EPISODE 392
June 19, 2026
Written by: Bre L Drew
Last Time on Town and Country
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Steven and Courtney received advice from Martha and Tricia, respectively, as they struggled with the strain on their marriage caused by Courtney's kiss with Jacques in Miami late last year.
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Micah and Gemma came close to taking their relationship to the next level despite Micah's lingering apprehensions.
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As Jolene prepared to move back to California and begin a new chapter, Tricia found herself questioning the direction of her own life.
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Daniel remained determined to regain control of the Covington Group from Courtney.
THE CHATEAU
Another weekday morning settles over Radcliffe as classical music plays softly throughout the elegant dining room. Daniel Covington, who hasn't been out in some time, sits at one of the tables, mostly composed, though every five minutes or so, he casually glances down at his phone.
Not long thereafter, an older gentleman wearing a suit follows the hostess to the table. Daniel motions for him to sit, and he complies.
"Thank you for meeting me. I know your time is precious," Daniel says, welcoming the longtime acquaintance.
Ron Harper, the chairman of the Covington Group board, clears his throat. "Well, that it is," he prefaces. "I'm only in town for a few hours on a layover before I head to Dallas to handle some important business with one of my banks. What do you need, Daniel?"
Daniel leans in slightly, folding his hands together.
"Remember what we last talked about? I think it's time we turned it into reality regarding my daughter's status as CEO of the company."
HOPE COTTAGE
After a much-needed shower that morning, Steven Sullivan found himself entering the kitchen of Hope Cottage, where he resides with his family. The veterinarian was dressed in a short-sleeved off-white polo shirt and slacks, though his back was paying the price, resulting in him sleeping permanently on the couch in the living room due to the current strain between him and his wife. He had not been able to share a marital bed with her since learning that she had kissed another man and kept it from him for months, only confessing after a hotel employee called about a missing earring that had been found in Jacques Laurent's suite.
However, when he stepped into the kitchen, he found his wife seated at the table on her iPad. Hearing his footsteps, she lifts her head to look at him.
"Morning," Courtney Covington Sullivan greets him, hoping he is in a better mood than before.
Steven remains quiet until he reaches the coffee machine. While setting it up, he finally opens his mouth.
"Evan's still here?" he asks of his teenage son.
Courtney sets the device aside, taking it as an opening to get a conversation going.
"No, he left about ten minutes ago."
Steven gave a slight nod, while the coffee machine began percolating. At the moment, the noise was welcome.
"Steven, can we talk, please?" Courtney presses.
"Uh, maybe later."
"I thought you were on call today."
Steven watched his cup fill with the caffeinated beverage and then removed it from the machine, needing it right now.
"I am, but, uh, I should go over to the clinic since things have been slow there lately," Steven remarked uncertainly.
Courtney saunters over to him, knowing they could not go on like this.
"We cannot keep avoiding this. As much as you want to avoid this conversation, Steven, we have to have it."
Steven held the cup of coffee with a firm grip as tendrils of steam floated above it.
"I'm sorry for not being in any hurry to discuss my wife kissing another man and choosing to hide it!" he states.
Courtney places her hands on her hips and exhales.
"I didn't tell you because everything that happened between Jacques and me was meaningless, and you can't blame me for thinking that. You've made your feelings about him quite clear. Besides, it seems every time we talk, it always comes back to Jacques or the kiss. Somehow, we manage to sidestep the most important thing here, which is us, our marriage, our life, Steven."
By now, Steven had set his coffee on the countertop and turned to face her.
"Was it pressure or tension you were dealing with? Is that why it happened?"
Courtney didn't hide from the question.
"Both of those played a part, but it wasn't premeditated or anything. I didn't go to my aunt's husband's hotel room intending for something to happen, Steven."
"So, if you hadn't remembered you were married, would it have gone all the way?"
"No," she answers firmly. "I love you, Steven, and I'm beginning to understand that even that isn't enough to make you think differently of me right now, which does hurt. But I have to keep reminding you how I feel about you."
Steven did his best to listen as his wife expressed what she believed was worth saving between them. However, the doorbell rang, interrupting the moment.
"I'll go see who it is," Courtney said flatly.
Seconds later, she returned with a small mailer in her hand.
"What's that?" Steven questions.
"It came from a courier," she answers simply.
Courtney opens the package. The moment she saw what was inside, Steven saw it as yet another reminder of his wife's lapse in judgment.
It is the missing earring.
"Have a nice day," Steven said sternly.
He walks out, leaving Courtney standing alone in the kitchen with the piece of jewelry in her hand.
Once again, both were left wondering whether their marriage could be salvaged despite the advice they had received from the various people in their inner circle.
JOJO'S CAFE
The opening verse of Ella Langley's "Weren't for the Wind" plays throughout Jojo's Cafe this morning as the establishment contains an assortment of customers left over from the morning rush, including Gemma Grier and Micah Kelley. The young couple sits across from each other at a table near the large window overlooking Main Street.
Gemma, who's styled in a floral-print camisole with thin straps and wide-leg trousers, has her blonde hair cut into a stylish bob, making her stand out.
"Thank God today's the last day of school, and hello, freedom," Gemma says excitedly.
"Yeah, this school year couldn't end fast enough," Micah agrees.
The two had decided to stop by for some food and drinks before heading to school on their final day of classes.
"It finally means we can move forward, too," Gemma says in code, and Micah already knows exactly what she's referring to.
"Oh, that," Micah replies, trying not to sound unenthused. "Well, whenever it's good for both of us."
Gemma glances at the screen of her iPhone to check the time.
"Much as I don't want to, we should be getting to school."
Micah is secretly relieved, hoping the conversation about S-E-X doesn't come back up anytime soon.
Simultaneously, Presley McKnight enters the cafe with his work bag slung over his shoulder. Spotting them, he makes his way over.
"Morning, Micah, Gemma," the reverend says. "Let me guess—you're both elated that today is the last day of school."
"Hey, how are you doing, Reverend... Presley?" Micah corrects himself, knowing Presley prefers to be called by his name rather than his title.
"How could you tell?" Gemma teases.
"When you're born and raised in this town, you just know these things. Plus, I might've heard it from a few parishioners on Sunday, too," Presley says good-naturedly, earning a laugh from both teenagers.
"I hate to cut and run, but we've got to get to school," Gemma says as she gathers her belongings into her tote bag and finishes the last of her black iced tea.
Micah, however, speaks up.
"I'm going to meet you there. I need to talk to Presley for a minute."
"Sure, okay."
Gemma bends down and gives her boyfriend a peck on the cheek before heading back out into the warm late-spring morning.
Micah turns toward Presley and sighs.
"I do really need to talk to you. Uh, I'm not keeping you from something, am I?"
"I wouldn’t want you to be late for school, even if it is the last day," Presley notes.
"I've still got a few minutes."
By now, Presley takes the seat Gemma had just vacated.
"Well, I've helped people in less time," he says. "So, what's going on?"
Part of Micah isn't sure about telling his reverend this, but he doesn't really have anyone else he can discuss it with honestly.
"Uh, Gemma and I have been together for a while, and everything is good between us, but, um... one of us wants to take things further, and the other isn't so sure."
Presley quickly reads between the lines.
"Let me guess. She isn't the one who's ready while you are?"
"You're not going to tell my parents, are you?" Micah asks. He knows they would not be thrilled hearing their son talk about sex, as they strongly believe in abstinence until marriage or something close to it.
Presley shakes his head.
"Whatever you tell me stays between us, okay?"
"It's the opposite," Micah confesses.
Presley nods thoughtfully.
"Will this be the first time for both of you? Because that's a lot of pressure right there."
"Yeah," Micah says. "I don't know what's wrong with me, Presley. I care about Gemma so much, but I don't know why I'm not exactly ready to sleep with her."
"Well, anyone's first time is a lot to process," Presley says carefully, making sure not to sound judgmental. "If you're feeling hesitant, maybe you should talk to Gemma about how you feel and hope she'll respect your feelings about it."
Micah shrugs sheepishly.
"I've tried talking to her before, but it always comes off like I think she's not pretty or something. And anyway, I figure I've got to get over it eventually."
"One more thing before you go," Presley says firmly. "Feeling unsure doesn't make you weak, nor does it change how you feel about your girlfriend. But in this situation, you have to be honest."
Micah quietly nods, doing his best to take the advice.
Between writing down the things, she needed in her notepad and taking a drink of her iced tea, Jolene Wood had been noticing the unusual silence coming from her daughter, who sat across from her, which finally prompts her to speak up about it.
"What has got your tongue, babydoll?" the older woman asks concernedly.
Despite her hatred of that particular nickname, Tricia Lockhart answers.
"Oh, nothing… I just guess I don't know. I'm just feeling like too much has happened here, and maybe I need to do something about it."
Jolene, who then set her ink pen on top of the notepad, nods understandingly.
"Well, my therapist says that change is often needed for a person, and maybe it's what you need too," she suggests
The domestic abuse survivor had been in contact with her therapist via telehealth until she makes the move to Los Angeles, where she would be seeing the counselor in person.
The café manager looks at her mother thoughtfully and says, "Who knows? Maybe you're right. I think whatever I need now might not be here anymore."
THE CHATEAU
By now, a waiter had brought the men their coffees before they got into what had brought them together.
"You sure you don't want any breakfast? They make a splendid Eggs benedict," Daniel says.
"Much as I would take you up on it, as I said, I have a tight schedule, so coffee will just have to do," Ron tells him.
"Anyway, what do you have in mind regarding possibly removing Courtney as CEO of the company?"
Some time ago, the two men had spoken, during which the chairman informed him that some members of the board weren't too happy with his daughter's performance as head of the multimillion-dollar property development conglomerate his late father, Patrick, founded fifty years ago.
Ron takes a hearty sip of his beverage before setting it down on the table.
"Yes, I've heard several concerns from various board members about the direction she's taking the company. But let me get something straight."
"Alright," Daniel says straightforwardly.
"I can understand why you would be concerned about the way your family's company is being run under the current leadership, but Courtney is your daughter. Why are you supporting something that would not only remove her but humiliate her in the process?" Ron asks curiously.
Daniel takes a drink of his coffee before responding.
"Ron, please don't look a gift horse in the mouth. If you can get the board together for an off-the-book meeting to remove Courtney as CEO, then we'll be one step closer to putting this company back on the right track."
"What do you get in return?"
Daniel scoffs, amused.
"What we all get in return is a company under competent leadership. Just get the members on board, and I'll be in touch with more information."
Ron sounds as though he's coming around.
"I think that can be arranged."
Soon, Daniel rises to his full height and opens his wallet.
"Well, I do need to go, but the joe is on me. Have a safe flight. It's always a pleasure doing business with you, Ronald."
With that, the Covington heir leaves a fifty-dollar bill inside the check holder and makes his way out of the restaurant. He is now one step closer to getting back in charge of the company he believes is rightfully his.
END OF EPISODE
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Loved ones gather to celebrate Mae & Gus's engagement.
Steven and Jacques come face to face.
Jordan confronts Tanner.
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