EPISODE 363
Written by: Bre L Drew
October 14, 2025
Last Time on Town and Country
-
Despite Samuel’s best efforts, he can’t get Jolene to open up about the domestic abuse she endured from Wade.
-
Meanwhile, Wade is back in Radcliffe, determined to win Jolene over again—by any means necessary.
-
Tommy and Tanner have slipped into an emotional affair, despite Tommy’s marriage to Jordan and Tanner’s recent breakup with Presley.
FIRST STREET METHODIST CHURCH
On this weekday afternoon, Presley McKnight sits behind his desk in his office at First Street Methodist Church, going back and forth between his laptop and a yellow legal pad. The associate reverend reviews his handwritten notes before transferring them to a Word document to compose the upcoming sermon for Sunday.
Soon, a sharp knock on the door makes him look up from his work. He calls out for whoever it is to come in.
Jordan Covington saunters into the room wearing a long gray jacket over black heeled boots. Her blonde hair is neatly styled, and she carries her purse in her hand.
“Hey, I didn’t expect to see you today,” he says, surprised.
Jordan removes her coat, revealing a sleeveless dress, and sets her purse on the nearby sofa. “Well, I haven’t burst into flames… so that’s a good sign,” she jokes.
“A good sign indeed.”
Jordan doesn’t waste time with pleasantries.
“I heard about the breakup with Tanner.”
​She had overheard their parents talking about it the other day—an issue for her, since she knows her husband is still very much in love with Tanner despite their marriage.
Presley nods, trying to maintain his composure. Though he’s in a better place now, part of him still wishes things hadn’t ended, though they had managed to make peace with it.
“It’s all good.”
“Is it though?” she asks skeptically.
ESTHER SAUNDERS STABLES
Tanner Lockhart internally rejoices at being outside her great-aunt’s office at the stables this afternoon. She’s been covering the phones and handling administrative work all morning, so she decides to take a walk during her break before treating herself to the lunch she prepared the night before.
By coincidence, she finds herself in the tack room—the space that houses all the riding accessories. Not long after, someone suddenly pops up from around the corner, nearly scaring her. But seeing who it is, her heart rate slowly begins to descend.
“You scared the crap out of me!” she exclaims. “What are you doing? Someone could walk in here.”
Tommy Covington chuckles good-naturedly as he steps closer to her. “Your Aunt Esther’s not around, and no more students are scheduled until later. So… you’re mine for a little while.”
The two have found themselves getting close again, having agreed to an emotional affair of sorts. Since he’s married,
Tanner remains adamant about not sleeping with him until things change, though their reconnection still feels deeply special to them both.
Tanner shakes her head with a grin. “You’re crazy.”
Tommy smiles. “Crazy for you.”
The tension shifts—playful, then passionate—as the two share a deep, stolen kiss. They’ve been secretly seeing each other, using quiet moments at the stables to stay under the radar, desperate to keep their connection hidden.
JOJO'S CAFE
The intense, soulful vocals of Morgan James’ cover of “Thunderstruck” play through the Jojo Café’s sound system, casting a moody, sultry vibe across the space. The café is situated in autumn décor—signaling the arrival of fall.
Behind the counter, Thora McKnight stands dutifully, grateful for the slow trickle of customers today. She’s been running the place mostly on her own.
Moments later, the door opens quietly, and in walks a tall, white man in his sixties. He’s dressed in a red long-sleeve button-down shirt, a leather jacket, worn jeans, and casual shoes. Thora doesn’t recognize him as a regular—or even as someone who lives in Radcliffe, a town where new faces are rare—but he approaches the counter with purpose.
“Hi, what can I get started for you?” Thora asks in her usual upbeat tone.
“Hello, gorgeous,” he says smoothly, and Thora can’t help but smile at the unexpected charm. “I’ll just take a large coffee—black.”
“One large black coffee coming up,” she replies, punching the order into the register.
As he hands her cash, he adds with a wink, “Keep the change.”
“Well, we always appreciate a new customer around here,” she says.
“After my time here, it’s finally good to be treated with some southern hospitality,” the man remarks.
“Obviously, you’re not from around these parts, huh?”
“Not quite,” he answers, his tone turning a touch more serious. “Which is why I hope you can answer this for me?"
Thora folds her arms lightly across her chest. “I’m all ears.”
“Do you happen to know where a decent florist is around here?” he states. “I gotta admit that I left things with my wife in a not-so-good way, and I want to make it up to her in a big way.”
“Try the one at the end of the block,” Thora says. “I’ve known the owners for a long time. And I hope your wife sees you’re making the effort,” she adds.
“Me too,” he says cordially. “Thanks for the recommendation—and the coffee,” he replies.
As Thora steps into the back to prepare his drink, the man exhales, the weight of his thoughts weighing down on him.
Wade Wood has found his next stop, and with the florist now in mind, he’s more determined than ever to make Jolene see that he isn’t letting her go.
WHEELER BUIDILING
Despite the brisk outdoor weather, Jolene Wood wears a purple sweatsuit, her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail with loose strands sticking out at the sides. She walks back through the lobby of the four-story building where she lives with her daughter, using the walk to distract herself from the ongoing troubles in her life. As she heads toward the elevator, the best of REO Speedwagon plays through her earbuds.
Jolene finds herself reflecting on the impromptu session she had with Samuel earlier. She hadn’t been entirely forthcoming about her issues with Wade—though she’s never really been open about that part of her life with anyone.
She’s kept it bottled up for years, despite how much her daughter has witnessed. Now that Wade is back in town, she feels uncertain about what to do next.
Suddenly, she feels a tap on her shoulder, prompting her to swiftly turn around—half-expecting to see her husband. Instead, she’s met by a tall white man around her age with blonde hair, wearing a brown long-sleeve button-down shirt and dark blue jeans.
He gestures for her to remove her earbuds, and she complies.
“Sorry for startling you,” he says. “I was just letting you know the elevators will be out of service for a couple of hours for maintenance checks.”
She glances at the typed sign on the wall between the elevator doors and nods. “Thanks.”
“Are you okay?” he asks gently.
Jolene, slightly on edge, replies, “Why wouldn’t I be?”
The man shrugs. “I don’t know—I just tend to get a sense about these things.”
She gives a polite nod, brushing it off. “Thanks again.”
With that, she heads toward the stairs, leaving the man—Ernest McKnight, who had only been trying to help—watching her go. That uneasy feeling about her remains.
ESTHER SAUNDERS STABLES
Inside the stables, Tommy and Tanner are tucked away in a quiet corner. After their make out session, the air between them is filled with softness and openness—something they know is temporary, like all their stolen moments together. Still, they both try not to dwell on it.
Though Tommy would go further if she let him, he respects her boundaries, especially given their shared past and how delicate it still is.
As they settle beside one another, Tanner sighs thoughtfully. "I've, uh, been considering something," she tells him.
Tommy asks, “Is it about us?”
“In a way,” she replies. “I’ve been thinking about reapplying to vet schools.”
“That’s always been something you’ve wanted.”
Tanner runs a hand through her shoulder-length brown hair. "Well, as much as I enjoy working here, I’ve got to admit—I need something more in life, to give me some direction."
She had always planned to go to veterinary school after college, but when her twin sister, Lenny, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, she decided to defer until her sister recovered—which, thankfully, she has.
Tommy looks at her earnestly. "I mean, between you being smart as hell and your love for animals—especially horses—you’d have no problem getting in anywhere you want."
"It’s just something I’m considering.” she says cautiously
Tommy touches the side of her face gently and says, “Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”
He kisses her forehead softly.
The two savor these last few quiet minutes together before the real world—obligations and consequences—comes crashing back in.
FIRST STREET METHODIST CHURCH
Whether or not Presley is keen to discuss his personal life with his baby sister, Jordan remains on the other side of the desk, standing with her hands planted firmly on her hips.
“Even though Tanner was the one who kept putting you in the position of feeling like you were doing something wrong throughout your entire relationship, she’s the one who breaks your heart.”
The sermon now feels thousands of miles away as the conversation fills the space between them.
“Whoa! Before you go on, I need to tell you it wasn’t like that,” Presley says defensively.
“The hell—heck it was! Come on, you’ve got to admit, during your entire time together, Ms. Frigid wasn’t exactly her authentic self.” she says of her former friend turned rival.
The reverend rises from his chair to meet his sister at eye level. “Look, I know you’re coming from a place of concern for me. There’s never been any doubt about that. But Jordan, I’m going to need you to do something for me, okay? Back off and start focusing more on your own life.”
His tone almost takes Jordan aback.
“What do you think I’m doing?” she shoots back.
“And that would be?” Presley asks, though he already knows where this is headed.
“I’m doing what I can to ensure that not only my marriage remains intact, but also that my son—your nephew—grows up in a household with both of his parents together.”
Presley exhales, exasperated. He’s heard her proclaim this countless times before. It’s obvious to him that her husband feels trapped in the marriage, staying only out of guilt and a sense of loyalty.
“Well, I hope it’s worth it in the end for you,” he says.
“Oh, don’t worry,” she replies confidently. “It will be. Don’t you worry about that.”
She steps forward to embrace him. Presley returns the hug, but deep down, he knows better—though he also knows it’s no
good to remind her of that now.
​
​
​
END OF EPISODE​
​
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
​
Jacques gains a victory.
Evan's rebellion continues.
A clash occurs between Gemma's and Micah's fathers.
​
Leave your thoughts here on the T&C forum
​