The sands of Summer Bay are shifting once again, and this time, it’s a familiar face from the past threatening to unravel a blossoming romance. In Home and Away,

Jo and Tane’s tender new relationship faces an unexpected test when musician Eddie Shepherd arrives in town — and it soon becomes clear he’s more than just another up

-and-coming artist looking for studio time. Eddie isn’t just a new client… he is Jo’s ex, and his return stirs emotions that have been buried rather than resolved.

The drama begins when Remy and Sunny meet with Eddie to discuss signing him to their record label — an exciting business opportunity that both musicians are determined to see succeed. Remy, in particular, is eager to prove that his new musical venture has the potential to grow beyond the Bay’s local talent scene. Eddie himself arrives with a quiet energy and emotional depth, especially when discussing a new song he is eager to record — one inspired by “someone close” going through a difficult time.

While Eddie doesn’t initially reveal who the song refers to, the mystery doesn’t last long.

Leaving the Surf Club, Eddie unexpectedly crosses paths with David, Jo’s father. What begins as a friendly reunion quickly takes a deeper turn as Eddie learns about the traumatic events that Jo and her younger sister Lacey have been facing — particularly the long-awaited arrest of the man responsible for their mother’s death. David speaks openly, perhaps with more heartbreak than he intended to reveal. For him, Jo and Lacey are everything. He has fought hard to hold the family together, especially after Lacey recently moved in with him and Jo in an effort to rebuild their fractured household.

David wastes no time in inviting Eddie over, hoping his presence might be a positive distraction. He remembers how Eddie once supported Jo through some of her darkest days — and, no doubt, he hopes that old comfort can be rekindled. But emotional support and lingering romantic attachment can often look dangerously alike.

When Eddie and Jo finally reunite, the atmosphere is thick with history — words left unsaid, feelings that clearly never fully resolved, and a shared past neither can easily ignore. Lacey watches the interaction intently, reading every expression. She sees what no one is willing to say out loud yet: there is still something between them.

Meanwhile, Jo tries to maintain her focus on the life she has built now — including her relationship with Tane, who has patiently and gently supported her through her recent emotional reconstruction. Tane has been the steady presence she needed — someone who has encouraged healing rather than simply remembering.

But as Eddie settles in, sharing stories, laughter, and memories that pull Jo right back in emotionally, a subtle shift occurs.

When Jo receives a call from Tane — excited to confirm their date that evening — she freezes. The joy in Tane’s voice contrasts sharply with the confusion she feels rising. In an impulsive moment that even surprises herself, Jo cancels the date. She offers no explanation, only avoidance.

Later that night, fate stages a confrontation.

Tane, walking along the beach, spots Jo and Eddie strolling side by side — deep in conversation, their shoulders nearly touching, their steps in perfect rhythm. To Tane, who has given Jo space and patience, the sight is devastating. He watches from a distance, hurt etched across his face, unsure whether he has just witnessed the beginning of the end.

For Jo, the situation is far from simple. Eddie represents a past love shaped by shared trauma — the kind of connection that is emotionally powerful, even when it is painful. Tane represents possibility — peace, future, and a love that grows slowly and safely.

But emotional safety can feel quiet — while old flames can roar back to life in an instant.

So now the real question rises:

Has Eddie returned to help Jo heal — or to reclaim her heart?

And more importantly —

Will Jo allow her past to overshadow the future she has just begun to build with Tane?

In the episodes to come, viewers can expect:

• Emotional confrontations
• Jo forced to choose between comfort and growth
• Tane struggling with whether to fight for the relationship or walk away
• Eddie revealing his true intentions — romantic or otherwise
• Lacey stepping into a surprising role as the emotional voice of clarity

The Bay has seen love triangles before — but this one cuts deeper than most. Because sometimes the hardest battles are not fights between lovers… but the conflict within your own heart.