Days of our Lives Recap, September 28: Steve Agrees to Keep Marlena’s Secret

In today’s Days of our Lives recap for Monday, September 28, 2026, Brady and Xander continued their run as strange bedfellows, Joy showed her hand, Stephanie took Kayla into her confidence, and Marlena learned she was a mother again…maybe.

We Got This

At the Brady Pub, Sarah fretted to Brady and Kayla about the upcoming public announcement by Destiny’s parents. Even if she was ultimately exonerated, the allegations of wrongdoing could follow Sarah for the rest of her career. Xander soon joined the gathering, and he was none too pleased to hear about the wrongful death lawsuit. With a pointed glare at Brady, Xander said he’d warned that Sarah would become a target of EJ. Sarah chastised Xander for insinuating that Brady had forced her into filing the complaint, since it had been her own decision.

Kayla offered reassurance and support before leaving to meet Stephanie. Tensions flared again after Brady accused Xander of commandeering what was supposed to be a joint effort to help Sarah. He reminded Xander that he had the investigative background, which prompted Xander to make a crack about the short duration of Brady’s PI career. Xander did ultimately apologize and affirm that he wanted to work together, as protecting the mother of his child was the most important thing to him. Xander stiffened, however, when Brady left Sarah with a reassuring kiss.

No Contact

Outside Alex and Stephanie’s apartment, Stephanie texted Alex, who came to the door frazzled from his attempts to calm a crying Kelsey. Stephanie offered to step inside for just a moment and help with the baby, but Alex shut the idea down. He insisted he couldn’t give Joy any reason to renege on the custody agreement, despite Stephanie pointing out that no one else was around to tell her. Stephanie expressed her frustration and her growing certainty that after the year of no contact had ended, Joy would still find a way to turn Kelsey against her. Alex insisted he wouldn’t let that happen, and Stephanie shot back that Alex couldn’t prevent it.

Alex implored Stephanie not to worry over a future that hadn’t arrived yet. He even suggested that given time, Joy and Stephanie could one day become friends. Stephanie scoffed at the notion, and Alex stressed that Kelsey would come to know Stephanie and love her just as much as he did. He remembered that he had to take the little girl to see Joy at the hospital. After Stephanie asked when she would see him again, Alex admitted he didn’t know, apologized, and closed the door.

Later, Stephanie met with Kayla at Small Bar to vent some more. She was growing tired of only seeing her husband for a few stress-filled minutes every day. When Stephanie uttered aloud that she shouldn’t be so hard on Joy because Stephanie herself hadn’t lived a perfect life, the comment caught Kayla’s attention. Stephanie confided to her mom about her near-kiss with Theo, and she confessed that a part of her wished that Paulina hadn’t interrupted. Kayla asked if Stephanie was attracted to Theo.

Stephanie thought it over and responded that in the moment, she had been attracted to her friend. But she couldn’t be certain if the attraction had sparked only because of the problems with Alex, in contrast with the care and attention Theo had been providing her. Kayla wondered if something more than a kiss might happen if Stephanie and Theo were alone. Stephanie could only say that perhaps her and Alex’s marriage wasn’t as strong and durable as her parents’ marriage. Kayla urged her daughter to give herself more grace and understanding.

Meanwhile, in Horton Town Square, Theo had a brief run-in with Paulina in which she indicated that she wanted to talk with him about something. Theo started to ask if the talk had anything to do with what Paulina had witnessed at Small Bar, but Paulina cut him off and assured him the chat didn’t concern Theo “thirsting” after a married woman. Instead, Paulina wanted to know why Theo had quit his job. Theo hinted his decision involved his distrust of all things DiMera, including Johnny. Paulina was not happy that Theo had confirmed her suspicions about EJ “corrupting” Johnny.

Theo tried his best to assuage Paulina’s concerns. He also promised Paulina he'd try to attend Chanel's baby shower. Later, Theo had another chance encounter…this time with Stephanie. They awkwardly brought up the almost-kiss. Both rambled out explanations and excuses, and both agreed that the situation would never happen again.

Cheating the Test

At the hospital, Joy peppered her AI phone assistant with questions about how muscle relaxants might “mess with” a nerve test. Angered by the lack of a clear response, she chucked her phone across the floor. Then, after a glance at the door for incoming visitors, Joy hopped out of the bed, retrieved the phone, and hurried back under the covers.

She successfully made the quick trip just before Alex strolled through the door with Kelsey. Joy happily greeted the new arrivals but begged off on holding Kelsey, as she claimed her arms were too numb. Joy spent most of the visit showering Alex with compliments about his capabilities as a father and about how much of a help he had been to her. She deflated when Alex announced visiting hours were almost over and when he departed.

Joy’s mood improved, though, after her dad Craig sent a text informing that the muscle relaxants would arrive the next morning. But Joy’s relaxation didn’t last long. Kayla arrived soon thereafter and told her patient that Joy’s nerve conduction test had been moved up…to the next morning.

Alex, meanwhile, enjoyed a friendly chat with Xander and Sarah outside the pub. The Kiriakis men celebrated the salvation of Titan. Xander pledged to Alex that his beautiful daughter – the best part of his life – would get Alex through any struggle, just as Victoria had done for Xander.

Just Between Us

At Marlena’s place, Marlena reacted to the bombshell that Steve had dropped on her with denial at first. She refused to believe that she was Dominic Marino’s mother, and that Stefano was his father. Steve confirmed that Bo and Hope had found the birth certificate and that it seemed to be legitimate. Marlena eventually acknowledged that she had secretly feared this very outcome, since Dominic’s age aligned with the time she had been on Stefano’s island. Marlena bemoaned the “peace of mind” that Stefano had once again stolen from her.

Steve did his best to comfort Marlena and to remind her of what John would say. Marlena was strong, and she would get through this latest hardship powered by that strength. She asked Steve not to divulge the information to anyone, except Brady, until they had more answers. Steve agreed, and he vowed they would find those answers (likely via a DNA test from Dominic), if that’s what Marlena wanted. Marlena stressed that she didn’t want protection; she wanted the truth.

Later, Steve convened with Brady at the Black Patch office and filled his stunned partner in on what he had discovered. Brady worried about the effect of the revelation on Marlena. Steve believed the best way they could help her was to track down the answers she needed…”by any means necessary.”

Trending

Back at Marlena’s place, Marlena tearfully opened up to John’s photograph. She was trying to be strong, and she knew that she had so much support surrounding her. “They’re just not you,” Marlena cried. “And I am not sure I can go through this without you.”

Is Marlena right to be skeptical of her newfound motherhood? Should Alex be more skeptical of Joy’s newfound paralysis? And should the audience be skeptical about Stephanie and Theo’s pledge? Sound off in the comments.

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