CORTLAND PARKWAY SYNOPSIS

In the middle of the night, new Cortland Parkway residents Joan and Dustin Monroe stand watch as their backyard cement patio is poured. When the work is finished, Dustin states, “Now we can get back to our lives,” but his wife doubts that will ever be possible.

Husbands Mark Simmons and Adam Bennett move in next door to the Monroes. When Joan welcomes them, she learns that Mark is a doctor and Adam teaches at the high school.

Cortland Parkway’s developer Nicole Reynolds arrives and inquires about Joan’s patio, but Joan redirects the conversation and learns that Nicole plans to throw a party once all the residents have moved in.

At Piazza Parenti, the restaurant owned by Carlo and Annette Parenti, their oldest son Giovanni complains about having to work as a server during his college summer vacation. He is the best quarterback in the country and expected to be the top NFL draft pick; however, his parents remind him that Piazza Parenti is a family-run business and that every member of the family is expected to do their part to keep the business thriving.

Having skipped his restaurant shift, Gio’s younger brother Luca spends the night in bed with his girlfriend Frankie Baxter. Luca expresses his desire to make their relationship public; however, Frankie reminds him that her father wants her focused on getting into college, not on a boyfriend.

As the Parentis prepare to move into their new home, Adam becomes anxious. Mark suggests they focus on rebuilding their relationship; however, Adam says he needs more time to deal with the past. Angered, Mark forces himself on Adam. When Mark apologizes for his behavior, Adam promises to be a better husband. Later, Mark meets with his colleague Warren Ward, who asks Mark when he intends to finally share a secret with Adam.

Alone, Joan enters a bedroom that has yet to be unpacked. From one of the boxes, she removes a portrait of her son Kevin. She has a memory of leaving a tearful Kevin at a boarding school in Europe against his will. Dustin later suggests they host the Cortland Parkway party instead of Nicole. Having everyone in their backyard for a wonderful celebration will diffuse any neighbors’ concerns about their patio.

In bed together, Nicole and her colleague Theodore Baxter discuss their “relationship.” While Nicole is the boss at work, Teddy is the boss in the bedroom. When he suggests that his feelings for Nicole may be building, she reminds him that he has a sick wife currently housed at a rehabilitation facility.
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After the Parentis finally move in, the Monroes welcome everyone for the Cortland Parkway celebration. Teddy comments that the patio looks beautiful; however, Nicole warns Dustin that settling cracks take time to appear and could result in the whole patio having to be torn up.
Adam introduces Mark to the Parenti family. Luca says he looks forward to having Adam as a teacher again in the autumn and Carlo boasts of Gio’s success in college both athletically and academically.

When Teddy suggests to Nicole that they slip away from the party together, they discover Luca and Frankie kissing on the side of the house. While working in the kitchen, Joan hears footsteps behind her. She turns around and comes face to face with Kevin.

Responding to a text message, Adam walks across the street to the Parenti house. When Adam enters, he finds Gio naked and the two immediately embrace in a passionate kiss. As they aggressively has sex, Gio tells him, “Nothing can keep us apart.”

Mark decides to leave the party in search of Adam but is stunned when Warren calls and declares that they need to talk.

At the same time, a limousine arrives on Cortland Parkway. Dustin, Annette, and Carlo watch as the driver helps an elderly woman all dressed in black out of the car. Dustin realizes that she must be the owner of the last remaining house on Cortland Parkway. Annette and Carlo struggle to get a look at the veiled face of Eleanor DuMonde. “It can’t be,” Carlo says. Then Annette gasps, “My God, it’s her!”