Beyond the Gates Recap Jan 1: The Dupree family reels from Anita’s diagnosis
In the Beyond the Gates recap for Thursday, January 1st, 2026, Anita’s grandchildren learn about her cancer diagnosis, and one has a surprising reaction.
Beyond the Gates Recap
At home, Nicole recalled the conversation with Anita, when she and Dani learned that their mom had breast cancer, and that the rest of the family needed to be tested. Nicole called Ted and said she needed to tell him something in person. Ted said he was at the office, and Nicole said she’d come by.
Martin and Kat came in as they’d received Nicole’s message and wanted to know what was wrong. Nicole told them about the cancer, but that there was more to hear. Martin needed a minute to process before she continued. While explaining the details, Martin realized that the treatment Anita was about to do was her only chance.
Nicole told her kids that she and Dani needed to be tested to see if they had the BRCA gene as well. Since it didn’t skip generations, if they didn’t have it, then Martin and Kat were in the clear. Kat surprised Martin and Nicole by telling them that even if Nicole had the gene, she wouldn’t be getting tested.
Kat explained that a test just told her she was walking through a minefield, but couldn’t stop her from getting blown up. Nicole said doctors would know what to monitor and how often, which would give her informed choices. Kat said that was what she was doing. She didn’t want to walk around with a cloud of maybe having cancer develop for the rest of her life.
Kat hoped her mom tested negative, but said she’d live her life in sunshine, and not under a cloud. In utter angst, Martin called after her as Kat walked out, but Nicole told him to let her go.
Anita and Vernon came home from the hospital after getting the port in place and talked about her feelings about what was to come. Anita was relieved that they told Dani and Nicole, and thought it was best that they were the ones to tell their own families.
Vernon was determined to give Anita a “nice, normal day.” He suggested their usual New Year’s Day tradition of looking at photo albums, but Anita didn’t think looking at pictures would take her mind off her cancer. “Cancer?” they heard someone say. Anita and Vernon turned around to see Naomi and Chelsea looking at them in shock.
Vernon tried to intervene and asked them to give Dani a call to sort things out. Anita said it was okay as they were there now. Naomi and Chelsea sat down, and Anita explained that she had triple-negative breast cancer. Naomi said that she had a friend who had it and didn’t make it. Anita matter-of-factly told them that it was an aggressive type of cancer and that they were starting chemotherapy as soon as possible.
Anita said she had never faced this type of challenge before, but she wasn’t going to back down, and she wanted them to do the same. Naomi comforted Chelsea as she encouraged their grandmother. Anita said there was more they needed to know. When Chelsea and Naomi learned of the BRCA gene risk being hereditary, they assured Anita that the only thing they would hold Anita accountable for was inheriting her incredible spirit.
After Chelsea and Naomi left, Martin came over. He was met by Vernon, who told him that Anita already had a full day and to go easy on him. Anita called Martin and asked about his campaign. “I’m not here to talk about politics,” Martin said. “Well, that’s too bad because I’m all talked out about cancer,” Anita told him. “Politics it is,” Martin shrugged.
Martin sat down and told Anita a story about fundraising and how, when dealing with someone, he thought to himself, “WWAD, or What Would Anita Do?” He said that he figured out the challenge and looked it straight in the eye to get it to back down — and that was exactly what she needed to do with her cancer.
Before leaving, Martin told Vernon privately that he would be there for him, as well. He wanted to make sure he was Vernon’s first call when the walls felt like they were closing in. In the living room, Anita looked through the photo album, remembering key moments and milestones in the family’s lives.
When Vernon came back in, Anita told Vernon that she was glad he suggested looking at photos. She said that their family had such strength and love, and it made her think that no matter what happens, she was at peace.
Hayley was already irritated that Bill took a work call on a holiday when Dani walked into her living room wanting to talk to her ex. The more that Hayley stalled, the more agitated Dani got. Hayley blasted Dani for still pining over Bill and said that she was starting off the year the same way she did the last one.
Bill came in as Hayley was telling Dani to get out. She tearfully told Bill that she needed to talk to him about their girls. Dani asked to speak to Bill alone, so Hayley reluctantly left — but eavesdropped from around the corner. She rolled her eyes when she heard Dani tell Bill that her mother had breast cancer, and it was bad.
Dani told Bill that she was going to tell the girls that day, and that she and Nicole had to get tested to see if they had the BRCA gene. Dani cried, saying she prayed that if someone had to have it, it was her, not Nicole, because she’d been through so much already. Bill comforted Dani and offered to tell the girls with her so they could lean on both of them. After Dani left, Hayley tried to lament her visit, but Bill asked her to understand that it was a personal Dupree issue and that he had to go help with it.
Bill and Dani met at Dani’s house, and to their surprise, Naomi and Chelsea marched in, upset that they hadn’t been told. Bill defended Dani, but their daughters thought they should have been told immediately, not hours later. Dani cried that she was struggling with the information and that she was dealing with it.
Bill interrupted before it turned into a fight. He said everyone had a right to be upset, but to deal with it together; no one was in the wrong, including Dani. They had a group hug then sat down and talked about how Dani will get tested first.
Nicole went to Ted’s office and asked him how things were between him and Kat. Ted said it was still tense sometimes, but Kat did come to see him on Christmas. Nicole started to cry and asked Ted to be there for Kat, and to get through to her.
Ted assured Nicole that he would be there for all of them, and that they were still family. She appreciated it and told him that Kat refused to get tested even if Nicole was positive. Nicole reminded Ted that he was the only one who knew how much they went through to have Kat and she had to understand that she couldn’t lose her.
Ted said he would get through to Kat, but didn’t think it would be an issue as Nicole would test negative. Nicole cried in Ted’s arms. Meanwhile, Kat went to Uptown and had a shot of tequila at the bar.