Beyond the Gates Recap Dec 8: A lit Vanessa makes a scene at Winterfest, Kat thanks Joey
In the Beyond the Gates recap for Monday, December 8th, 2025, Winterfest continued as Leslie enjoyed her evening, Vanessa lit up the room, and Kat had an answer for Tomas.
Beyond the Gates Recap
At Winterfest, Eva told Izaiah about the prizes and the silent auction benefiting charities. Ted brought Eva some hot cocoa with marshmallows and greeted Izaiah. He saw Nicole come in and watched curiously as she introduced Dr. Kial Rollins to her mother.
Ashley and Andre locked eyes when he came in with Dani. He told his wife he had no idea that she would be there as Ashley and Jan went in the opposite direction.
Izaiah introduced Jacob to Eva, but he coldly told her that anything she said could still be used against her in a court of law. Izaiah tried to say he was joking, but Eva didn’t look so sure.
Leslie, Mona, and Laura almost got into a little tiff, but Marcel hovered close enough to shut it down, looking like it was for Leslie’s benefit.
Hayley greeted Naomi, who told her off in return. Bill approached Anita while she was talking to Dani and Andre to say he’d done the sound check. Anita pretty much dismissed him and enthusiastically invited Dani and Andre to follow her as she gave them a tour of the room. Hayley joined Bill and asked if everything was okay. He said it was, but seemed distracted and sad.
Nicole and Kial chatted, getting to know one another. He said that he was a single dad of two, and she loved horror movies. She kept looking at Vanessa; Kial suggested he wait at the bar while Nicole talked to her friend.
Nicole went over and basically scolded Vanessa for sitting with the piano player, and when Vanessa admitted she was hoping Joey would show up, Nicole then chastised her for her relationship. Finally, Vanessa got snappy and told her she could make her own decisions. Vanessa called Joey, but he told her he wasn’t coming. He said he was preserving her reputation, and it was more important than she realized.
Dani and Nicole chatted, she said how Nicole was right the previous year when she was there alone and Nicole had promised her things would get better. Nicole said she’d also been wrong and said that she could see Dani and Andre were the real deal.
Ashley and Dani crossed paths, and Ashley acknowledged her talk with Andre, but that he was a good, loyal man. Dani wondered if Ashley really thought she’d cause a scene, so she quipped it was the same room where she pulled a gun on Hayley.
Vernon praised Anita’s work and generosity, and said he found new reasons every day to admire her. Behind them, Leslie watched and shook her head. Marcel spotted her spying later, and she shushed him so she could listen in on Vernon and Sharon talking about how they wanted to be together, but it would be cruel to Anita.
Leslie told Marcel there was a scandal about to break, and she was there for it. She asked him about his job and said she was interested in hearing his stories. A drunken Vanessa came to the bar and slurred that Leslie got to parade around in high society even after trying to kill someone. “You too, for that matter,” she said to Marcel.
Marcel pulled Vanessa aside. He told her that Joey would want her to play things smart, as he didn’t want them to go to jail. Vanessa ignored him and imitated the way Leslie greeted Ted as he walked up. Ted could tell that Vanessa was on edge when she started crying and asked her to go for a walk. Vanessa agreed and stuck her tongue out at Leslie as they walked off.
At Uptown, Kat agreed that she enjoyed their weekend away, but reminded Tomas that she and Chelsea lived together because they were always in ChelseaKat mode. She told Tomas that she hadn’t gone there yet in her mind. He took her hands and asked her to catch up.
Kat didn’t see the need for a rush. She said she wanted the future that Tomas did, but thought he should slow his role. Kat told Chelsea she’d bring home dinner, so Tomas left her and said he had to go to Winterfest.
Before Kat left, she spotted Joey and thanked him for helping find Chelsea. He graciously told her he didn’t mind. As she walked away, Joey received a photo on his phone of Vanessa with Ted.
Meanwhile, Izaiah introduced Hayley to Eva, who was miffed that she couldn’t hold his attention. She stomped off, and as she passed Anita, she asked her if she’d seen Bill. Anita said he was with Dani and kept walking.
Anita saw Keke Wyatt come in and after greeting her, asked the singer if she wanted to do something for the benefit.
Ted thanked Nicole for being cool about Eva joining him at Winterfest, though both wished Kat were there. Kial walked up and said he’d wanted to bid on a nice dinner for two at a fancy restaurant, but said someone bid on it and won, paying twice the amount it was worth. Just then, Laura gave Ted the restaurant gift certificate. Kial noted he must have wanted it to pay the price he did. Nicole dryly added, “I was the one who donated that certificate. Enjoy!” then walked away.
Leslie watched Eva and Izaiah laugh it up as Jacob fumed and Tomas glowered. Leslie told Jacob that maybe his favorite outlaw would become his favorite in-law. She then told Tomas that he had picked the wrong sister. Jacob and Tomas walked away as Vernon walked by. She made innuendos about his world blowing up, but he told her he didn’t care what she was talking about in Rhett Butler fashion. Later, Eva was astounded when her mom left with Marcel.
Anita praised Dani for being the auctioneer with Bill, and Dani said Anita getting Keke Wyatt to sing Silent Night was the show stopper.
Bill warned Andre to treat Dani right, but he said that some people didn’t need to be reminded. Ashley watched as Andre and Dani left together.
Back at Nicole’s, she and Kial recapped the evening. He said it was a pleasure to be on her arm that night and asked if she’d be up to another date. She said maybe, so he said he’d call so she could surprise him with a yes.