By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell
Emmett (Rex Linn) and Bobbie (Reba McEntire) are playing “guess the weight” with a pile of potatoes in the kitchen. Bobbie is doing well, and Emmett crowns her the tater queen. Then, Bobbie informs him that it’s their anniversary. So, the moment turns to guess the anniversary of them getting together. Emmett guesses wrong a few times because Bobbie doesn’t count the times they spent time together, but Emmett didn’t make a move. The beginning of the relationship, according to Bobbie is three months ago when Emmett swung by the house to check on her and Isabella (Belissa Escobedo).
Steve (Pablo Castelblanco) and Takoda (Tokola Black Elk) are chatting at the bar, and Steve tells him he dreamt about him last night. Takoda gets annoyed and tells Steve that he’s told him before that he shouldn’t be held responsible for what Dream!Takoda does. What Dream!Takoda did, Steve says, was tell Bobbie that Emmett has known about Isabella for years. Takoda is still annoyed and tells him it’s bad enough when his wife puts him on trial for Dream!Takoda’s actions. But, Steve says that it felt very real, aside from the quicksand. Takoda tells Steve he isn’t making sense, but Steve replies that he’s watching him. Based on his spitting out his coffee when Bobbie walks by, the secret has him pretty on edge.
At home, Isabella arrives and is confused to see Bobbie cooking. She doesn’t usually cook, but explains she’s making Emmett chicken piccata for their anniversary the next day. She wants to make the perfect meal, and she wants to speak Emmett’s love language: food. Bobbie wants the night to be special, so she asks her to make herself scarce tomorrow night so that she and Emmett can have some privacy. Isabella agrees and tells her she’s going to have a movie night with Gabby (Melissa Peterman). Isabella tries the chicken piccata, but it isn’t good.
Speaking of things that aren’t good, Steve shows up to work angry with Takoda. In his dream, Takoda told Bobbie Emmett’s secret, and Bobbie cried. They pause the conversation a few times because Gabby’s walking by, and she’s starting to look suspicious because they keep clamming up whenever she’s around. When she leaves, Takoda tells him that he’s worried about keeping the secre,t and he’s projecting onto him. Steve thinks he might be right, but they’re interrupted by Gabby. Gabby wants to know what gives because Steve and Takoda have been huddling up since yesterday. Steve says what’s going on is that they’re discussing a private matter, and Gabby should mind her own business. Gabby says she won’t, and now, finding out their secret, whatever it is, is her new hobby.
Isabella and Gabby talk, but they have different things to share. Isabella wants to know if they can have movie night, so that Emmett and Bobbie can have their date. Gabby says, ” Sure, because she’s excited to show Beaches to Isabella, who has never seen it. Gabby tells Isabella that Takoda and Steve have a secret. Isabella loves that for them, but Gabby wants to find out what it is. Gabby says they should respect Steve and Takoda’s privacy, but Gabby says she’s no fun, and Bobbie would want to know too. Isabella stops her and agrees to help her uncover the secret because she wants Bobbie to be able to focus on her date. Gabby has a plan to go to Takoda because he never lies. Bobbie comes in and shares that she’s excited for her date.
Bobbie is looking around in the kitchen and recruits Isabella’s help because Bobbie needs his chicken piccata recipe. She finds it in Emmett’s recipe box and Isabella says it’s romantic in an old timey romance novel way. But Bobbie says she just wants their dinner to be special. Isabella thinks it’s romantic, and Bobbie shares that tonight’s the night she’s going to tell Emmett she loves him. Isabella loves the plot twist, and Bobbie feels good about the decision. She explains that it took her a year to tell her late husband Travis she loved him because she could never find the right time to tell him. But, this time around, she’s going to create the right moment with Emmett. Isabella wishes her luck and then Emmett interrupts. Bobbie pretends that they were playing the potato game, but realizes it was a lie when Isabella doesn’t know the rules of the game. He takes mercy on them and lets them leave.
Isabella and Gabby ambush Takoda and try to get the secret out of him. He doesn’t budge at first, but then Steve catches them and tries to pull Takodda away leading to a tug of war over Takoda between Steve and Gabby. Isabella makes them stop, but Isabella vows that this isn’t over. Steve and Takoda duck into the refrigerator and talk about what to do about Isabella and Gabby. Steve is afraid to wreck Emmett and Bobbie’s relationship and says they need to throw them off. He comes up with an idea and then talks to Isabella and Gabby separately. He tells Isabella that Takoda is in love with her, then tells Gabby that Takoda is in love with her. Isabella is horrified because Takoda is married, but Gabby just says of course.
Lately, Gabby tries to let Takoda down gently, but he has no idea what she’s talking about. Isabella’s approach is more direct as she asks if he loves her. Takoda says she’s great, but no, he isn’t. Then why, Isabella says, would Steve say he was in love with her? Takoda is annoyed, but Isabella realizes he probably said it so that she’d be so uncomfortable she’d avoid him. Isabella says that she knows the secret is about her, so she says she’ll leave it up to him. If it’s something she has the right to know, he should tell her, but if it’s of no consequence, she’ll drop it. Takoda says she does have the right to know and tells her that Emmett has known about her for years.
Isabella is shocked and wonders how many people knew and if Bobbie knew about her. Takoda says no and explains that Emmett wanted to tell Bobbie the truth before they got serious, but their relationship has been moving fast. But, Isabella says it’s about to move faster and says she has to stop her and runs off. Before she goes, Takoda tells Isabella that he loves her like a sister.
The dinner is going well, and Emmett loved the chicken. Bobbie confesses that it’s Emmett’s recipe, and he says he knows, and they laugh about it. Bobbie is about to tell Emmett she loves him, but they’re interrupted by Isabella. Isabella tries to be as obnoxious as possible to pause any love declarations. Bobbie wonders why she’s acting so strange and Isabella says she’s just a goof. Emmett says it isn’t true, because Isabella is usually incredibly thoughtful. He realizes something and says he and Bobbie need to talk in private.
He tells her that he knew about Isabella for years and admits he should’ve told her sooner. Long story short, Happy told him about the affair and Isballa on a fishing trip out of the blue one day. He made him promise to never tell a soul. Bobbie seems shocked, but Emmett says that her father was his best friend. Bobbie tells Emmett she needs to process things, and that ends their romantic evening.
The next day, everyone is extremely nervous about what the fallout will be. Steve apologizes for telling Gabby and Isabella that Takoda loved them romantically and Takoda apologizes that Isabella was blindsided. When he asks Isabella how she’s doing, she’s just worried about Bobbie. Bobbie comes in and seems pretty calm andshe goes into the kitchen to talk to Emmett. Emmett apologizes, and Bobbie acknowledges that her father put her in an awkward position. Neither of them slept last night, and Emmett explains he could never work up the nerve. Bobbie says she respects him for keeping the promise because he was a good friend, but not a good partner, so they should go back to being friends. Emmett doesn’t want to break up, but, Bobbie says she can only be his friend right now. Isabella checks on Bobbie and they share a hug and an “I love you.”