Stubbornly, Zoe refuses to give in to Bluebell's tradition that during a heath wave, like now, all non-criminal inhibitions are suspended. Still, shirtless men and Wade's sensual dive soon get her doubting, ultimately to give in. Against George's wise advice to go for informal, fiancée lemon attempts to impress his once more short-visiting parents with a dinner, but mother Tucker incessantly spits implied criticism, while Brick and father Tucker bicker endlessly about sports, rooting for rival teams.

Brick pulls all the stops to prevent overconfident Zoe from reaching the 30% patients share required to stop him buying her out of the practice unilaterally. So she keeps delaying her flight to New York to celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving, rather then Bluebell's 'pirates version' Planksgiving. Wade refuses to admit to the mayor he has an eye on Zoe, hence actually wants her to need his handyman help. George's brother moved out of the family law firm, so father Tucker expects George finally to become a senior partner, and makes that palatable by offering part-time work besides his Bluebell practice and a free city home. Lemon's reluctance to be forced to spend days a week with the Tucker parents melts down when mother suddenly makes up big time, but she finds out that's just a ploy.

Everybody expected Bluebell's Man of the Year (MOTY) award to go to a usual suspect like Brick, but this time it's George. As the mayor finds hosting the traditional cocktail party in the MOTY's honor awkward, having secretly cheated don him with Lemon, Zoe offers to organize it for him and ends up covering his inability to hold the crucial congratulatory speech. Wade exceptionally extends his musical ambitions, so far reserved for a band which never happens, to writing a song to perform in George's honor with Magnolia, who begged him to do so. George decides, despite suspicious Lemon, to invite his father to proudly share in his hour of fame.

Zoe's father comes to Bluebell to perform a heart operation on George's father. She is conflicted about seeing him. Lemon befriends Zoe in hopes she will not tell George about seeing her with Lavon. Rammer Jammer hosts a drink competition.

It's George and Lemon's wedding day, but George is still uncertain. A thunderstorm hits Bluebell and the town tries to keep everyone safe. Wade and Zoe are caught in a barn outside of town give into their emotions. George calls off the wedding.

George's parents visit and do not approve of Tansy as his girlfriend. Wade finds he has to do things that Zoe enjoys even if he doesn't. Brick wants to tell his kids who he is dating. AnnaBeth meets a visitor in town; Lavon is suspicious.

Zoe and Wade look for an heirloom to pass down to their child. When Lavon and Wade invite Brick on a fishing trip, Brick thinks it's a surprise birthday party. George's new job and romance shocks his parents.