Wild Side

Two years later, Tabitha goes to Erika’s apartment to clean out her things. Erika recently died from a drug overdose. Tabitha talks to her late sister while letting herself into the apartment. Then Rhys appears. Tabitha becomes angry with him because Erika said he evicted her after just one late rent payment. Tabitha has cared for Erika since Erika became addicted to painkillers in high school. She blames herself for failing her sister, but she’s also angry with Rhys for breaking his promise.

Facing off with Rhys, Tabitha can’t help noticing how attractive he is. She ignores her feelings and confronts him for hurting Erika. Rhys is shocked to hear about Erika’s death and asks after Milo. Tabitha notices something shift in his face when she says Milo is safe.

Tabitha wakes up on Erika’s floor. She spent the night sorting through Erika’s things and drinking scotch. When Rhys enters, she demands that he leave her alone. They get into another argument about how he treated Erika. Rhys shows her Erika’s will: Erika elected him as Milo’s legal guardian. Shocked and confused, Tabitha snaps at him for overstepping and insists that Milo is her responsibility. After Rhys leaves, she studies the will and recognizes Erika’s signature.

Ever since Tabitha packed up Erika’s things, Rhys has felt confused. Erika told him Tabitha was an unemotional workaholic but she obviously cares about Erika and Milo.

Rhys’s lawyer calls and arranges a meeting between Rhys and Tabitha about Milo. On Rhys’s way to Rose Hill, Rhys worries about taking Milo away from his family and Rose Hill.

At Tabitha’s, Rhys finds Tabitha playing in the yard with Milo. He marvels at her tidy property and kindness to Milo. He feels bad intruding but already promised Erika he’d care for her son.

Tabitha and Milo sit in the grass and play with a caterpillar until Rhys arrives. She’s shocked when Milo races into his arms. She’d hoped to “make Rhys see that Milo loves [her], and his grandparents, and his town,” but now she sees Milo loves Rhys too (33). She reluctantly greets Rhys, feeling self-conscious about her appearance. Milo refers to her as Tabby Cat, which amuses Rhys. She explains that Milo will be staying with her parents while they talk to a therapist about the next steps.

Rhys and Tabitha take Milo to Paul and Lisa Garrison’s house. Watching the family from the car, Rhys reflects on his own difficult past: He was “passed from foster home to foster home” throughout his childhood (40). Tabitha rejoins and they drive silently back to her house.

Tabitha and Rhys convene in Tabitha’s office for their meeting. Tabitha’s mind races through thoughts and feelings about Erika, Milo, and Rhys. The video call with Trixie, the therapist, begins. Rhys explains that he lives in Florida and isn’t a Canadian citizen and that he’ll have to take Milo with him. Tabitha gets upset, but Trixie changes the subject to Milo’s emotional state. She explains how to tell Milo that Erika died and that he is safe and loved. Tabitha is surprised when she notices how emotional Rhys looks.

After the call, Tabitha races out of the room. Rhys feels guilty and worried. When she returns, she’s wearing her chef’s uniform. (She owns and operates the Bighorn Bistro.) She insists that Rhys leave because she has to work. An argument ensues about Milo’s future. Tabitha demands to know what Rhys does for work because his schedule is so strange. Rhys is a professional wrestler with World Professional Wrestling but doesn’t want to tell Tabitha. People usually make fun of or take advantage of him when they find out. Their argument intensifies and Rhys realizes Tabitha’s anger is about Erika, not him.

Before work, Tabitha drops Rhys off at the local bowling lanes to bowl with her friends West, Ford, and Bash. Rhys is uncomfortable but quickly realizes the men are friendly. The game takes his mind off Erika and Milo. However, he continues thinking about Tabitha.

Tabitha reports to work. At first, the shift takes her mind off things. However, she runs out of energy toward the end of dinner service. Overwhelmed, she looks up and discovers that Rhys is sitting at the bar drinking a glass of wine. They have a more friendly conversation until Tabitha remembers what Rhys did to Erika. She accuses him of trying to hurt her by taking Milo, but he suggests otherwise.

Rhys regrets flirting with Tabitha. They drive back to her house where Rhys will be staying in the basement. He reflects on everything Erika told him about Tabitha, realizing how wrong she was. He also understands that he should tell Tabitha about his work; he’s been on leave since his injury but will be wrestling again soon.

Inside the house, Rhys and Tabitha sit in the kitchen and talk. Rhys realizes that Tabitha needs somewhere to direct her anger and decides he can be that for her. Tabitha reveals that she hasn’t told anyone about Erika’s death yet. The conversation turns to Milo. Rhys insists that he really wants to take care of him. Tabitha explains her reasons for loving Milo too and alludes to her family history. Finally, they say goodnight. Rhys heads to the basement with his stomach audibly grumbling. Shortly thereafter, he discovers Tabitha made him a bowl of pasta.

Rhys returns to Florida and meets with his boss Anthony Morris about returning to the Monday Night Mayhem show. He’ll still be fighting his usual colleague Will, but Anthony wants to change Rhys’s character Wild Side’s storyline. Rhys settles back into work, feeling relaxed once he dons his Wild Side outfit.

For the next two weeks, Tabitha takes care of Milo in Rhys’s absence. She’s glad to be away from Rhys but worries about Milo because he’s grieving. She’s done her best to incorporate memories of Erika into her house since Milo moved in. They even have a plant named Erika.

Not long after, Rhys returns to Rose Hill. Tabitha gets annoyed when he tells her to start locking the door, but can’t deny her attraction to him.

Watching Rhys and Milo together, Tabitha softens. However, it’s still easier for her to hate Rhys. She lets them go to the beach together while she cleans the house.

Over the following days, Tabitha tries avoiding Rhys but keeps making him dinner. One morning, they run into each other in the kitchen. Startled, Tabitha burns her hand with coffee. Rhys tends to the burn although she insists she’s fine. The two are close together and tension builds between them. Tabitha lifts his shirt, exposing bruises and cuts on his body. She demands to know what he does for work but Rhys doesn’t open up. He urges Tabitha to think about letting him take Milo to give her a break. However, he promises not to take Milo to Florida when he leaves the next day.

In the morning, Rhys leaves. Tabitha feels guilty that they don’t say goodbye.