EPISODE 384
Written by: Bre L Drew
March 26, 2026
Last Time on Town and Country
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Jacques and Aaliyah have entered into a full-blown affair.
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Jordan is furious after Tommy reveals he wants to end their marriage and move to Minnesota with Tanner, having secretly rekindled their relationship.
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Jolene remains anxious about whether the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will indict her for killing her abusive husband, Wade, while Ernest and Tricia stand firmly by her side as Jes receives the official decision.
MILLER INN: SUITE 330
In Jacques Laurent’s third-floor hotel suite at the Miller Inn—unused for some time since he moved to Home Farm after marrying Emma—Aaliyah Gupta had come up moments earlier at his behest. Now they both lie together in bed, nude beneath the sheets, the intimacy familiar and intense from their previous encounters. They are drawn to what the other offers: her youth and energy, his confidence and experience.
Jacques finds himself gently kissing the petite brunette woman’s arm, which makes her smile warmly.
“I think I need to apologize to you,” he tells her.
The unexpected declaration causes Aaliyah to turn over and face him, her long brown hair falling onto the pillows.
“What for?”
Sunlight filters through the heavy curtain as Jacques answers. “Because of me, you’re out of work too.”
Aaliyah raises herself slightly, something she had done moments before. “Look, I think it’s fair to say you got a raw deal from the board. And besides, no offense to you, property development was never my calling to begin with. I told my mother that, and she about damn near had a fit.”
Jacques chuckles softly, his wedding band still on his hand. “Well, who knows? Maybe property development isn’t in my future—especially if I was set up.”
“You think you were?”
Jacques makes a small gesture to indicate the thought. “You were there, Aaliyah. I had every ‘t’ crossed and ‘i ’ dotted going into acquiring that land in Miami, and it turns out it was nothing but an unattainable swamp. Yes, I think it’s more than fair to say someone wants me to fail.”
Aaliyah can see the pain in him, especially in his eyes. “So, what now?”
“Well, that’s a good question,” he admits. “But for now, how about we get back to escaping reality, huh?”
Their focus shifts back to each other as they reconnect physically, using the moment as an escape from their uncertain lives.
JOJO'S CAFE
I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
The country rhythm and meaningful lyrics of Cody Johnson’s version of “Travelin’ Soldier” play softly throughout the café as the lunch crowd slowly arrives in the afternoon. At the same time, Jolene Wood, Tricia Lockhart, and Ernest McKnight sit at the same table, all carrying varying degrees of anticipation. For them, the feeling has been there for some time; however, it has intensified since Jes contacted Jolene to say she was on her way to inform them of Jolene’s fate—whether or not she would be indicted for shooting her abusive husband, Wade, when he held Jolene and her daughter, Tricia, hostage late last year.
“Why do I feel like I have to throw up?” Jolene admits to feeling uneasy about the situation.
“Well, you know where the restroom is,” Tricia says, attempting to lighten the moment, though she, too, is fighting back nerves.
“Hey, let’s not jump to the worst conclusion just yet,” Ernest remarks, somewhat confidently.
“Try telling my stomach and head that,” Jolene replies anxiously. “I mean, I did take a life.”
Tricia turns to her mother defensively. “Don’t feel one drop of guilt for ridding that SOB from your life. Besides, it was him or us.”
As the police chief tries to balance duty and personal concern, he notices the door opening. “She’s here.”
The women turn as Jes Choudhury enters the café, her demeanor serious but composed, immediately drawing their attention as she sits across from them with her bag on her shoulder.
“I thought this should be said face to face,” Jes says.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office had reached her earlier at her firm.
“So, what did they decide?” Tricia asks impatiently, having had enough of the uncertainty, even with the possibility of the worst-case scenario.
Jes pauses, bracing herself before responding, aware that whatever she says will deeply affect everyone at the table
LOCKHART LAKE COTTAGE
When Tanner Lockhart anticipated telling her parents she had been accepted into veterinary school in Minnesota, she expected the traditional praise; however, she was taken aback when they both pulled her into a shared embrace. It doesn’t take long for her to take it in as the three stand in the kitchen of the residential cottage where she has resided since elementary school. Not to mention, the knowledge that her parents are back together makes the moment even better.
For now, neither of them feels like letting go, though Tanner is ready to.
“It’s not that I don’t appreciate the love here, but I need to breathe.”
At that, they release her, both still beaming with excitement for their brunette, fraternal twin daughter’s future.
“Sorry about that; it’s just that we’re so proud of you,” Louise Saunders Lockhart remarks graciously.
Sean Lockhart nods in agreement. “Yeah, and after what this family has been through in the last few years, it’s always good to hear good—no, great news for a change, even though it means you’re going hundreds of miles away.”
“That’s going to be the hardest part, but Minnesota has one of the best colleges of veterinary medicine programs in the country,” Tanner admits.
She keeps to herself the fact that Tommy will be accompanying her, for obvious reasons.
Louise glances at the wall clock, then back at them. “And as much as I don’t want to leave this celebration, I need to get into town to meet a potential new vendor, which is always a positive for us and the farm.”
With that, the blonde woman squeezes her daughter’s shoulder endearingly, then shares a kiss with Sean before grabbing her bag and keys from the counter and heading out.
Now father and daughter remain in the kitchen, the joy still present, though a sense of poignancy settles in, courtesy of Sean.
“It’s going to be surreal not having you around the house. First, your sister is married and living out at the farm, and now you’re going off. I know you deferred because of what was going on with her, but now you get to do what you wanted.”
Tanner dips her head slightly at that, grateful her twin is now in remission from cancer. “I just feel bad I’m only now telling you both this, but you know how life gets.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it; I know you wouldn’t spring it on us out of any malice.”
A thought that has been swirling in the young woman’s mind pushes to the forefront. Though hesitant at first, she decides to ask.
“Uh, Dad, can I ask you something… It’s kind of personal.”
Sean runs a hand through his mostly salt-and-pepper hair. “You never have to hide anything from me. What is it, Pretty Princess?”
Tanner places her hand on the granite countertop. “When did you know you were ready to leave Mom to be with Tricia?”
The question prompts a quiet, curious reaction from Sean.
MCKNIGHT RESIDENCE
The ringing of the doorbell, followed by urgent knocking, pulls Thora McKnight downstairs in the rectory, where she lives with her son, her good friend and boss, and her mother. She had been on her way to work at the café, wearing a purple V-neck ruched blouse with knitted buttons along the lower front and dark blue jeans.
“Okay, okay, whoever it is, keep your shirt on!” she calls out.
When Thora opens the front door, Jordan Covington doesn’t hesitate to rush past her into the Victorian manor. Thora closes the door behind them as Jordan blurts out, “Thank you, thank you, Mother!”
Thora pauses, confusingly. “What are you thanking me for?”
Jordan shakes her head, clearly unraveling. “Let’s see—how about ruining my damn life, for starters.”
“Calm down. What are you talking about?”
Slowly, the older woman begins to piece together what her daughter is referring to, realizing it’s connected to the situation between her and Tommy. She recalls how Jordan came to her about his involvement with his ex-girlfriend, and how she had urged him to take that opportunity to leave the loveless marriage—advice his daughter had vehemently rejected.
Jordan doesn’t take in her mother’s words, too overwhelmed to even steady her breathing. “I just found out not only that my husband kissed that frigid bitch, but he’s planning to leave our son and me for her, too. I hope you’re happy, because this is what you wanted!” she declares.
MILLER INN: SUITE 330
By now, Jacques is out of bed and fully dressed in the clothes he wore earlier. He stands in front of the bed in the hotel suite, speaking on the phone, while Aaliyah—now showered and dressed herself—overhears him fluently speaking in his native French, which only makes her more attracted to him. Even though she doesn’t understand much, she can tell from his tone that it’s conversational.
Soon, he turns his head and notices her casually smirking; he returns his attention to the call.
“Je devrais y aller, mais je te parlerai plus tard. Au revoir.”
(English Subtitles: “I should get going, but I will talk to you later. Bye.”)
As he ends the call, he walks over to her.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Aaliyah apologizes.
He flicks a hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t worry about it. Besides, it was my mother checking in—assuring her everything is fine, even if it isn’t.”
“Do you miss it?”
“Miss what?”
“France… Paris. I’ve heard it’s beautiful there,” Aaliyah replies.
Jacques places his hands on his sculpted hips. “Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe it. I take it you’ve never been?”
Aaliyah shakes her head, somewhat embarrassed, feeling a bit uncultured. “Other than London—to visit family—and one night in Dublin, I’ve never ventured far into Europe.”
“Well, one day I’ll just have to take you there myself.”
Jacques cups her face as she responds, “Really?”
“Of course,” he nods. “Though I’d have to fit it in between searching for a new place to work, which I hear isn’t easy these days.”
Aaliyah sighs modestly. “Oh, you have no idea,” she says, reflecting on her own struggles with finding steady employment.
“Hey, let’s not dwell on our misfortune. We only have a limited amount of time together. So how about we enjoy each other’s company in the meantime, okay?”
Still holding both sides of her face delicately, Jacques kisses her forehead, which she graciously accepts. Simultaneously, a knock sounds at the door, prompting him to answer it.
Curious, Aaliyah wonders who is on the other side. Seconds later, Jacques hands a fifty-dollar bill to a hotel employee before the man departs.
Aaliyah hears Jacques’s voice before she sees him again.
“Are you hungry?”
“I’m famished.”
Jacques pushes a cart toward the table. “Good, because while you were in the shower, I went ahead and ordered us lunch.”
Aaliyah finds herself mesmerized by the gesture, even knowing he’s married.
“I know this might sound cliché coming from me, but bon appétit.”
She chuckles. “It does, but it’s thoughtful nevertheless.”
The two of them begin enjoying their meal as conversation flows easily. In this moment, it doesn’t feel sleazy—at least not to Aaliyah, not in the way she once imagined an affair would.
LOCKHART LAKE COTTAGE
Despite the direct line of questioning, Sean chuckles nervously at Tanner’s question about him leaving Louise for Tricia all those years ago as the two remain in the kitchen.
Instantly sensing the awkwardness, Tanner speaks up. “As I said before, I’m not trying to start any trouble, but I guess I want to understand what made you fall in love with Tricia enough to leave a twenty-year marriage.”
At first, Sean tries his best to phrase an explanation that doesn’t place blame on anyone.
He clears his throat before explaining.
“Sometimes, in any long-lasting relationship, you start to feel your needs aren’t being met. In my case, I thought when I met Tricia, she could fill a void your mother couldn’t—or maybe one I thought she couldn’t fill. But in the end, I realized no matter what relationship you’re in, being with someone will always bring complications. It’s how you handle it that matters.”
Tanner reflects on how her relationship with Tommy parallels that emotional truth, noting that his marriage to Jordan has complicated things for him.
“Thanks for telling me, Dad. I know it was hard for you, but I needed to hear it.”
He places a supportive arm around Tanner. “It's alright, Pretty Princess. And you’re going to knock ’em dead in Minnesota. Though I do want to know what made you want to ask me that.”
“I just wanted to know, that’s all.”
Sean can’t help but feel that his daughter is asking for something more; however, as a father of two daughters, he doesn’t press her, letting the moment settle between them.
JOJO'S CAFE
Jes takes a strand of her wavy hair and places it behind her right ear. “How are you holding up, Jolene?”
The older woman lightly taps her fingernails on the table. “Well, you’re my lawyer, so you tell me—will I be charged with first-degree murder?”
“Good use of legal terms, Mom,” Tricia says sarcastically.
“Well, I do have thirty seasons of Law & Order to draw from,” Jolene responds.
Both Tricia and Ernest exchange uncertain looks before the latter speaks.
“How about we let Jes tell us?"
He then grasps one of Jolene’s hands, which she notices but doesn’t comment on.
“The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has decided not to press charges, citing self-defense.”
The announcement instantly shifts the atmosphere, washing the table in relief. Jolene struggles to find the right words, while Ernest and Tricia are visibly elated.
Ernest keeps hold of his good friend’s hand. “How did they come to that outcome?”
Jolene is a victim of domestic violence, in addition to having no criminal record and being held against her will with a deadly weapon. But the most crucial part was the Hotel Cliffe CCTV footage capturing a man selling a gun in a brown paper bag to Wade just hours before everything.”
“So, this guy that Wade bought the gun from?” Tricia asks, hoping he won’t escape accountability.
“Well, he was arrested and will face lesser charges for his cooperation, but the most important thing is that, Jolene, you will not see one day in a courtroom—let alone prison.”
“Thank you for all you’ve done; we appreciate it,” Tricia says happily.
“Thanks so much,” Jolene manages.
Jes can see the sincerity on her family friend’s face. “You’re welcome, but it’s my job. And if you want to thank someone, thank Antoine—he’s the one who gave me the idea of looking into Wade,” she says of her partner.
As Tricia and Ernest continue speaking with Jes, Jolene rises to her feet. She can feel the eyes of other customers on her—likely recognizing her, as this is a small town—but that doesn’t matter right now. She makes her way toward the women’s restroom.
Finding it empty, she steps inside the four-stall room and approaches the mirror above one of the two sinks.
Finally, the emotion hits her.
Tears begin streaming down her face, as she has been holding them back for so long, years under a domineering husband who treated her sadness as weakness and controlled her life. But now, with him gone, she realizes she can finally let go.
She looks at herself in the mirror, allowing herself to feel everything.
MCKNIGHT RESIDENCE
Still in the foyer, Thora attempts to calm Jordan, asking, “What is going on?”
By now, Jordan has managed to rein in her tirade, at least for the moment. She exhales before continuing.
“Tommy confessed that he and Tanner had been seeing one another for I don’t know how long, and they’ve reclaimed their love for each other. And now he plans to throw us away for her as she goes off to school—where he’ll be going with her—all because of ‘true love,'" she says mockingly.
“Well, I can see why you’re very much upset,” Thora says rationally. “But I think it may be for the best. At least this way, you can start over.”
Jordan lifts her head rapidly, as if she has just been told someone nearest and dearest to her has been kidnapped. “Who said anything about starting over?”
That makes Thora realize her daughter still doesn’t want to end her marriage despite everything happening right in front of her.
“You need to recognize that this marriage has never been built on anything but guilt and obligation. Tommy has never loved or respected you the way any spouse should in a marriage.”
Jordan turns to her mother, her long blonde hair moving swiftly. “We both love our little boy, and I know deep down he has feelings for me. I know I can satisfy him in all the ways Tanner can’t and won’t.”
Thora gently places a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “I think it’s best you start to stand on your own two feet.”
Jordan instantly pulls away from her mother’s touch, glancing at her as if she has suddenly grown another head. “No offense, Mother, but I don’t think I’ll be taking advice about starting over from someone who had to move in with their son at fifty years old.”
Thora keeps her composure, knowing her daughter is acting out of hurt, though her words drip with cruelty.
“I know you’re going through a lot, but that doesn’t give you the right to take it out on me. And it won’t change the fact that you must accept reality, Jordan.”
The young woman slowly shakes her head, as if a part of her is considering that reality, but ultimately resists it.
“I’m not letting Tommy go without a fight,” she states firmly. “And no one will come between us again.”
Before Thora can call out to her, Jordan saunters out of the rectory, clutching her purse, and steps into the crisp outdoors, heading for her car—more determined than ever to hold on to her marriage.
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END OF EPISODE
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ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Will and Jacques spar.
Joel consoles Thora.
Someone predicts Emma's condition.
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