Ruth takes a personal interest in the death of a woman who has no friends or relatives. Meanwhile, Brenda's search for a literary muse prompts her to turn to one of her massage clients--a prostitute named Melissa--and Nate's relationship with Brenda takes an unexpected turn.

Mitzi Huntley arrives back in Nate and David's lives thanks to a comparison-shopping widow. Meanwhile, Ruth's estranged sister Sarah arrives for an unexpected visit. Later, a vodka-fueled family dinner casts a pall over Nate and Brenda's happy news.