Episode 4 of Every Year After is one of the biggest turning points of the season as Sue’s final wishes create tension, resentment and uncertainty among those she loved most. The present brings a new conflict that threatens to divide the Florek family, while the past continues to mold Percy and Sam’s complicated relationship.# Everyone Shocked by Sue’s Will
The episode starts with Sam and Charlie preparing for the reading of their mother’s will. As they reflect on Sue’s death Sam admits that the reality of losing her is beginning to hit home.
Meanwhile Percy is still worried after finding out that Sue has put her in her will. She talks to Chantal about the situation, about the recent almost-romantic moment she had with Sam that was cut short before anything substantial could happen. Chantal later provides legal assistance to her at the reading.
The meeting takes an unexpected turn. Most of Sue’s estate is to be shared out between Sam and Charlie but the family lawyer finds out that Sue had intended The Tavern to be left to Percy.
Everyone is stunned by the announcement.
Sam has trouble grasping the news. Charlie goes off the deep end immediately. Percy is surprised and says she doesn’t want the ownership of the restaurant But Chantal is urging her not to make any rash decisions and won’t let her give up the inheritance without a second thought.# Summer Memory Brings Percy And Sam Closer
The story then jumps back to the summer of 2014.
On a morning run, Sam and Percy talk about their hopes and fears. Sam admits he’s applying for an internship at a hospital, and Percy admits she’s creatively blocked and can’t seem to finish her writing projects.
Later they hang out by the lake where Percy discovers swimming is the mental clarity she has been seeking. Inspired by the challenge, she would like to swim across the lake.
Sam jumps in to help with pleasure.
Percy trains hard for the next weeks and Sam follows her in a boat, cheering her on at every turn. The discipline helps her to become a better swimmer and helps her to reignite her creativity again.
Percy is eventually successful in making the crossing. With family and friends cheering her on from the shoreline, she does something she never thought she could do. It becomes one of the defining moments of her summer.### Delilah Discusses Her Plans for The Tavern
Back in the present, Percy tells Chantal that she feels guilty about inheriting the restaurant. She worries that Sam is resentful of her and wonders if Sue would have made the same choice had she known what had happened in the past.
Then, as if the conversation couldn’t get any weirder, Delilah walks in.
Delilah confesses she has been interested in buying The Tavern for a long time, and asks Percy if he would consider selling it. She describes her vision of turning the property into an exclusive members-only destination.
The idea is one Percy immediately dislikes.
To her, The Tavern is about community and family history, not luxury and exclusiveness. And that her childhood home is being turned into something else just adds to her frustration.
As the night goes on Percy, Chantal and Delilah drink together and end up sneaking into Percy’s old house. The meeting quickly becomes surprisingly emotional, as each woman shares her personal struggles.
Delilah admits her marriage is falling apart, while Chantal confesses that she is no longer sure she wants to marry Drew. Meanwhile Percy confesses she’s never really gotten over Sam.
As she explores the house, Percy finds some of her old writing and starts to wonder when she lost the confidence and ambition she once had.# Charlie Tells of the Burden He Bore
At The Tavern, Sam and Charlie are still discussing Sue’s last wishes.
Their talk sheds light on the difficult years after their father’s death. Charlie reflects the level of responsibility he took on while Sue dealt with loss, often shielding Sam from the harsh realities of their family dynamic.
The revelation forces Sam to reconsider things from his childhood that he never quite understood.
He tells Charlie that Delilah wants to buy the restaurant as well, making things even more complicated.# Percy and Sam start their relationship
Another flashback takes viewers back to a critical moment in 2014.
Sam is studying and Percy is trying to write, but the flirtation is playful and slowly turns serious. Their long-time friendship develops into a romantic relationship.
Not long after, Sue sits down with the pair for an awkward but heartfelt conversation about safe sex and the importance of protecting their friendship.
Sue has good intentions, but her advice makes Sam think hard about the future.
He later tells Percy that he is afraid of a romantic relationship destroying what they have now. He is concerned that they will eventually hurt each other, as they spend most of the year apart. He doesn’t want to keep her from living life or dating other people, but his indecision kills Percy.
For Percy, the talk seems less like caution and more like rejection.## A Defining Decision for Percy
Percy is arrested by the police for breaking into her old home, bringing today’s story to a dramatic climax.
After Sam gets her out, the two finally confront the emotional tension building between them. Percy calls him out for his mixed messages and says she doesn’t know where she fits in his life anymore.
Sam apologizes and says he’s confused about his feelings.
Later, Percy asks her father for advice. He remembers his friendship with Sue, and tells her to think hard before making any big decisions.
Taking her advice and the old stories she rediscovers to heart, Percy begins to view The Tavern in a new light. She doesn’t see it as a burden, but as an opportunity, and maybe the Sue she pictured for her future.
Percy ultimately decides to keep the restaurant.
However, the decision creates a bigger problem. In the final moments, Sam agrees to help Charlie fight Sue’s will to get The Tavern back.
The fight over Sue’s estate is officially on.# Episode 4 – Review
Sue’s will is a source of conflict and Episode 4 does a good job of raising the stakes. Leaving The Tavern to Percy causes friction not only between Percy and the Florek brothers, but also between Sam and Charlie themselves.
The episode also hints that Charlie might still be keeping something important from Sam. His behaviour suggests that there are still some lingering secrets from the past not yet revealed and those secrets could be a huge source of tension as the season continues.
The scenes with Percy, Chantal and Delilah are a welcome change of pace. Their night together is a great character development and also shows off some vulnerabilities that were hidden before.
Meanwhile, the flashbacks continue to remind us why Percy and Sam’s relationship is so compelling. Sam’s fears about their friendship being ruined are understandable, but it’s equally easy to feel for Percy’s heartbreak. When something bad happens to them you actually feel it . Their relationship just feels real .
By the end of the episode, the future of The Tavern is uncertain, old wounds are reopened and several relationships seem to be on a collision course. The conflict is now well and truly established and it looks like the series will give us even more emotional drama to come in the episodes ahead.