"RHOSLC: Meredith Marks Drops Hint on Jen Shah's Comeback Post-Prison: 'Embracing Accountability for a Fresh Start'"-quang

"We all do things that we're not proud of that are wrong at times," Marks tells PEOPLE

When it comes to the possibility of a Jen Shah return to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, star Meredith Marks says the door is open.

PEOPLE caught up with the reality star over the weekend at Bravo Fan Fest 2024 in Miami, where the idea of a Shah-mazing comeback was a hot topic among the Salt Lake City Housewives.

Shah, who shares two kids with husband Sharrieff Shah, is currently behind bars at Bryan Federal Prison Camp in Texas, serving an extended sentence for her role in a long-running nationwide telemarketing scheme. The 51-year-old is currently slated to be released on Dec. 19, 2027.

Thoughts of Jen's reality TV return were raised during a filming of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Friday, Nov. 22, where Marks, Heather Gay and Lisa Barlow all unanimously agreed they'd rather Jen return than former cast member Monica Garcia. Marks, 52, also explained on the episode, which is set to air on Bravo later this week, that she had recently reconnected with Jen during a phone call.

Speaking with PEOPLE about the call on Saturday, Nov. 23, Marks explained that the conversation was "very light."

"First of all, it was a 10 minute call — that's all you're allowed — and it's on a recorded line by the government, so I was very careful because I didn't know what I'm supposed to say or not say," she recalls. "It was pretty surface. 'How are you? How are the kids? How's Sharrieff?' stuff like that."

"I was just happy to hear her voice again," Marks adds. 'She sounds like she's doing well. She sounds like she's really working on herself. And I was glad to hear that."

Marks went on to assure PEOPLE that she never would have spoken about her conversation with Jen had she not had Jen's permission. "I would never do that," Marks says. "That's Jen's story, not mine. So if she didn't allow me to talk about it, I would not."

Asked why she believes her fellow cast members were so open to Jen now, Marks says it all comes down to Jen's actions since she began her prison sentence in February 2023.

"Accountability goes a long way in our circle," Marks says. "If you say, 'Look, I screwed up and I made a mistake and I'm sorry' — that matters. If she's taking accountability and doing what she needs to do to make it better, that's the best she can do right now. There's nothing else she can do beyond that."

"We're human. We all do things that we're not proud of that are wrong at times," Marks continues. "This is a big one, obviously; it's a bad one. But she's in prison. She's serving her time. She's paying restitution. I mean, she's not earning a ton of money, but she's doing what she can. And thats all a big price to pay. I don't know what more you can ask from her."

Jen was arrested in March 2021 along with her assistant Stuart Smith. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Though she proclaimed her innocence to federal prosecutors initially — going as far as filling a request to have the charges dismissed in August 2021, which was denied — Jen eventually entered a guilty plea in July 2022, admitting that she was "sorry" and noting "my actions have hurt innocent people."

She was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison, but that has been reduced several times since, most recently in October.

In February, Jen reflected on the first year of her experience behind bars in an exclusive letter to PEOPLE, explaining that "throughout this painful process, God has substantially increased my humility, gratitude, and courage."

"In my daily prayers, I ask God for the courage to realize I am worthy of a second chance," she wrote. "Through the countless therapy sessions and classes I have taken, I am finding the courage to set my fear and guilt aside."

"There is still so much I must learn while I am here at FPC Bryan, I am grateful God has given me a better foundation to appreciate his unwavering love and blessings to fight for that moment of happiness each day," she said.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City can be streamed in full on Peacock. New episodes air Tuesdays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.