Marlene's blustery dad (Michael Constantine) blows in for Christmas and has an impact on Victor that's akin to the latter's effect on Matt (Elon Gold).

Showdown time: Matt meets Alex's former beau (Dan Cortese), an accomplished Adonis who has his own tales to tell about Victor.

Marital spats erupt on a trip to North Carolina, where Victor winds up bunking with Matt; and Alex and Marlene whoop it up in the hotel bar with Civil War reenactors.