EPISODE 338
Written by: Bre L Drew
April 20, 2025
Last Time on Town and Country
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Max admitted how hurt he was over Shauna’s one-night stand with Antoine but ultimately declared that he still loves her and is willing to work on their marriage—even if it means pretending their newborn daughter is his.
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Emma was left shaken after learning the truth about her biological father. Despite Deirdre’s attempts to comfort her, Emma remained emotionally withdrawn and resistant.
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Jacques and Courtney opened up to each other about the emotional strain and complications brought on by Emma’s revelation, revealing deeper personal cracks in both of their relationships.
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Tommy made it clear he doesn’t trust Jacques, which only intensified after their land development bid. Meanwhile, Daniel has started urging Tommy to help him push Jacques out of the Covington Group
JOJO'S CAFE
She said, "If you want my heart, then, babe
You're gonna have to work for it"
(Work for it, work for it, work for it)
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The morning rush inside Jojo's Cafe starts to lessen as "Hurt" by One Republic and Jelly Roll plays through the establishment's sound system speakers.
Tricia Lockhart walks beside Thora McKnight, determined to make sure she understands the following instructions that she is giving. "And please don't forget."
Thora, wearing her blonde hair in a ponytail and sporting a green v-neck t-shirt with blue jeans and an apron tied around her waist. "Yes, Tricia. I will make sure the drawers are all counted."
The café manager could hear in the tone of her employee’s voice that not only did she comprehend the instructions but understood why her boss was being somewhat tense.
“It’s going to be okay, you know.”
Tricia, dressed in a dark blazer over a sleeveless top and jeans, remains silent but adjusts her expression—an answer in itself.
At the same time, Sean Lockhart enters the café; his eye scans the nonexistent line, then lands on the two women, whom he approaches.
“Hey, you two,” the farm manager greets them.
“Hi,” Tricia responds candidly.
“Long time no see,” Thora notes.
Her daughter's former friends' father nods. “It has, but I thought since I was in the area, I’d come down to get some coffee before I get down to the hospital."
“Sean, do you have a minute?” Tricia asks abruptly.
“Yeah,” he nods.
Thora recognizes her presence isn’t necessary. “I’ll make sure everything is handled while you’re away. And I’m thinking of you. It’s good seeing you, Sean.”
Sean’s face shifts to inquisitiveness as he responds in kind, just before the barista dashes back to work. “Hey, what’s going on? And before you tell me it’s nothing—don’t forget we were married. What is this I hear about you leaving town?”
“Well, before you alert Louise of my departure, it’s a round trip.” She lowers her voice slightly. “My mother is in the hospital because that worthless piece of crap called a husband can’t keep his hands off her.”
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RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
Decked out in protective gear over his clothes—a plastic smock, mask, and gloves—Elijah Barker steps into the room where his fiancée is recovering in the oncology ward of Radcliffe Receiving Hospital. She’s just undergone a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant, and her oncologist has advised only one visitor at a time due to her still-fragile immune system.
The sound of his footsteps draws Lynn Lockhart’s attention. She turns slightly in the bed, her once-long hair mostly buzzed from chemo and hidden beneath a blue bandana. Elijah notices, with a swell of quiet relief, that some color has returned to her face—even if she still looks a little drained.
“Either the medicine's got me hallucinating, or you're here in the flesh,” Lenny says good-naturedly.
“Sorry to ruin that sensation,” Elijah teases gently, leaning in to embrace her softly, still standing by her bedside.
“So I know you're going to hate me asking this, but… how are you feeling?”
Lenny suppresses the urge to roll her eyes—the same question everyone asks, from nurses to friends to family—but quickly replies. “Well, I won’t be driving any tractors anytime soon, but other than that, I’m all right.”
“Hopefully, you’re on your way to recovery,”
He chooses not to mention her newfound great-aunt Emma, who turned out to be her donor. That revelation comes with a tangled story, and he figures her parents would want to share it themselves—whenever the time feels right.
“So, do I still look inches away from death?” Lenny asks with a hint of a smirk.
“Not even close.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” she replies with a faint grin. “So, if you have any regrets about proposing to me, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Meanwhile, on the labor and delivery floor of the same hospital, Shauna Covington stood over the hospital bed she’d slept in for the past few days following the birth of her daughter. She was dressed in a light grey sweatshirt and dark sweatpants, her shoulder-length hair pulled back into a casual ponytail.
A light tapping at the door made her turn her head. Her husband, Max Covington, stepped into the room with a soft smile.
“Good news,” he announces, stepping farther in. “A nurse should be by with your discharge papers momentarily.”
Shauna let out a cheerful sigh of relief. “Freedom is soon in sight, thank God,” she declares with a grin as she zipped her bag shut.
Max’s gaze drifts to the dressed newborn girl resting in the hospital crib. She was turned away from them, oblivious to the conversation.
He moves over to Shauna and gently massages her shoulders, already sensing the tension.
“You sure that you are up for this?” she asks, her voice low.
He didn’t need clarification. He knew exactly what she meant—the conversation they’d had the day before, the one where he'd promised to raise the baby girl as his own, to keep Antoine, the result of a single regrettable night, from ever knowing the truth.
“I meant what I said yesterday,” he said as his hands move with quiet reassurance. “About stepping up as this little one’s father so Antoine would never know he’s the biological father.”
Then, gently, he guides Shauna to face him, his hands resting lightly on her arms. “Now, when have I ever not been serious about anything?”
“I’m serious, Max,” she said, her eyes searching his face for any trace of doubt.
His expression pivots solemn, steady. “Look, I’m not going back on what I said. I know what this will entail. But if it means we get to work to repair things between us and raise our daughter Keri Covington together…” He glances toward the crib.
“I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
Shauna was about to respond, but before a word could leave her lips, another set of footsteps entered the room. They both rotated toward the door.
Martha Saunders stood just inside, eyes narrowing with a peering expression as she tilted her head. “Back it up for me a bit,” she said. “Keri Covington?”
COVINGTON GROUP
In downtown Radcliffe, spring is finally making its claim as the last bouts of winter dissipate with sunshine and rising warmth.
Meanwhile, on the twentieth floor of the Covington Tower, in the CEO office of the Covington Group, Courtney Covington Sullivan groans as she listens to her husband's voicemail.
"Hi, it’s me. Sorry, I missed your call… Hopefully, we won’t continue to play phone tag. Bye."
She ends the call, reflecting on the precarious state of her marriage—strained by his withholding the truth about her Aunt Emma’s parentage.
Though he recently left town to tend to his son, they barely remain in touch.
A knock interrupts her thoughts.
"Come in," she calls, adopting her professional tone.
Jacques Laurent strolls in, dressed in a tailored suit and new shoes.
“Evelyn informed me you wanted to see me. I hope it's not about my performance,” he says in his potent French accent.
“Quite the opposite, actually.”
He approaches her desk, sensing something behind her businesslike demeanor. “Before we get down to what you Americans call brass tacks… what is troubling you?”
Courtney exhales and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I thought I was masking it well. Just… typical spousal issues.”
“Ah,” he says knowingly. “I'm becoming quite familiar with those myself.”
“Every time I want to talk to him, he’s unavailable. When he calls, I miss it. This time apart—it’s already creating distance.”
“It sounds like you want to talk to him and wring his neck.”
“Yes, something like that,” she admits with a half-smile. “How are things going with Emma?”
Jacques sighs. “She’s still upset, but she looks like herself again—thanks to the glam squad I hired.”
The comment gives Courtney suspension—she doubts a team of stylists can undo emotional damage—but she says nothing, knowing Jacques means well.
A knock pulls their attention toward the door. Tommy Covington steps in.
“Hey… Evelyn said you needed to see me?”
Courtney sits straighter. “Close the door.”
Once he does, she shifts fully into CEO mode. “As you both know, you worked together on the bid for the land development project. A decision has been made.”
Both men brace themselves.
“Congratulations. The bid was successfully accepted.”
Tommy looks surprised—it was well over the asking price. Jacques, confident, smiles.
Courtney notes her brother’s reaction. “They did think the price was high at first. But Jacques assured them of Covington Group’s track record for on-time construction. They decided to take the chance. Which this company can always use.”
“I figured they would see reason,” Jacques says smugly.
Tommy shakes his head, clearly unenthused by the result.
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
By now, Elijah already knows what Lenny is getting at regarding her words—any lingering doubts about his proposal, which he made on Christmas Eve when fate seemed so low it became a bright spot for them.
"Lenny," he starts, but she interjects.
"Look, Elijah, I know you proposed to me with my grandmother's ring because we all thought I was dying. But with the small percentage that I might go into remission—or even if the transplant doesn’t work—this step is hella big, and I don’t want you to regret anything."
The law student takes her hand into his and exhales slowly. "Whether we have sixty years or sixty days together, I want to spend them with you—for the rest of our lives. So, if you’re planning to get rid of me that easily, think again," he remarks sincerely.
A soft smile spreads across her face, indicating the words he said were true—though she wouldn’t readily admit she feels the same about him.
"Don't get sappy on me, Barker," she says, somewhat jokingly.
"Ha ha," he tells her as he continues to embrace her, which she graciously accepts, her head resting on his chest.
JOJO'S CAFE
By now, the exes were seated at the table near the window overlooking Main Street. Sean had just been told by Tricia that her mother, Jolene, had once again been physically abused by her husband, Wade—which was why Tricia would be flying out to California in less than three hours.
“Are you going to be alright going by yourself?” Sean asks concernedly
Tricia threw up her hands. “You know I went back and forth about it, especially since I know my mother is just going to go right back to him, and there’s not a damn thing I can do to change her mind.”
Eventually, Tricia had decided to go—even with her misgivings—since she hadn’t been back to her hometown in over fifteen years.
“You’re going because deep down, you care about Jolene,” Sean said. “I saw that when she came here. I also remember you two were getting back on track.”
Tricia smooths her throat before responding. “Good thing I didn’t put much stock into that.” Then, deciding to change the subject entirely, she added, “Anyway… how is Lenny doing?”
Sean shrugs slightly. “It’s too soon to tell medically, but… there’s a difference. I hope—” He stops himself, not wanting to jinx the outcome.
Lenny had recently undergone bone marrow treatment to fight her acute myeloid leukemia.
“I’m sure it will,” Tricia said with an emphatic nod.
“So, I take it you haven’t heard from Courtney or Jordan about the identity of the donor?”
Tricia sways her head. “Why does this sound like there’s more to the story?”
“Emma Covington is not only the donor, but she made a bit of a show out of revealing that Deirdre Covington had an affair with Louise’s grandfather…”
Tricia’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Emma is a Saunders? Wow. I guess a blood relation is the best chance for Lenny, but I can imagine this is a mess for everyone involved.”
"You have no idea. Between Esther and Steven knowing about it, most of the Saunders feeling betrayed by Esther, and Emma being pissed at Deirdre—let's just say this is going to be an adjustment for all of them."
It's no secret that the long-standing rivalry between the Saunders and Covington families makes this revelation even more difficult.
Sean glances down at the watch on his wrist. “I better grab that coffee and some goodies for Lenny, but have a safe flight, and I hope everything works out for your mother—and for you.”
He rose to his full height.
​
“From your lips to whoever is up there,” Tricia said meaningfully.
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RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
“You’ve heard correctly,” Max said as Martha walked in, catching the tail end of their conversation about the baby.
Shauna went over to the crib and gently picked up the infant. “Martha, I think it’s time you officially met your goddaughter, Keri Lee Covington.”
They named the baby after Max’s late mother, Keri, and gave her the middle name Lee in honor of Shauna’s late grandfather, Horace.
Martha moves closer, her gaze softening the moment she saw the baby.
Without a doubt, Keri is even more adorable than the day she was born—with her thick dark curls and almond-brown complexion. But none of that answered the question Martha had asked before walking in.
“Okay, I gotta admit,” Martha said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "She is a cutie, and I’m honored to be there for this little girl. But it still doesn’t answer my question—what is going on here?”
Max and Shauna traded a look, then turned their attention back to their friend.
“Well,” Shauna said, “Max and I decided that instead of me going to South Carolina, we’d raise Keri together—as our own.”
Martha didn’t bother hiding her disapproval. “But the thing is, she isn’t Max’s. I mean, if you’re planning to cut Antoine out of the picture—that he has a daughter—then y’all need to be prepared. That’s not just one lie. That’s a lifetime of lying. To Antoine, to Mae, Gus, and everyone else. Including your family, Max. And after everything both our families are going through with Emma, do you really think this is a good idea?”
“We get all of that,” Shauna said.
“Do you?” Martha asks sharply. “Because that also means lying to your child for the rest of her life. And if she ever overheard you talking about it… she might be more of a mess than Emma is now. Shauna, you grew up without your father—and half the time, without your mother. You really want that for Keri?”
Max steps forward, carefully taking the baby from Shauna and cradling her in his arms. “Martha, you’re right. My aunt is going through hell because of what my grandmother did all those years ago. But unlike my grandfather, I will never—never—let my daughter think she’s unloved just because we’re not biologically connected. And besides, what are we supposed to say? ‘Oh, Keri, even though you have my last name and hopefully my pension for sarcasm, you were conceived during a one-night stand between your mom and Antoine’?”
Martha lowers her head, then looked up again. “Of course, not… Look, I love you both. But I care about Antoine too. He might have questions—he deserves some kind of truth.”
“And we’ve already talked about that,” Shauna said defensively. “I know what I did was wrong, but I never stopped loving Max. And I don’t know many men who would step up to raise a child that isn’t theirs.”
Unbeknownst to the three, someone else had quietly entered the room.
“Okay, what’s going on here?” asks Samuel Gupta.
The couple gives quick greetings while Martha and the psychiatrist exchange an awkward glance, still navigating the ripples of their recent breakup.
“This doesn’t leave this room,” Max said firmly, noticing that Keri was beginning to fall asleep in his arms. “We will raise
Keri as our child. And Antoine will never know he’s her father.”
Samuel flickers, momentarily stunned despite already knowing the truth.
“I think it’s great you two are willing to work things out. But… I know it’s not really my place and all—but it’s not too late to change your mind. You can still tell Antoine the truth.”
Shauna folds her arms, clearly displeased. Max, however, didn’t withdraw.
“Well, it already is,” he said. “I signed the birth certificate. I’m the legal father.”
Shauna’s voice softens, though her words were firm. “Look, I know I’ve brought this drama into everyone’s lives. But
Keri deserves to grow up with two loving parents under the same roof. You both had that… and we want the same for her. Please.”
Martha and Samuel exchanges another glance. There was a long pause.
“I don't exactly agree with it, but if this is what you want, then I won't say anything.” Martha said finally.
Samuel gave a half-hearted shrug. “The therapist in me would advise otherwise. But as your friend—and unofficial uncle to your little girl—I second what Martha said.”
“Thank you,” Shauna said sincerely.
The four stood in silence, their attention falling on the tiny girl at the center of it all—each of them knowing, for better or worse, they’d just made a decision that would shape her life forever.
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END OF EPISODE
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ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
The Covington's find themselves in close quarters.
Jes receives an unwanted phone call.
Samuel isn't keen on a recent development.
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