James wakes up to Rochelle while Mae sits alone in the home.
Season 3 opens with Lady Mae sitting in her living room wrapped in a blanket. James is sleep in a bed, but not at home. He wakes up to Rochelle’s face instead. She hands him a cup of coffee she purchased.
Rochelle’s keeping a low profile with James as to not bring attention. However, in the room by themselves, Rochelle throws herself at James. James keeps denying her advances.
“I still can.” – Rochelle
“I’m still married.” – James
Despite that, Rochelle helps James get dressed, continuing to throw herself at him. James tells Rochelle he’s still married in God’s eyes. He then refutes Rochelle’s claim that Mae’s done with him.
“I’m married to God’s vision of the man I’m supposed to be.” – James
Suddenly, James gets a text about Zora running off with Isaiah. He runs off rom the hotel.
Lady Mae goes off on Grace.
At the house, Lady Mae sits with her daughters and Sophia talking about Zora running away. Mae’s openly shaken up after kicking James out of the home.
“How you holding up mama?” – Grace
“Don’t give me sympathy.” – Lady Mae
The two begin to suddenly argue as Lady Mae unleashes her anger on Grace.
Jacob manages to get Zora home with Kerissa.
Once everyone is inside their home, Jacob forces Zora to give up all of her money and cell phones.
“You’re on lockdown.” – Jacob
Even after everything, Zora’s still defiant. A worried and angry Jacob tells Zora that they will be watching her every move 24/7. But despite Jacob’s anger with Zora, Kerissa’s more caring, trying to calm Jacob down.
Before Jacob sends her to her room, he shakes Zora down, checking her pockets.
When Zora storms to her room, slamming the door, Jacob yells out, “You’re grounded for life.”
At the church, Rochelle walks in with a smile into James’ office. She’s stopped by the secretary who coldly greets her. However, James is warm to her. She expresses gratitude for Zora making it home, as she gives a dirty look to the secretary.
She later apologizes for earlier, however, he apologizes too for appearing to lead her on. He then tells Rochelle they shouldn’t be spending “personal time” together.
Grace walks in and sees Rochelle and James talking, and James appears awkward.
Zora’s cold towards her mom, but apologizes for running away. She expresses confusion after everything happened. Zora ends up crying in her mother’s arms.
Tasha puts a bug into Jacob’s ear about Brittney.
Jacob’s walking into his office with Brittney in tow. Brittney’s warning him that his poverty church initiative could bankrupt the church. Tasha walks into Jacob’s office, hovering their discussion.
“You are gonna bankrupt this church.” – Brittney
When Brittney leaves, Tasha puts a bug into Jacob’s ear about firing her for talking to him any kind of way.
“You know, I’ve never heard her talk to Basie like that. If it were me, I would fire her.” – Tasha
Kevin’s talking to Charity, telling her he’s ready to be a father. When he says he ready for court, Charity scoffs at this. She hangs up on him when he tells her he has a right to see his son.
“Charity, I have a right to see my son.” – Kevin
James and Mae get a letter from the IRS.
Back at the office, James gets a letter form the IRS. He and Mae have to pay $2 Million or face Tax Evasion charges. However, Lady Mae isn’t interested in putting up a “united front” in asking for donations to help pay.
Afterwards, James and Mae call Jacob while he’s at home. James calls first and tells Jacob he was thrown out of the house. Mae calls next, who tries to tell Jacob why she did it. But before that could happen, Grace calls telling Jacob they need to talk about their parents.
Grace, Jacob and Charity all meet up to talk about their parents splitting up. Grace tells them about the ongoing affair with Aunt Mavis. Charity suspects they’re going to get a divorce. She also demands that Grace fix this. Jacob, on the other hand, wants James to eat his “just deserts.”
She then sees Darius who tells her everything will be okay.
“Don’t joke about that.” – Grace
“Don’t ask me to go to church.” – Darius
He then gets up to leave.
As they get ready for bed, James and Mae are sleeping alone.
For the first time in years, Mae misses church.
The next morning before church, Grace catches Mae sitting by herself, undressed. She doesn’t want to see James preaching at church. So she decides to stay home.
At church, Charity is leading the choir and Sophia is sitting in Mae’s chair. When James stands at the pulpit, Charity crosses eyes with Kevin, which causes her to run off in anger.
Meanwhile, Mae’s walking at a park, staring off into a lake, standing on the edge of a pier. She then has brunch by herself.
James tells the pulpit Mae’s handing family matters in Arkansas. Grace gives a side-eye to this. While he’s preaching, Mae walks into Jacob’s church Triumph. Tasha runs into her and offers her coffee and cookies. Tasha tells her of a pastor in Winston-Salem divorcing his wife after 27 years.
She now lives in a nursing home after a fall in her apartment.
“At least you still have a husband. Mines gone.” – Tasha
This story shakes up Mae and she decides to leave immediately. Tasha smirks realizing she accomplished her goal.
Back in the sanctuary, while holding a collection plate, Zora decides to steal $20 from it.
After the church, Jacob reveals he struggled giving his sermon. He feared Zora would leave during the sermon. Brittney comes into Jacob’s office. She tells him the offers were light. Jacob takes Tasha’s advice and fires her on the spot.
Kevin gives an ultimatum to Charity.
Meanwhile at Calvary, Charity confronts Kevin for showing up. He tells her to leave her son with him or stay. She tells Kevin she’s heading out back on tour with their son, and Kevin shuts it down. She’ll have to stay or leave her son with Kevin.
“You aren’t leaving with my son across state. That’s kidnapping.” Kevin
Meanwhile, Rochelle runs into Grace, who tells Grace she’s willing to invest in her pet project, the defense fund. Grace agrees to take her offer in consideration.
Charity then sees Jabari. She tells him that she can’t go back on the tour. Although Charity signed a contract, Charity’s fearful Kevin would do something wrong against her over their son.
Tasha is on the phone with Brittney, who’s angry she was fired. She tells Brittney Jacob and Kerissa had it out for her since forcing Basie out, which isn’t true. Tasha then tells Brittney to just move on. When she hangs up, she calls Brittney stupid to Rochelle.
Rochelle’s stepping up her game, looking to buy black and purple lingerie to tempt James even further.
Darius and Grace meet for brunch after church. Grace tells Darius Rochelle’s been trying to cozy up to her and get in between James and Grace.
She also tells Darius the church and family matter to her.
“I won’t let either of them go down without a fight.” – Grace
Mae changes her mind.
The episode ends with James walking back into the house to get his things. Mae, who’s in the living room tells him he can stay until they figure out what to do with the IRS.
“And after that, I don’t know.” – Mae
James nods as he walks up the stairs, letting out a sigh.
What are your thoughts on the episode?
