A Coffee Klatch Crimson Paternity Reveal: The Young and the Restless Two Scoops For the Week of April 6th

The Young and the Restless has been telling paternity shockers ever since it was revealed that Lorie Brooks was the biological daughter of Bruce Henderson and not Stuart Brooks back in the 1970s. Now, the show has told another one, revealing that Holden Novak is the love child of Malcolm Winters and Dr. Stephanie Simmons. What's different, though, has been the breakneck pace with which the latter story is being told!

Congratulations, it's a son!

Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) is now a member of the Winters clan on Y&R | Image: JPI

First, we have to say this was an inspiring idea to tie the likable Holden (played by the equally likable Nathan Owens) to the Winters family! Y&R didn't create this connection out of thin air. Veteran fans of the top-rated soap recall Malcolm's (Shemar Moore) brief relationship with Stephanie (Vivica A. Fox), and the show treated those loyal viewers with a flashback, showing the actors from 30 years ago playing the roles. Moore and Fox walked back into their parts and played the history beats perfectly.

Malcolm and Phyllis

Phyllis and Malcolm enjoyed a sweet reunion on Y&R | Image: CBS

We're going to take the show's word for it that Sharon (Sharon Case) and Stephanie had never met before, hence their introduction to each other at Crimson Lights, but Y&R did remember that Malcolm and Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) are old and dear pals. Whenever Malcolm homes back to Genoa City, it's nice to see him interact with Phyllis.

Speedy results

Malcolm, Stephanie, and Holden played the fast round on Family Feud on Y&R | Image: CBS

We might be asking Dr. Simmons if she can recommend a good chiropractor, as we suffered some serious whiplash watching this tale unfold as quickly as it did. Granted, time is of the essence as Malcolm, diagnosed with aplastic anemia, needs to find a donor ASAP. Plus, given their schedules, it's likely that both Moore and Fox don't have big blocks of time to give to the top-rated soap.

Moore, in fact, quipped about having to learn 124 (!) pages in an interview he did with Christel Kahlil (Lily) that you can read about here.

However, it's too bad that the show didn't spread this story out over a few weeks, instead of a few days. (But then, it is continuing into this week as revealed in the spoilers for the week of April 13th.)

It's also too bad that soaps don't have budgets for more day players. We saw both Lily and Holden learn over the phone that they weren't compatible donors for their dad.

Surrogate mother/daughter dynamic

Traci supported Lily on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Y&R kept the family as the focus of this story as Lily went to see Traci (Beth Maitland) for support. Soap fans don't always agree on everything, but we can't think of a fan of daytime drama out there who doesn't put "family" at the top of the list when asked to describe what's special about soaps.

Lily lost her mother, Dru (Victoria Rowell), after she fell off a cliff; Traci lost her daughter, Colleen (Tammin Sursok), to drowning. As Lily and Colleen were besties, it's only natural that Lily would turn to Traci for support when she needed it the most. Traci provided Lily with a supportive ear, a hug, and, perhaps most importantly, hope.

Traci told Lily that while she couldn't provide bone marrow for Malcolm, she could provide support and love. Traci made Lily feel better when she needed it the most.

Two scoops of coffee talk

More of the drama could have played out in the lounge dedicated to the late Neil on Y&R | Image: CBS

One head scratcher in this tale, thus far, has been the locale. Sure, Crimson Lights was around back when Malcolm and Stephanie were together, but the coffee shop is a popular hangout. There could have been anyone in there while Stephanie, Malcolm, and Holden were having their dramatic talks.

What if a freelancer for Spectra/Charles, Newman Media, Abbott Communications, or even GC Buzz (is that still around), had popped in to grab a latte or a muffin and overheard what was going on?

This was a situation that required some privacy. Alas, there aren't as many homes on soaps anymore. There was a time when even supporting characters would have their own studio apartment.

Perhaps the scenes with Malcolm, Stephanie, and Holden could have taken place at the Neil Winters Jazz Lounge? That part of the club might not be open during the day and wouldn't have the foot traffic that Crimson Lights would.

The photo of Neil watching over his family as they had this talk would have given more gravitas to the drama. The organic mentions of Olivia (Tonya Lee Williams) and Dru were nice touches.

We're already seeing how Holden's paternity is playing out. Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) has overheard that Holden is now a member of the prestigious Winters family. This will likely change how she interacts with him.

A twist within a twist

Malcolm found a son in Holden -- but not a donor -- on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Soap fans who've seen medical stories play out on daytime drama may have already predicted or known that Lily, given her own battles with cancer, wouldn't be a viable donor for her dad.

But we have to admit, it was quite a twist when Holden learned that he was also not a match (but for a different reason). Again, it was too bad that Holden learned this over the phone and not from a doctor in his or her office at Genoa City Memorial.

Does this mean we're going to finally get to see Mattie and/or Charlie as one of them might be a suitable donor? Mattie and Charlie, AKA "the twins," have to be the most talked-about characters on soaps.

But Mattie and Charlie aren't the only blood relatives yet to be tested. What about Moses (Jacob Aaron Gaines), Malcolm's great-nephew? Knowing Y&R, Moses will likely be mentioned at some point. Malcolm's illness, as upsetting as it is on-screen, has brought the Winters family back together, and the clan will emerge stronger than ever!

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.