Samantha, Jeneva, and Tristan discovered a large urine stain on the living room sofa after Lisa, sedated and showered by Grandma, had her first major accident. They discussed that incontinence had been anticipated, considered reducing Lisa’s sedatives to manage agitation earlier, and accepted that diapers would now be necessary. The soaked cushion proved beyond cleaning, leading to talk of replacing the sofa and, by extension, repainting and addressing the gross carpet, despite ongoing renovations elsewhere.

As they carried the couch to the curb, Lisa’s wedding ring fell from the underside. After cutting open the ruined sofa outside to search for more, they found only the ring. Samantha sat on the porch missing Xavier and reflecting on his finances, their new long-distance relationship, and her own budget strained by remodel costs. When Dan arrived, Samantha told him about the accident and showed him the recovered ring; Dan quietly took it inside, moved by the memory of Lisa never removing it.

An urgent email from Samantha’s employer, Murkle’s, summoned her to Minnesota the next week for an on-site Dijon launch meeting, with travel covered. Seeing this as a sanctioned opportunity, she booked Monday–Thursday flights and chose to surprise Xavier. On arrival, the stark Minnesota autumn triggered an anxious realization about their distance and different seasons, making the relationship feel daunting and “doomed.”

During an Uber ride, Tristan called about Pooter’s food and gave Samantha a blunt pep talk about maintaining a modern long-distance relationship, which eased her panic. She then went to Xavier’s clinic, approaching without warning to preserve the surprise.

Spotting Xavier through the glass as he knelt with a client’s golden retriever, Samantha’s doubts lifted. She recognized she was already halfway in love and resolved to accept the rhythm of long stretches apart punctuated by brief, vivid visits. When Xavier looked up and recognized her, his expression shifted from confusion to joy. He rushed out to hug her, and Samantha embraced the feeling of “coming home,” deciding that the difficulty of distance was worth the moments they could share.