Unless The Bold and the Beautiful wants us to think that Taylor is the worst mother ever, there are no two ways about it: She must be returned to the canvas (albeit with a recast in the role). She already missed Thomas’ brain bleed and Steffy’s wedding and Hayes’ birth and Sheila’s “death.” There’s no way in hell that she’d also sit out her son’s engagement to Paris and her daughter’s renewed feud with stepsister Hope.

Luckily for the soap, the pieces have all fallen into place for Taylor’s comeback to be more than necessary, downright shocking. Imagine how the shrink would react to hearing Steffy complain that Hope is messing with Finn’s head. “I just want to get in there,” Steffy might say, “and make him hate the sound of her voice as much as I do!”

Feeling guilty for all the major life events Taylor has missed, she’d be moved to take action on her daughter’s behalf — by hypnotizing Finn and making the subliminal suggestion that he wants nothing, nada, zip to do with Hope. Unethical? Oh, yes. But what harm would it really do, Taylor reasons. Hope can make herself another friend, one who isn’t married to Steffy.

Hooking Up On the Down-Low

Mind you, Taylor’s motive for shoring up “Sinn’s” marriage would turn out to be not altogether altruistic. She’s seen how protective Liam is of Steffy, seen how quick he is to leap into the fray anytime he perceives Finn as getting remotely out of line — and Mama doesn’t like it. 

Why? Not because Taylor is afraid that Liam poses a real threat to Steffy and Finn’s future but because all this time that she’s been off screen, she’s been secretly having an affair with her former son-in-law. Taylor and Liam have both insisted that what they are doing is strictly recreational; therefore, it’s best that they don’t tell anyone. But at the point that Taylor erases Hope from Finn’s mind — and blocks any potential “Steam” reunion — she has no choice but to admit that she’s caught feelings for Liam.

Will he have fallen for her, too? And if so, how will they ever reveal their romance to Brooke & Co.? We’d pay good money to find out.