In the upcoming episodes of *Home and Away*, Mali finds himself in a precarious situation as he struggles to save his board shop from impending bankruptcy. After leaving the store in the hands of his new assistant, Lacy, to help his sister Lanna with childcare in his hometown of Manor Point, Mali soon realizes that his decision may have been a grave mistake. Lacy, who lacks any surfing skills, initially tries to cover for her inexperience by having her boyfriend, Theo, conduct the surfing lessons. However, when Mali discovers this arrangement, he reluctantly agrees to let it continue temporarily.

As time passes, it becomes evident that the shop is operating at a loss, and the situation worsens when Lacy learns that Theo has declined a job opportunity at the garage to focus on the board shop. Despite knowing that surfing lessons are crucial for generating income, Lacy encourages Abigail, another employee, to let Theo go, believing it to be in everyone’s best interest.

With Theo gone and numerous customers demanding refunds, Abigail becomes increasingly anxious about the shop’s future. She confides in Mac, who advises her to be upfront with Mali about the dire situation. Just as she prepares to break the news, Mali returns to the bay, eager to reconnect with his friends before addressing the issues at the shop.

Upon his return, Mali notices that Abigail is acting strangely. She eventually reveals that she made the tough call to let Theo go and stresses the need to assess the shop’s financial health. Although Mali remains optimistic that they can turn things around, Abigail is less confident. They discover a mountain of unsatisfied customers, overdue board orders, and stock shortages that have escalated during Mali’s absence.

Despite the mounting pressure, Mali insists they can sort everything out. However, Abigail points out the harsh reality: they need an employee who can teach surfing and manage daily operations effectively—qualities that Lacy currently lacks. The suggestion to let Lacy go weighs heavily on Mali, who is reluctant to fire someone he just hired.

When Lacy arrives at the shop, Mali thanks her for her efforts while he was away. Lacy, feeling guilty, downplays her contributions and expresses her commitment to the job. Unbeknownst to her, Abigail has been advocating for her dismissal, creating a tense atmosphere. As Mali grapples with the decision, he ultimately devises a plan: if Lacy can learn to surf and take over the lessons while managing the shop, her job will be secure.

The question remains: will Lacy rise to the challenge and learn to surf in order to save her job, or will Mali’s decision lead to further complications for the struggling business? As the stakes rise, viewers will be left wondering if Mali can navigate these turbulent waters and keep his shop afloat.