Grace is upset with the number of expensive gift Quentin's getting from his girlfriend. A woman makes an advance towards Russell. D.C. lets Libby interview him for the school paper.
Vic comes to the construction site looking for a job, so Grace has to choose between loyalty to a friend and what she knows is best for the company. Russell informs Grace that Nadine has decided to leave Wade.
Wade's old Vietnam War friend visits, and he and Grace find that through their differences, there's also an attraction. Meanwhile, Jean re-enters the dating scene.
Grace goes on a clothes-shopping spree, only to find D.C. can't make payroll, and then finds money missing from her savings. Russell lets Wade use the pharmacy to try to solve a string of robberies.
Libby tries to prevent the destruction of a cherished town tree that lay in the path of the new bridge. Grace wants Russell to hire Quentin to work at his new soda fountain.
D.C.'s just a tad off base when he wants Grace to flirt with a hotel developer to help him win a construction job. Russell takes Dot on a second date, where he claims to agree with her that they should move slowly.
A pending bridge that will obstruct the view of the river from Emmet's burial site has Jean upset, so Jimmy and Quentin try to move the grave. Russell takes Dot to a riverboat casino, but is vexed when she won't place a bet on anything.
Grace's mother visits for the holidays, and immediately tries to force her parenting style on Libby. Russell offers Santa photos at the pharmacy, with Floyd as the big guy himself.