EPISODE 20
Written by : Bre L. Drew
Last Time on Town and Country
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On her way out of The Chateau Lorraine literally ran into Courtney who told her they need to talk.
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Trying to reprimand Lynn for having the unsupervised party Lynn made it known to him that Tanner was the first one to know about his " affair."
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Martha was sadden when her baby's father Murray Hirsch told her in so many words that he didn't want an active role in their child's life.
THE CHATEAU
For the last twenty-four hours, Courtney Covington has tried to occupy herself with work and other welcome distractions. That is mainly the reason why she decided to bring her father a proposal that he wanted a potential client to look over here at the restaurant. The last thing she expected was to actually run into the former wife of her current beau. Until last night she didn't know she existed nor their young son together. She had to find out when they came out of the blue during the dinner being held out at the farm that Courtney and Steven threw to show both of their families that they're serious about dating one another for the long haul.
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Gathering the forms to place back in the file and trying not to look at Lorraine Sullivan. Something inside of her knew that the two of them couldn't go on acting awkward toward one another. That is the reason why she told her that they have to talk.
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Lorraine stands up at her height of five foot seven, Courtney had to admit she was beautiful with her long legs, her hair, light brown nearly blonde, she is wearing a Black Sleeveless Asymmetrical Mixed Media, Blouse and dark slacks which looks great on her lean frame.
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"So are we going to chat here in front of everyone or?" Lorraine asks with a bit of sarcasm. Nonetheless, she did have a strong point since some of the people that saw the accident were still watching them.
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The two women go over to the bar, where only one other customer was sitting. But he was tied up in his phone conversation.
" Before you try to yell at me for ruining your get-together the other night I did not know you were dating Steven and trust me I wouldn't showed up out of the blue. " Lorraine says
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Lorraine finds it peculiar that her ex-husband is dating someone who is barely one generation older than their five year old son.
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" How long are you staying in town ? " Courtney asks trying to sound less nervous than she is.
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Lorraine chuckles. " I think you're close to forgiving him so you're trying to find out whether or not my son and I will
" keep" being distractions on your road to making up. "
​Already less than five minutes of being in her presence and Courtney is tired of this woman getting defensive everytime she opens her mouth. It makes her quite suspicious about her true intentions.
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"Whether or not I forgive Steven is none of your damn business but don't worry Lorraine if I do, I won't keep him from seeing his son like you did, now excuse me." Courtney takes off from the leaving Lorraine rolling her eyes.
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FRANKLIN FARM
On this hot late summer afternoon, Steven Sullivan was feeling quite grateful. After months of not being able to see his little boy that all changed when put his foot down to his ex-wife and suggested that Evan can not only spend the entire day but night as well. He is now feeding carrots to one of the three American Quarter horses in the stable on the farm.
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"Look, Daddy, he is eating." Evan Sullivan enthusiastically says.
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"You're doing a good job too buddy." Steven replies. He can't take his sight off the little boy who has his love of animals like he does too.
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"Daddy how come you didn't come see me when you and mommy stopped living together?" Evan asks.
Steven couldn't find the right words besides he doesn't believe belittling Lorraine in front of him. But by the time he can find something age appropriate for him to say for him to understand. He sees his mother walking into the stables.
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"Grandma," Evan excitedly shouts out.
"Come here, baby." Esther Saunders calls out.
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Evan walks fast then runs the rest of the way he then is taken into his paternal grandmother's arms.
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"I'm spending the night grandma." Evan informs her a little too loud.
Esther smiles. "That's good because I hear your Aunt Sarah is making her famous batch of oatmeal raisin cookies and now you can be her official test taster."
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As she watches him smiling she knows that in spite of blackmailing Lorraine to bring him to Radcliffe or she would persuade her son to take her court for custody. She is satisfied that at least some good has come out of this.
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"So, I see that Lorraine had a change of heart then." Esther assumes.
Steven nods his head. "I guess you can say so, I'm not going to waste time with my son and hopefully, she'll let me spend more time with him."
The two of them see Martha Saunders walk in with her cheeks flushed and eyes still damp from crying.
"Hey," she greets her aunt and cousin.
"You all right Cus?" Steven asks.
Esther puts her arm around her niece's shoulder, she then lowers her voice. " Martha Rae, what's wrong? "
" Everyone is going to find out anyway … " Martha says. She then gives the summation of calling to inform her baby's father Murry Hirsch that he is going to be a father and he told her he couldn't do it which means in so many words that he is not going to play a pivotal role in his child's life.
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"That jackass is going to regret not being part of his own child's life, Martha." Steven says.
"Your cousin is right, it is his loss that he chose not to support you or more importantly his own flesh and blood. " Esther informs her.
After she finishes wiping the water from her eyes. She does a double take at the little boy feeding one of the horses.
"Is that who I think it is?"
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"I don't know who that little boy is." Steven replies comically.
Martha expresses a grin on her face and she goes over to her first cousin once removed. She quickly hugs him and is happy that he remembers her from the last time she saw him. Steven then goes over to the two of them.
Esther takes a few steps outside of the stables back into the warm heat. She locates the number in her iPhone who she wants to speak with and hits it with her nail then she puts her iPhone to her right ear.
"Hey Shauna, how are you sweetheart? … I'm doing well, Martha needs you and Antoine right now. " She then peaks into the stable where she is helping Evan feed the carrot to another horse.
LOCKHART LAKE COTTAGE
From the moment when the doctor placed her in his arms sixteen years ago, Sean Lockhart always had a special bond with his slightly older twin daughter. So earlier when his other daughter Lynn had told him that Tanner was the first one to find out about him being with another woman it broke his heart that his daughter was carrying it around for such a long time.
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He approaches her bedroom door upstairs of the residential lake cottage. He can hear her playing a song on her violin which sounds perfectly in tune with her typical dedication. Hastily, he prepares himself before he balls his hand into a fist to knock on the door.
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"Come in!" she calls out
Sean steps into her bedroom where he sees Tanner holding her violin and bow in each hand. The look on her face is evident that he is the last person she expected.
"Hey, Pretty Princess," Sean casually greets her.
"Uh, Dad, what do you want? I really have to practice." Tanner informs him. Already sensing what he wants to talk about with her.
"I need to talk to you." Sean says
FRANKLIN FARM : MAIN HOUSE
Alone in the living room lying on the green sofa with a throw blanket on her. Martha was beginning to read one of those What do you need to know before you have a baby book that she purchased from the bookstore earlier this afternoon.
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Knowing that she only has about seven more months before the baby gets here and as she skims through the pages, she has a long way to go before knowing how to be a mother.
Just as she turns the next page, the doorbell rings, knowing that the rest of the family are either outside or away. She finds herself getting off the couch. Her hand pulls the door open and she sees her two best friends, Shauna Jackson and Antoine Hall, both wearing sympathetic looks on their faces.
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Shauna throws her arms around her best friend in comfort. She lets go as Martha motions for them to come in. Shauna sits beside her on the couch whilst Antoine sits in one of the love seats.
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" Let me guess either my momma or Aunt Esther called to tell you everything that happened right? " Martha asks
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" Esther called and told me that the two of us needed to come over." Shauna says.
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Martha sighs, preparing herself to tell the story again. " Shauna remember when I told you that I was going to call Murray to tell him about … she then gestures to her belly.
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" Yeah" Shauna replies
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" He does not want anything to do with me or his child, " she informs them.
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Shauna scoots over and hugs her friend again. " You know what? Screw him because I'm here to tell you that a child can be a success without their father in their lives. "
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"Absolutely," Antoine agrees with his on and off again lover.
"And like I told you have all of us to help out when you need it." Shauna tells her.
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"Besides karma is gonna catch up to him you can believe that." Antoine mentions.
Tears start coming out of Martha's eyes again, but this time more of a reassurance is behind her crying. " Thank you guys for coming over I know that I will always be able to count on you two. "
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Shauna stands up from the couch. " How about we go get some pizza? " It'll be Antoine's treat. "
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" I can go for some pepperoni with black olives right about now. " Martha says. She then picks up her cell phone and purse off the coffee table.
The three of them head out of the door towards Antoine's 2008 Black Ford Focus.
LOCKHART LAKE COTTAGE
Tanner sighs at his statement she then places her instrument back into the case that is sitting on the floor beside her music stand. She then snaps it shut knowing she won't be able to practice after what will be said.
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" I know with everything going on which I'm the cause of, but like I told your sister I'm still your father and I love you and it doesn't matter what happens I will always be there for you. " Sean says wholeheartedly.
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Tanner faces him. "Dad, Lynn and I love you so much and to me, you've always been my hero and when I found out --- you were cheating on mom all of those years of you checking under my bed or closet for the monsters or taking me around the farm on the tractor seem like a distant memory. "
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Sean takes a seat on the edge of the bed. " How did you find out about --- you know what? "
Tanner slaps her hands onto her pants. " The last day of school when we were talking in the kitchen, I had gone upstairs to put my stuff in here and when I came back downstairs I heard you on the phone talking and as I was about to walk in. I heard you say -- that you loved her and you couldn't wait to be with her for good. " She could feel the tears wallowing up in her eyes.
Sean cries. " I'm so sorry that you had to hear that. "
" Well, unfortunately, dad I did. "
" Like I told to you earlier, I love you and your sister, nothing is ever going to change that, " he says. Sean then kisses his daughter's forehead and then leaves the room.
Before he hits the staircase, he takes out his iPhone and dials the familiar cell phone number.
" It's me, I think it's time we tell the girls about everything Louise. "
FRANKLIN FARM : MAIN HOUSE
For the past ten minutes or so, Steven and Evan have been in the middle of watching Spider-Man on the flat screen TV in the living room. Steven is definitely not taking this time with his son for granted and hopes that Lorraine and he can work something out regarding a proper custody arrangement without any mediation from legal proceedings.
" Those cookies smell good. " Evan says with all of the happiness of someone his age that loves sweets.
" They sure do big man. " Steven agrees
The whiff of Sarah Lynn's homemade oatmeal raisin cookies coming from the kitchen makes Steven want to eat a few himself right now.
On screen when Spider-Man is leaping off tall buildings, The sound of the doorbell has Steven getting off the couch wondering who it can be?
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When he opens the door, he finds Courtney standing there in a off the shoulder blue floral print dress carrying a designer purse.
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" Can I come in? " Courtney asks with the decorum she was raised with.
Steven still is quiet as he signals her to come in. Evan turns his head away from the TV to see the young woman entering his family house and recalls seeing her about twenty-four hours ago.
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" Hi, " Evan greets her.
" Hi, " Courtney says
Steven stands a few feet by the door and slowly makes his way to the couch. He places a protective arm around his son as he gives a meaningful look to his girlfriend.
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" Evan, I want you to meet a special person, This is Courtney, and Courtney this is my son Evan Sullivan. "
" Nice to meet you, Evan. " Courtney says
" Uh buddy, you know what? How about going in the kitchen and seeing how long Aunt Sarah Lynn is going to torture us until we can get some cookies. Steven tells him.
Evan salutes him. " Okay " then he runs into the kitchen.
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Courtney uneasily laughs. " He's adorable. "
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" That he is. " Steven replies.
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"About what happened" Courtney starts.
" I've should have told you about me having an ex-wife and a son a lot sooner. But honestly, I thought you wouldn't want to continue seeing me. " Steven remarks.
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" Why not? " Look I was angry, humiliated, shocked, you name it I was last night and it wasn't just because you lied to me? I can accept you not telling me about your son or your former spouse. It's just that … I don't want us to have any more secrets between us that can affect our relationship. "
Steven carefully nods. " So do you need time more apart? "
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" No, I don't need time away from you. How are we gonna build some type of relationship? If we don't get to know one another? " she tells him. "Besides if you can give me a second chance when I was not upfront with you about being Daniel Covington's daughter." So, I'm willing to give you another chance. And it's not like you were arrested for murder or anything else heinous."
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Steven can't help but smile. The two of them hug each other. Then their lips lock in a kiss which is the sign that they have mended fences.
"I forgot to tell you that I literally ran into Lorraine earlier. " Courtney says
"Really? " Steven asks
"Yeah, I was at The Chateau to give my dad some papers for a meeting and she ran into me seems like she had something on her mind."
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Steven shakes his head. " You know what, let's not focus on her right now.
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Courtney then turns towards the door. " I'll give you the rest of the day to be with your son ,we'll catch up tomorrow."
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" Yes, Ma'am." Steven then kisses Courtney more intensely.
He lets Courtney out of the front door. The sense of relief rushes over him that he has another shot with the person he might have a future with.
END OF EPISODE
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Sean and Louise have a heated confrontation.
Daniel is taken back by Courtney and Steven's reconciliation.
Lorraine gets solace from someone.
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