EPISODE 348
Written by: Bre L Drew
June 23, 2025
Last Time on Town and Country
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Samuel advised Tricia to try again with Jolene about leaving her abusive marriage to Wade. Tricia doesn't know Jolene stayed out of fear due to Wade’s threats.
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Tanner confessed her feelings to Tommy, and they kissed—while her relationship with Presley remains uncertain.
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Jes and Antoine grew closer after their dinner date turned physical, though Samuel continues to struggle with his feelings for Jes.
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After their long-awaited dinner, Sean and Louise gave in to temptation and made love for the first time in years.
LOCKHART LAKE COTTAGE
All signs of summer are emerging outside this morning; however, spring has metaphorically sprung inside as Louise Saunders Lockhart comes down the stairs.
A shirtless Sean Lockhart, still in his pants from yesterday, catches up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He’s taken in by her beauty, her soft curves outlined beneath an ice-blue robe lying over a gray tank nightgown.
Their body language is full of familiarity and tenderness—a far cry from the years of estrangement they endured. On this road to reconciliation, last night marked a turning point: sex neither of them could stop thinking about, and a kind of elation neither had felt in years.
“Can you believe we did that last night?” Louise asks in disbelief. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“I’ll tell you,” Sean replies, confident and grounded. “Years of being apart led us back to this. And if last night’s any indicator—it won’t be the last time.”
“Sean…” she starts.
“Look, I know,” he interrupts gently. “After everything I put you through, one night isn’t going to make it right. But I’m going to do my best to make you feel secure again.”
Louise looks into his eyes, reading sincerity there. She leans in and kisses him—casual, but meaningful. They intertwine their fingers and walk together into the kitchen.
“How about I cook breakfast?” Sean offers.
“I’ll start the coffee,” Louise says with a faint smile.
The two move seamlessly in sync, just like they used to when they were married.
Within seconds, Tanner Lockhart, dressed in a black and white striped T-shirt and jeans, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, walks in—only to freeze at the sight of her parents together.
“What is this?” she asks, bewildered.
Louise and Sean exchange a look—unsure of how to answer just yet.
THE WATERFALL BAR: JACKSON APARTMENT
Despite it being well into the weekday morning, the Jackson apartment above The Waterfall remains mostly quiet and still.
Meanwhile, a shirtless Antoine Hall hears birds chirping outside, and the rays of sunshine peeking through his blinds coax him to open his eyes. As he turns over in bed, the sight that greets him isn't what he had pictured. Instead of Jes Choudhury lying beside him—since they had spent the night together following their dinner date—the space where she slept is vacant and neatly made.
“Jes?” He calls out.
He repeats her name once more, a little louder this time.
But there’s no response.
He leans over, scanning the room for her clothes, but a sheet of memo paper on the nightstand catches his eye.
He picks it up and reads:
"Didn’t want to wake you. Had a fun night. Let’s do it again." :)
Her handwriting is expressive—elegant yet bold.
A smile slowly forms on his face, a clear sign that she enjoyed their time together too. He lays his head back onto the pillow, the note still in his hand.
BAKERSFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
Approximately two thousand miles away in Bakersfield, California, on one of the short-term floors of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Jolene Wood sits on the edge of her bed in the room she’s been staying in—courtesy of the injuries she sustained from her husband. However, she never confirms that to the staff, not wanting to further aggravate the situation.
Her injuries have been treated medically, and though the bruises are still apparent, they aren't as terrible as before.
The older brunette woman wears a blue print ruffle top and jeans, brought to her by her neighbor, Mrs. Montez.
As she tries to call Wade to ask him to pick her up, she gets his voicemail—again. It isn’t the first time she’s tried, and he hasn’t come by once to see her.
An overly peppy twenty-something white nurse in scrubs checks off things on her tablet. “All right, Mrs. Wood, you’re all set. Did you get in touch with your husband?”
“Uh, no luck,” Jolene says, feigning disappointment.
“Well, I can make sure someone calls you a cab or a rideshare,” the nurse offers genuinely.
But before Jolene can respond, another voice answers for her.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Tricia Lockhart, wearing a black and sand print sleeveless blouse and dark bootcut pants, holding a handbag, enters the room.
Jolene is caught off guard by seeing her daughter. Despite having seen her a few days ago, she hadn’t expected her to return—she thought she had done her best to sway her from coming back.
Tricia introduces herself to the nurse. “I’m Tricia, and I’m here to take my mother out of here.”
“Nice to meet you,” the nurse replies, unaware of the full situation but with a sense that the woman suffers from domestic violence. “Please take it easy, Mrs. Wood.”
The nurse leaves, leaving the estranged mother and daughter alone in the room.
VICTORY COTTAGE
About thirty minutes ago, Jes Choudhury woke up in Antoine’s bed. Seeing he was still asleep, she quietly moved to slip out before he—or anyone else—could find her there. It’s not out of embarrassment—far from it—but as someone familiar with the awkwardness of the morning after, she decides not to prolong it.
Now, she steers her late-model silver Volkswagen Jetta into the driveway of the home she shares with her parents’ best friends and their family.
After turning off the ignition, she sits there for at least ten seconds, gathering enough nerve to get out of the car. Finally, with her purse in hand—and still wearing the same pink dress from the night before—she strolls inside.
Despite the potential awkwardness, she can admit the night wasn’t bad. Between dinner and getting to know Antoine, ending up in bed with him felt natural. The sex was more than satisfactory—it had been a while since she’d been intimate with someone, especially someone who seemed decent.
Using her key to let herself in, she quietly slips off her heels and exhales in relief. The cottage is still. Jai and Mala are clearly at work, and Aaliyah is either still asleep or out on another job interview.
Grateful to avoid being seen, Jes heads straight to the kitchen to make coffee, planning to shower and then head to the firm she’s in the process of starting.
But as she walks in, she freezes.
Samuel Gupta stands by the counter, drinking a glass of orange juice. He had moved out months ago.
“Hi,” she says, doing her best not to make it any weirder than it already is.
“What are you doing here?”
The psychiatrist, dressed in a blue button-down shirt and dark slacks, looks up from his glass. “Well, this is my parents’ home.”
“I know that,” she replies, her tone less defensive now. “I just thought you’d be at the hospital by now.”
“I would be,” he says, gesturing toward the black leather object on the counter, “but I realized I left my wallet here the other day.”
Although Samuel instantly registers that Jes is just now getting in from an overnight with Antoine, he does his best to mask his jealousy. The truth is, he’s developed feelings for her—his longtime family friend.
Jes clears her throat and tightens her grip on her purse strap. “I’ve never been one to beat around the bush. Yes, I’m just getting back from Antoine’s. So, let’s cut the awkwardness, okay?”
Samuel exhales slowly, his jaw tensing just a bit. “Look, Jes… I know Antoine seems cool. But he’s not who you think he is.”
That statement, so sudden and out of nowhere, makes Jes look at him—part confusion, part annoyance. She doesn’t respond right away.
HOME FARM: GUEST HOUSE
Tommy Covington makes his way downstairs from the two-story guest house where his wife and their young son reside on his family's estate. The memory of getting through to Tanner at Elijah and Lenny’s wedding reception still lingers—how it ended with them kissing.
Despite wanting more to happen, he looks down at his wedding ring, reminding him of the barrier still in his way. Yet he’s not sure how long that barrier will hold. The thought of not being with the girl he truly loves bothers him to his core.
He’s about to head toward the kitchen when the doorbell rings, redirecting him. He adjusts course and opens the door—only to find Daniel Covington standing on the other side. Tommy does his best not to shut the door in his face.
“I did call to inform you that I’d be by,” his father states, walking inside without invitation.
“That you did,” Tommy mutters, shutting the door behind them.
Daniel scans the living room, which is mostly clean. “So, is the missus out doing her favorite hobby? Shopping on your dime?”
Tommy plants his hands on his hips. “If you’re here to insult my wife, you can see yourself out. Okay?”
“Sooner or later, you’ll realize Jordan McKnight is not the right woman for you.”
Tommy steps closer, his tone sharper. “You don’t get to question anything we do—especially after you accosted Jordan the other day.”
Jordan had told him about the confrontation, only reinforcing his resolve to stay married to her—to protect her and their son from Daniel’s past machinations, including gaslighting.
“Your so-called wife simply misunderstood my tone, that’s all,” Daniel says.
Tommy rolls his eyes, clearly not buying it. “Look, we’re only allies in getting Jacques out of the company. That means you have no authority in my personal life. Got it?”
Daniel raises one hand in a sort of Mea culpa. “Well, that’s actually why I’m here.”
Daniel has been crafting a plan to oust Jacques from Covington for some time now, believing he has no place in the company—or in the family.
Tommy, now more alert, narrows his eyes. “What’s the plan?”
LOCKHART LAKE COTTAGE
Louise walks over to the counter where Tanner sits, nursing her orange juice after prepping the coffee maker.
“Think it’s time we talk about the elephant in the room, shall we?”
“Look, I get it—it’s none of my business what two consenting adults get up to,” Tanner replies respectfully, though a tinge of discomfort is still evident in her voice. The sight of her parents acting lovey-dovey was something she hadn’t seen since she was a kid.
“This also affects you and your sister. So, say how you feel, pretty princess,” Sean chimes in from his station, stirring his homemade waffle batter.
Tanner takes another sip of juice before finding the right words, quietly grateful that her father is wearing a shirt now—unlike a few minutes ago.
“It’s just weird, that’s all.”
Sean and Louise exchange a glance before Tanner continues.
“You know I’m happy that you two are back together. Really. But witnessing it up close? It’s a different story.”
“And we understand that,” Sean says, nodding. “It’s going to take all of us some time to adjust to this new normal.”
Louise tightens her robe a bit. “We’re not perfect—who is? But your father and I are in a wonderful place after all these years. Still, we don’t want this to be awkward for you.”
Tanner briefly drifts into her own thoughts—her unresolved feelings about Presley, who hasn’t reached out since their fallout before the wedding, and about Tommy, who kissed her in the horse barn.
“You all right?” Louise asks, bringing her daughter back from her private moment.
“I was just thinking about something, that’s all,” Tanner replies innocently enough. She doesn’t want her parents digging into what’s really going on. So, she changes the subject.
“Are we still helping Elijah and Lenny move into the farm when they get back from their staycation?"
BAKERSFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
“I’ll be fine,” Jolene said lightly, waving a hand as if to dismiss the entire situation. “Really, Tricia. It’s nothing.”
But Tricia wasn’t having it. She stood just a few feet away, arms crossed, her expression unwavering. She had heard those same words too many times to count. “That’s not true, and you know it,” she said, her voice clipped. “You shouldn’t be anywhere near that house.”
Jolene opens her mouth to respond, but Tricia cuts her off.
“Wade might be gone right now,” she continues, her tone now laced with frustration and years of fatigue, “but he never stays gone. We both know that.”
Silence settles between them, thick with unspoken memories.
Jolene finally spoke, her voice soft. “He’s just been... going through a lot lately.”
Tricia scoffs and shook her head, stepping closer. “Don’t. Don’t do that. I’ve heard every excuse in the book since I was a child. He was out of work. His team lost. You ironed his shirts wrong.” Her voice cracks slightly at the end, pain bubbling beneath her steady exterior.
Jolene winces, her fingers curling around the edge of the bed. She didn’t look up recalling that she had left with Wade when she was in Radcliffe because he threatened that he would do something to hurt her daughter and after many years of separation between them she couldn't let that happen.
"You know what I’m saying is true,” Tricia says candidly. “Look, I know we haven’t been close in years, but I cannot live with myself if anything else lands you back here—or worse—if you wind up dead because that son of a bitch can’t keep his hands off you.”
Jolene turns to her daughter, unsure of her next move. She reaches into her overnight bag and pulls out a compact mirror.
As she catches her reflection, her eyes linger on the worn lines etched across her face—the marks, the tired eyes. The quiet realization hits her: she’s been living like this for far too long.
Tricia’s voice softens, though her resolve remains. “Come back to Radcliffe with me. Just for a little while. Clear your head. You don’t have to stay long-term if you don’t want to. But you need to leave here, and deep down, you know that.”
Jolene hesitates. Her eyes flicker down to the floor, then up to her daughter. Fear, shame, and uncertainty swirl in her gaze. But beneath it all, something else begins to stir—refuge, maybe.
“Okay,” she nods.
It isn’t a bold gesture. It’s small—but it’s the first real step forward.
Without another word, Jolene reaches for her overnight bag and follows her daughter out of the room.
No grand resolution has been reached. But as the two women walk side by side down the sterile hallway, there’s a shift. A movement in a life that had long been stuck.
Jolene doesn’t know what comes next—but for the first time in a long time, she’s willing to find out.
HOME FARM: GUEST HOUSE
It doesn’t take long for Tommy’s impatience and weariness to show. “So, are you going to keep me in suspense for another month with this plan, or are you finally going to explain it to me?”
Daniel clears his throat—a telltale sign that something calculated is about to follow. “The way to bring down that smug brother-in-law of mine is to bring out that arrogant side of him.”
That statement throws Tommy slightly.
“You’re going to tell him about a hot investment property near Miami?”
“But?” Tommy asks, skeptical.
Daniel sneers. “In reality, the land is worthless. But Jacques won’t know that until it’s too late. By then, he’ll have gotten the company to secure it.”
Tommy scrunches his face in confusion. “And how will that get him out of Covington? Besides, I don’t think the company should take that kind of financial loss.”
Daniel folds his arms across his broad chest. “Don’t worry about Covington. It can weather the loss. But the board won’t ignore such a reckless move.”
Eventually, the young executive connects the dots. “The board will likely vote him out.”
“Clean but brutal,” Daniel remarks, pleased to see his son finally grasp the strategy.
“Not a bad plan at all,” Tommy admits.
As Tommy confirms it aloud, Daniel keeps his satisfaction to himself—knowing full well that this move could also serve as evidence that Courtney is unfit to lead. His true hope is that it will pave the way for his return to the top.
VICTORY COTTAGE
By now, Jes has placed her purse on the back of a chair at the kitchen table, wasting no time confronting Samuel about what he just said.
“What do you mean, Antoine seems cool?” she asks, narrowing her eyes. “This isn’t the first time you’ve made thinly veiled comments about him. What gives?”
Samuel wishes he could take it back. Every time he thinks of Jes and Antoine together, something stirs in him—something he usually helps his patients navigate, not himself.
“Jes,” he says carefully, “if you’re looking for fun with Antoine, you’ll get it. But if you’re hoping for any serious commitment from him... you might not. He’s not exactly known for long-term relationships. Just—just a word of caution.”
Jes folds her arms and shakes her head, clearly annoyed. “Well, I know I’m still new in town, but I think I can get a pretty good read on people. And yeah—I already figured that out. But who says I want anything long-term? Maybe I like having fun too.”
Samuel lifts his hands in mild surrender. “Look, I’m not telling you to stop seeing him. I’m just giving you a heads-up.”
“Why, thank you, Samuel. And if I ever want advice on relationships, you’ll be the first person I think of,” Jes says, her tone edged with sarcasm.
Samuel says nothing, but the weight of another truth presses on him: Antoine fathered a child with one of their mutual friends. He and Martha have sworn never to reveal it. Besides, it wouldn’t do any good to bring it up now—not only because it happened before Jes arrived, but because it isn’t his story to tell.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Samuel says quietly.
“Well, none taken,” Jes replies, her voice softening. “But I’ve had my share of unsuccessful relationships…” She cuts herself off, unwilling to rehash her past.
She grabs her purse and walks toward the staircase. Samuel follows behind, but Jes suddenly stops halfway up the steps and looks back at him.
“By the way,” she says, eyes fixed on his, “if someone else is interested in me… maybe they should stop hiding and say something.”
She turns and continues upstairs. Samuel stays where he is, the implication hitting hard. His attraction to her is now out in the open—at least partially.
He exhales slowly and finally steps out of the cottage, wallet in hand, though the conversation continues to loop in his mind.
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END OF EPISODE
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ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Elijah and Lenny move into Franklin Farm.
Aaliyah starts her first day at the Covington Group.
Jes receives another phone call.
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