Maybe Someday

Weeks later, Ridge returns home after disappearing “for six days because of a family emergency” (168). Sydney focuses on school and grows closer to Warren, who confides in her about his love for Bridgette. One morning, Sydney confronts Bridgette, who still thinks Sydney is deaf, and Bridgette accuses Sydney of flirting with Warren. After Bridgette storms off, Sydney apologizes. As the two women bond, Sydney tells Bridgette about Warren’s feelings for her. Bridgette and Warren openly confess their love for each other and rush off. Sydney notices that Ridge seems preoccupied. They make plans to work on a song together later that evening.

Sydney and Ridge attempt to work on a song until Sydney leaves suddenly and throws her lyrics in the trash. Ridge retrieves them and realizes that the lyrics are about Sydney’s feelings for him. Eager to finish the song, he convinces Sydney to keep writing, advising her to write the lyrics from a male point of view.

Sydney rewrites the lyrics. Ridge adds to them and titles the song “Maybe Someday.” After reading Ridge’s additions to the song, she wonders about his feelings for her and grapples with her guilt. She leaves the room suddenly.

Ridge reflects on how his writer’s block lifted when he was writing about Sydney. He returns to his room and sends Brennan a rough draft of the song. Within the hour, Brennan sends Ridge a rough cut of the band singing “Maybe Someday.” Ridge plays it for Sydney and moves closer to her to feel the vibration of her singing. They share an intense kiss. When Sydney begins to sob, Ridge apologizes and leaves her room.

The next day, Sydney feels consumed with guilt and shame and ponders the strength of her desire for Ridge. Finally, Sydney exits her room and discovers Maggie and Ridge embracing in the living room. She shares that she arrived last night because her grandfather was admitted to the hospital, and then leaves quickly.

Sydney and Ridge meet in his bedroom and discuss what happened the night before. They decide to compose messages to each other and send them at the same time. In her message, Sydney expresses her deep feelings for Ridge, her hope that one day they could be together, and her commitment not to jump into another relationship so quickly. In his message, Ridge apologizes to her, declares that he will never leave Maggie, and reiterates how deeply he cares for Sydney. The two share embarrassing details about themselves to lessen their attractiveness to each other. They resolve to be friends and continue writing music together.

Sydney and Ridge continue to work together on their music as friends. Despite their boundaries, Sydney still struggles with her attraction to Ridge. One day, Hunter arrives unexpectedly at Sydney’s apartment and apologizes for his infidelity. He begs Sydney to take him back. When Ridge enters the living room, Hunter confronts Sydney about the nature of their relationship and calls her a hypocrite. Sydney derides Hunter for his accusation and asks him to leave.

After Hunter leaves, Ridge demands that Sydney never let Hunter in the apartment again. Upset, Sydney retreats to her bedroom crying and refuses to read Ridge’s texts. They grapple over Sydney’s phone, which she refuses to look at. Out of frustration, Ridge writes angrily on Sydney’s arm. She runs to the bathroom to wash off Ridge’s words. He helps her, apologizes, and suggests they write a song to help Sydney release her anger. Ridge and Sydney work on a song and collaborate on the lyrics together, which discuss temptation. 

Sydney and Ridge share another intense moment where they come close to acting on their attraction. Hours later, Ridge shares a rough cut of their latest song with Sydney. They stare into each other’s eyes as they listen to the music.

Two weeks later, Ridge and Maggie chat. She will be visiting and staying with Ridge for two days. In preparation for Warren’s birthday party, Sydney and Ridge bake birthday cakes together. As they bake, Sydney asks Ridge about the meaning of the band’s name. Ridge notes how he has not told Maggie about the meaning even when she asked. While Ridge attempts to text the meaning to Sydney, he contemplates his undeniable feelings for both her and Maggie.

Ridge sends Sydney a message that explains the meaning of the band’s name, Sounds of Cedar. He explains that, when he and Brennan were younger, he would put his ear to the cedar floor of his bedroom to listen to the vibrations of his parents’ music while they partied. Once the music would stop, he would retrieve Brennan and bring him to his bedroom to take care of him. Ridge admits to Sydney that she is the first person to whom he has ever explained the name’s meaning.

Later that evening, Sydney and Ridge clean up and discuss Warren’s birthday party. When Ridge apologizes for placing Sydney in an awkward position with Maggie, Sydney jokes about having sex with Brennan. Ridge grows jealous. As Sydney attempts to apologize, Ridge embraces her. Their long embrace is interrupted by Warren’s return from work. To hide his words from Ridge, Warren turns his back to the pair and warns Sydney aloud that “[h]e will never leave her"—meaning Maggie—before retreating to his bedroom (246).

The next day, Ridge texts Brennan about the party and lightly warns him not to pursue Sydney. He enters the kitchen to help Sydney prepare for the party and does not notice Maggie watching him as he stares at Sydney from a distance. As the evening progresses, Maggie flirts with Ridge openly and uncharacteristically. When they are alone, Maggie casually confronts Ridge about his attraction to Sydney. He reassures her. When Maggie asks Ridge if he has told Sydney the truth about her, he says no.  

Later that evening, a drunk Sydney wakes to find Maggie removing her clothing. She has vomited all over herself. Maggie is also drunk. The two women bond and return to the party to show off Sydney’s bra. Drunk, Sydney grows confused and calls Brennan Ridge before being escorted to the bathroom by Ridge. He puts Maggie and Sydney to sleep in his bed.

The next day, Ridge takes care of Maggie and Sydney. When Maggie falls asleep, Ridge checks in on Sydney. They share a tender moment and hold hands. Ridge wonders if Maggie and Sydney are both his soulmates. He also notes that he and Sydney’s souls are not “just compatible” but “perfectly attuned” (261). Sensing how much Sydney cares for him, Ridge writes on her palm and asks her to move out.

Sydney continues to sleep and doesn’t see the message on her palm. She wakes in the early morning and travels to the bathroom. As she surveys the apartment, she comes to the realization that she needs to move out so that she can “experience life on my own” (264). She enters the bathroom and discovers Maggie unconscious on the bathroom floor. Sydney calls 911 and struggles to communicate with Ridge about Maggie’s history and condition. Frustrated, Sydney wakes Warren who informs the operator that Maggie has CFRD, or cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. He retrieves a syringe from the refrigerator and injects Maggie as they wait for the ambulance.

After the paramedics rush Maggie to the hospital, Warren gathers Ridge’s belongings and prepares to drive Ridge to the hospital. Sydney insists on joining them despite Warren’s protests. At the hospital, she researches CFRD on her phone and learns about the shortened life expectancy for those who live with the condition. As she processes, she finally sees Ridge’s message on her palm.

Later, Ridge emerges from Maggie’s hospital room and updates Warren and Sydney on her condition. He informs them that Maggie will recover and that the alcohol and dehydration from vomiting contributed to problems with her blood sugar. Ridge notices Warren’s anger toward Sydney. He insists that Warren be nice to Sydney and returns to Maggie. Ridge and Maggie argue over his insistence that he follow her back to San Antonio and monitor her. Afraid to become a burden to Ridge, Maggie shares her desire to continue living independently so that Ridge will not have to take care of her.