Days of our Lives Recap Jan 15: Xander and Sarah Explode, Rachel eats Sophia’s Words

In the Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, January 15, 2026, Jeremy visited Rachel, Xander had enough of Sarah’s opinion, Brady relied on Marlena for advice, and Stephanie asked a favor of Jada.

Days of our Lives Recap

At the Horton house, Jeremy was looking at Stephanie and Alex’s engagement announcement online as he mused with Julie about Chad, Jennifer, and hoping the family could reunite soon. 

As Jeremy said he’d been given permission to see Rachel and wanted to go even though it was his day off, Maggie came in looking for Julie’s bereavement club book. Jeremy gave Maggie a curt hello and goodbye as he left.

Maggie and Julie talked about Jeremy and how much Julie liked him. Julie said she wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice, that she had with Doug III.

Maggie lamented that working with Xander was hard. She said he was keeping his temper in check but he still had his moments.

At Marlena’s, Brady told her about the fiasco at Bayview the night before. He said that Rachel claimed Sophia wanted to go to one of the other libraries in the facility so she could stay up to date on her studies for when she got out. Apparently that was news to the staff, as was the fact that she could write notes.

Brady added how his wallet was emptied and he thought Rachel took it and gave it to Sophia. They couldn’t figure out why, as the staff assured Brady that Sophia couldn’t have left the premises. Brady asked Marlena’s advice.

Marlena told Brady that Rachel had to take responsibility for her actions, breaking boundaries, and any consequences that came with it. Brady admitted that Dr. Gregory told him the same.

Brady suggested a different facility, one farther away, but Marlena noted that Rachel was comfortable where she was and that it was close to home.

Brady told Marlena he was fired, but it was the push he needed. He wanted to know whether leaving Basic Black would let John down, and she assured him it wouldn’t. 

At Bayview, the doctor came to see Rachel for information about the stunt she and Sophia pulled the night before. She wanted to see one of the notes that Sophia had written her, but Rachel said that she was afraid they’d be seen — so she ate them.

Rachel wasn’t enthused when Jeremy came to visit. He told her he knew he wasn’t her favorite teacher, but he looked forward to her being back in her classroom.

Jeremy shared that he wasn’t the teacher anymore. He also told her that he was in therapy in the past and it helped him make much better choices. He was confident it would help Rachel as well.

Rachel cut their visit short so she could go to therapy. When she returned, there was a note from Sophia that said she’d gotten the phone and Rachel was to “stay tuned for next steps.” Rachel ripped it up and began eating the pieces of paper.

Sarah marched into Xander’s office and asked what his problem was, firing Brady because his divorce was finalized. Sarah reminded him that he promised to accommodate Brady while his daughter was ill, and called Xander a “royal ass.” “You’re right, I am,” Xander said.

Xander apologized for the way he handled Brady’s firing, but noted that Maggie offered him his job back, and he turned her down. Xander took responsibility for his actions, but told Sarah she should look in the mirror.

Xander told Sarah he was tired of being lectured by her, as if he was the only one in the relationship who ever made a mistake. He said that at least he was self-aware enough to know that he had issues, and he was in therapy to deal with them.

Xander seethed that her having a fling with his nephew to get back at him was neurotic and disgusting. Sarah said she wasn’t having a fling with Brady and called Xander toxic.

Xander told her that if Brady or someone else is so supportive and helpful to her, she should go be with them and leave him alone. Sarah yelled that she shouldn’t have come there. “Yes! Thank you! You shouldn’t have!” Xander told her before she stormed out.

Jada and Stephanie had coffee, and Jada admitted she helped pick out Stephanie’s ring. Stephanie asked her to be her maid of honor.

Stephanie shared that after Everett and Jeremy, she was scared to get intimate again. Jada wondered if Jeremy was still her creepy stalker.

Jada said she’d opened a case file on it, but was glad Steve was protecting her. 

Stephanie shared about the messages threatening to hurt Alex, and their plan to draw the stalker out of the shadows. 

Sarah came home and Maggie could tell instantly that she had seen Xander. Sarah griped how infuriating he was, and that she went there to tell him her opinion. Maggie suggested Sarah was looking for an excuse to see Xander.

Sarah freaked out, so Maggie calmly explained her reasoning. Sarah admitted that she might want to be more than friends with Brady, but Rachel was an obstacle.

Meanwhile, Xander struggled to stay focused at work. He called Marlena and asked to book an appointment as soon as possible.

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