EPISODE 342
Written by: Bre L Drew
May 19, 2025
Last Time on Town and Country
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Good news all around, as Dr. Saddleman informed everyone that, as a result of the bone marrow transplant, no more cancerous cells appear to be in Lenny's system. He plans to release her from the hospital within a week, bringing both shock and happiness.
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Tanner is still torn about her feelings toward Presley and Tommy, especially after she and Presley disagreed over Tommy's place in their relationship.
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Max and Shauna decide that, to save their marriage and maintain their growing family, they will keep Keri's true paternity a secret — only they, Martha, and Samuel know that Antoine is the biological father.
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Jes is determined to restart her life in Radcliffe by opening her own law firm.
HOME FARM: GUEST HOUSE
Tommy Covington strolls down the stairs of the two-story guest residence he shares with his wife and child, nestled on his family’s estate.
It’s a warm spring morning in Radcliffe, Kentucky, with the temperature above average — part of why he chose to work from home. Still, his mind drifts to the weight of agreeing to join his father’s mission to remove Jacques from the Covington Group. Despite Jacques’ supposed business acumen, Tommy knows he’s not worthy of the family or the company their late grandfather built.
But that train of thought fades as he enters the living room and spots his wife helping Jeremy with his Firebuds backpack.
“Little man, this is your last week of preschool. How are you feeling?” Tommy asks.
The four-year-old places a finger to his lips, deep in thought — a signature move that makes both parents smile.
“Good,” Jeremy replies.
Jordan keeps her cheerful tone. “It’s going to be a piece of cake, right?”
“Mom, there isn’t going to be cake until graduation,” he replies matter-of-factly.
Time moves fast — it feels like just yesterday Jeremy was a newborn needing heart surgery.
Tommy smooths his son’s blond hair. “It’s just something people say, buddy.”
“Oh, okay,” Jeremy shrugs.
Jordan adjusts her purse strap and holds her keys. “We better get going.”
Their parenting routine runs like clockwork. As spouses, though, their interactions are mostly logistical; the intimacy has faded, and their marriage exists in name only.
The doorbell rings. Tommy answers and is surprised — but pleased — to see Elijah Barker standing in a dark gray zip-up sweater and dark pants, hands in his pockets.
“Hey, morning. What brings you by?” Tommy greets his best friend.
Elijah hesitates upon spotting Jordan. They haven’t been close in years for obvious reasons.
“Hi,” she says as pleasantly as possible.
“Jordan,” Elijah replies neutrally, then spots Jeremy and lights up at his godson.
“Uncle Elijah!” Jeremy says happily.
“Jeremy, my man! How’s it going?”
“A piece of cake,” Jeremy replies, making both parents exchange knowing looks.
“Come on,” Jordan says, guiding Jeremy out with a quick wave to Tommy.
Once the door closes, Elijah exhales.
“You alright? Lenny’s still in the clear, right?”
Elijah nods, then runs his hands over his head.
“I could use your help.”
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
Once Tanner Lockhart enters her sister’s room at Radcliffe Receiving Hospital, it doesn’t take long for her to wrap her arms around her twin. The good news has been broadcast: the leukemia is gone, and Lenny Lockhart has won the battle—largely thanks to the transplant she received from their newfound great-aunt. Not to mention, due to her improving health, her oncologist has lowered the protocol, meaning visitors no longer have to wear protective gear in her room, although
Tanner keeps a mask in her purse just in case.
“It still doesn’t feel real, does it?” Tanner says.
The two let go of one another.
“Part of me still feels like it’s some sort of dream I’m scared to wake up from,” Lenny admits.
Despite her hair loss from chemotherapy, today covered by a deep navy blue head scarf, it’s evident her health is improving—her color is returning, and she no longer looks as pale as before.
“It’s no dream, it’s reality. After everything this family has been through lately…”
“Mom and Dad told me about our new great-aunt,” Lenny fills in. “I still can’t believe we have this long-lost family member we kinda know but don’t really know.”
“It’s awkward, to say the least,” Tanner admits.
She recalls how that very topic led to her walking out on Presley at the café the other day. The conversation had turned to Tommy again, and her reverend boyfriend made it clear he was tired of the subject.
Tanner’s eyes skim the room, which is filled with a multitude of cards from friends and family.
Instinctively, Lenny looks at her fraternal twin. “Remember last year when we talked about your situation with Presley and Tommy? How’s that going?”
The question makes Tanner pause, uncertain how to answer.
COVINGTON TOWER
Jes Choudhury and Samuel Gupta exit the elevator onto the eighth floor of the Covington Tower in downtown Radcliffe.
The office space is mostly abandoned, yet sizable enough for some desks, office equipment, and smaller offices for employees.
Mala had informed Jes about the space being for lease. Since Jes aspires to open her own law firm, she decided to bring Samuel along for a fresh pair of eyes.
“So, do you like what you see so far?” the psychiatrist asks, surveying the space.
Jes gives an additional glance at the corner before responding.
“It’s not bad, but this is about the same size as the floor the paralegals worked on at the firm I was at in Toronto.”
Samuel sticks his hands into his jacket pockets.
“Why did you leave? From what I’ve heard, if you wanted to work in law in Ontario, that firm was the place to be.”
Jes runs her hand through her dark hair before answering.
“I just thought it was time,” she says, clipped—causing the psychiatrist to realize she’s once again avoiding talk about her life in Canada. “So, how are things going for you?”
“Professionally, I’m fine. It’s just the damn personal that could be going a whole hell of a lot better.”
“Things between you and Martha are still the same?” Jes queries.
Samuel dips his head, indicating the truth.
“Well, like I say—maybe it’s time you move on to someone else.”
Samuel snickers as they start walking again.
“I have my eye on somebody,” he says, lifting his head toward her.
Since she came to town for his parents’ remarriage, he’s developed feelings for the lifelong family friend. But he knows
Antoine has invited her to dinner—though he hasn’t been serious about any woman—and Samuel knows he, not Max, is Keri’s father.
"And how is that going?” she smirks.
"I’ll, uh, let you know when she knows,” he replies. “So, will this be the home of Jesminder Choudhury and Associates?”
Jes tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, I do plan on checking out a few more properties, but this is the best space I’ve seen in my budget.”
The pair continue to walk, taking in more of the space before heading toward the elevator.
HOME FARM
The sunlight from the valance slowly creeps into Shauna Covington’s awakening eyes as she lays on the side of the king-size bed she shares with her husband. Inside their suite, she turns to see the electronic clock on the bedside table flashing a time much later than she had anticipated, prompting her to lift the covers off herself.
Her immediate instinct is to check on her days-old infant. As she grabs her robe to slip over her white-and-black leopard print short pajama set, she hears audible cooing and notices the baby monitor resting on the dresser.
“Now what’s the matter?” Max Covington’s voice crackles through the speaker as she picks up the device.
With that, Shauna saunters down the hallway into the nursery, pausing at the doorway. She sees Max picking up their infant daughter from the crib, gazing at her adoringly.
“How did you get to be even prettier than you were last night? Huh?” he murmurs, prompting Shauna to chuckle softly.
“Looks like she’s got you wrapped around her little finger,” she says, causing her husband to turn toward her.
“Well, as you can see, she has a way of doing that—just like her mother.”
He kisses her forehead, and as she steps forward to greet her daughter, she realizes it’s the first kiss he’s given her since they decided to work on their marriage.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Shauna asks.
“Well, after you took on the late shift with her, I figured you deserved some rest.”
In that moment, Shauna nearly forgets that, in many ways, this family is a carefully maintained illusion. They’ve agreed to raise the baby together despite Keri’s true paternity. Yet right now, she’s allowing herself to bask in the feeling of them as a family.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the grandeur doorbell rings, prompting the Covington family’s housekeeper, Gertrude, to answer.
She opens the door and lays eyes on someone she hasn’t seen before.
“Hello, may I help you?”
“Yeah, uh, I need to see Shauna,” Antoine Hall says, covering one hand while snapping the fingers of the other.
HOME FARM: GUEST HOUSE
“You’re not wasting any time, are you?” Tommy remarks.
The two longtime friends are now by the staircase. Elijah sits on the bottom step while Tommy stands, hand resting on the banister. Elijah has just revealed his plan: to throw a surprise wedding for himself and Lenny the day she comes home from the hospital, following her life-saving bone marrow treatment.
"When Lenny said she would marry me when she left the hospital, and I want to keep my word. I know it sounds crazy but after everything, I don't want to waste another second not spending it with her." Elijah confesses
“I get it,” Tommy replies wistfully, thinking about how much he wants to be with Tanner—but can’t.
“And if there’s anything you need, nothing is off-limits,” he adds.
“Good, because I need you to be my best man,” Elijah says.
“You got it,” Tommy agrees. “You were mine when I married Jordan.”
A brief silence follows—aware that marriage was more about custody of Jeremy than love.
“We’ve got less than a week to pull this together. I’m going to need all the help I can get,” Elijah says.
“I know this sounds trivial, especially with everything going on… but where are you and Lenny going to live after tying the knot?”
Elijah stands to his full height.
“Honestly, that’s the last thing on my mind. I just want this ceremony to go off without a hitch. We’re doing it out at the farm—Lenny’s favorite place in the world on her grandparents' anniversary.”
“Sentimental yet practical,” Tommy nods.
“Exactly. Hey, man, I don’t mean to make this visit all about me—how are you?”
Tommy scoffs lightly. “Why did life feel simpler as teens?”
Elijah claps his friend’s shoulder. “I feel you there.”
Not wanting to get into marital or work drama, Tommy changes the subject. “Now let’s get you married. What do you need?”
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
Tanner summarizes her ordeal with both her current partner and her ex. Lenny, now sitting in the chair after tiring of the bed, nods when her sister finishes.
“Like I told you, it’s complicated,” Tanner notes.
“From the sounds of it, it is,” Lenny chimes in.
Tanner paces a bit before stopping in front of her twin. “And to make it messier—Tommy and I almost kissed…”
The confession does little to faze Lenny, knowing how much Tanner loved him and how hurt she was when he broke her heart—especially after hiding the fact that he slept with Jordan and fathered a child with her while he and Tanner were back together.
“Seems like you don’t wanna hurt Presley, but deep down you’re going to regardless of what you do. But if you wanna stay with him, then be prepared to change how you see Tommy. Sounds like to me that the good ole reverend might’ve could’ve said how he felt in a better way.”
Tanner is about to react when the faint sound of her phone ringing shifts her focus. She pulls her iPhone out of her purse and answers.
“Hey,” she greets.
“Hey,” Elijah says back. “Uh, where are you?”
Tanner glances at Lenny, who’s currently looking right at her. “At the hospital. Visiting Lenny.”
“I’ll make this short,” Elijah says, standing in the kitchen of the guest house while Tommy is upstairs. “I plan to marry
Lenny when she leaves the hospital next week. And I need your help—but you cannot tell your sister. I want it to be a surprise.”
As Tanner listens to one of her oldest friends, she does her best not to show any happiness, not wanting to give anything away—her sister could read her like a book.
“Yeah, I got it. Okay, I’ll talk to you. Bye,” she ends the call.
Before Lenny can speak, Tanner jumps in. “That was Mom. She just wanted to see how you were doing,” she lies.
“Oh, I bet she’ll call me in about ten minutes. You know what—I’m not gonna complain,” Lenny says.
Meanwhile, Tanner stands quietly, contemplating her sister’s advice.
HOME FARM
Gertrude leads the bar manager upstairs in the mansion, having not been this far within the house before. Antoine takes a look around, although he knows the true purpose of being here will be stated soon enough. In a way, it feels like the path to get to his former lover is taking forever.
Finally, they arrive outside the door. He sees Shauna—whom he hasn't seen in months—standing beside Max.
The housekeeper knocks on the door, gaining the couple's attention. By the look on their faces, their guest is the last person they expect to see, as Shauna’s grip tightens slightly on her daughter.
They step closer to the doorway as Antoine slowly wanders into the room, noting how the nursery is bigger than his room above the bar.
“Mae told me you’re back. It’s been a minute, ain’t it,” Antoine says, both casually and seriously.
“Hey, Antoine,” Shauna replies.
“I need to holla at you for a minute.”
At that moment, Max motions for his wife to give him the child. Antoine lays eyes on the baby, noticing how small yet perfect she is. The question remains in his head. Seeing her lighter complexion and considering the timing of everything only fuels his suspicion.
It dawns on Antoine that he hasn’t acknowledged Max.
“How you doin’, Max?”
Max knows any response he gives might betray his actual feelings toward the man who slept with his wife—contributing to their marital breakdown. Shauna had confided in him about their problems, including his impotence at the time due to paralysis, which left him feeling emasculated.
“I’ll let you talk to Shauna while I go get this one a bottle,” Max says.
As he walks out of the room with the baby in his arms, he shoots a quick glare at his wife. She wears her nerves, though she believes Antoine doesn’t notice.
Antoine glances around the room, not surprised they went full stop—like all Covington's do.
“Look, Antoine, not that it isn’t good to see you, but let’s catch up another time,” Shauna says.
“We really gonna do this?” Antoine asks, not beating around the bush.
“Do what?”
“Am I the father?” he finally says, causing Shauna to look at him intently
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END OF EPISODE
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ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Emotions run heavy for Antoine and Shauna.
Will and Martha disagree.
Tommy and Tanner have a run-in.
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