Friendly Fire, #3
Original air date: Sept. 30, 2002

The scoop: Andy finds out some interesting news about Nina, his next-door neighbor who's 8-months pregnant; Ephram tries to find out where Amy really stands; Delia attempts to befriend the school bully.

What's up with Andy: Andy's been frequenting the local diner for take-out until he's able to hone his cooking skills. He makes small talk with Nina who works as a waitress and whose husband spends months at a time away on business. The women of Everwood have planned a baby shower for Nina and get it started before Andy leaves the diner. Nina tells everyone that they shouldn't be holding this shower for her because the baby isn't hers; she's a surrogate mother carrying the baby for another woman. This causes a considerable amount of controversy in Everwood and Andy steps up to the plate to publicly defend Nina's decision. Meanwhile, one of Andy's grateful patients gives him the key to his boat, Sea Breeze, and advises Andy to take the boat out and bask in the beauty and serenity of Everwood. Andy takes him up on his offer but when he gets to the boat he sees that it's merely a rickety, old rowboat. Regardless, he takes the boat and rows out to the middle of the river, all the while questioning out loud to himself, "What am I doing here?!" That night Nina shows up at his door in active labor and needing a ride to the hospital. Andy takes Ephram with them to help in case they aren't able to make it to the hospital in time.

What's up with Ephram: Ephram desperately wants to ask Amy out but can't seem to muster up the guts. With the help of Wendell, a quirky kid who makes an effort to become friends with him, Ephram enlists himself to be the piano player for Amy's dance class and is thereby able to get closer to her. Amy asks Ephram to accompany her to her friend's party, to which Ephram gladly accepts. Unfortunately, when Ephram meets Amy's two friends it's obvious they think she's being nice to him because she feels sorry for him and consequently Amy disinvites him to the party. A shouting match takes place between the two of them. Amy ultimately decides against going to the party, which curtails Ephram's anger. That night Ephram reluctantly accompanies his dad on the ride to take Nina to the hospital. Since there's no time to get to the hospital, they pull into a donut shop and Ephram helps Andy deliver Nina's baby.

What's up with Delia: Delia sees that she and Magilla, the class bully, have something in common in that neither of them has any friends. When she tries to befriend him he takes advantage of her kindness and steals from her. He crosses the line when he takes the bookmark Delia's mother gave her. The next day Delia grabs Magilla's choker from around his neck and tells him that he can have it back when he gives her bookmark back. She also tells him, in not so many words, that she'll be his friend when he's ready. Soon Magilla's calling Delia at home.

What's up with Dr. Harold Abbott: Dr. Abbott's becomes even more exasperated when Andy takes on the role of Nina's defender after Dr. Abbott himself publicly denounces Nina's decision to become a surrogate mother. As a result he loses Nina as a patient when she decides to switch doctors.

Endnotes: Delivering Nina's baby may have brought Ephram and Andy closer together as it was the first time either of them has delivered a baby. Ephram seems to have found a friend in Wendell as Delia has found a friend in Magilla. Andy and Nina share the feeling of being alone and missing their spouses which seems to be sparking their friendship.