Days of our Lives Recap Jan 20: Kristen and Brady explode, Javi says goodbye

In the Days of our Lives recap for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Javi had to say goodbye, Julie got help, Kristen and Brady had an explosive fight, and Marlena gave her opinion to Sarah.

Days of our Lives Recap

At the bookstore, Gwen tried buying a book, but her card was declined. Julie couldn’t have been happier about it, and called it karma. Foster called it a cosmic correction, which delighted Julie even more.

Julie told Foster that she was going to have her first bereavement book club meeting with Marlena and Maggie. Foster advised her not to do it. 

Foster said he tried to do something similar when his wife died, but he was a mess. He said he was in the middle of leading a discussion when he broke down, and he was embarrassed.

Foster didn’t want Julie to cancel, so he offered to lead it for her so she wouldn’t in the same position he’d put himself in. Julie accepted with gratitude.

In the square, Javi told Leo he had run into Dimitri the day before. Leo knew instantly that Dimitri told Javi that he kissed Leo. Javi added that they both felt something and asked Leo to show him enough respect not to lie to him about it.

As Gwen walked by behind them, Leo nodded that it was true. They sat down, and Leo told Javi that he loved him. Javi said he didn’t want to be with him unless Leo was 100% committed.

Leo admitted he was “a fickle, insubstantial person and that if he were 100% committed, he wouldn’t have kissed another man.” He said he’d been beating himself up for it since it happened, but he couldn’t change that it did.

Leo cried that he needed to be honest with himself. “I don’t deserve to be with you, Javi,” Leo told him. Leo told Javi that he was the only man he truly loved, but he couldn’t wave a magic wand to get rid of the feelings he had for Dimitri.

Leo tried to explain what a mess he was when he got the Dear John letter, and to find out everything he thought wasn’t true made his head spin. He asked Javi for time to process it.

Javi cried that time wouldn’t change anything for him. “Before I leave, I’m going to follow through with Dr. Evans to not file our marriage certificate,” Javi sobbed. 

Leo and Javi cried together, talking about how much they loved one another and wanted to be together, but the dream died. Javi gave Leo back his wedding ring.

Leo said he wasn’t taking his off. The only reason he accepted Javi’s was out of respect, and said he couldn’t wait for the day he could put it back on his finger.

Leo told Javi that one day soon, he’d get back down on his knee and propose again. “That is a promise,” Leo told him. Javi had to go catch his flight. Leo wished him and his dad well and asked Javi to let him know how he was doing.

Javi asked Leo to take care of Trey for him. “You can count on it. I love you, Javi,” Leo told him as they hugged. Leo cried, and when Javi left.

Gwen went to the pub, where Dimitri was eating breakfast. She confronted him about her card being declined, and he happily admitted it was his doing.

Rachel ate a handful of his fries and yelled at him that she would never forgive him for betraying her. She said she despised him the most for destroying her friendship with Matty.

Dimitri mocked Gwen’s feelings, then listed off all the times he and Leo slept together while cheating on her. Dimitri told Gwen to get over the past and let him eat in peace.

Gwen told Dimitri that she had just seen Leo and Javi kissing passionately in the square. He thought she was just trying to hurt him. Gwen told Dimitri that he wouldn’t have a cent without using and abusing her, and she would have her revenge, one way or another. She poured his beer over his head and dumped his plate of fries in his lap before leaving.

At the hospital, Marlena talked to Sarah about her condition. She shared how she thought about and grieved John daily. Sarah told her that everyone at the hospital missed her and hoped she would reconsider coming back to her practice.

Sarah thanked Marlena for working with Xander and noted that he only fired Brady because of her. “Because of your relationship with Brady,” Marlena clarified.

Sarah assured Marlena that she and Brady were being cautious for Rachel’s sake. Marlena was also concerned about where Rachel would be living when she got out of Bayview. She was glad Brady claimed to be looking for a new home because she didn’t think Rachel would have stability at the Kiriakis mansion.

At the DiMera mansion, Brady told Kristen about the trouble Rachel got into and how his money was missing, but didn’t tell the doctor that part. Kristen insisted that Rachel needed to be brought home, but Brady disagreed.

Kristen questioned the doctor’s advice, so Brady told her that Dr. Gregory said they needed to be crystal clear with Rachel that there was no universe in which the two of them were reuniting.

Kristen insisted that she’d been clear many times and felt like Brady was trying to pin Rachel’s problems on her. Brady said he just needed to know she would stand with him on it.

Kristen asked if Brady thought it would help Rachel heal to hear it again, or if he was looking for permission to be with Sarah. Kristen told Brady how she talked to Rachel about Sarah and said nothing but nice things.

Brady snickered until Kristen told him she didn’t care who he was with, but thought him moving on with anyone right now was selfish.

Brady said that he talked to Dr. Gregory about not telling Rachel about his relationship with Sarah until it was more serious and defined. Within seconds, Brady and Kristen were yelling and arguing, then he walked out. Kristen was so frustrated, she threw her glass into the fireplace.

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