[Elizabeth] Previously on The Baxters...
We need to talk about Kari's wedding dress.
What if he shuts us both out?
I'm terrified, Mom.
Would you be comfortable giving me Ashley's number?
I'm always gonna be here to make you feel better.
Excuse me.
Imagine how hard it is for her to hear that she's being replaced.
Kari, are you having second thoughts about the wedding?
Miss Baxter? Yeah, sickness taking Adrian's life is SIDA
or as you in America call...
AIDS.
[theme song playing]
♪ 'Cause life has a way Of pulling us under ♪
♪ But we'll stick it out ♪
♪ If we got each other ♪
♪ When it all feels too much ♪
♪ I know you'll come running For me ♪
♪ Through the highs and lows We'll find our way home ♪
♪ Family ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Family ♪
Okay.
I feel like I'm forgetting something.
Ash, you've double... Triple checked.
- You're not... - Cole's already with mom
Portfolio's been shipped.
Keys and car's almost here.
Hey, Ash.
I'm really proud of you.
Thanks.
Keep me posted from LA, okay?
Okay. Bye.
Bye.
[Ashley] Hey. What are you doing here?
Hey, Ash. Can we talk for a few minutes?
Yeah, but can't it wait? I'm on my way to the airport.
No, no, it really can't. This is important.
What?
I overheard your phone call at Mom and Dad's.
Ashley, I know about Adrian.
Brooke, my ride's here, I have to go.
Ashley, listen to me. This is serious.
I really think that you should stay home and get tested as soon as possible.
Yeah, I will, when I get back.
Ashley, if you test positive,
you need to start treatment immediately.
I said I don't have time for this.
I am literally on my way to the airport.
Ashley, I love you,
and I...
I don't know what I would do if something happened to you.
Adrian didn't have it when we were together.
How can you be sure?
I know that I don't need to tell you this,
but if you contracted the virus,
then Cole could have it too.
Cole is perfectly healthy. He's fine.
I think it's important that we rule it out.
I have to go to the gallery opening, okay.
My future depends on it.
[peppy song playing]
When's your future fiancee getting here?
Yo!
Landon.
What?
When does Ashley get in here?
She got in late last night.
Ah!
That's why you're tired.
No, I haven't seen her yet.
Her big show's tonight.
So I'm meeting her at the gallery.
And I need to leave here by, like, 4:30 maybe 4:00.
I gotta go home, take a shower,
change, get all the supplies.
- And then I gotta-- - Deep breaths, buddy.
It's gonna be amazing.
Yeah.
You think you can cover for me tonight while I'm gone?
It'd be my honor.
- Thanks, bro. - No problem, dude.
Oh, help me finish this truck, though.
[man] So, how was everybody's day?
[music playing on earphones]
It was... It was pretty good.
- Yeah? - Yeah, mine was good, too.
[girl 1] We had that quiz again.
I don't know if it went the best.
- [girl 2] Yeah. - Believe in yourself.
[laughter]
Should we begin?
[girls] Yes.
Okay, so today we're gonna talk about...
[increases music volume]
♪ Can you help me out? ♪
- [Kari] Almost ready with the next one. - [Elizabeth] Okay.
Say a little prayer.
Mom, the wedding is so soon.
If we don't pick a dress today,
Kari's gonna be walking down the aisle in jeans.
- Oh. - Oh, wow.
That's so pretty.
You look beautiful, Kari.
- Yeah? - [Erin] Yeah.
[Elizabeth] It's beautiful.
- Honey, it's gorgeous. - You look so pretty.
Oh, and I love the cut.
So pretty.
- [Kari sighs] - Oh, no.
Wait, wait. We can't decide without the finishing touch.
- Oh, wow. - That's really special.
Gorgeous.
It's pretty.
I feel a "but" coming.
But...
It's just not the one.
Plenty more to see.
- Let me go pull some from the racks. - [sighs]
I should go home.
I left Jessie with Diane hours ago.
I'm sorry.
Oh, honey. Don't worry.
Ryan adores you.
And he wouldn't care if you walk down the aisle
wearing one of the pretty dresses
- that are already in your closet. - Mm-hm.
He asked me the other day if I'm having second thoughts.
I didn't know how to answer him.
Are you?
Preparing for this wedding with Diane here
has been really hard.
I feel like I can't let myself picture the day,
which is why
I can't picture the dress.
Well, why don't you try to picture it right now?
Just close your eyes.
Come on, Kari, it'll be fun.
[chuckles]
Imagine this is the morning of your wedding
and you're about to walk through the church doors,
catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror.
What does your dress look like?
Okay, um...
It has long sleeves.
They're a delicate lace,
and...
the bodice is simple.
Just white
and...
it has a full skirt,
but not too full, you know.
[sighs]
Honestly, it's a dress you don't see in stores these days.
Something with a history as amazing as Ryan and mine.
I have one last idea up my sleeve.
Really?
[hip-hop music playing on earphones]
- [phone chimes] - [music stops]
[girl 1] ...in a while, so, I think I've forgotten a bit of it.
[girl 2] Peter's Story is one of my favorites.
It's the one I go to whenever I feel myself questioning my faith.
[man] Peter was considered one of Jesus' most devoted followers.
But then I know that he denied him three times.
Jesus took a man who blatantly denied him in one moment,
and the next establishes him as the rock of his church.
That's the God of new beginnings.
[girl 2] How did Jesus even trust Peter?
It just doesn't make sense when so many others were loyal.
Feels like Peter was just let back in without consequences.
Yeah, totally.
I don't know.
Proverbs 17:9, says,
"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven."
So Peter found his way back.
I like to think he was never fully gone.
Peter could have gone far away from Jesus, but he cared too much for that.
He stayed among his community,
even through his anger and confusion.
Maybe he knew that he needed them to find his way back to his faith.
God knows we have doubts.
Like Peter. Jesus gave room for Peter's doubt.
And Peter came home.
Hello?
[gasps]
Landon.
What are you...
Ashley Baxter,
I fell for you on the zoo trip
in Mr. Garrett's fifth grade class.
And every single day since,
I've loved you more.
My heart belongs to you.
For a very long time, I've...
I've wanted to ask you one question.
Ashley,
will you marry me?
I, uh...
Ash...
it's a yes or no question.
No.
No?
[woman] Hello? Can I come in?
Yeah, that's fine.
Did you finish whatever your surprise was for our star on her big night?
Yeah, we're done here. Thanks for letting me in early.
[woman] Sure, hope it was a hit.
Oh, why the long face?
Tonight is the night that's gonna change your life forever.
I need to see a smile.
Okay. We'll work on that.
I need to steal you for a sec.
I just... I can't figure out where to put our programs
with your gorgeous face on them.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah? Okay.
[knocking on door]
Hi, Luke.
[Elizabeth] This has been in my family for generations.
Oh, Mom. Grandma's dress.
Mm-hm. Yes.
I wore it.
And now maybe you'll continue the tradition.
I've only ever seen it in pictures. It's...
It's in perfect shape.
- It's beautiful, right? - Yeah.
Lace sleeves,
simple bodice,
full, but not obnoxiously full skirt.
I guess we've had similar visions.
You want to try it on?
I love it. But if it doesn't fit,
we don't have time to get it altered.
I just have a feeling about it, you know?
Take it home. Right?
When you're in the right heart space, you can try it on.
[phone chimes]
Everything okay?
Yeah.
Um, Diane wants to talk to me and Ryan about something.
Okay. Well, maybe it's a good thing.
I don't know.
She's been pretty quiet since we were here
the other day for Maddie's party.
She's a lovely, intelligent woman, Kari.
And she loves and cares about you very much.
A lot has happened since you left.
Yeah, for me, too.
I mean, we obviously have so much to talk about.
But after my dad died, I freaked out.
I couldn't face it.
Any of it.
Then nine months later,
this little miracle came into my life.
- Is he-- - Yours?
Yes.
His name is Thomas Luke.
After my dad and...
his dad.
I call him Tommy.
[chuckles] Tommy.
Hey, Tommy.
[inaudible conversation]
♪ My feet are frozen ♪
♪ Wanna run but I can't move ♪
♪ Cannot disappear ♪
♪ I know I have to choose ♪
♪ Where is the me I imagined ♪
♪ Feel my dreams Slipping away ♪
♪ So I close my eyes ♪
♪ And try not to fade away ♪
♪ If I could rewind time Would I regret it? ♪
♪ Is it worth all the time For me to forget it? ♪
[breathing heavily]
You're okay. You're okay. You're okay.
Oh, there you are.
I have been looking everywhere for you.
A buyer is asking to meet you.
Well, Ashley, they won't wait around forever.
This is your moment.
Come. Come. Come.
[exhales]
It's perfect.
Hi.
- Hi. - Hi.
You're already here? Sorry, I was gone for so long.
Oh, honey, no problem.
Jessie and I had a fabulous time.
We even danced to a little Miles Davis in the living room.
Oh, I love that.
Um, thank you both
for making the time this evening, um...
There's a few things I need to say to the two of you.
Come, sit.
[sighs]
I think you both know that I wish Tim was here.
I wish I could see my sweet granddaughter
in my own baby's arms.
And yes, it has been really hard
to be among all this talk about your wedding
and your future.
But...
I don't wish away what you two have now.
Ryan...
I walked away from you at Maddie's welcome home party
because my heart was torn.
I can understand that.
I saw what a loving and strong father figure you're gonna be for Jessie.
And it made me realize it is time for me
to start letting go of the idea
that my granddaughter can only be raised by Tim.
Thank you.
And Kari,
thank you for choosing such a loving partner.
It's gonna be a beautiful home.
Now, I'm not gonna lie and say that this isn't hard,
but when it gets hard, I think of Tim.
And I know Tim would want you and Jessie
to be loved and cared for.
And I know he would believe, like, I believe
you are following a path that God has so clearly laid out for you.
Thank you.
I didn't know how much I needed to hear that.
I know.
Um, I bought this...
when Tim called me to tell me that you were pregnant.
And I want you to have it.
Only keeping this if you promise
to come back and read it to her.
I promise.
Okay. Um...
I think it's time for me to go kiss my grandbaby
one more time before I head out.
Okay.
Wow.
I did not expect that.
Me neither.
Ryan...
I am ready to marry you now.
Yeah?
Landon.
Listen...
You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to.
But at least let me give you a ride back to your hotel.
Please.
[sniffles]
Can you just tell me what I did wrong?
It's nothing you did.
You're amazing.
You're the best guy I've ever met.
- Then why-- - It's me.
Something happened and it changed everything.
Trust me, you don't want to marry me.
Nothing could change the fact
that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Ash.
You don't get it.
So help me understand.
I'm damaged goods.
You deserve someone better.
Don't talk about yourself that way.
You don't get it.
Ash...
whatever it is, we'll work it out.
The man that I was with in Paris.
I got a call from his lawyer.
He's dying.
I'm... I'm so sorry.
Landon, he's dying of AIDS.
Which means I could have been infected.
Oh.
[sniffles]
Ash, hey. Ash, Ash.
He has your cheeks.
And your cute little nose.
Oh, he totally has your eyes.
Reagan...
why did you keep this from me?
I'm so, so sorry.
I just didn't know how to tell you.
And I just, I felt so guilty. And I feel so guilty.
Pushed you away from your faith and your family.
No...
None of that was your fault.
I mean, you left and then I was crushed.
But I could have been more persistent.
I gave up.
We both did.
I don't want to spend another day
without you or Tommy in my life.
Neither do I, Luke.
But we can't just rush into this.
Tell me what I can do.
I just want to take this slow.
Done.
And another thing.
I want you to work on things with your family.
Luke, listen,
in order to work on us,
you have to work on yourself.
And you're not alone. You have a family
that loves you and fights for you.
Yeah.
Reagan. I'm just... I'm just scared.
I mean, I've lived my entire life
anchored to a belief that...
That I knew with every fiber of my being
I knew God.
I knew the church.
I had a Bible verse for every single situation
until the shooting.
And then I realized I don't know anything.
I don't even know myself.
And it's terrifying.
I completely understand.
But what good is running gonna do?
My running from you didn't leave my grief
or my guilt.
You running from your God
and your family isn't bringing you any comfort.
You're allowed to wrestle, Luke.
God wants that.
Thank you.
[chuckles]
I've missed you so much.
[Landon] Ashley.
Don't leave.
Not without me.
[Elizabeth] Next time on The Baxters...
Hi.
Sam, there's nothing more transformative
than the love that you have for your child.
I just got a text from our venue.
A septic tank burst.
[Landon] Let's take it one step at a time, Ash.
First, a test.
Was that the doctor?
What did she say?
[Luke] You don't have to do this, Reagan.
[Reagan] I want to. No more secrets, okay?
[Pastor Mariana] I would like to welcome you
to the wedding ceremony
of Kari Baxter and Ryan Taylor.
[theme music playing]