Days of our Lives Recap, May 22, 2026: Xander stuns Sarah with big news

On the Friday, May 22, 2026, episode of Days of our Lives, Jack reconciled with Gwen, Alex gave Stephanie a special gift, Steve and Kayla reminisced about their lives together, and Gabi made a confession to Xander.

Just the two of us

Gwen was exiting the shower in her room at the Salem Inn when there was a knock at the door. Although Gwen expected to see her paramour for another tryst, it was her father at the door. Gwen hesitantly invited Jack in, and she admitted that she was surprised to see him. Jack explained that Chad had told him about Gwen’s feeling that Jack only had room in his heart for one daughter. “But that is not true,” Jack said. Jack told Gwen that he did not want another year to go by with a rift between them.

Jack asked Gwen if she would be open to having a relationship with him. Jack admitted that Jennifer did not know he was there, but that he felt she would support his decision. Gwen disagreed, and she noted that Jennifer’s hatred for Gwen was why Jack had kept his distance. Jack said that although he wanted Jennifer’s support, his relationship with Gwen was their own business.

“As someone who has been granted forgiveness for some pretty despicable things, the least I can do is extend that same grace to my own daughter. Who, contrary to what she may believe, I do love,” Jack said. Gwen teared up. “I’m not used to hearing you call me daughter,” Gwen said. Gwen admitted that she had been overly emotional recently because her marriage had dredged up her old feelings of having been unwanted and unloved. Jack took Gwen’s hand, and he told her that she was wanted and loved by him. Jack made Gwen repeat, “I am wanted and I am loved.”

Gabi drops a bomb on Xander

Xander was furious with Gabi | Image: Peacock

At the Kiriakis mansion, Xander sat down on the couch in the living room as Gabi entered. Gabi asked about Xander’s arm, but he dismissed the injury. Xander explained that his bigger issue was that the sprinkler system at his apartment had made the building temporarily uninhabitable. Gabi asked if Maggie and Sarah knew about Xander’s plans to move in, and he said no. Gabi told Xander she was moving out.

Gabi explained that she and Philip had broken up after he had learned that she was the one that had planted the bug in the Titan offices. Gabi told Xander everything about Tony’s plan and the result of the scheme. As Xander glowered at Gabi, she took responsibility for having been the catalyst to destabilize Victor’s legacy and family. Gabi encouraged Xander to take his anger out on her. “I deserve it,” Gabi said.

Xander confirmed he was furious, but he said he was committed to working on his anger issues. Xander closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm down. Xander admitted he was disappointed that someone he had considered to be a friend had been the culprit. Gabi told Xander that she still considered him a friend, and she was sorry for what she had done. After a moment, Xander admitted that if he had been in Gabi’s shoes, he likely would have done the same thing. Xander added that it was not a compliment.

Gabi said she regretted that she had followed her ambition instead of her heart. Gabi told Xander that Tony had offered her the CEO job again, but she had turned it down for Philip. “More than that, I don’t want to screw over the people that have been so good to me. Not again. Not ever,” Gabi said.

Xander asked Gabi why she had come clean. She explained that since Theo had told Philip the truth, it was only a matter of time before Xander heard the news. Confused, Xander asked Gabi why Theo had told Philp the truth after months of having kept the secret. Gabi thought about Theo’s journal, but she did not tell Xander that Theo had a crush on her.

Xander told Gabi that although he would not harm her, he would never forgive her for what she had done. Gabi reiterated that she regretted her actions, and she promised to use Stefan’s inheritance money to compensate Titan for some of the damage she had caused. After Gabi left, Sarah walked in and Xander explained that he was moving back into the mansion.

Forty years of adventures

Steve and Kayla reminisced about their life together | Image: ABC

At the pub, Steve and Kayla waited for Stephanie to join them for a meal before their flight to China. Kayla worried about how Stephanie would handle the trip without Alex, but Steve agreed it was the right thing for Alex to stay home with his daughter. Steve added that it would be good for Stephanie to spend some time alone with just her family.

Stephanie was packing in her apartment when she found a present in her carry-on bag. Inside the package was a wooden box with a heart that displayed text messages from Alex while she was away. Stephanie gave Alex a copy of the children’s book “Pat the Bunny” to commemorate his first official visit with Kelsey. “I want you to have a great visit, and I look forward to being here for the next one,” Stephanie said.

Over a special congee breakfast prepared by Roman, Steve told Kayla that Ava was bugging Tripp about the wedding plans. Kayla mockingly scoffed at the idea, but Steve argued that Ava had changed a lot since she had first arrived in Salem. “But then, I suppose we’ve all changed a bit over the years,” Steve said. Kayla noted that in 40 years, the one thing that had not changed was Steve’s drive to protect her. Steve promised to always protect Kayla. Kayla and Steve reminisced about their honeymoon in Asia and when they had returned home with Benjy.

Kayla talked about when she had suffered hearing loss, and Steve’s willingness to learn sign language so that he could communicate with her had helped her recover her voice at their wedding. After Kayla and Steve practiced a little Chinese for their trip, Kayla asked Steve about his speech for the wedding. Steve said he planned to talk about the unpredictability of life, and how important it was to face it with the right partner. Steve and Kayla chuckled as they thought about their past exploits together and their children.

When Stehanie and Alex arrived at the pub, Kayla and Stephanie agreed that they both enjoyed weddings. “Then it’s a good thing we had so many,” Steve said. Steve and Kayla reminisced about all their past weddings. After Jack delivered a gift to Steve for Tripp, the group gathered their things to leave for the airport. Steve told Kayla he was excited to start another adventure with her.