EPISODE 387
Written by: Bre L Drew
April 26, 2026
Last Time on Town and Country
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Steven and Courtney left town for the weekend to stay at the Hudson Lake Spa and Villa, hoping to reconnect.
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Meanwhile, Evan, now home alone, decided to throw an unsupervised house party in their absence.
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Skye wasn’t thrilled about attending the party, while Gemma was eager—especially as she looked to deepen her relationship with Micah.
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Emma confided in Will about her pregnancy, and he advised her that she can’t keep it a secret forever—especially from Jacques.
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Unbeknownst to Emma, Jacques has been carrying on an affair with Aaliyah.
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Mae struggled with the fallout of turning down Gus’s marriage proposal, prompting Antoine and Jes to step in and try to help
HUDSON LAKE SPA AND VILLA
The weekend had fully arrived, and it seemed that spring had made a permanent return as the sun began to set that evening. Meanwhile, miles away from the rural surroundings of Radcliffe in the metropolitan area of Hudson Lake, inside one of the multi-star-rated spa’s suites, Steven Sullivan found himself somewhat more relaxed over the past twenty-four hours. His tall, athletic frame was wrapped in one of the spa’s one-size-fits-all plush white robes, the spa’s initials embroidered on the top left corner, with sweatpants underneath.
Also in the room was Courtney Covington Sullivan; the petite, considerably younger brunette had her nude body wrapped in a towel as she headed toward the en suite bathroom.
“Okay, I’m hopping in the shower, and then we can leave for our couples massage.”
“You sure you don’t need any company?” Steven asks suggestively.
Courtney couldn’t help but smile. Their marriage had been in a delicate state lately, and this trip was an opportunity for them to reconnect. Since arriving the day before, they had spent time unwinding with a private hot stone session and an aromatherapy soak—both of which helped ease the tension between them. Not to mention, they were finally alone, something that hadn’t happened in a long time due to work and parenting responsibilities.
And still, in the back of her mind, lingered the memory of that moment in Florida late last year—when, in a brief lapse of judgment, she kissed Jacques. A secret she had kept to herself, knowing the pain it could cause if it came to light.
Courtney chuckles. “I think this should be a solo activity… but maybe later,” she hints.
They share a lingering kiss before Courtney disappears into the bathroom.
Moments later, Courtney’s phone begins to ring.
At first, Steven is about to go let her know, but with the sound of running water already filling the space, he decides to answer it on a whim.
“Hello?”
HOPE COTTAGE
The night had finally arrived for the party—one that Evan Sullivan hoped would be talked about for generations to come—taking full advantage of his father and stepmother’s absence. However, the reality of it all begins to settle in as he does one last check of the empty house. Despite having invited more than half of his class, no one has arrived yet. The snacks are set out, cups are stacked, and the house is staged for guests.
Micah Kelley, also dressed for the occasion, stands beside his good friend. “Where is everybody? They were supposed to be here about thirty minutes ago.”
Evan brushes it off. “Peeps don’t really come on time to parties anyway.”
Right on cue, the doorbell rings.
Evan tosses his friend a here goes nothing expression before heading to the door.
He opens it to find Gemma Grier and Skye Park standing there.
Gemma wears a pink and green floral mini dress that hugs her frame, paired with matching heels that elongate her legs. Next to her, Skye stands out in full goth attire: a fitted black top layered with subtle mesh detailing, a dark skirt that falls mid-thigh, and chunky black combat boots.
Evan looks past them briefly. “Just you two?” he says, clearly disappointed they’re the first to arrive.
Skye responds dryly, “Well, hello to you too,” as they step inside and the door shuts behind them.
Micah approaches, greeting his girlfriend with an embrace and a quick kiss on the lips before turning to the others. “Well, as you can see, your boy is freaking out about nobody showing up yet.”
“Looks like they had the right idea,” Skye mumbles, having not wanted to come but dragged along by her friend, since she isn’t exactly close to the host.
“Come on, you know showing up to a party early reek of desperation,” Gemma says, laying down a rule. “And before you all say something, we came because, well, I thought you might need some help before everyone else arrived.”
“Thanks, but I think we’re all good,” Evan replies, a mix of impatience and truth in his voice.
Soon, the doorbell rings again, causing Evan to perk up as more students begin filtering into the house.
Once they’re inside, Evan presses play on the soundbar, and “Dracula” by Tame Impala blasts through the house, setting the mood for the night.
VICTORY COTTAGE
Meanwhile, in a less hyped environment next door, Aaliyah Gupta sits on the couch with her iPad, scrolling through job listings online in the living room this evening, though she struggles to find anything appealing. The only position that stands out to her is a part-time e-commerce job in Hudson Lake, but she isn’t sure if she wants to pursue it. She scrolls further down the screen, hoping something else might capture her interest.
Seconds later, the front door unlocks, revealing Jai Gupta entering the home, wearing a dark leather jacket to combat the light chill in the air. He soon steps into the living room, where he spots his daughter on her device, prompting her to lift her head and acknowledge him.
“How are you?” he greets her.
“Oh, I’m at the point where I want to throw this tablet across the floor and rage at all three deities for cursing me with unemployment,” Aaliyah expresses half-seriously.
Jai sits down next to his youngest offspring. “Any success on the job hunt?”
“Just the opposite,” she replies dryly.
She had lost her job when Jacques had been let go from the Covington Group due to the land deal going wrong, which had been blamed on him. In addition, the two had grown closer due to the affair they had become involved in.
Jai rubs his hands together, giving her a thoughtful glance. “Look, I know when I previously brought this up to you, you quickly rescinded your interest, but due to new circumstances, I’m putting the offer back on the table.”
Knowing exactly where this is heading, the young woman places the iPad onto the coffee table, not exactly enthused.
“Daddy, I…”
Jai quickly interjects.
“I know someone with your brains thinks working at a grocery store isn’t challenging, but it would help me out greatly—and get your mother off your back.”
“I don’t know about that,” Aaliyah remarks, knowing her mother would likely find a way to do so even if she were working.
“I could always use an assistant, or if you want to stock, I just want you to know the offer still stands,” Jai says meaningfully.
“I appreciate it, Daddy. Can I just think about it and get back to you?”
Jai nods. “Sure.”
“Anyway,” Aaliyah says, swiftly changing the subject, “do you know what is going on? Mommy and Jes hardly say two words to each other, and I can’t remember the last time Samuel stopped by.”
“Uh, I’m sure whatever it is will pass over,” Jai tells her, though he knows exactly what is going on, as his wife hasn’t been keen on her son and their best friend’s daughter getting involved.
Aaliyah gives him a look, knowing that if it involves her mother, it likely won’t pass so easily.
Jai pulls her into a reassuring embrace before heading into the kitchen.
Feeling more stressed than before, Aaliyah grabs her phone and texts Jacques:
Ready to blow off some steam at our place?
She waits for his response.
HOME FARM
While heading down the signature grand staircase of the mansion on the grounds of Home Farm Estate, Jacques Laurent pulls out his iPhone from his blazer pocket after hearing the message chime. He stares at the screen, reading the message, which causes his spirits to lift as he begins typing a response—just as the front door opens.
Below, Emma Covington Laurent makes her way through the foyer toward the living room, where she meets her husband’s gaze. Jacques hasn’t yet hit send and quickly slips the phone back into his pocket.
“Hi,” Emma says softly.
“Hello,” he replies in his native French accent.
Emma delicately clutches her stomach. Though she isn’t showing yet, she knows she can’t delay what she needs to say any longer.
“Are you off anywhere in particular?” Emma asks as Jacques reaches the bottom of the staircase, his keys already in hand.
“I am,” he remarks. “No offense, but I don’t feel particularly welcome in this house… more than usual.”
Considering that his wife’s mother, brother, and nephews had voted him out of the company—despite him being set up—the tension lingers heavily between them.
Emma exhales smoothly. “Can you just hold on a second? There is something important I need to tell you, and it cannot wait any longer.”
That statement makes Jacques pause, standing still as he waits for his wife to say what’s on her mind.
THE WATERFALL BAR
As the pop-soul classic “Jimmy Mack” by Martha and the Vandellas plays through the sound system, giving the establishment a lively, nostalgic feel, behind the bar, Mae Jackson wipes down the countertop where a pair of customers had just been sitting. She notices her best friend Esther Saunders seated at a table with her surrogate grandson Antoine Hall and his girlfriend, Jes Choudhury, in quiet conversation—something she isn’t used to seeing. Curious, she walks over to them.
“What got y’all huddled together?”
The greeting makes all three stop talking, and Esther is the first to respond.
“Oh, I was just catching up with these young folks,” Esther says in her distinct Southern dialect.
Both Jes and Antoine nod along, though Mae can’t help but feel a bit skeptical, even if she can’t quite put her finger on why they’d be so secretive.
“I’ll let y’all get back to it,” Mae says.
Once she’s out of earshot, Jes exhales. “Well, that was close.”
In actuality, the three had been trying to figure out a way to get Mae and Gus together long enough for her to reconsider his proposal, knowing deep down she does want to spend the rest of her life with him.
Antoine lowers his voice. “Now, how are we gonna get those two together?”
Esther calmly replies, “Maybe it won’t take as long as they think.”
She lightly gestures with her head toward the entrance just as Gus Hewitt breezes in. He’s dressed neatly in a soft pullover sweater layered over a collared shirt, paired with chinos.
He approaches Mae behind the bar. “Hi,”
“Hi,” she responds, though with some restraint—something Gus picks up on immediately, knowing it’s because of his presence and what’s still unresolved between them.
“Look, I ain’t here to pressure you on the marriage thing. I just wanna see how you’re doing.”
“Well, I’m doing as well as I can be… and I haven’t been trying to avoid you lately.”
“You sure about that?” Gus counters. “Or is it the fact that you don’t wanna be with the hospital janitor and you don’t wanna admit it?”
Having had enough, Mae shakes her head. “Of all the time we’ve gotten to know each other, you think I can be that kinda person who looks down on someone because of their job, Gus? Maybe you don’t know me as much as you claim to.”
Gus is visibly ticked off by her response. “You know what? I don’t know why I tried.”
With that, he storms out of the bar. Mae calls after him, but he ignores her as he heads into the evening.
From their table, Esther, Antoine, and Jes witness the entire exchange.
Esther, however, doesn’t seem disappointed—in fact, quite the opposite.
“Whatever we do, we gotta make sure Mae and Gus are together without everyone and their mother around so they can hash things out,” Esther concludes.
“Sounds like it might take a miracle,” Jes notes.
“How you gonna do that?” Antoine asks.
“I think I know how,” Esther says confidently, drawing the younger couple in as she begins to outline a plan to preserve her best friend’s engagement.
HOPE COTTAGE
Inside Hope Cottage, “Whatever She Wants” by Bryson Tiller plays loudly through the soundbar. The party has definitely grown in size, as around seventy students—mostly sophomores from Radcliffe High—crowd throughout the house.
Near the layout of snacks and drinks, Gemma takes a sip of homemade punch from a red Solo cup.
“I think it’s time,” she declares.
“Time for what?” Skye asks, surveying those standing nearby.
At first, Skye lets her friend slide, but then, remembering what they had discussed the day before, she does a double-take.
“You want to do it at this party?”
Gemma had told her she was ready to take their relationship to the next level with Micah. However, his Christianity had made it a sore subject every time it came up.
“At this point, babe, I don’t care about the location, and anyway, it’s about us being together. I think I can get him on the same page,” she says, straightening herself up a bit. “Time to give him something he can’t pass up.”
“Well… good luck, and be safe,” Skye replies awkwardly, sipping from her own cup of punch.
The doorbell rings again, but this time Micah answers it—only to find Kier Green standing in the doorway. The husky junior quarterback, someone he plays with on the football team—and who has made it clear he isn’t too fond of the sophomore receiver—is dressed in a blue denim overshirt with jeans.
The last person Micah expected to show up. His mouth drops slightly open.
“Close your mouth, Kelley,” Kier says as he steps inside.
“It’s just… uh, I didn’t know you were coming,” Micah replies.
Kier looks around, taking in the music and crowd. “Last time I checked, you don’t run the world. Even if you were on the field when we won, it’ll be a long time before I give you praise.”
He pats Micah’s shoulder—just a little too roughly—before moving past him to greet Evan.
Micah shakes his head as Gemma quickly pulls him aside.
“Hey, what’s going on?” he asks.
“Uh… how about we sneak away from down here and go upstairs?” Gemma says invitingly.
At the thought—and wanting to avoid Kier—Micah doesn’t argue and goes along with her.
Simultaneously, Kier makes his way over near the punch bowl. He checks to see who’s watching, then casually pulls a bottle of vodka from his pocket and discreetly pours it into the punch.
Soon, a few of his teammates gather around him, noticing Micah and Gemma heading upstairs hand in hand.
“Looks like Kelley is about to smash coach’s daughter,” Perry Wilde, the tall cornerback, remarks.
“He probably don’t know what he’s doin',” Devarius Jones, the shorter running back, cracks.
“Who cares?” Kier mutters, waiting for the real fun to begin.
Moments later, Evan finally grabs a cup of punch, having not had any yet, while trying to keep things running smoothly.
But as soon as it hits his mouth, he starts coughing at the harsh, pungent taste.
Even though he had vaped and smoked a few cigarettes before, he hasn’t had much alcohol—and he immediately realizes something’s been added.
Kier and his crew laugh at the sophomore.
“Man, it needed something to make it extra,” Kier calls out.
Evan exhales, trying to maintain some order while still going with the flow, as more students continue arriving, more than he originally planned for.
***
Upstairs in Steven and Courtney’s bedroom, Micah and Gemma are making out, which the latter initiated; however,
Micah is going along with it as they are sitting on the edge of their friend’s parents’ bed.
Remembering her wanting to finally be together in that way,
“I’m ready,” she moans. “Are you?”
“Mm-hmm,”
Gemma reaches for Micah’s shirt and pulls it upward while continuing to kiss him.
Micah abruptly stops and asks, “What the hell are you doing?”
Gemma is taken aback by the sound in his voice.
HOME FARM
Jacques, now standing across from his wife near the staircase in the expansive living room, sighs. “What is this about?” he asks impatiently.
Emma crosses her arms over her chest, taken aback by her husband. “Look, I know you want to get out of here, but I do not appreciate your tone—especially when it’s something important that I need to tell you.”
“Sorry, that is not my intent,” Jacques replies.
The heiress composes herself before continuing.
“What I have to say will come as a surprise to you. Hell, it still is for me, and I would’ve told you sooner… You remember the night before you left for Miami last year?”
“Oh, please do not remind me about that time,” Jacques says, recalling everything that happened there.
Sensing that Jacques isn’t exactly in the mind frame to continue, Emma decides not to delay any longer.
“I’m pregnant!”
The news visibly shocks Jacques. He does not anticipate this kind of development, and his planned meetup with Aaliyah immediately fades into the background.
The weight of the revelation settles heavily between them.
HUDSON LAKE SPA AND VILLA
“Hello?” Steven greets whoever is on the other end of his wife’s phone.
The only persistent noise is the water from the shower cascading from the bathroom.
Eventually, the other party responds.
“Hello, may I speak to Courtney Covington Sullivan?” the male voice says with a Hispanic accent.
Steven runs one of his hands through his blonde hair. “My wife's indisposed at the minute. Is there anything I can pass on to her?”
“This is Ramon Enriquez from the front desk at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami, Florida.”
Recalling that is where Courtney stayed during the holidays last year for business, he casually nods.
“We apologize, but we are just now getting to our lost and found claims; apparently, housekeeping found your wife’s missing earring.”
“Yeah, I do remember she misplaced one of them,” Steven says. “Where was it found?”
“Well, our housekeeper noted that she found it in Mr. Jacques Laurent’s suite, who is also on the Covington Group’s account, when they were cleaning it out months ago.”
Steven is visibly perplexed by this detail.
Almost concurrently, Courtney comes out of the bathroom wearing a matching plush robe, her hair hanging loosely past her shoulders. She smiles, completely unaware of the conversation.
Steven mumbles something into the phone before ending the call. He looks at her uncertainly, already piecing together what this might mean.
END OF EPISODE
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Steven confronts Courtney.
Jacques faces the unexpected.
The party gets out of control.
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