There's never a time like the present — to pick sides in a fight between friends. On the Sunday, October 9, episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, the women were all still reeling from their Vermont vacation turning into a battleground. Siggy Flicker was struggling to decide whether her loyalty was with Jacqueline Laurita or Melissa Gorga. (Teresa Giudice didn't factor into Siggy's distress very much.)
The episode began with Siggy discussing the aftermath of the brawl with Dolores Catania. Siggy was certain that Jacqueline was giving her the silent treatment because she felt that Siggy didn't have her back enough during her fight with Teresa and Melissa. Beyond that, however, Siggy and Dolores were puzzled by Melissa's refusal to validate Jacqueline's version of "strippergate" from so many years before. (ICYMI: Way back in 2009, someone claimed Melissa had been a stripper.)
Jacqueline Is Done With Teresa and Melissa
Siggy and Dolores then paid a visit to Jacqueline, who revealed that she had not intentionally ignored Siggy after all, instead arguing that she was "focused" on Teresa and Melissa, and her lack of communication had merely been an oversight. Siggy agreed it was confusing that Melissa hadn't supported Jacqueline more when she and Teresa were going at it and Jacqueline agreed.
"I thought it was dirty that Melissa tried to rewrite history," Jacqueline said. "Are you afraid of what Teresa would say if you answer that honestly?" she added to the camera, noting that it was just "sad." She then declared she was "done" with Melissa and Teresa, and Siggy pledged her loyalty by saying she wasn’t going to attend Melissa's fashion show (or Kim D.'s fashion show, but that seemed like more of an afterthought).
Siggy Tells Melissa She's Not Going to Envy's Fashion Show
In an attempt to be transparent, Siggy got coffee with Melissa. "Thank God Vermont is over," Siggy began. Then she admitted to Melissa that her first impressions of the boutique owner were not that great, saying she had found Melissa to be "phony" and "self-absorbed." Somehow, she managed to make even this information sound nice. Then she gave the final blow: She couldn't go to the Envy fashion show because she thought it would hurt Jacqueline.
Melissa responded calmly, asking if Siggy was going to Jacqueline's event. Siggy said she was and Melissa said that this clearly meant Siggy was picking sides. Melissa also argued that Jacqueline didn't need to approach or speak to her the way she did and Siggy repeated how hurt Jacqueline was. At the end of their coffee date, Siggy and Melissa hugged each other. In other words, even though Siggy wasn't going to Melissa's event, all was well between them — practically a miracle.
Kim D. Tries to Stir the Pot (Again)
Jacqueline, Dolores and Kim D. went for lunch together to catch up (and gossip) at Kim D.'s fashion show. Jacqueline reported that Teresa had tried to imply she was the one behind strippergate and then said that she was not inviting either Melissa or Teresa to her Little Kernel event later that week.
Kim D. seized the opportunity to try to stir the pot, saying that if she were Teresa, she would divorce her husband, Joe, before he went to prison because he would be entitled to half of everything she earned while he was away. When no one really took the bait on that topic, she tried again asking, "Do you think she is delusional or do you think that she just doesn't know?"
The other women looked at each other and Jacqueline said, "Whatever their relationship is, it works for them." Basically, no one wanted to go there as much as Kim D. wanted to lead the charge.
Siggy Has a Change of Heart
Meanwhile, Siggy had been thinking about what Melissa had said the other day and had a change of heart. Over sushi with Teresa, Melissa and Dolores, Siggy announced that she was in fact going to attend Melissa's fashion show.
Teresa took a moment to call Jacqueline a "wacko" and "crazy person," and Siggy sort of just let it slide.
A Little Kernel for the Creators of Little Kernel
Everyone (except Teresa and Melissa) gathered to celebrate the launch of Chris and Jacqueline's Little Kernel. As Chris made a speech about their journey with their son Nicholas' autism diagnosis, Jacqueline got very emotional. "Nicholas is making progress and I can see the sparkle in Chris' eye," she said.
Then Chris turned his attention to Ashlee, Jacqueline's older daughter who had recently gotten engaged. "I would also like to congratulate Ashlee and Pete on their engagement," he began. "But we got some more news. We just recently found out they are sprouting a little kernel of their own. Yes, Jacqueline is going to be a glam-ma."
Siggy, Kathy and Rosie Wakile, and Dolores showered Jacqueline with hugs and congratulations and Jacqueline said she felt like she was "opening a new chapter" in her life.
Just before leaving, Dolores pulled Chris aside and urged him to stand by his wife and not go to Joe Giudice's party in a few days because Jacqueline was no longer invited after the fight. It was well intentioned, but it was unclear whether he was going to listen.
Later, Teresa and Dolores met up at church and bonded over the fact that their dreams for their family lives hadn't exactly played out the way they'd planned or hoped. "I have come to accept it now," Teresa said of her husband's impending jail sentence. "I guess I am kind of old-school." Teresa reiterated that she would not get divorced. "I love Joe and he loves me and we're going to just stand by each other."
Dolores said if she were in Teresa's situation, she would do the exact same thing.
Tell Us: Do you think Siggy is going to be able to be friends with both Jacqueline and Melissa?
The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
