. Listen, Dimitri and I, there are some unresolved things,” Leo said. “You may want to be with me, but I don’t want to be with you if you are not 100% committed to us,” Javi countered.

After a moment, Leo noted, “I am a fickle, insubstantial person. If I was 100% committed to you, I would not have kissed another man. I hate myself for it. I have been beating myself up about it since it happened. But I cannot change the fact that it did happen. I think it’s time I stopped deluding myself. I don’t deserve to be with you, Javi,” Leo said. Leo told Javi that he was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

“I would do anything to make these feelings for Dimitri go away, I’m working on it,” Leo said. “You’re working on it?” Javi asked. Leo stressed that Javi was the only man he had ever truly loved in his life. “But I can’t just wave a magic wand and suddenly feel nothing for this man whom I once did care about,” Leo said. Javi smiled sadly. “So you admit you’re not over him,” Javi said. Leo explained that Dimitri’s letter had sent him spiralling, and to have learned that the letter had been written under threat to Leo, had sent him for a loop.

“I just need a little time to process this. Will you give me that, please?” Leo asked. “Time won’t change anything for me,” Javi said. Javi added that he would ask Marlena not to file their marriage certificate. “So you want to pretend like our wedding never happened?” Leo asked. Javi explained that Leo should have told him about the kiss, not Dimitri. Leo choked back tears and apologized.

Trending

“Me too. Because more than anything, I wanted to be your husband. I wanted to start the life that we dreamed of together. And that dream just died,” Javi said. Javi gave Leo his wedding ring, and Leo reluctantly took it. Leo promised Javi that he would propose again. “I won’t hold you to that promise if you have to break it,” Javi said. Leo wished Javi’s father well. Through tears, Javi asked Leo to take care of Trey. “You can count on it. I love you, Javi,” Leo said. “I love you too,” Javi said. The two men hugged goodbye.

Stream episodes of Days of our Lives on the Peacock app.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback

Quick Links

More from SoapCentral