Days of our Lives Recap, November 26, 2025: Brady confides in Sarah

On Days of our Lives today, Wednesday, November 26, 2025, a friendly competition takes place at the pub, Julie and Jennifer invite another guest for Thanksgiving, and Xander learns of Sarah’s hospitalization.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

At the Horton house, Jennifer browsed through the family’s placeholder cards for Thanksgiving. She wondered what she should do with Doug’s card. Thomas had a suggestion for his dad’s card: throw it away. Jennifer scolded Thomas for what he had said and reminded the boy that Chad was his father. “I wish he wasn’t,” Thomas groused. Charlotte, who was busy coloring, piped up and asked why Thomas was mad at their dad.

Thomas told Charlotte she was “too little” to understand. Charlotte grew upset and said she missed “Daddy.” Jennifer joined her granddaughter on the couch and explained that Charlotte’s dad had to be by himself for a while, but he would be back. Julie came into the room during the fraught moment, so Jennifer compelled Thomas to keep his sister company while she stepped aside to talk with Julie. Jennifer asked how Julie was doing, and the older woman sadly replied that she couldn’t believe it was already the anniversary of Doug’s passing.

Julie opened up about how Doug had told her in her dreams that she was a “rich widow” because she had so much time with her family. Jennifer shared the gratitude Julie had for being surrounded by love, and the Horton women promised to be there for each other. Charlotte spoke up again and expressed her hope that her daddy would be home for Thanksgiving. Jennifer took the little girl into the other room while Julie sat with Thomas. Julie pressed the boy on whether he truly wanted his father to be alone for Thanksgiving.

Julie believed they were all a family, including Chad, and she compelled Thomas to put aside his ill will for the day and accept his dad's presence on Thanksgiving. Thomas unenthusiastically agreed. When Jennifer and Charlotte reentered the room, Julie called Chad and invited him to the dinner on Charlotte’s behalf. “I love you, Daddy,” Charlotte yelled toward the phone. Jennifer seemed somewhat guilty and conflicted.

Later, after the kids went to bed, Julie asked Jennifer if she was okay with Chad coming to the house for Thanksgiving. Jennifer stressed to Julie that she didn’t want to punish Chad or freeze him out of his children’s lives. She was doing what she thought best for Thomas and Charlotte. Jennifer noted Julie’s lack of response, so Julie admitted she was trying to bite her tongue. At Jennifer’s prodding, Julie said she felt “tremendous empathy” for Chad because she knew what it was like to be separated from her kids.

Jennifer understood Julie’s feelings, especially given her relative’s close relationship with Chad. She reassured Julie that she was fine with having Chad over for Thanksgiving. She didn’t want to make the day more difficult for anyone, particularly Julie. The women again expressed their gratitude and love for each other as they shared a hug.

At the hospital. Xander, holding a bouquet, saw Steve and Kayla and started to ask the doctor about the location of someone’s room. Kayla, assuming Xander was there for Sarah, immediately told Xander that Sarah didn’t want to see him. Xander was taken aback and asked what had happened to Sarah. Kayla refused to divulge any details, so Xander left in a rush to track down Sarah’s hospital room. After his departure, Steve picked up the abandoned bouquet card and noted that the flowers had been for Marlena.

Meanwhile, Xander called Philip and managed to extract information about Sarah’s stay in the hospital, along with her room number, from his brother.

In Sarah’s hospital room, Brady visited his recovering friend. Sarah thanked him for acting promptly and saving her life. Brady, however, said Sarah shouldn’t be thanking him – because the incident had been his fault. Sarah was confused, which led Brady to confess Rachel’s culpability in the allergic reaction. The revelation stunned Sarah; she couldn’t understand why Rachel would want to hurt her.

Brady only hinted that his daughter hadn’t been receiving the help she needed. He stated the incident had been the second time Rachel had almost killed someone. The admission prompted Brady to also confide in Sarah about Rachel having shot EJ. He explained it had been an accident and that Rachel had been trying to find out her grandma’s location from EJ. Sarah absorbed the news, and the realization dawned on her that Kristen had confessed to protect Rachel.

When Sarah asked what would happen next, Brady filled her in on his talk with Belle. Brady wished they could exonerate Kristen without implicating Rachel. Brady said he’d understand if Sarah wanted to come forward with what she knew. Sarah let him know that she didn’t feel anger at Rachel but sadness for the little girl and all she had endured. Sarah recalled how Brady had extended grace and kindness to her when she had kidnapped Rachel, and she was distressed if Rachel, learning about that history, had in any way led her to lash out.

Both Brady and Sarah assured each other that they were not to blame for Rachel’s problems. Sarah believed Brady was a wonderful father caught in an impossible situation. As she comforted him, Xander arrived and disrupted the moment. He cautiously approached and explained that he’d heard about Sarah’s hospital stay and wanted to make sure she was all right.

Sarah said she was fine, thanks to Brady, who had jumped into action after her allergy flare-up. Xander swallowed his hurt and thanked Brady. When Sarah asked him to leave, he acquiesced, but not before reiterating how relieved he was that Sarah had recovered. After Xander left, Sarah mused that Xander had been responsible for everything that had gone wrong in her life, starting with the baby switch. Brady reminded her that Xander had also contributed to happier times, including giving Sarah Victoria.

Sarah wouldn’t change the past because of Victoria, but she still couldn’t reconcile Xander, the loving father, with the man she couldn’t even stand to have in her sight. Brady could relate because of Kristen. He prepared to take his leave so Sarah could rest. Sarah asked Brady to relay a message to Rachel: “I forgive her, and I love her.” She pledged her support for both Rachel and Brady, and Brady returned the sentiment.

At the Brady Pub, Gabi and Philip talked over Thanksgiving plans. Philip didn’t think a Kiriakis get-together was in order because of the family turmoil, so Gabi invited him to her family’s festivities. While he was hesitant at first, she eventually sold him on the idea.

At another table, Steve and Kayla discussed their own plans for the evening, which would feature a quiet and relaxed meal. Roman had other plans, though. He approached their table and updated them on Tate’s idea for a trivia night at the pub. As it happened, Roman had just received the “starter kit” and wanted to give it a “test run.” Kayla was excited by the idea, and Steve warned of his wife’s overly competitive nature.

Roman made the rounds to gather other participants for the game. He secured a ‘yes’ from Gabi and Philip. Both confessed to the other that they were trivia fanatics.

Later, the game commenced, and the two couples quickly pulled into the lead as they traded correct answers. The game came down to a tie-breaker question. Philip and Gabi had different ideas for the answer, but Philip responded with his guess. It was wrong, which handed Steve and Kayla the victory.

Philip, Gabi, Steve, and Kayla engaged in good-natured jesting and vowed to have a rematch. Later, both couples ended up in Horton Town Square. Steve and Kayla celebrated their victory and made plans for a more private celebration. Across the square, Gabi chided Philip about his answer, losing the game for them. The mood grew more somber when Xander approached.

Xander thanked Philip for his help with Sarah and invited his brother to a Thanksgiving dinner at the Bistro. Philip said it sounded great, but he’d already made plans with Gabi. She chimed in and invited Xander to join them at her house for dinner, but Xander begged off and left...with a longing glance at the happy couples surrounding him.

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