Thanks to the hotel lawyer, Dawn and Jimmy quickly get Christie back, as the adoption process was not legal.

Randolph, Dawn's stepfather and half-brother, is haunted by the death of his mother, and starts to drink excessively.

With her husband dead, Laura Sue resumes her old relationship with Bronson Alcott and they quickly marry.

Dawn resorts to the hotel to ease her grief, withdrawing from Jimmy and Christie, and it takes a long time for them to recover from this tragic event.

Clara Sue purposely embarrasses the family at his graduation ceremony by bringing one of her sleazy boyfriends along.

Dawn is disturbed by this statement, but she can see Philip is trying to lead a normal life and so she doesn't tell Jimmy or cut off contact with Phillip.

Fortunately, they are interrupted when Christie starts crying; Dawn sends Phillip away, reminding him that he is now married and should try to love his wife.

Fern initially seems sweet and helpful, but soon proves untrustworthy, stealing things from the hotel, smoking in the basement with older boys, and acting promiscuously.

Jimmy continually takes her side and Fern seems to enjoy driving a wedge between her brother and sister-in-law.

Fern breaks down and admits that she made up the whole story, but argues that her adoptive parents were always disappointed in her and she thought Jimmy and Dawn would treat her better as they were her 'real' family.

Dawn tells her that they do want to treat her better, but that can only happen if Fern works on her attitude and stops stealing and lying to them.

He sheltered Charlotte from her father and sister after they beat and starved her, and in the process, he developed feelings for her.