Sweet Caroline {Ryan Blaney} ✔️

thirty-one

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"I'm sorry for whatever happens in here," Ryan whispered into Lydia's ear as they stopped in front of his parent's door. It had been two weeks since they had told Caroline that Ryan was her dad. On the advice of Ryan's therapist, they established a routine -- a new normal. And Caroline was adjusting well.

It had been Lydia's idea to introduce the idea of his parents and Elle to Caroline -- first with stories and then pictures. It didn't take Caroline long to want to meet them -- much to his parent's delight. He could tell that Elle was hesitant and he worried that it had more to do with Lydia than it did with Caroline. After telling Caroline about his family, he had confided in Lydia about how Elle had hurt him by always siding with Stacy. And how even now, he was still a little wary around her -- his trust gone.

So here they were -- Ryan was about to introduce his parents and sister to his daughter... and Lydia. He didn't know what to classify her as -- she was way more than just his co-parent but she wasn't quite his girlfriend. Being unlabeled didn't really bother him -- he knew that he wasn't ready for a fully committed relationship and whatever easy thing they had was perfect -- he was just worried that their relationship would be scrutinized, a topic of gossip and he was scared that Lydia would end up hurt and pull away from him.

"It's going to be great." She smiled, stepping forward and ringing the doorbell. Normally Ryan would've just walked right in but he couldn't remember the last time he had been to their house -- it didn't feel like his childhood home anymore.

Stacy had managed to ruin his relationship with his parents at least to some extent. She had alienated him -- always spinning stories to make it look like he was the one pulling away on his own accord. He had no idea how to repair that -- no idea how to talk to them about what had happened with Stacy.

The door swung open, Ryan's dad, standing in front of them. "No need to ring the doorbell." The sadness in his eyes couldn't be mistaken as he stared at his son for a moment. But his eyes brightened a little when they shifted down towards Caroline. He crouched down to Caroline's height. "You must be Caroline. I'm --"

Before he could finish introducing himself, Caroline launched herself into his arms. Ryan could hear his breath catch a little.

"She looks just like you did." He choked out, his eyes meeting Ryan's when Caroline released him from the hug. "Your mom and sister are out on the patio -- we should probably get out there."

Caroline slipped her hand into Ryan's as they walked through his childhood home. All of the memories washed over him. He was excited to make the same memories with Caroline -- to provide her with the same carefree childhood he had been lucky enough to have. Maybe a little of the carefreeness would rub off on him because he still felt like he was still reeling from everything that Stacy had put him through.

Caroline tugged on his hand a little, picking up the pace as they followed his dad to the patio. He had been so surprised by how well she took to the idea of meeting his family -- Lydia had surmised that it was because Caroline had always yearned for an extended family like her friends had. It filled his heart to know that he could provide that for her.

He wondered about Lydia's family and when he had asked, she had given him a vague answer and he had taken that as a signal, not to press. He wanted to know, he sensed that there was so much more to Lydia that she wasn't telling him. He wondered if he had done something to make her wary of telling him her story but Caroline letting go of his hand brought him out of his thoughts.