Warning! This article contains mentions of attempted suicide and SPOILERS about Virgin River season 6, episode 8 ahead.

Vernon and Hope had little going on in Virgin River season 6 aside from their usual daily life and Mel and Jack’s wedding, but one character embedding themselves more in Virgin River’s fabric reminded them of a tragedy in their past. From Hope’s heart attack and car crash to Vernon’s degenerative eye problem, Vernon and Hope had their fair share of troubles throughout Virgin River. However, none among their issues was more emblematic than their difference of opinions on the matter of their divorce in Virgin River season 1, which Hope asked because Vernon cheated on her years before.

Virgin River season 2 thankfully reunited Hope and Vernon as a couple, despite the subterfuges involved when Hope didn’t want the town to know about them getting back together. While Virgin River season 6 marked a seemingly calm period for Hope and Vernon, Mel getting to know her biological father Everett unexplainedly got on Vernon’s nerves. The reason why remained unknown for the better part of the season, until Everett and Vernon’s heart-to-heart in Virgin River season 6, episode 8, which revealed why Vernon vehemently opposed Everett and how they were sadly connected to one of Virgin River’s biggest tragedies.

Everett’s Hand In Vernon Cheating On Hope Brings Back A Virgin River Season 1 Story

Vernon & Hope Were Separated Because He Cheated On Her After A Kid Died

Vernon and Everett’s clashes couldn’t go unnoticed by Mel in Virgin River season 6, but Vernon only admitted in private to Hope how he despised Everett, as because of him, a child had died. The circumstances of the child’s death and what actually happened was only revealed in Virgin River season 6, episode 8. However, the fact a child died and affected Vernon that much hinted at a key storyline from Virgin River season 1, when Hope couldn’t forgive Vernon for cheating on her with Charmaine’s mother after the death of a young patient scarred Vernon.

[Vernon reacting] viscerally to meeting Everett again point to the child dying as Vernon was saving Everett to the one whose death caused Vernon to be unfaithful to Hope years before Virgin River season 1.

Virgin River season 1 never revealed the dead patient’s name, but season 6 mentioning Jordan’s story, how only Vernon knew how to treat him and showing Vernon reacted viscerally to meeting Everett again all point to the child dying as Vernon was saving Everett to the one whose death caused Vernon to be unfaithful to Hope years before Virgin River season 1. While Hope and Vernon eventually got back together and had Virgin River’s best romance, the child dying hurt them greatly, in the moment and in the years after, and Everett’s appearance only rehashed their hurt and Vernon’s guilt.

Everett’s Intentions Make Hope & Vernon’s Biggest Fight Even More Tragic

Everett Not Wanting To Live Make His Feud With Vernon & The Ordeal Sadder

Meeting at the child’s grave finally gave Everett and Vernon the chance to talk about the night Jordan died because Vernon was tending to Everett in Virgin River season 6, but Everett’s explanation only made the whole ordeal more tragic. Vernon despised Everett as he thought he was drunk and went on a joyride, but Everett’s confession that he didn’t want to live after Sarah’s death and learning Mel’s father didn’t want her to know Everett completely changed the meaning of Everett’s “I wish you’d let me die,” making Vernon realize that Everett was a patient who truly needed him.

Vernon knowing Everett’s mental state at the time finally let Vernon bury the hatchet, making their relationship change for the better. However, knowing the truth added even more hurt to a situation that already had so much, with Jordan’s death, Vernon’s unfaithfulness and what that caused to Hope, and now even Everett’s wish not to continue living at the time. Learning the truth thus made Jordan’s death the biggest, most tragic Virgin River story, one that continues to haunt many of its residents 20 years later.

Virgin River season 6 is now streaming in its entirety on Netflix.