Sweet Magnolias season 2: What secret is Cal hiding from Maddie?

Sweet Magnolia season 2 premiered on Netflix on Feb. 4 and dropped fans back into the center of all the drama swirling in Serenity. Between the aftermath of the car accident and all of the mounting relationship struggles for the Sweet Magnolias, it was a packed season.

The follow-up season comes over two years after the original premiere of the fan-favorite feel-good romantic drama. Based on the series of novels by Sherryl Woods, Sweet Magnolias season 2 reintroduces us to the characters we fell in love with in season 1 and deepens that love.

Of course, one of the characters we fell for in the first season of Sweet Magnolias was Cal Maddox, the former baseball player turned high school baseball coach who falls for Maddie Townsend. Their romance was one of the best parts of season 1 and season 2.

However, in the second season, we learn a lot more about Cal Maddox, including a few things he forgot to clue Maddie in on from his past. What secret — or secrets — was Cal keeping from Maddie in Sweet Magnolias season 2?

Warning: Spoilers from Sweet Magnolias season 2 ahead!

Sweet Magnolias season 2 Cal’s secret

As Maddie learns firsthand in the second season, Cal has something of a temper and admits to having a history of anger issues. In order to combat these issues, Cal says he went to treatment when his life was getting a little too out of control.

Although Maddie wishes Cal would have told her about his past sooner, she supports him and looks to continue moving forward in the relationship. But (there’s always a but isn’t there?) that’s not the only secret Cal was keeping from Maddie.

In fact, Cal wouldn’t have even told Maddie this big secret if Mary Vaughn hadn’t used the jaws of life to dig up from his past. Apparently, Cal had a brush with the law in the past, getting arrested for assault and battery. He claims he’d had it wiped from public record and moved forward.

The final moments of the season, which find Cal getting arrested for throwing a punch in Sullivan’s, don’t particularly look good or make a great case for Maddie’s embattled boyfriend. Surely, he’s changed, but there’s still some changing that needs to happen.

Watch Sweet Magnolias season 2 on Netflix, and check out more coverage from Netflix Life!