Chapter 12
The first few months after the sentencing were strange.
We waited for the other shoe to drop.
For Diane to appeal.
For relatives to call with more threats.
For something to go wrong.
But nothing did.
Diane didn't appeal.
The relatives who supported her faded away.
Silence.
Peace.
It took time to get used to it.
Noah continued to thrive.
Dr. Kim said his recovery was remarkable.
He was back to being the happy, energetic little boy he'd been before.
He made new friends at school.
Joined the soccer team.
Loved dinosaur class.
The nightmares stopped.
The fear was gone.
Ryan and I were healing too.
Our marriage was stronger than ever.
We'd been through hell.
But we'd come out the other side.
Together.
One evening, we were sitting on the porch.
Watching Noah play in the yard.
Ryan took my hand.
"Remember when we first started dating?" he asked.
I smiled.
"Of course," I said.
"You took me to that terrible Italian restaurant. The one with the red sauce that tasted like ketchup."
Ryan laughed.
"I was so nervous," he said.
"I wanted to impress you so bad. I practiced what I was going to say for hours."
"You were adorable," I said.
"I knew that night I was going to marry you."
Ryan looked at me.
His eyes soft.
"I almost lost you," he said quietly.
"Almost lost everything. Because I was weak. Because I was too afraid to stand up to my mother."
"But you didn't lose us," I said.
"You found your courage. And you fought for us. That's what matters."
Ryan pulled me closer.
"I promise you," he said.
"I will never let anyone hurt you or Noah again. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. To both of you."
"I know," I said.
And I did know.
Actions speak louder than words.
And Ryan's actions had proven his love.
Over and over again.
Robert moved closer to us.
He bought a small house in our neighborhood.
He wanted to be near Noah.
Near his family.
He and Noah spent every Saturday together.
Going to the park.
To the museum.
To dinosaur movies.
Robert was becoming the father he'd never been to Ryan.
And the grandfather Noah deserved.
Emily got married that summer.
A small ceremony in our backyard.
Noah was the ring bearer.
He carried the rings on a pillow shaped like a dinosaur.
Everyone laughed.
It was perfect.
After the wedding, Emily pulled me aside.
"Thank you," she said.
"For not giving up on Ryan. For not giving up on our family. You brought us back together. In a way I never thought possible."
"We did it together," I said.
And we had.
The holidays came.
Our first Christmas without Diane.
Without the tension.
Without the fear.
It was the best Christmas we'd ever had.
Noah was so excited.
He woke up at five in the morning.
Rushed to the Christmas tree.
Presents everywhere.
Robert was there.
Emily and her new husband.
Close friends.
Our new family.
Noah opened a present from Robert.
A giant dinosaur skeleton.
The kind you put together.
"Wow!" Noah shouted.
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
He ran to Robert.
Hugged him tight.
Robert's eyes filled with tears.
"You're welcome, buddy," he said.
Later that day, Ryan and I were cleaning up the wrapping paper.
He stopped.
Looked at me.
"Sarah," he said.
"Yeah?"
He got down on one knee.
My heart stopped.
He pulled out a small box.
Opened it.
Inside was a ring.
Not an engagement ring.
A promise ring.
Simple.
Beautiful.
"I know we're already married," he said.
His voice shaking.
"But I want to make a new promise. To you. To Noah. To our family. That I will love you. Protect you. Cherish you. For the rest of my life. No matter what. Will you accept this promise?"
Tears streamed down my face.
"Yes," I said.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Ryan slipped the ring on my finger.
He stood up.
Kissed me.
Noah ran over.
"What's happening?" he asked.
"Mommy and Daddy are making a new promise," Ryan said.
"To love each other. And to love you. Forever."
Noah beamed.
"Can I have a promise too?" he asked.
Ryan knelt down.
He looked Noah in the eye.
"I promise you, Noah," he said.
"That you will always be safe. Always be loved. Always be my little boy. No matter what."
Noah threw his arms around Ryan's neck.
"I love you, Daddy," he said.
"I love you too, buddy," Ryan said.
I joined the hug.
The three of us.
Together.
A family.
Whole.
May you like
Healed.
Happy.
