On Days of our Lives, Melinda Trask was the one who came up with the horrific plan to tell Nicole and EJ “their” baby had died, then pass the tot off as Sloan and Eric’s newborn son. When Sloan balked, Melinda insisted it was for the best. EJ would be a terrible father. Eric would be a good one.
On The Couch: Melinda Trask
And, besides, remember how Sloan (Jessica Serfaty) was feeling bad about keeping Eric (Greg Vaughan) from his son? Well, look, now she can fix that itsy, bitsy problem. Everyone is happy. Is Melinda (Tina Huang) nuts? Sounds that way, doesn’t it? We put her on the couch to figure out why.
Scratching the Surface
Sure, Melinda thinks she knows why she’s doing it. She’s doing it for her one and only friend, Sloan. She’s doing it to stick it to that awful EJ (Dan Feuerriegel). And, as she espoused to the wrapped up baby, she’s doing it because it’s what’s best for him.
Adults have to do what’s best for the child, she lectured the tot. That’s what Melinda did with her own daughter. She gave up newborn Haley to her parents, because it was what was best for Haley. Melinda made such a noble sacrifice, so Nicole (Arianne Zucker) should be happy to do the same. Doesn’t she want what’s best for her child? Like Melinda did.
Dig a Little Deeper
Sure, that’s the story Melinda can tell Eric, herself, and even us. Except we know better. Melinda isn’t doing what’s best for the infant she’s currently taking care of. Melinda is doing what’s worse for Nicole. Melinda was forcibly separated from her child and told to suck it up and go on with her life.
Well, now she wants all mothers to feel the same pain. She didn’t mind sending Gabi (Camila Banus) and Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) and Lani (Sal Stowers) to prison and away from their children. She can’t do that to Nicole. But she can still deprive her of motherhood. And tell herself she’s a good person for doing so.