It’s a truth universally acknowledged on The Bold and the Beautiful that the children of a couple, whether adults or minors, will meddle in their parents’ romantic affairs. However, there are times when that meddling can be over-the-top or downright dangerous.
In the case of Deke and Hope, while they mean well, they’re courting trouble by interfering with Deacon and Sheila’s marriage. And that’s not only because Sheila is liable to snap, but also because they’re forgetting a few key personality traits about their father and ignoring the reality of the situation. There are at least five reasons why this may not go their way.
Key Takeaways
- Deacon’s kids are barking up the wrong tree regarding his marriage
- The risk they’re putting Taylor in by encouraging Deacon to pursue his feelings
- Deacon doesn’t like to play it safe in love
Why Deke and Hope Are Wrong About Deacon’s Love Life
Deke (Harrison Cone) and Hope (Annika Noelle) have been trying their hardest to push Deacon (Sean Kanan) out of his marriage to Sheila (Kimberlin Brown). They think their father deserves better, but the two are acting as if Sheacon were newlyweds. At this point, they’ve been married for nearly two years. Hope even attended the wedding. The only thing that’s changed is that Deacon is seeking therapy from Taylor (Rebecca Budig) and has developed inappropriate feelings in the process.
So why is now the time for him to jump ship? As Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood—Her thoughts on whether Finn would cheat!) suggested, Deacon is looking for an exit strategy, and he sees Taylor as the way out. Or at least that’s what she, Deke, and Hope believe. But that might not actually be what’s going on. And this ill-advised entanglement may not be as cut and dry. There’s much that they haven’t considered.
They Know Nothing of Deacon and Sheila’s Love Story
Deacon’s children like to write his love for Sheila off as some fever dream he hasn’t woken up from yet. But their history is rich with moments of support and devotion. They started out as friends, with Sheila financially assisting Deacon when he was fresh out of jail. They comforted each other when they were struggling to forge relationships with their respective kids. Sheila and Deacon also didn’t sugarcoat the situations they would face.
The couple has the kind of connection that simmers with attraction and is warm, funny, and caring. They not only adore one another, but they also take care of each other when no one else will. Deacon’s the reason why Sheila isn’t in jail. He pulled strings so that she’d have her freedom, and she’s always gone to bat for him.
This moment in their relationship, born of Sheila not immediately telling Deacon that Li (Naomi Matsuda) had faked Luna’s (Lisa Yamada) death, reads more like a bump in the road than the end of their romance.
Marriage Isn’t Something Deacon is Going to Hop Out of Like Cold Water
While Deke and Hope don’t respect Deacon and Sheila’s marriage, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good one. Though B&B is notorious for couples bouncing in and out of wedlock, Deacon isn’t one to take his marital commitment to someone lightly. Cheating isn’t off the table, but actually walking away may not happen. It was his ex-wife, Quinn (Rena Sofer), who threw their marriage into the trash can by trying to kill him. And he knows Sheila wouldn’t hurt him. She’d hurt Taylor if he stepped out.
Notably, Sheila hasn’t entertained the idea that Deacon would leave her, and he hasn’t either. All he’s told Taylor is that he wants her in his life. But he’s made no promises to leave his wife. The farthest he’s gotten is offering to stop seeing Taylor as his therapist so they can go on a date. It’s Deke and Hope who are hanging this newfound connection on the two having a life together, and Deacon divorcing Sheila.
Taylor’s Life Could Be at Risk
Sheila may be a changed woman, but that doesn’t mean she has to tolerate Taylor messing around with her husband. The concern is that she’ll have a violent reaction to finding out Deacon is having an affair. But, in all honesty, this is a bear that shouldn’t be poked in the first place. Deacon and Taylor are playing with fire, and for what? Sheila could likely handle Deacon leaving her; she’s been divorced before. So why not go the route of getting out of the marriage first? Better safe than sorry.
Deke and Hope Are Using Taylor
At the end of the day, Taylor is a means to an end for Deacon’s kids. They would encourage their father to pursue any relationship as long as it got him away from Sheila. While they’ve spoken at length about how much better Taylor is for him, their measuring stick is based on their dislike of his wife. They haven’t seen Deacon interact with Taylor or really know anything about their connection beyond the fact that Taylor is his therapist.
At one point, Deke seemed to be baiting Sheila about Taylor’s bond with Deacon. If Sheila is such a danger, then that’s not something he should be doing. The same goes for Hope trying to convince Steffy that her dad will protect Taylor if Sheila snaps. Neither sibling cares much about Taylor’s safety if it means they get what they want: Sheila out of their lives.
Deacon Isn’t An Angel
While it’s true that Deacon has turned his life around, that doesn’t mean he and Taylor are compatible. They’re different speeds in a way that’s not complementary. It’s also telling that their single connecting thread is being wronged by the people they love. They’ve been living in the bubble of their therapy sessions, where Deacon plies Taylor with compliments, and she tells him how much of a good man he is. But he’s got his own past that informs how he operates in the world.
Deacon likes being bad in some capacity, even if it isn’t illegal. He’s not always for doing things on the up-and-up, and he likes a bit of spice in his life. Considering Sheila made him feel like he didn’t have control in his own marriage, it’s no wonder he’s tossing himself into a situation that’s liable to catch fire and burn. Taylor’s been encouraged to do something for herself, but this isn’t exactly new territory for Deacon.
Taylor may find that, when the dust settles, Deacon was looking for a good time, not a brand-new life with a new woman by his side. Everyone is getting ahead of themselves here, most especially Deke and Hope.
READ: How B&B’s Steffy Could Make Life Miserable for Hope
MORE: Fans weigh in on B&B’s Deke — Is He Too Hard on Sheila?
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