13th December 2021

Piper bumps into Rick at the cafe, and they get chatting about her love-life. As they get on, Karyn arrives and makes a remark about how sleazy Rick is. Piper tells Karyn to back off as Rick learns they are both sisters. Karyn teases Rick claiming she is single leaving Piper annoyed, and she walks out. Karyn aggressively warns him to stay away from Piper. Rick makes a comment how her assertiveness ended their relationship in the first place. Karyn walks out and Rick smirks, Karl asks Des how Piper is, and she encourages him to talk to Piper. Des leaves the shop and notices Piper in a huff and learns of Karyn's interfering. Piper heads to work and chats to Laura about how annoying her situation is. Rick arrives and asks Piper on a date. Piper reluctantly agrees and Laura thinks it's a bad idea. Piper claims that she wants to be responsible for her decision. Sam and Rick chat about Christmas and mentions how Alicia will be finishing school soon for the holidays. Laura tells Piper to take the rest of the day off to get ready for her date. Karl chats to Becca behind the bar and mentions their tragic marriage. Piper shows up dolled up and learns that she has a date with Rick. Karl vows to talk to her, but piper doesn't want to know and gets a drink and heads out. Rick shows up at Laura's bar looking smart and wait for Piper, while Karyn asks Becca how long has Karl been sat there drinking. Karyn learns that Piper has a date with Rick and joins Karl for a drink. Piper and Rick hit it off at Laura's bar. Laura watches on and whispers to Sam how they seem to be getting on. Karyn encourages Karl to come home and they indulge in wine there. An emotional Karl gets angry over Rick and Piper and heads out to crash their date. Piper and Rick's date gets awkward and Piper vows to leave. Rick can see Piper is troubled and offers to walk her home. Piper appreciates Rick as Karl comes and has a pop at Rick for being a sleaze. Rick mentions what a loser Karl is, prompting Karl to punch Rick. Piper is livid and tells Karl to leave. Karyn hurries in and watches the punch in horror. Karyn brings Karl home, who feels guilty and hugs Karyn. Piper apologises to Rick. Piper gets a drink and tells Natasha what a mess her live life is.

Tracey is pondering in the balcony the next morning, while Ian approaches and asks why she couldn't sleep last night. Ian notices that Tracey is tense, and the pair argue over Tracey seeing Jim. Candace chats to Audrey, still upset that her mum has left. Ian isn't sure why Tracey is acting odd and chats to Matt. Tracey encourages Adam to see Jim that day as she feels it's appropriate. Ian finds Tracey and Adam leaving and asks where they are off to. Tracey tells Ian it;s none of his business. Ian realises that they are going to see Jim and is upset. Candace finds Jack at the bar and asks how he is doing, Jack tells her that the house feels empty. Candace and Lydia chat in the RR, while David and Natasha arrive. Tracey arrives and finds Jim and Adam getting on. Jim and Tracey chat. Tracey apologises on Ian's behalf and Jim expresses how bad he feels for her to be dealing with paranoid Ian. Tracey is triggered by his phrasing of Ian and walks away contemplating everything. Natasha tells David not to worry about Jim, juts as Ian arrives and tells David about Jim having something over Tracey. David tells Ian that Jim will always be family as far as Adam is concerned. Ian gets a drink. Tracey gets a coffee and asks Jim about Ian's verbal abuse. Jim acts upset over her interrogating and encourages her to stop seeing him. Tracey and Jim row as Jim tells Tracey to fix her marriage first. A confused and offended Tracey grabs Adam and leaves. Natasha chats about decorating the house, and tells him to snap out of thinking of Jim. Natasha vows to go the park and David joins her. Tracey arrives at the RR and Ian asks how Jim was. A annoyed Tracey tells Ian she knows about his verbal outburst to which Ian denies. Ian claims that Jim is lying and mocks Tracey. The pair row and Becca overlooks. Ian vows to see Jim and Tracey yells no. Becca asks Tracey if everything is okay. David and Natasha get on at the park. On their way back, Tracey frantically requests David's help. David, having obeyed Natasha's demands, claims that he would rather not know. A devastated Tracey insists that Jim is his brother and Tracey heads off. Natasha calls David brave and they kiss.

Samantha pops by Bill's and asks where he is to Clare. Clare says the hospital and shares news about her new man Dan. The girls have a chat and Dan rings Clare, while Bill continues to deny the events that happened before the explosion. Chris teases Bill. Samantha is at the corner shop as Paul asks how Chris is doing. Samantha tells him that Chris is on the mend. Bill is annoyed by Chris' smugness and the argument gets tense as Samantha walks in and asks what's going on. Bill vows it was nothing. The police arrive and asks to speak to Chris. Samantha asks Bill what that was about and Bill tells her it was nothing. Samantha is annoyed by the police who start to interrogate Chris. Samantha insist they come over as they want answers about the night at the Bistro. Bill says nothing as the police officer quizzes Samantha at Bill's place. Lydia and Clare chat about Dan at Lydia's, while Paul is approached by the police outside Liz's place. Paul is asked to come to the station, while Samantha wants Bill to be honest about the night out. Bill starts to open about his feeling towards Samantha until Clare comes home and chats to Samantha. Bill gets a call from Chris and it's puzzling Bill. Samantha senses something isn't right between Bill and Chris. Paul claims to know nothing about the dodgy maintenance and the police officer tells him that they are still investigating and will be in contact soon. Paul complains to Candace how Micheal 's bad managements has led to the explosion and feels like he is to blame. Candace tells him to calm down, Paul doesn't listen and arrive sat Micheal's place to warn him that if he goes down, he will take Micheal down with him.