After Jane leaks an excerpt from Marin's new book on men to The New Yorker magazine, Marin is forced to defend her career to Jack. Elmo receives a special guest singer-songwriter Jewel, whose car has broken down. She runs into her former bandmate, Theresa, in the Chieftain. Meanwhile, Celia and Patrick's new stepmother, Mai, face each other in an alpha showdown for the role of "top mom."

When Marin goes back to New York during Thanksgiving week to meet with editors regarding publishing her new book, the emotions between her and Jack escalate. Although she is happy to be back in a more familiar environment, she misses her life back in Elmo.Meanwhile, Jack has decided it's time for him to make his move concerning his "friendship" with Marin, but an unexpected event changes his plans. Thanksgiving week is a headache for most of the Elmoians. Patrick must choose between spending Thanksgiving with Annie in New York or with his new family, and Ben is hoping Theresa will help him prepare for their annual Orphan Thanksgiving.

While Jack is waiting for Marin to return from New York, he receives an unexpected visitor who has arrived in Elmo with a secret. In the meantime, the relationship between Annie and Patrick hasn't gotten better after he neglected her at Thanksgiving dinner. Theresa and Ben ponder their future, Jane and Sam ("Plow Guy") spend a romantic time together in New York.While everyone is busy with their own lives, Buzz faces a medical crisis.

While Marin is waiting for Lynn to leave Elmo and Jack, Annie thinks that Patrick can't have a relationship until he can survive without his mother. Meanwhile, Celia gets a visit from her out-of-town boss, Sarah comes back to Elmo and gets a surprise when she sees Ben and Theresa back as a couple. Back in NY, Jane wonders if she wants to keep a long-distance relationship with Sam "Plow Guy."

While Marin moves into her rustic mountain cabin and finds some unexpected visitors, Jane unintentionally neglects Sam ("PlowMan"). In the meantime, Sara fills in at the Chieftain while Theresa takes care of Ben. Patrick is concerned he will not be able to give Annie the wedding of her dreams, and Celia admits to dating her boss, Richard.

Marin receives an invitation from Stuart to join him on an overnight ski trip. Jack accompanies Lynn to the doctor for a sonogram, and Patrick tells Annie that he once made a donation to a sperm bank. Jane and Sam ("Plow Guy") teach each other some of life's secrets, while Buzz meets someone from his past.

Marin meets Cash, an attractive loner, who is the local handyman, when she can't get her construction crew to do what she wants on her cabin. Buzz's attempts to be supportive are thwarted when he learns George's secret. Meanwhile, Marin is torn as she tries to decide if she should attend Lynn's baby shower, and Jane tries to establish her New York business in Elmo so she can spend time with Sam.

After Lynn's departure, the everyone assumes Marin and Jack will be reunited. Annie and Patrick are having problems planning their wedding, as Celia wonders about the future of her relationship with Dick after she learns he is younger than she is. Meanwhile, Mai's cousin, Lucy, pays a visit to Elmo. But when it's time for her to return to China, Mai wants her to stay. When George offers to marry her, he doesn't realize it could prevent someone else from taking his chance.

In this conclusion of a two-part story, dangerous and unforeseen events threaten Patrick and Annie's wedding. Marin invites Jack to be her date, and Jane flies in for the wedding only to see Sam with another woman.

Marin becomes concerned when she hasn't heard from Jack, and with good cause as she soon finds out. In his absence, she is wooed by two suitors, one with whom she has a history and another who is a complete surprise. Meanwhile, Sam and Jane attend a snowplow convention and develop an unusual living arrangement, and Sara's relationship with Eric begins to show promise.

Cash brings a shocking secret with him as he returns to Elmo, and Sara and Eric work together to rebuild his church. Buzz tries to help Patrick regain his memory, but his efforts result in disastrous consequences. Sam learns more about Jane's personality after she throws away one of his favorite shirts.

Jack and Marin decide to move in together, but the happy couple doesn't anticipate the difficulty of merging their different lifestyles. Meanwhile, Jane is on a mission to get her marriage to Sam announced in the coveted New York Times; Patrick gets an adrenaline rush while flying Buzz's plane and wants to experience more, much to Celia's chagrin; and after doing a favor for Sara, Theresa has a surprise announcement for her unsuspecting husband, Ben.

Jack is feeling very amorous towards Marin, but she fears that it may be for the wrong reasons. After Patrick's adventure-seeking stunt, Celia throws him in jail and he takes full advantage of his "right to remain silent." Marin, Jack and Jerome are off to New York to celebrate Sam and Jane's wedding. And Sam is surprised when he learns the truth about Jane's parents.

Jack invites Julia and her husband to dinner with Marin so the two women can meet each other. Meanwhile, Sam gives Jane an engagement that he found in an unlikely place, and Annie catches Patrick in a compromising situation.

To celebrate completing her book, Marin takes a spa trip to Anchorage where she sees a friend's husband with another woman. Patrick returns to Elmo after his memory returns and learns a few things have changed while he was gone.

The First Annual Elmo Talent Show begins as Marin receives a large check for her latest book. Sam's frugality annoys Jane when he decides to drive to Elmo from New York Patrick redoubles his efforts to win back Annie.