By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell
Gabby (Melissa Peterman) walking into the tavern with a lot of baby stuff, and Bobbie (Reba McEntire) wonders why it’s there, because Happy’s Place isn’t a daycare. Gabby explains that she made her peace with not having a baby and is ready to rid herself of all the baby stuff she bought. She wonders if that makes her shallow, but Bobbie insists that moving on is brave. Steve (Pablo Castelblanco) agrees, but he is unsure of the creepy doll in the stroller. The doll’s name is Diana, and Gabby explains that Diana used to have a fun laugh, but her mother didn’t like it so she threw it outside in the rain. Isabella questions why Gabby’s mother would buy a doll just to wreck it later, but Gabby swears she caught her mother laughing about it later.
Later, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) asks Steve if he believes all the stories Gabby tells about her mother. Steve says that of course, he believes her because Gabby’s their friend. But what if Gabby wasn’t a friend and she told those stories, Isabella wonders. Steve admits he’d assume someone he didn’t know was lying through their teeth. If her mother was actually like that, Isabella says, there are issues she needs help dealing with. And if she’s making it all up, then there are still issues she needs a lot of help dealing with. Steve agrees, and then they’re interrupted by a woman who notices Steve’s Colombian accent. She explains she took a trip there with some girlfriends once and had a great time. Then she compliments Isabella and longs for a time when her skin was as perfect as Isabella’s. The flattery fest is interrupted by Gabby coming out and saying, “Mom.” Valerie (Jane Lynch), as she’s known to people who aren’t her children, hugs Gabby, and Gabby seems surprised. Valerie says to stop being silly, or people will think they never hug, and Gabby says they don’t, but then seems to doubt herself.
This is Valerie’s first time visiting Gabby in Tennessee, and Valerie says it’s because Gabby never invited her to visit, but Bobbie did. With that, Gabby pulls Bobbie into her office because they need to talk. Once inside, Gabby calls her mother the root of all evil. Bobbie says she doesn’t remember inviting her. Well, Gabby didn’t, so she says Bobbie must’ve because, like a vampire, Valerie wouldn’t come without a direct invitation. Bobbie thinks back, and then Bobbie remembers when Valerie gave her condolences when Happy died, and she said she looked forward to meeting her one day. She apologizes, but Gabby says not to beat herself up because it’s all a part of her mother’s evil plan. Gabby says Valerie has a talent for bending the universe to her will, and Bobbie promises not to let her hurt her.
Bobbie promises to go and set Valerie straight, and Gabby laughs because facts don’t matter to someone like Valerie. Gabby says she can handle it and whatever her mother wants, she’ll figure it out. But Bobbie and Gabby have trouble working up the nerve to leave the office.
Outside, Emmett (Rex Linn) serves Valerie zucchini sticks, which he says he made because he’s not sure about her just yet. But, Valerie surprises Emmett by loving the zucchini sticks and tells him about an Italian chef who made them for her. Emmett is impressed because a lot of people don’t like zucchini, but Valerie says they’re underrated. Takoda (Takola Black Elf) walks by with Gabby’s baby stuff, and Valerie notices Diana and hugs the doll because she hasn’t seen it in years.
Isabella and Steve mention that Gabby says that Valerie wasn’t a huge fan of Diana. But, Valerie says she went all over town trying to find Diana for Gabby’s birthday and was devastated when the doll was broken because Gabby left it outside in a tornado. Diana wonders why Gabby had all the baby stuff, and Takoda explained that Gabby bought it all when she was trying to have a baby. This was news to Valerie, and it’s news to Takoda, who didn’t know that Gabby hadn’t told Valerie about her pregnancy plans.
When Gabby comes out ready to stand up to Valerie, Valerie hugs her and tells her she’s so excited for both of them. Gabby says she isn’t pregnant, but Valerie promises that it’ll happen. Valerie is excited for them because she always dreamed of having a grandchild and someone seeing the grandchild and saying it was as beautiful as her. This touches Gabby, who is just happy that her mother sort of dreamed of her and hugs her.
Steve and Isabella are discussing the curious case of Diana, and Isabella has done some research. Gabby said the doll was a gift for her sixth birthday, but Valerie said it was for her seventh birthday. The model of the doll, Isabella says, wasn’t released until Gabby turned seven. Plus, there was a tornado when Gabby was seven in the town where she grew up. Isabella thinks that Valerie might be telling the truth, which makes both her and Steve wonder how true the stories she tells about her mother are.
Meanwhile, we learn that Gabby and Valerie have been spending a lot of time together so that Valerie can share her motherly wisdom with Gabby, who hasn’t shared that she’s infertile. Next week, Valerie suggests that they take a painting class together. Bobbie is surprised that Valerie won’t be heading back to Wisconsin by then, but Gabby says her mother is sticking around for a while. Bobbie takes Gabby into the office for a sidebar, and they talk about Gabby’s mother.
Gabby says this is the kindest Valerie has ever been to her, and she doesn’t want to give it up. But she knows she can’t keep letting her mother think she’s still trying to get pregnant because the longer the lie is dragged out, the worse the fallout will be. Bobbie says giving advice is hard when Gabby already knows everything that Bobbie plans to say.
Valerie is recommending a Bed and Breakfast to Steve and Isabella when they’re interrupted by Gabby and Bobbie. Bobbie tells Steve and Isabella to give them a minute, and Gabby confesses that she won’t be able to get pregnant. Valerie hugs her and tells her she’s sorry. Gabby is surprised that Valerie isn’t angry, and Valerie says stuff happens. Gabby finds this weird and thinks something must be going on, and Valerie says that she and Gabby’s father divorced. That makes all of her behavior make sense. She realizes that Valerie doesn’t have anywhere else to go and thinks how nice she’s been being was an act.
Gabby is outside stargazing, and Bobbie comes out to check on her. Bobbie is surprised that her parents got divorced, and even though she is frustrated with her mother, she admits she was happy that Valerie wanted to spend time with her. Growing up, she wished for a different mother constantly, but her pregnancy journey made her realize she wanted a connection, and she thinks she might want to pursue one with Valerie. Bobbie asks if the possibility that Valerie changed is worth her peace, and Gabby isn’t sure, but she’d like to find out.
Inside, Isabella feels guilty for believing Valerie over Gabby. But Steve points out that Valerie is very charming. On an unrelated note, Takoda fixed Gabby’s doll and got it laughing. When Valerie hears it she asks what the horrible sound is, and Gabby walks in and tells her she can stick around for a little while. Then she tells Gabby not to worry about not being able to get pregnant because children can ruin your life, and the group shares a look.