EPISODE 334
Written by: Bre L Drew
March 10, 2025
Last Time on Town and Country
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Managing to gather the Saunders family and her mother together at the hospital, Emma boastfully revealed that not only was she the donor match for Lenny, but she was also a Saunders—shocking everyone in the room, including Deirdre.
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Meanwhile, Murph informed Max that Shauna's last known location was on the yacht. Without wasting any time, Max made his way there, only to be surprised when he found Shauna in labor. Initially thinking it was their baby, Shauna clarified that the child was Antoine's.
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Before Samuel was called away, he and Jes were having lunch at The Waterfall. It was there that Samuel noticed Antoine's obvious attraction to her, which hadn't escaped the psychiatrist's attention.
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Elsewhere, Jai had some reservations about allowing Jes to move in with them at the cottage, unsure about the potential complications of having her so close.
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
Surprisingly, the staff of the oncology department of Radcliffe Receiving were oblivious to the drama unfolding mere feet away from them. Emma Covington Laurent had just revealed in the waiting room, surrounded by her newfound biological family and her mother, Deirdre, that she was the daughter of Jimmy Saunders, which made her the perfect candidate to be the donor for Lenny, who was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. From the shocked expressions on their faces, it was clear that no one had seen this coming... well, most of them, anyway.
"What did you just say?" Louise Saunders Lockhart asks, the first to speak up, processing the revelation that Emma, the little sister of her first love is also somehow the daughter of her late grandfather.
Emma didn't flinch at the question. She held their gazes unwaveringly. "You all heard correctly."
"Emma," Deirdre Covington intervened, but her voice was drowned out by the chaos around her. Everyone else was too stunned to hear.
"How is that possible?" Sarah Lynn Saunders asks, trying to piece everything together.
"Ha," Emma scoffs, the bitterness evident in her tone. "Well, actually, it isn’t that much of a long story, is it?" She turned toward her mother, who wore a look of both worry and embarrassment. "It seems all those years ago, my mother found someone who could 'itch her scratch'—the one my father, oops, I mean Patrick, wasn’t scratching. A few thrusts in the rickety old bed and nine months later, poof, I arrived. But my mother decided it was best no one would ever know about her little affair."
"That was not how it was," Deirdre said, her voice tight, clenched teeth betraying her frustration.
Meanwhile, across the room, Esther Saunders exchanges a worried glance with her son Steven Sullivan, both of whom already knew the truth before Emma’s revelation.
"Then tell me how it was, then, mother," Emma shoots back.
"You see, I refuse to be anyone's dirty little secret anymore. And in fact, my mother isn’t the only one in this room to know about my origins."
She heaves a piercing glare in Esther's direction.
ONE AND ONLY
"Max, I have to tell you something."
"Shh," he told her, gently. "Concentrate on bringing this baby into this world. We'll have time to talk later."
Shauna inhales deeply and exhales slowly, focusing on her breath. "Max, this baby isn’t yours… It’s Antoine’s. I’m so sorry."
​In what seemed like a Happily Ever After just moments ago, Max Covington had been informed of his estranged wife’s whereabouts by his father’s private investigator. This led him to his yacht, where he was elated to find her along with Martha Saunders. But the joy quickly faded when he realized Shauna was in labor, and the overwhelming thought of becoming a father hit him.
Max, though confused, encouraged her to keep going, but Shauna’s next words shattered the reunion.
Now frozen by her bedside, the words sinking in like an anvil. His gaze diverts to Martha, who knows what happened from moment one.
Max’s mind flashes back to their last anniversary at The Waterfall, where he had seen Shauna and Antoine engaged in a private conversation. At the time, he thought little of it. But now, it hit him: the conversation wasn’t about their future. It was about betrayal—about them sleeping together behind his back while he sat clueless.
Before he could process the mess unfolding, footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Samuel Gupta, unaware of the turmoil, stepped into the room.
He was about to speak when his eyes landed on Shauna, breathing heavily through contractions, and then turned to Max, who looked utterly bewildered by the situation. Samuel’s gaze shifted to his ex, who had called him earlier for help with delivering the baby. He had no idea Shauna was pregnant, especially since she’d been gone for months.
Martha clumsily steps closer to Samuel. "Like I explained to you over the phone, it's complicated."
Max’s voice cut through the tension. "You can say that again." He then storms out of the bedroom, leaving an uncomfortable silence in the air.
Shauna’s voice, an indication of worry and apologetic, reached him. "Max?"
"How are you feeling?" Samuel asks, his voice filled with regard as he watches his friend.
Shauna pants, beads of sweat gathering on her forehead as another contraction hit. "Tired," she managed between breaths.
The psychiatrist, folding his arms with determination, finally spoke. "All right, I’m going to need some things so we can deliver this baby."
VICTORY COTTAGE
Jai Gupta quickly dashes from his SUV in the driveway, stepping into the chilly weekday afternoon, and making his way into the two-story cottage where he lives with his wife and family. He spots Mala focusing on work in the kitchen, and a mischievous grin crosses his face as he sneaks up behind her. She’s about to ask what he's up to when she sees the long-stemmed red roses and a box of chocolates in his hands.
"Oh, Jai, you shouldn’t have," Mala Gupta says, her surprise evident.
Jai licks his lips, pleased with the reaction. "I know Valentine's Day has come and gone, but why be a slave to Hallmark traditions?"
Mala smiles, setting the flowers and candy on the table. "Thank you so much for these. Um...we’re all right?"
​Jai takes off his coat, revealing a green sweatshirt and dark jeans. "Why does bringing you flowers, and chocolate mean something’s wrong?"
"Because last time we talked about letting Jes live here, you had some reservations."
Jai exhales, pinching his nose briefly. "Mala, you know why."
Before Mala can respond, the sound of the door opening catches their attention, and Jes Choudhury steps inside, a bright expression on her face. "Hey, hey."
"Hi," the couple says in unison, leaving Jes to wonder if they’d been discussing her.
"I hope I'm not interrupting you both?"
Jai stays quiet as Mala shakes her head. "No, we were just talking about Aaliyah’s interview with that clothing factory in Hudson Lake," she lies in her British accent.
Despite her academic success, Aaliyah is still having issues finding substantial employment since graduating from college.
"Did Samuel drop you off before he left?" Jai queries.
Jes tucks a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "Not exactly. He got an emergency call while we were at The Waterfall, so I just took a cab back.
"The price of being associated with a doctor," Mala says proudly
"Hey, can I run something by you guys?" she asks, her voice uncertain.
"Of course," Mala remarks.
"Is me staying here with you all an issue?" Jes asks, her gaze shifting between them.
ONE AND ONLY
On the yacht, Samuel prepares everything he needs to help Shauna deliver the baby.
"I'll be honest and tell you that I haven't been part of a labor and delivery team since my rotation during my residency at Northwestern," Samuel admits,
Shauna, however, barely registers his statement. As long as she had a doctor to help her bring the baby into the world, that was all that mattered. Her eyes flicker briefly to the space beside her, where her husband should have been
The air was tense as Shauna grips Martha’s hand, trying to focus through the pain. Samuel, adjusting his gloves, glanced at them both before speaking.
“It’ll be a little while longer, Shauna,” he said softly, his tone reassuring. “Just keep breathing.”
Shauna’s breathing is heavy, her face flushes with exhaustion as she glances at Martha. “Max hates me,” she said, her voice breaking slightly.
Martha shook her head, squeezing Shauna’s hand tightly. “No, he doesn’t hate you. He’s just... upset. And confused.”
Shauna’s eyes fill up with tears. “I can’t blame him after everything... after what I did. So, when it's safe to travel the baby and I will leave town, and I probably won't have to file for divorce because Max will probably have the head start."
Samuel, who had been preparing the necessary supplies, paused at her words. He overheard the quiet pain in Shauna’s voice.
Meanwhile, Martha, sensing the emotional tension, leans down and kissed Shauna’s forehead. “I’ll be right back,” she said softly, stepping away and leaving the room.
Martha made her way to the main deck, where Max stood alone, staring out at the water, his posture stiff and frustrated.
The breeze whips through his hair as he mutters to himself.
"I take it you knew all of this time too, right?" he said bitterly, his voice festooned with anger. "And now I’m just supposed to accept this mess?"
Martha approaches him carefully. "Max, she didn’t want this. She didn’t want any of it. I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be. But she’s in labor, and she needs you by her side."
Max turns to her, his frustration still on his face. "For months, she made me think that it was something I did to make her leave and all this time her guilt of fucking Antoine was what made her leave."
"I think it's little more than that, Max."
Max scoffs bitterly. "I thought she was half away around the world. But instead, she's less than fifty miles away hiding the fact that she is having that cocky asshole's child.—" His words trail off.
"It's kind of funny," he adds. "He was the one to tell me to get off my ass and look for her. How convenient?"
Martha looks at the mostly frozen lake water, letting him get things off his chest as her eyes soften with empathy. “I'm in no way trying to undermine your feelings, Max. But Shauna's going through this alone, and she needs you right now."
Martha turned away, her boots clicking against the cold, hardwood as she made her way back toward the yacht.
Max stood silently for a moment, absorbing her words. The chill in the air seemed to match the weight he was carrying inside, but he could hear Martha’s plea in his mind.
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
Still in the waiting room at Radcliffe Receiving Hospital, Emma’s gaze remains sharply on Esther. Deirdre quickly tries to interject, but before she can speak, Courtney Covington Sullivan asks her paternal aunt. "What does she have to do with all of this?"
Emma didn’t hesitate, her voice cutting through the tension. "Esther knew all along," she said, her tone cold. "Didn't you, big sis?"
"This isn't the time or place to do this," Sean Lockhart proclaims.
But his statement doesn't gain much traction.
Louise raises an eyebrow, glancing at Esther before turning back to Emma.
"I highly doubt that," Courtney remarks of her mother-in-law, though the look on her husband's face states otherwise.
The businesswoman stood there, silent, before her eyes flicker to Deirdre. "I had my suspicions for years," Esther said quietly, finally breaking the silence. "But I never got confirmation until some time ago.And the one day I was on my way to leave here from visiting Emma when she was in her coma,” Esther began, her voice calm and steady. “I accidentally bumped into a nurse, and Emma's records scattered. I saw we—uh—shared the same blood type, and I put two and two together."
“And she somehow got onto our property to get some of my daughter’s hair to do a DNA test against herself,” Deirdre suddenly confesses.
Emma’s lips curl into a wry smile as she addresses the room, her voice carrying a hint of playful defiance. "Well, you two have more in common than you think. And since we're all confessing our so-called souls here," she pauses, her gaze narrowing, "I found out the day Esther came by the mansion to convince Deirdre to let me donate, without telling me about my newfound connection. But what you two didn’t know... I overheard most of what was said before I got the hell out of there."
Deirdre slowly turns around, her face shifting into a mixture of unease and pity as she looks at her daughter.
"All my life, I never really felt like I belonged in the family. I guess now I know why." She leans back; her voice tight with bitterness.
Deirdre shook her head, stepping closer, her voice soft and pleading. "Look, I know you are lashing out because you feel betrayed, but this is not something this should be continued in public."
Emma mainly maintains her composure though falls silent.
VICTORY COTTAGE
The husband and wife exchange a knowing glance before Mala responds, walking up to Jes with a warm smile. "Now why would we have a problem with you living with us?"
Jes looks at her, then glances at Jai, a slight speculation in her eyes. "Well, as a lawyer, I’ve gotten pretty good at detecting when people say or do one thing and mean another."
Jai clears his throat at that statement, his expression stiffening. "Look, Jes, if I’ve made you feel that way, I apologize."
Mala shifts her gaze to her husband with a knowing glance, then turns back to the younger woman. "It’s true, Jes. We’ve always been here for you."
Jes nods gradually, absorbing their words. "I accept your apology. I’m also aware that I can live solely on your charity, but my next step is to get a car and maybe lease some office space for my firm. I’m sure I’ll figure it out."
"Something tells me you will." Mala proudly proclaims.
Just then, Jes’s phone vibrates in her pocket. She pulls it out and glances at the screen before answering. "Hi, Mom," she says, her voice softening.
"I’m doing all right. How are you and Dad?" She starts walking toward the stairs.
As Jes heads upstairs, Mala walks over to the box of chocolates and opens it, selecting a dark chocolate piece. Jai, standing nearby, picks a milk chocolate one with nuts. The two share a look before simultaneously popping the chocolates into their mouths.
For a moment, only the soft sound of their chewing fills the air, as the weight of the conversation lingers.
ONE AND ONLY
The room is filled with the steady rhythm of labor, punctuated by Shauna’s labored breaths. Sweat glistened on her forehead as she grasped Martha's hand, her face contorting in pain. The tension in the air was palpable, but Martha stayed by her best friend's side, her eyes full of unwavering support while dampening a moist cloth on her friend's forehead.
Martha glances over at Samuel, her former lover, her voice faint with concern. “How is she doing, Samuel? Is everything alright?”
Samuel, his focus entirely on Shauna, nods “It’s time. Shauna, you can go ahead and push now.”
Shauna’s body tenses as she pushes, grunting with the effort.
Samuel’s voice, calm and authoritative, cut through the chaos. “Stop—take a breath, Shauna. Just breathe. You’ve got this.”
Martha maintains her friend’s hand tighter, leaning in to whisper words of encouragement. "You’re doing great, Shauna. Just breathe and focus."
Shauna’s face was flushed with exertion, her body quivering with exhaustion. She nodded and, after a few seconds, gave it another determined push.
Max quietly steps in. His eyes immediately landed on Shauna, and for a moment, the situation hit him with full force. He crossed the room quickly and sat beside her, taking her hand, his face pale and filled with concern.
Martha stood by Samuel, offering stable assistance. Shauna, her breath ragged and uneven, glanced at Max, her eyes filled with both hope and fear. She was so tired. So close. But when Max looked at her, she thought—just for a moment—that he might leave again.
But then, Max spoke softly, his voice steady despite the emotions swirling within him. “Push, Shauna. You can do this.”
Shauna couldn’t believe he was still here. And with renewed strength, she pushes again.
The room filled with the sound of cries, the unmistakable wail of a newborn, and Samuel's voice broke through the noise. “It’s a girl.”
For a brief, surreal moment, everything seemed to stand still. Max’s heartbeat reverberates in his chest, and he looks at the tiny life, squirming life in Samuel’s hand wrapped in a blanket.
Martha steps forward, her voice is soft but acute. “Max wanna cut the cord?”
Max’s initial instinct was to refute, to step back from the responsibility. His hands were shaking as he looked down at the tiny girl, her brown skin wrinkled and still, her little body writhing in the doctor’s hands. But something deep within him shifted. He took the scissors and his hands were trembling as he cut the cord, the significance of the moment pressing down on him. Holding her in his arms, the girl felt so fragile despite being a healthy weight, though looks up at him for a brief moment, as though trying to take in the world for the first time.
Max held her carefully, feeling a rush of emotions. The helplessness, the innocence, the beauty of her. His breath caught as he looked at her, but he knew what he had to do. With a quiet exhale, he passed her into Shauna’s waiting arms.
Exhausted, but filled with awe, Shauna cradles the baby against her chest. The tears in her eyes were a mixture of relief and love as she stared down at her daughter. “She’s so beautiful,” Shauna whispers, her voice thick with emotion.
Samuel, watching the quiet, tender moment unfold, cleared his throat softly. “If you two need to talk, then I think we can hold off going to the hospital."
Max stood silent, his gaze on Shauna and her daughter. He sighed, but there was a void behind his words. “We have nothing else to say.” he replies
Without another word, Max turns and steps away from them. His footsteps were heavy as he walked toward the exit, leaving the room and the people who needed him behind.
Shauna watches him go, her heart aching. The glance they shared spoke volumes—her pain, his unresolved emotions, the weight of everything left unsaid.
The door shuts behind him, and a thick silence populates the room, broken only by the soft sound of the baby’s cries. Martha, Samuel, and Shauna share discomfort looks, unsure what would happen next.
RADCLIFFE RECEIVING HOSPITAL
Deirdre's eyes narrowed as she turned her glare toward Esther. "If you never came to me, none of this would have happened," she spat, her voice sharp, thick with bitterness and accusation.
Steven and Courtney quickly position themselves between the two women, trying to block any further escalation.
Meanwhile, Sean quietly excused himself, muttering to Louise that he was going to check on Lenny and see if his tests were done—feeling that this conversation wasn’t exactly his place to be a part of.
"With all due respect, Deirdre," Steven's voice cut through the tension like a blade, "Do not blame my mother for this. The only thing she did was keep a truth that wasn't hers to tell."
Courtney, sensing his reaction to the situation, slowly turned to her husband, eyes wide in realization. "You knew too, didn't you?"
The glare Steven is loaded with both guilt and frustration, but it doesn't shield the truth from her.
Before he could respond, Deirdre, shaking with anger, storms off in the direction of her daughter, leaving behind a wake of silence in her departure.
Courtney's voice trembled slightly but remained firm. "I think you owe me an explanation."
Steven already braces himself for the difficult conversation that awaits him with his wife.
Meanwhile, Sarah Lynn, still standing quietly by the side, approaches her sister-in-law, her curiosity getting the best of her. "How come I got a feeling that there is more to this story?" she asked, her voice tinged with bafflement.
As the chaos unfolded, Louise finally took a hesitant step toward Emma, her face softening with gratitude. "Emma, I just want to thank you for donating to Lenny I know right now it might not seem like much, but I do hope everything works out for you."
Emma's emotions were too raw, shook her head as she started to turn away. "Sure you're welcome," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but filled with a cold finality.
She moves toward the elevators, Deirdre, having caught up with her, tries to reach out, but Emma is already walking away. "Emma! Can we please talk?"
Though no words were muttered, dismissing her mother with a flick of her wrist, before slipping into the elevator.
As the doors close, Emma's carefully controlled facade shatters. Alone in the small space, she let out a sob, her heart breaking under the weight of decades of lies. Thirty-plus years of secrets and betrayals, all culminating in this moment, where everything was finally out in the open. She couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears came, unsolicited, and for the
first time, Emma allows herself to break.
​
END OF EPISODE
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ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Deirdre seeks solace.
Emma comes undone.
Max contemplates the future.
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