Jane receives a surprise visit from her sister Sydney, who has dropped out of college. Jane keeps the news from their parents, but is annoyed when Syd hangs around her workplace. Kay eventually hires Sydney as her assistant. Billy agrees to set up Alison with one of his friends, as she needs a date to the advertisers' ball. He scuttles the whole thing due to jealousy, and agrees to be Alison's date to make it up to her. Jake buys a new motorcycle and tries to convince Jo to take his old bike. She hesitates because she fears becoming indebted to a man. Jake tries to prove himself by taking up one of Jo's interests, poetry. He tells her that he has gained a lot from knowing her, and that he only wants to see her happy. Jo is disturbed when she is repeatedly contacted by her husband, whom Jake later finds snooping around the mailboxes. Rhonda is furious when Terrence doesn't defend her honor to his snobbish friends, but he later proposes marriage.

Sydney continues to get on Jane's nerves. Jane tells Michael that she is going to kick Sydney out of the apartment, but Michael has already asked Syd to take Jane out and get her to a surprise birthday party. He convinces Jane to go out with Sydney and think things over. This proves to be a disaster, as they get into an argument. Jane accuses Syd of trying to steal her life, and Sydney lets her storm out instead of taking her to the party. Michael has to spoil the surprise to get Jane to the event. Jane orders Sydney to move out, and the two talk about their long-standing differences. Jake reluctantly tells Jo about his meeting with her husband, Charles. Jo decides to contact Charles. Jake feels helpless when Jo begins seeing Charles, who seems to be a changed man. Jake later admits his strong feelings for Jo and shares his frustation about standing on the sidelines. Charles shows his ugly side after drinking, and grants Jo a divorce. Jo thanks Jake for his patience, and he