EPISODE 394
Written by: Bre L Drew
July 15, 2026
Last Time on Town and Country
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During a confrontation between him and Steven, Jacques became aware that Steven knew he and Courtney had kissed last year in Miami.
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Deirdre remains adamant about getting Jacques out of the Covington family despite the announcement of Emma's pregnancy.
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Aaliyah also wasn't thrilled to hear the news of Emma's pregnancy while continuing her affair with Jacques.
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Jes finds herself growing apart from Antoine because of her growing attraction to Samuel.
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Much to Tanner's chagrin, Jordan revealed to Lenny that she and Tommy had been secretly seeing each other and planned to move to Minnesota together.
LAKEVIEW CEMETERY MAUSOLEUM
After managing to run some much-needed errands, Tricia Lockhart finds herself navigating through the cemetery on this spring day, a place she hasn't visited in, she doesn't know exactly when. However, when she ventures inside the mausoleum, it becomes apparent as to why. She has no trouble locating her destination. Her eyes automatically land on the headstone that reads "Dylan Lockhart" his short life span etched beneath.
She then places the assortment of marigolds at the monument.
"Hi. I know it's been a while since I've been with you, baby, but every time I come here, I'm reminded how quickly you were taken away from me."
She expresses herself, finding she is finally able to open up while remembering the tragedy of losing him out of the blue to SIDS all those years ago.
She then pushes herself to continue.
"But I knew I had to come here to tell you that I won't be around, but I think you already know that. That doesn't mean I will ever forget you, because that's impossible. I will always love you no matter what, but your mother has to go where she can find her own peace. I know wherever you are, you can understand that. I love you."
She gently touches the headstone, feeling the tears trying to push their way out, which she allows despite being the kind of person not to become overtly emotional.
After a moment of release, she gathers herself and prepares to leave. However, the door opens. Initially, she doesn't pay attention to whoever is coming in until she lifts her head and notices it's Sean Lockhart.
"Uh... looks like we both had the same idea," her ex-husband says, noting them both being there, a bouquet of lilies in his hand.
"I guess we both had Dylan on our minds, huh?" Tricia says while quickly wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Yeah... he's never too far away," Sean says sentimentally.
A quiet tension builds, unspoken history lingering in the air.
Tricia hesitates but realizes she needs to speak before she loses her nerve.
"I need to tell you something."
"Yeah? What is it?" Sean asks casually.
"I've been meaning to tell you this, I'm leaving town, and I don't know if or when I'm ever coming back."
The revelation catches him completely off guard.
JOJO'S CAFE
Despite the latest song by The Fray playing throughout Jojo's right now as most of the patrons are tuned into their own worlds, it does little to distract Tanner Lockhart after Jordan exposed her and Tommy's reconnection, revealing not only that they were finally together but that they planned to move to Minnesota—something Tanner hadn't told anyone. Now, her fraternal twin sister, Lenny Barker, is aware of it all, and she is far from elated. The silence between them becomes not only deafening but prolonged as well.
Lenny exhales, running a hand through her mostly grown-back blonde hair, which she had lost during chemotherapy.
"Okay, what the hell is really going on, Tanner?"
"You mean you didn't get the full story from Jordan?"
"I'm asking you, okay."
Tanner sighs before responding.
"Alright, long story short, Tommy and I had been circling around each other again, and at your wedding we had a moment. The next thing I knew, we were kissing, and all those feelings I suppressed for him came right back out. We hid everything until Tommy decided we should move to St. Paul together so we could finally be together, which means he's decided to finally leave Jordan, and now..."
"She's starting World War Three," Lenny interjects.
Before Tanner can say anything else, the sound of approaching footsteps becomes audible. Both sisters look up to see the center of their discussion.
"Hey," Tommy Covington says casually to Tanner before turning to Lenny. "Hey, Lenny. It's been a minute."
"That it definitely has," Lenny remarks ironically.
A certain look passes between Tommy and Tanner.
"Can I talk to your sister alone for a few minutes?"
Lenny gazes at the guy she has known since high school—the one who once broke her sister's heart and now seems to have put it back together.
"You ain't gotta talk around me. I already know."
"She knows, Tommy," Tanner says.
Tommy gives her a look that plainly asks, how?
"Courtesy of the darling thing you call a wife," Lenny retorts.
"I'll handle it," Tommy says defensively.
"Whatever," Lenny mumbles.
She then faces her sister, her expression a mixture of seriousness and hope.
"I know what he means to you, but don't let that cloud things. No matter what, Jordan will always be a part of Tommy's life because of Jeremy, meaning she'll be in yours too. And I don't think she's gonna make things easy on Tommy, let alone you. Just think about that, okay? Because you've come too damn far to let anyone get in the way of what you've worked hard for."
Lenny can't help but think back to how Tanner put her own studies on hold while Lenny was fighting leukemia.
Tanner does her best to take her sister's words to heart before responding.
"Thanks for the advice, Lenny, but it's our lives."
Tommy remains silent, knowing it isn't his place to get in the middle of the sisters' conversation.
It doesn't take long for Lenny to mumble something under her breath before excusing herself. Before leaving, however, she stops, stares directly at her sister's first love, and points a finger at him.
"Whatever happens, you better not hurt her, or I swear a divorce won't be the only pain you'll receive."
With that, Lenn walks away, leaving Tommy and Tanner at the window table, both clearly affected by her words.
THE WATERFALL BAR
The Motown rhythm of "It's the Same Old Song" by The Four Tops nearly matches the current flow inside The Waterfall this afternoon, as patrons have finally been allowed back in after a small gathering of friends and family celebrated Mae and Gus's engagement.
Jes Choudhury braces herself before stepping foot inside the establishment as the summer heat bears down on her.
Usually, as an attorney, she's used to speaking before several people a day in a courthouse or mediation room.
Nonetheless, when it comes to her personal life, a flutter of nerves lingers in her chest as she knows what is about to take place. It's the very reason she intentionally avoided the engagement party, though she knows she can't avoid what she needs to face much longer.
She pushes herself farther into the air-conditioned bar as she scans the room.
She hears her name being called, causing her to look over toward the bar, where she spots Mae Jackson.
Somewhat surprised, Jes saunters over as the older woman greets her with a warm smile.
"Hey, there you are," Mae says.
Jes grips the strap of her purse.
"Yeah, sorry for not making it to the party. I got stuck in court longer than I thought," she lies.
In reality, she'd been at Jojo's working on paperwork while also speaking with Samuel about their growing attraction. Coming to that realization at the same time she had helped Mae and Gus realize they should spend the rest of their lives together only made her own situation harder, considering she was still involved with someone else.
Mae waves her hand nonchalantly
"Oh, don't worry about it. Things like that can't be avoided."
Jes wonders if she's simply trying to hold off the inevitable.
"So, is Gus still here?"
Mae shakes her head.
"No, he went home, but we're celebrating just the two of us at The Chateau tonight."
Finally, Jes asks the question she's really been building toward.
"Is Antoine around?"
Mae points toward the other end of the bar.
As she walks away, Jes mouths, "Congratulations."
Mae smiles appreciatively.
Jes finally gathers enough courage to make her way down to the other side of the bar, where she sees her lover working behind it.
The moment Antoine Hall notices her, recognition washes over his face.
"Busy day, huh?"
"Yeah... something like that."
"Did court run late? Was the judge buggin’?" Antoine presumes playfully.
"Not exactly," Jes replies.
The tone of her voice catches him off guard, making him realize something is wrong.
"Can we talk somewhere in private?”
"Uh... yeah, sure," he replies, somewhat puzzled.
He then turns toward the kitchen's open service window to speak to the cook.
"Burgess, can you watch the bar for a minute?"
Without another word, Jes follows Antoine behind the bar, knowing a much more serious conversation is about to take place.
HOME FARM
The reverberation of the doorbell throughout the palatial mansion on Home Farm Estate signals Gertrude, the Covington family's housekeeper, to answer the door.
The towering and somewhat imposing woman, with her signature tight bun, opens it and finds a twenty-something brown woman wearing a white, sleeveless, embroidered cotton button-up top and denim shorts, her freshly flat-ironed hair hanging past her shoulders. She carries a purse and wears sunglasses.
"Hello, how may I help you?" Gertrude greets.
Aaliyah Gupta doesn't shy away.
"Hi, I'm here to see Jacques Laurent. I'm his former employee."
At first, Gertrude mentally sizes her up, deciding whether she's telling the truth. However, she finally relents and lets her inside the house. As she calls out for him, Aaliyah looks around the immaculate home, trying to recall the last time she visited. She knows it has been quite some time—long before she and Jacques became involved.
Within seconds, footsteps become audible as Jacques Laurent, dressed down in a button-down shirt and slacks with his sleeves rolled up, walks into the living room.
"Did I hear you call me, Gertrude?" the very handsome Frenchman asks.
"You have a visitor, Mr. Laurent," Gertrude notes.
The moment Jacques sees who it is, it becomes quite clear that the housekeeper's work is done.
"Excuse me. I have to get started on the laundry."
Gertrude uses it as an excuse to dash out of the room, unenthused by whatever is going on between them.
"What are you doing here?" Jacques asks, sounding as though his two worlds have collided and wanting nothing to do with that.
Aaliyah removes her sunglasses, revealing her well-moisturized face.
"Salut to you too, Jacques."
The last time they had seen one another was at The Chateau, where she found out from his wife that she was pregnant while they were in the middle of discussing their liaison, which had become physical as well.
Instantly, Jacques takes control of the conversation, knowing he can't sound too harsh, though he's liable either way when it comes to his extramarital activities, between kissing his wife's niece and his affair with Aaliyah.
"I don't mean to sound like that... It's just I thought it was unwritten, but obvious, that we cannot interact here at my home."
Aaliyah can see her presence has him completely on edge.
"So, are you the only one home right now?"
He nods.
"Yes, I am, but I do not know how long."
"If I didn't know any better, Jacques, the way you're coming off right now makes me think I'm an inconvenience to you."
"You're not," he attempts to reassure her. "But I do have to know why you are here."
Aaliyah slides her glasses onto the top of her forehead.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to see where we stand."
THE CHATEAU
Classical instrumental music played throughout The Chateau that afternoon as patrons partook in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and lunch within the fine dining establishment. Among them were Deirdre Covington and Emma Covington Laurent. The former had invited her daughter to this rare mother-daughter outing. Their relationship is strained, to say the least, making it all the more surprising that Emma had accepted, albeit begrudgingly.
"So, how are you feeling?" Deirdre queries as she lifts her fork from her arugula salad.
The petite brunette, whose pregnant stomach was beginning to protrude a little more, took a sip of her iced tea through a straw.
"Other than my swelling ankles and some back soreness, I'm doing better than my first trimester when I was sick every hour," Emma remarks.
"Well, unfortunately, pregnancy doesn't get any easier. Trust me," Deirdre notes.
"So, now you tell me," Emma said sardonically. "I guess as long as this child turns out healthy when it's born, then it'll all be worth it, right?"
"Absolutely," Deirdre replies positively.
As the music subtly intensifies, Emma recognized something.
"Oh God... does this mean we're having a moment?"
"You don't have to make it sound like I'm the devil or something."
Emma remained silent, keeping her thoughts on that to herself for the moment.
Deirdre set her fork onto her plate and sighed evenly.
"I think you should start thinking about your child's future. My grandchild is the heir or heiress to a large fortune. All I'm saying is it's not too late to get everything in writing."
"Mother, what are you getting at exactly?"
"Protect your child's interests. If, God forbid, something was to happen to you, don't you think those interests should be protected? The funds should be overseen by someone who thinks not of themselves, but of what's best for the child."
It didn't take Emma long to realize where her mother was going with this.
"Of course we couldn't just have a moment. You had to bring me out in public to tell me I should have it in writing that
Jacques shouldn't be in charge of our unborn child's inheritance. You never change, Mother."
"Emma," Deirdre interjects. "I'm just thinking of you and my grandchild. Your husband is currently out of work because of his poor decision-making. Anyway, I don't mean to upset you, especially not in your condition, but keep in mind what I said."
As much as she wanted to continue explaining why she believed her daughter's husband was a no-good opportunist, Deirdre decided she had already pushed further than she intended.
"So, Mother," Emma said as she began twirling her spaghetti carbonara, "what other terrible life choices are you going to tear into today?"
"Well," Deirdre replies with a smile that is equal parts joking and serious, "the day's still young."
THE WATERFALL BAR: JACKSON APARTMENT
Antoine leads Jes into the apartment, closing the door behind him while natural sunlight filters through the residence above the bar.
Antoine rubs his hands together.
"What up?"
By now, Jes places a hand to her forehead, unsure where to start.
"I don't know how to say this."
Part of her feels guilty for admitting it. As a lawyer, she was educated to always say the right thing, though she isn't when it comes to her personal matters.
He walks over to her, gently taking one of her hands, offering her that smile she finds so blissful, though she knows she is about to make it evaporate. She gently pulls her hand away.
"Say whatever's on your mind," Antoine tells her.
"I haven't been fair to you," she begins. "I just want you to know what I'm about to say has no bearing on you as a person because you're a good one. In fact, I appreciate you coming into my life when you did, but... uh... we should call time on this."
Antoine nods before letting out a slight scoff, hearing her words loud and clear.
"You mean you wanna break up? I guess I shouldn't be that surprised."
Jes hadn't realized he already sensed something was wrong between them.
"Like I said, Antoine, you're a good person, and I enjoyed our time together, but I don't see us moving forward."
Antoine hears something else in her voice too.
"I should've seen it comin' for a minute now.”
“What do you mean?” Jes queries
“I mean, when I kissed you at your office before I left after you turned down havin' lunch with me, you seemed like you'd rather be anywhere else but there with me. And Jes, lemme tell you, I ain't used to that kinda thing."
It's no secret the bar manager has a womanizing past, never staying in committed relationships for very long and preferring to date... and date often. However, Jes had made him realize monogamy wasn't so bad after all.
"Can I get a reason why, at least? I think you owe me that much," Antoine says.
Jes folds her arms across her chest."
"Actually, it was during our reuniting Gus and Mae that I saw how much in love they were... and that made me realize that I don’t feel that way about you," she admits emotionally.
Antoine does his best to maintain his composure, though it's obvious he's still coming to terms with everything.
"Is it somebody else?"
"Yeah, it is. But nothing's happened between us. There's just something there worth exploring. And again, I apologize for it to come out like this."
She refuses to drop Samuel into it for more-than-obvious reasons.
Antoine shrugs.
"Well, hell... there ain't no other way, right?”
"I hope that after everything we can still be cool, because your friendship is still important to me."
Antoine slowly rotates his head away from her before speaking.
"I don't wanna keep you from what you gotta do."
Realizing Antoine is politely showing her the door more than anything else, Jes quietly makes her way out of the apartment.
As the door shuts behind her, Antoine stands there in disbelief that someone other than Shauna had managed to make him feel this way.
LAKEVIEW CEMETERY MAUSOLEUM
Inside the mausoleum, the news of Tricia's impending move causes Sean to try to process and understand her decision to leave town.
"I know this might come out of nowhere. You're one of the few people who knows I'm leaving," Tricia simply says.
Sean finally finds his voice again.
"So, you're moving to L.A. with your mother?"
Tricia nods.
"But I'm doing this for me too."
"You sure about that?"
The question catches the café manager off guard.
"What the hell are you getting at, Sean?"
This time, Sean scoffs at the remark directed toward him.
"Oh, come on, Tricia. Look, I can believe you're moving to California to make sure everything is alright with Jolene after everything that went down with her and Wade, but you can't tell me that when things get bad, you don't have a habit of taking off."
"Whoa, whoa. I think you're getting me mixed up with yourself there," she retorts.
When they were married, Sean had a habit of seeking consolation from his first ex-wife, Louise, whom he is again involved with.
"All I'm getting at is that leaving Radcliffe won't solve all your problems."
Tricia folds her arms across her chest.
"Look, I know we've gotten closer... as friends, and I appreciate you being there for me and my mother, but you lost the right to question anything I do with my life the second you chose Louise."
"Is that all it is? Or are you afraid of something else?"
"What do you want me to say, Sean? We're falling back into the same old pattern—getting close, crossing boundaries, ending up in bed, and eventually hurting the same people all over again. I don't want to do that anymore," Tricia replies wholeheartedly.
He exhales heavily at the weight of her words.
"You're going to leave no matter what I say, aren't you?"
"Me moving to Los Angeles is not about you... I need to get out of here. But if I don't see you before I go... you chose the right person to be with. Have a good life, Sean."
With that, the brunette exits the mausoleum, leaving Sean standing there among several headstones, including their late baby boy's, as he slowly realizes that saying goodbye to her will be much harder than he ever imagined. The thought alone makes him want to kick himself for what had just happened between them.
HOME FARM
Jacques tries to defuse the situation, drawing on experience appeasing women he has been involved with who need it.
"Not once have I ever thought of you as an inconvenience. I care way too much about you to even consider anything less."
"Well, you haven't done enough to convince me otherwise," she pushes back.
"Look," he prefaces. "Right now, it's just a complicated matter with Emma and my impending fatherhood, but that does not mean for one second I have forgotten you. It's just another reason why us being together in here is not the best idea."
Aaliyah's expression somehow softens into one of remorse.
"My whole goal, believe it or not, coming here was not to make a fool of myself. I guess I don't really have many people to talk to. And you were the first person I could confide in about the mess of my life, and you listened without any judgment. I guess... I missed that," she candidly expresses.
Between feeling discontent with her unemployment and having lost all of her friends because of her past actions, she felt she could be with someone who didn't expect her to simply fall in line.
The dejection on her face prompts Jacques to gently brush the side of her cheek.
"I think it's clear how I feel about you, Aaliyah. It's just we can't do this here. We wouldn't want to hurt others because of our choices. You do understand, right?"
At first, Aaliyah becomes consumed by his touch; however, she eventually pulls back.
"I know you're married, and I'd rather not cause extra drama, but I won't be ignored by you either. So, if you want, we can continue whatever this is, or we can shut this down for good."
She says it almost like an ultimatum.
Before either of them can respond further, the mansion's front door opens, and the sound of female voices echoes through the foyer. Soon Deirdre and Emma enter the living room carrying various shopping bags, no doubt from their excursion to Hudson Lake. The moment they spot Aaliyah; both are visibly surprised by her presence.
Emma slowly saunters over to her husband as he places an arm around his wife while she pleasantly smiles at the younger woman.
"Aaliyah, hi. How are you?" Emma asks with the politeness she was raised with.
"Hi," Aaliyah replies to both her lover's wife and then to his mother-in-law.
Deirdre doesn't waste any time being frank with her guest.
"So, is there a particular reason that brings you to Home Farm this afternoon?"
Jacques is about to craft a tailored reply to his already unbalanced, manipulative mother-in-law when another voice interjects before him.
"Oh, I dropped by to see if Jacques could be a reference for any upcoming job interviews. I'm not having much luck finding a job, so I thought I'd ask," Aaliyah says matter-of-factly.
Emma seems taken aback by that, while Deirdre, of course, doesn't miss the opportunity to make another remark.
"And that couldn't simply have been a phone call?"
"Mother," Emma interjects. "I hope this guy said yes."
"Don't worry; I did," Jacques lies.
"Well, I better take off. But Jacques, thanks again. Emma... Mrs. Covington... it was nice seeing you both again."
With that, Aaliyah ushers herself out of the mansion.
"Speaking of unemployment, I think you should be taking your ex-employee's gumption and looking for work yourself now that you're becoming a father," Deirdre insults.
Jacques shakes his head at the woman who brought him to town all those years ago.
"Don't you have to try out your new broom?”
He says it in his heavy French accent, making the remark somehow sound both more serious and unintentionally humorous.
Deirdre exhales as though she's tired of going round and round with her pathetic son-in-law. She then heads toward the staircase, deciding she's had enough of this for one afternoon.
Jacques glances at the shopping bags in Emma's hands.
"I see you spared no expense."
Emma looks down at them before smiling back at him proudly.
"Well, who better to indulge me in my present condition than me? Anyway, for a second you had me worried."
The comment makes Jacques visibly nervous.
He finally finds his voice.
"What do you mean?"
"You and Steven. What the hell went on between you two down at the guest house the other day?"
Somewhat relieved that she isn't referring to his ongoing relationship with Aaliyah, he recalls how he and Steven confronted each other after it became clear Steven knew he and Courtney had shared a kiss the previous year. Things had nearly escalated before Emma and Courtney intervened.
"He's blaming me for the pressure Courtney is currently going through since I was... uh... removed from the company," he tells her.
Emma scoffs lightly.
"Well, no offense to my darling niece, but pressure comes with the territory as CEO. Anyway, you were underappreciated at Covington."
At that moment, Jacques is grateful that very little love has ever been lost between the aunt and niece.
The two remain in each other's embrace as Emma studies him attentively.
"So, how about we go upstairs?"
"Why?"
Emma's expression softens.
"Because I have all these clothes to try on, and it might be the last time you'll get to see me naked before my belly blocks everything."
A sly smirk appears on Jacques' lips.
"Well, since you put it that way, lead the way, Mrs. Laurent."
A couple of snickers follow as the two make their way toward the grand staircase. Despite his marriage being in a better place, Jacques had almost thought the secrets he wanted buried were about to come to light.
For now, however, they remain hidden.
END OF EPISODE
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Tricia says farewell to Radcliffe.
Sean seeks closure.
Courtney confides in Samuel.
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