Essex County

Beyond the reason for bringing them together under one roof, Ken and Lester are still adjusting to their relatively new roles with each other with Ken as Lester's guardian. The two of them as immediate family is not helped by Lester's return to school and continually being bullied which is further driving him into his shell, and Ken able to admit to himself that he never wanted children of his own. Ken's issue is only highlighted in he meeting Luke. And Lester can only wonder more now about the father he has never known. Now alone in being an empty-nester, Anne discovers that her time is at least partially taken up by Lou as she, upon hearing from Lou's home care nurse Peter about his deterioration, decides to be his home care nurse, it a better option in her mind than the alternative of sending him to a care facility.

Ken doubts his ability to care for Lester, while Lester develops a new bond with Jimmy. Lou resents his loss of independence and against Anne's wishes, ventures into town with disastrous consequences.

When Lester tells his dad he wants to live with him, Jimmy starts to dream big and asks Anne for support. Lou destroys reminders of old heartbreaks and tells Anne the secret he has kept for decades.