No pressure, just us figuring it out," Isabelle said, adding firmly. "And I'm not going anywhere. I've waited too long to find you, to lose you." 2 weeks into dating, Isabelle met Ryan's sister, Rachel, at Sunday brunch, and Rachel was protective and fierce, having raised Ryan when their parents died young. "So, you're the woman my brother can't stop talking about," Rachel said directly.
And after some pointed questions, Isabelle said firmly, "I'm serious. I've been looking for your brother for 10 years because he saved my life." Rachel studied her before nodding. "Okay, you pass. Sophie has been through enough and doesn't need someone temporary." "I'm not temporary," Isabelle promised.
3 weeks in, Isabelle had dinner at Ryan's apartment with Takeout Chinese, and Sophie asked suddenly, "Do you like my daddy?" Isabelle said carefully. I do like your daddy. Like like him or just like him? Sophie pressed.
After Isabelle explained she cared about Ryan very much, Sophie asked. Can I call you Izzy? Mom feels weird. You can call me whatever you want, Isabelle said softly.
And Sophie decided, "Then you're Izzy." After Sophie went to bed, Ryan apologized for the interrogation. But Isabelle explained, "She's protecting you and herself. That's healthy. She's testing if I'm safe and if I'm staying." "And what are your intentions?" Ryan asked quietly.
"I want this, you and Sophie, in this life," Isabelle said honestly, adding. "I'm not scared of complicated. I'm scared of empty. And with you, I feel full for the first time in 10 years." He kissed her deeply and asked her to stay, and she stayed in the guest room.
And morning came with Sophie finding her making pancakes. "You're still here?" Sophie said with surprise, then asked directly. "Did you sleep in daddy's room?" "No, guest room. We're taking things slow." Isabelle explained.
Sophie nodded seriously and said, "That's smart. Emily's mom rushed and now they fight all the time." One month into dating, Isabelle's ex-boyfriend, Derek, appeared at her office wanting to reconnect after abandoning her in the hospital years ago. I'm seeing someone," Isabelle told him firmly. And when he asked if it was Ryan, she said, "You need to leave." But Derek didn't give up and started showing up everywhere.
So Isabelle documented everything for a possible restraining order. "And two weeks later, Derek showed up at Ryan's apartment." "You're Ryan, the hero," Derek said mockingly, demanding he leave Isabelle alone. "I'm not the one showing up uninvited," Ryan replied calmly. But then Sophie's voice came from behind asking, "Is that man yelling?" Derek's face changed when he saw Sophie and Ryan said firmly, "This is my home and my daughter is here.
If you show up again, I'm calling the police." After Derek left, Ryan called Isabelle saying he came here and Sophie saw we need to do something. I'll file for a restraining order tomorrow, Isabelle promised. The restraining order was granted, but Sophie started having nightmares about the angry man. And Isabelle said through tears.
I'm ruining your life. You're not ruining anything, Ryan insisted while taking her face in his hands. Sophie will be okay and will help her through this together. They worked with a therapist and slowly Sophie's nightmares faded while Isabelle showed up consistently, proving she wasn't going anywhere.
3 months into dating, Sophie asked, "Can Izzy come to my gymnastics competition in the family section?" Competition day arrived and Sophie performed beautifully, placing third, and she ran to them, throwing herself at Isabelle first while exclaiming, "Did you see?" Driving home, Sophie said something that changed everything. "Izzy feels like family now. She comes to important stuff and she's nice." "That's family," Ryan asked carefully. "Is that okay with you?" It's more than okay, Sophie said seriously, adding, "Mommy would like her because mommy like nice people." That night, Ryan told Isabelle what Sophie had said, and she replied emotionally, "That's the highest compliment I could get." "Do you think Sarah would approve?" Isabelle asked carefully.
Ryan thought before answering. Yes, Sarah would want me to be happy and to find love again, and she'd want Sophie to have someone who cares about her. And you're both those things. 4 months in, while cooking dinner together, Ryan said suddenly, "I love you.
I've been wanting to say it for weeks. I love you, Isabelle. I love you, too," she said while smiling through tears. Sophie looked up from homework and observed.
"Are you guys being mushy again?" But she was smiling. 5 months in, Isabelle moved in partially, keeping her apartment but staying over most nights with a drawer and toothbrush and space in their lives. When she asked Sophie if it was okay, Sophie asked, "Do you do laundry?" And when Isabelle said yes, Sophie declared, "Good, because daddy's bad at laundry. Izzy's useful." 6 months after the park bench, Derek violated the restraining order by showing up at Isabelle's office drunk and angry, and security called police while Derek was arrested.
Isabelle called Ryan shaking, and he was there in 12 minutes holding her while she cried. And he promised, "I'll protect you always." "Promise?" she asked, echoing their history. "Promise?" he said firmly. Derek got 60 days in jail and a harsher restraining order and Isabelle finally felt safe.
7 months in, on the anniversary of the accident, Isabelle asked Ryan to drive her to Highway 5 to the curve where she'd hydroplaned. They stood on the shoulder looking at the bend and Isabelle said quietly, "I died here for 3 minutes in the ambulance. They brought me back." Ryan took her hand and just held her. and she continued, "I never thanked you properly for saving me and for keeping your promise." "You gave me a second chance, too," Ryan said, explaining. "After Sarah died, I thought I was done, but you showed me I could have more and that I deserved more." "We both deserved more," Isabelle agreed.
They stood as the sunset, two people who'd found each other across time and tragedy, connected by a promise that refused to die. 8 months after the park bench encounter, Ryan proposed at home after bedtime stories with Sophie asleep in the next room. Isabelle Warren, "Will you marry me?" he asked while kneeling in their living room with a ring in hand and his heart pounding. Isabelle stared at him and asked, "Are you serious?" "Completely serious," he confirmed.
Ryan, we've only been together 8 months," she protested. "I know, and I've never been more certain of anything," he said firmly. "What about Sophie?" Isabelle asked with concern. "I asked her first, and she helped pick the ring," Ryan revealed.
Isabelle started laughing and crying simultaneously as she said. "You asked our seven-year-old for permission." "She's part of this decision," Ryan explained, adding. And she said yes enthusiastically. What did she say exactly?
Isabelle wanted to know. Ryan smiled and quoted. She said, "Duh, Dad. Izzy's already family.
Make it official." "That sounds like Sophie," Isabelle agreed. "So, what do you say?" Ryan asked, continuing. "Will you marry me and be my wife and be Sophie's stepmom officially?" "Yes," Isabelle said while pulling him up. "Obviously, yes." They got married 3 months later in a small ceremony with Sophie as maid of honor and Rachel officiating and only close friends and family attending.
"Do you, Ryan, take Isabelle to be your wife?" Rachel asked. "I do," he said with a strong voice. "Do you, Isabelle, take Ryan to be your husband?" Rachel continued. "I do," she said while smiling through tears.