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.

Zoe discovers something shocking about the local minister and his wife, causing quite a stir among the residents of Bluebell. Lemon is determined to find the funds to renovate the town's historic bridge that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but first she is put in the extremely awkward position of having to convince Lavon to choose her proposal over so many other worthwhile submissions.

In his playful way, Wade shows angelic patience with fickle Zoe's nocturnal fears, even spends a night on her bad couch. She not only crashes the mayor's borrowed car on a medical visit, but is convinced to have seen a fisherman whose portrait is on the pub's wall of deceased villagers. At examination, Leon Mercy, who seems to haunt her at night, was only reported missing, as she would have been looking for him in the wood hadn't Wade tracked them down. George finds the mayor unwilling to release on protected home for the happy couple to move into, but Lemon changes her mind about it after another incident with her unruly sister, which prompts George to make Brick face his parental duty.

Wade is pleasantly surprised by a visit from his ex, or to be: their marriage was never legally annulled, but now she wants to wed another. By the time Tucker has the papers done, Wade's agreeable agreement is withdrawn on account of the hated groom, Colt. Handsome, as pleasant as pleasing veterinarian Judson Lyons's perfect house call service gives him and Zoe opportunity to meet and plan a dinner date, but being out of the game for years after her single fiancé, she gets cold feet. The mayor is the only available sports celebrity to stand in for the Nascar star who was to present the town's annual turtle race, but not so willing to allow the traditional cheating in favor of eternal socialite winner Delia Ann Lee. Drunk Colton's armed effort to enforce a divorce proves painful for unfortunate mediator George.

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.

Veterinarian Judson, whom Zoe still hasn't forgotten or 'forgiven' for intimacy with her New York friend, is called in for a cat who probably contaminated owner Sal Nutter and his mystery mistress. George grudgingly allows Lemon, who wants to succeed Delia Ann Lee as the Belles' local Jubilee Memory matron, to invite her and her equally obnoxious husband, fellow lawyer Lawrence Lee, a far from gracious winner. The mayor is told the truth, as he and Wade suspect Zoe of hiding a lover: she hosts a secret friend, AnnaBeth, who doesn't dare tell bossy Lemon she's consorting with 'intruder', but takes assertiveness training from the New Yorker, who despite an ingrate twist covers for her in delightfully surprised Judson's favor.

Veterinarian Judson Lyons accepts Zoe first asking him not to attend the town's annual Sweetie Pie dance 'too soon', then changing her mind after she notices even Rose manipulated her, but concludes she only really has eyes and thoughts for Wade and returns home. George realizes that he forgot mailing the wedding invitations out of Freudian frustration that Lemon spent all her time on vents since months, hardly any with him. A row with Brick leads to him and ultimately George learning she has been bottling up the frustration over her deserted mother. Zoe finally gets Wade to admit privately he has feelings for her, only to see him frolicking off with another easy date and the proceeds of a bet she wouldn't do it with Judson.

Bluebell has one of its rare snow episodes, pleasantly reminiscent of home to New Yorker Zoe, but believed to bring disaster by all natives. Wade does a poor job assuring the mayor it won't affect his parents' visit, when he wants to present Didi as his fiancée. Indeed, the senior Hayes couple announces its divorce, which is averted, but Didi bails out. George urges Lemon to seriously consider her impulsive suggestion to elope rather then have her elaborate dream wedding.

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.

Zoe misinterprets Rose's symptoms for love sickness, but is really a appendicitis. The town turns cold to Zoe. Lemon tries to win George back with a romantic dinner. Zoe's father visits Bluebell again, and Zoe considers leaving.