EPISODE 397
Written by: Bre L Drew
August 16, 2026
Last Time on Town and Country
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After confiding in Will about his marital issues, Steven walks in on Jacques with Courtney at their home, prompting him to question Jacques’ presence.
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Micah continues to struggle with the pressure of becoming intimate with Gemma.
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Unknowingly walking into an opportunity at Jojo’s, Evan is offered a trial position by Thora.
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Antoine is blindsided when Jes ends their relationship, unaware that her growing attraction to Samuel is a major reason behind the breakup. He is also still unaware that Keri is his daughter, conceived after his one-night stand with Shauna when Max was unable to perform sexually due to his paralysis.
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Tommy and Tanner remain determined to leave Radcliffe and start a new life together in Minnesota, despite protests from Jordan and Lenny, the latter of whom believes her sister shouldn’t go through with it.
HOPE COTTAGE
After several months of tension that seemed to overwhelm the house that was once a safe haven from the outside world—tension that began after his wife and her aunt’s husband were caught kissing last year—Steven Sullivan enters the residence he shares with his wife and teenage son. He instantly sees the source of that contention standing only a few feet away, though Jacques is standing in front of his wife, his hands placed on her arms in a platonic gesture, or so it might seem.
It doesn’t take long for Jacques to get his hands off Steven’s wife.
Despite Jacques’ plea not to cross the line, Steven isn’t going to take any chances.
Jacques Laurent takes in the sight of the tall blonde man around his age. Instead of the designer threads he usually wears, the veterinarian is dressed in a large red tank, black-and-red basketball shorts, and sneakers.
Courtney Covington Sullivan is able to get Jacques to withdraw his touch from her, not wanting to make things worse since she wants to get her marriage back on track.
“As I said to you before, Steven, this is all just a misunderstanding. I was simply offering support to Courtney, nothing more,” he says in his broad French accent.
“I don’t misunderstand a damn thing,” Steven says in a voice that’s low but not backing down.
“It’s alright,” Courtney remarks, trying not to let this become more than it should.
The former Covington executive positions his hands as if he’s trying to calm the situation.
“Steven, I only came by to see how Courtney’s doing. I know she’s been struggling with what happened, but take it out on me, not on her.”
That explanation only seems to further anger Steven, though he doesn’t raise his voice.
“Well, good, because there is something I need to say to you, and I’m only going to say it once.”
JOJO'S CAFE
The bluegrass and folk rhythm of the Kentucky-based duo The Local Honeys’ “The Space Girl’s Song” plays throughout Jojo’s while the earlier busy afternoon crowd has considerably thinned out, which suits Evan Sullivan just fine. He has been helping out at the café for the past few hours, having needed to get a job at his parents’ request; however, he hopes it leads to something permanent.
Seeing the reduced patron traffic, Evan decides to take an impromptu break and join Micah Kelley at the table, where he’s still sitting.
“Where’s your girl?” Evan queries, as if Gemma had been present here moments before.
“Oh, she had to pick up her little brother from day camp at Sampson,” he tells him.
Micah finds himself needing someone to talk to, or more like, confide in, about something.
“Hey, um, Evan, I can use some advice.”
The sandy-brown-haired teenager smiles with ease. “Well, I think I’ve got about fifteen cents’ worth to offer.”
Micah laughs. “I’ll gladly take it.”
Micah finds himself playing with the leftover straw paper in his hands.
“It’s, uh, about me and Gemma… She’s ready for… you know what, and I’m not really.”
Micah braces himself for being laughed at, but Evan doesn’t even show any amusement, making him slightly realize that he’s somehow paying closer attention to him.
Elsewhere in the café, Martha Saunders and Shauna Covington are together while SJ Sullivan sits beside them, attempting to feed Keri Covington apple slices, which so far has not been that successful despite his adorable approach.
“Hey, buddy, I think Keri has had enough of apple slices,” Martha says to her son.
Soft laughter comes across the women’s faces as SJ does what he’s told.
“We’ll try later, okay?” he says, mostly to the one-year-old in her stroller, although her countenance displays otherwise.
“Well, thank you, SJ. Auntie appreciates you for taking care of your godsister.”
“A godbrother’s job is never done,” he says like someone twice his age while eating some of his chocolate-chip muffin.
Martha takes a sip of her iced coffee before responding.
“Is it just me, or has it been a while since we were able to catch up?”
“Yeah, it’s been a minute, so how you've been?”
“Okay. Between work and motherhood, it’s just, uh, trying to carve out time to be with Will, if you know what I mean,” she says, lowering her voice, grateful that by now her son is putting on his headphones to his Leap Frog tablet.
The displeasure in Shauna’s voice becomes apparent.
“Please spare me the details,” she says, due to the fact that not only are the children sitting nearby, but she also has no interest in hearing about her best friend and her uncle.
“Look, I’m not going to say all of them aren’t legit, but I do care about him, and between work and life and living with most of my family, there’s not much time to have private time.”
“Oh, I remember private time,” Shauna says half-jokingly.
Before the discussion can go much further, Antoine Hall enters the café, immediately stopping by the table and greeting both SJ and baby Keri.
“It’s like every time I see her, she gets more prettier,” Antoine comments about the girl, who’s decked out in a pink tie-bow-shoulder romper with a colorful print, while her thick brown hair is tied in two puffs with ribbons.
“She looks more and more like you and less like that husband of yours,” he states further.
The particular comment causes Martha and Shauna to exchange a quick look, knowing that Antoine is Keri’s biological father and not Max, which they’re determined not to let out, knowing it would affect everything—not to mention the love Max has for the girl he has legally and lovingly devoted himself to.
Martha quickly comes to her friend’s defense by tapping her son’s shoulder.
“SJ, sweetheart, can you take Keri and go to the lounge area and get one of the books from Keri’s stroller to read to her?”
“Okay,” he complies.
“Okay,” she repeats as he gets up and wheels the stroller with the one-year-old in it.
Once the children are occupied, Antoine takes a seat beside Shauna.
“So, what’s new with you?” Shauna finally speaks.
Antoine sighs heavily.
“How much time y'all got?"
The remark immediately causes Martha and Shauna to exchange another knowing look before contributing to the conversation.
FRANKLIN FARM: MAIN HOUSE
On her break from working on her family’s dairy farm, Lenny Barker descends the stairs of the main house, where she and her husband reside with her relatives. While in the living room, she spots her husband, Elijah Barker, attentively buried in the books. Despite graduating from law school weeks prior, he is now preparing himself to take the Kentucky Bar exam.
“So, how’s the studying going?” she asks. The farmhand is dressed in light-blue washed-denim overalls with a dark navy tank underneath, and her hair is in two pigtails.
Elijah runs his hands through his hair and strongly exhales.
“Well, let’s put it this way: I could learn everything and still not be ready.”
By now, the young woman sits beside her husband on the couch.
“That’s tough, huh?”
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard that the bar is no joke, but I had no idea until I started getting prepped for it.”
Lenny looks at Elijah encouragingly.
“C’mon, Barker, when have you ever let anything get in your way? Maybe you should take a break and recharge.”
“I like the sound of that.”
The two start making out in each other’s embrace until Elijah slowly pulls away.
“What’s wrong?” Lenny asks, catching her breath.
“Well, you never know who might pop up,” he says, knowing there are several other people in residence here, so he changes the subject. “Anyway, are you any closer to getting things back on track with your other half?”
Knowing he’s referring to Tanner, she shakes her head.
“You know how I feel about what she’s doing.”
She recently found out that Tanner is deciding to move to Minnesota with Tommy, where Tommy is going to veterinary school, as the two are determined to be together after all these years, even though he’s married to their former friend Jordan, knowing, somehow, it won’t end well.
“I know,” Elijah suspire. “But if it’s what…”
He’s cut off when the doorbell rings; Lenny quickly volunteers to get.
Nonetheless, when she does, she folds her arms at the sight of the person in question.
Tanner Lockhart stands idly in the doorway, sensing her fraternal twin sister isn’t keen on seeing her, which she can’t remember.
“Hi, you mind if I come in?” Tanner greets her.
“Do what you want,” Lenny obliges.
The farmhand then turns over her shoulder.
“I gotta get back out here… gotta help Dad move some of the cattle to another pasture.”
“Guess you’re still upset at me, huh?” Tanner remarks after Lenny’s cool reception.
Lenny’s brows furrow with her arms still folded across her chest.
“I’ve got work to do.”
Once they’re alone, Tanner turns to Elijah and bluntly states, “She’s pissed.”
“What made you draw that conclusion?” Elijah sarcastically replies, earning a look from Tanner.
Tanner enters the living room of the house she considers a second home, recognizing several photos strewn, representing many generations of the maternal side of the family.
“Who knew that pursuing my own life would drive a wedge between the person who I counted on the most in my life?
Though I’m not going to apologize for moving to start over with someone I never stopped loving.”
Elijah listens carefully before asking, “But?”
Tanner sighs, clearly conflicted.
JOJO'S CAFE
Now Tori Kelly’s “Control” fills the establishment; by now, though, Evan hasn’t said anything as Micah waits for him to say anything.
“Not even the chance to throw shade my way?” the high school football receiver states, no longer able to take the awkward silence.
Evan feels like he can unmute himself now, attempting to find the right words.
“Believe it or not, I’m not an expert on this kinda thing, but I gotta know why you don’t want to take it there with one of the most popular girls at school.”
“I’m not sure.” Micah licks his lips, becoming lost in thought.
Evan notices his friend’s uncertainty.
“I think whether or not the sex happens, you’ve got to know what you want and if it is with Gemma or maybe someone else.”
“What are you talking about?” Micah asks, confused.
Evan gestures for his friend to calm down.
“It is what it is, but you need to make a choice soon, man.”
Micah immediately feels foolish for not understanding what Evan meant instead of what he initially thought.
Realizing he needs to get back to helping Thora as the crowd slowly picks back up, Evan stands.
“Well, I gotta get back to it, but I’ll see you later.”
Before leaving, he gives Micah an encouraging smile.
“Whatever you do, stop overthinking everything.”
Evan heads back to work, leaving Micah alone with his thoughts. Although he still isn’t sure he’s ready for that next step with Gemma, he can’t shake the fear that if he keeps hesitating forever, he could eventually lose her—and so much more.
“Look, sorry for crashing y’all’s catch-up,” Antoine apologizes.
“It’s alright,” Martha notes. “And I’m sorry it didn’t work out between you and Jes.”
Antoine had told his friends about his recent breakup, which has knocked him back some, even though in the past he hasn’t had many monogamous relationships.
“Guess I should’ve seen it coming, though,” he admits wholeheartedly.
“How so?” Shauna asks peculiarly.
Antoine starts to fiddle with one of his fingers while explaining.
“When it all started, it was hot like fire, but, uh, after a while, Jes started to get less serious about things…. Now lookin’ back, the signs had been there.”
From the glare on his face and the solemnity in his voice, Shauna easily detects a rare but familiar enough sentiment from her ex-lover.
“You really did care about her, didn’t you?”
Antoine slightly nods to acknowledge her.
He scoffs in a mix of irony and embarrassment.
“I guess shit like this makes me think that’s one of the reasons why I was never consistent with being a one-man kinda guy.”
Despite not admitting it, Shauna knows he’s coming from a serious place, knowing what it’s like to be personally involved with him.
Martha glances toward SJ and Keri as her son is reading one of the books and attempting voices before turning her attention back to her friends.
“Toine, maybe the next relationship you do get in will be the one to make you rethink your stance,” she gently notes.
The bar manager simply slumps his shoulders.
“Maybe,” he prefaces. “But for now, I think I’m done with monogamy and will be just doin’ me.”
As he speaks, Shauna looks over at her daughter, who is busily touching the pages of the book, which SJ lets her, and then back at Antoine, knowing the truth of her little girl’s paternity can never come out, yet it doesn’t stop her from trying to retain a friendship with him while he remains oblivious to it.
FRANKLIN FARM: MAIN HOUSE
Currently, the in-laws are sitting next to each other, with Tanner in the green wingback chair and Elijah on the couch.
“Tanner, look, I know you see this reconciliation with Tommy as your time, and make that what you will because, frankly, it isn’t anyone else’s business. But deep down, Lenny is just worried about you, and you can’t blame her, especially with what comes with it, might I add, which is Jordan.”
Tanner nods understandably.
“I get all of that, and I was hesitant in the beginning, and there’s still a bit there, but I’ve let Jordan come between Tommy and me for far too long. Besides, eventually, she’ll have to come around to signing the divorce papers. At least I’m sure that she never slept with Tommy after they married.”
Elijah throws her a look that, despite hearing her out, makes it clear he also knows it isn’t so simple.
“As your brother-in-law, and someone who has known you for most of our lives, I’m just going to tell you to keep your guard up, because Jordan isn’t the type to back down.”
“At least you’re not doubting things for me,” Tanner says.
“Not on you kicking ass at school. And I think Lenny will come around, too. Just give her some time.”
“You think she’ll do all of that before I leave town?”
Elijah chuckles modestly, knowing how his wife can be when it comes to something as serious as this.
“Like I said, give her time. You two will be back in a good place.”
Tanner takes his words to heart, hoping he’s right, knowing she doesn’t have much time left before everything changes.
HOPE COTTAGE
By now, Jacques lessens his stance, knowing it’s best not to become argumentative with the person whose wife he’s been involved with, however briefly.
“Steven, you have every right to be apprehensive toward me, but I think it’s best that I leave.”
He scoffs ruefully at that statement.
“You know what, Jacques? You have some goddamn nerve taking advantage of my wife when you and she were in a professional crisis. Now you come into my home to do it again.”
Jacques glares at Courtney, who has been silent, and then turns his attention back to Steven.
“Steven, believe it or not, it was simply a kiss, nothing more. I can understand the hostile emotions toward me, but in the process, you’ve been unfairly neglecting Courtney, which is also contributing to the challenges in your marriage. You have emotionally abandoned her.”
Eventually, Courtney decides that she has had enough of the confrontation.
“Look, I understand where you’re coming from, Jacques, but I don’t need you to speak on my behalf where my marriage is concerned. And what occurred between us, we can chalk up to a moment of ill intent, but I think from this point forward, we limit contact to a minimum,” she remarks strongly.
Jacques lowers his head some, though he doesn’t betray much disappointment, as he knows he’s also a man who’s involved in an affair that has gone further with his former assistant. Yet he has also become devoted to his wife, who is expecting their first child, knowing that his legacy must remain intact.
“If you insist, I'd better get going.”
He moves ahead to the front door as Steven walks behind him, opening the door and making sure he exits, which he does.
Steven shuts the door with enough force, though it isn’t anything out of the ordinary.
The walk back over to Courtney isn’t long; however, for Courtney, it seems slower because she can’t predict what will happen or even what will be said.
Finally, he speaks.
“You alright?”
Courtney runs her hands smoothly through her hair and dryly exhales.
“I am.”
“I think it’s fair to say that I… we can't keep living like this,” he says.
Courtney quietly asks, “So what? One of us moves out?”
That kind of response makes Steven react silently, his expression revealing that he hasn’t considered anything so drastic.
“Is that what you want?”
“Well, Steven, I don’t know what you want because ever since you found out what I did, you haven’t said hardly anything to me, and when you do, it’s mostly filled with anger, which you’re, of course, entitled to. But it makes it hard to communicate with you, especially where things stand.”
Briefly, Steven clears his throat and places his hands at his sides.
“I’m not going to lie to you. I’m still pissed at what you and Jacques did in that hotel room in Miami, but I can’t keep punishing you for it. But I want to know we both want to work things out, and we’re not doing this because it’s expected of us.”
Courtney gazes upon Steven with honesty.
“I know it won’t be overnight. I know I have to earn back your trust, but I’m also willing to move ahead together.”
Some of the tightness in Steven’s face diminishes. He isn’t exactly softened, but he isn’t displaying the same kind of anger he’s been harboring toward his wife.
The moment hangs between them.
The invisible barrier that once prevented a hug—or even a kiss—begins to weaken, though the lingering tension between them remains.
END OF EPISODE
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Louise doesn't take Tanner's news well.
Will comes to Emma's aid.
Jordan needles Daniel.
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