Is Vanessa Gambling Her Heart or Her Life on Beyond the Gates?

Vanessa McBride was already involved with Joey Armstrong when her husband Doug died, but since then they’ve grown closer. Her friends and family have been concerned about their relationship, but are they worried for the right reasons?

Vanessa and Joey on Beyond the Gates

When the smoke cleared from Doug McBride’s (Jason Graham)  fatal car crash, most of Fairmont Crest was shocked that the grieving widow, Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli), was being consoled by local mobster, Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom). While Vanessa’s continued entanglement with Joey is causing concern, her friends and family need to give her some credit — Vanessa is one of the sharpest women in Maryland.

When Doug told his wife of his gambling debts, Vanessa knew his troubles were bigger than a financial crisis. Doug owed money to the Joey Armstrong. If he couldn’t pay his debt, his life was in danger, not to mention hers and their kids. Quick-thinking Vanessa went into business with Joey. She let him launder money through her real estate company to recover what Doug owed him.

Joey and Vanessa’s relationship wasn’t exactly a secret from her husband. Doug had already caught them kissing and knew they were in bed together the night he died. But Vanessa and Doug had an open marriage, albeit a discreet one. But since Doug died, Joey and Vanessa have gotten even closer — to the point that he might’ve let it slip that he loved her. 

But Vanessa’s reaction to her friends and family about Joey has been a little odd. When Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix) tried to reason with her that dating a mobster wasn’t exactly good for her health, Vanessa was willing to lose her best friend over it. Same with Dani (Karla Mosley) when she questioned her. And then there are her children.

Vanessa’s kids, twins Donnell (Alex Cheeks) and Deanna are at college together. But when their dad died, Vanessa kept them at bay. Donnell came to town and wanted answers about Doug’s accident, but Vanessa shooed him back to university the moment she could. 

And then there’s the pushing she did to become Joey’s business partner, wanting to have a hand in his other companies and have access to the backend of his operation.

So now we wonder…is Vanessa that much in love with Joey that she’d be willing to lose the support of her long-term best friends when she needed them most, and turn away her own kids in their moment of grief, just to be with a dangerous gangster? Seems out of character for a businesswoman who has made a living selling high-end real estate to the elite of Fairmont Crest, to become the local madam at the country club.

Running a real estate company comes with some heavy scrutiny — it’s hardly the place for easy money laundering, and there is no way Vanessa would want to do prison time. Did Vanessa go to the police herself and ask for help or did the feds come to her with a deal? Or is she doing her recon first, then offering the info for immunity? 

Of course, it’s possible that Vanessa is telling the truth, and she likes this side of her being able to roam free beyond the gates of Fairmont Crest. What do you think — is Vanessa in love with Joey? Or is she trying to put him away? Leave your thoughts in the comments.