The Sanford Legacy

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨… Isa made choices, and I let you tell me what you think about them 👀 One thing I like about this part is how everyone is divided on this, it’s so interesting! I’m still working on next update focusing on gen 2 but I let you this wonderful sneak peek of Nicole 🙂‍↕️

Unaware of the confusion affecting her son, Isa cups Damian's cheeks. Isa prefers to be honest with Damian, and he agrees with her and knows what he is getting himself into in any case. But it is true that Isa's almost daily presence by his side makes his heart beat a little faster than expected...

Elli retreats to the only place where he feels safe and lights a cigarette. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩? His mother keeps talking about a temporary separation whenever he dares to speak ill of his father, and now here she is tongue-kissing a complete stranger? He feels like he's been lied to all this time.

If Isa hadn't been so focused on trying to analyse her feelings, she might have heard the door open. Elli is surprised, to say the least, by the scene unfolding before his eyes. Until now, even without knowing the reasons for his parents' break, he had decided to blame his father entirely.

Kissing someone else for the first time after so many years is particularly disconcerting for Isa. It's not unpleasant, but it's... 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩. A different cologne, a different softness, a different way of being touched. Damian acts almost as if he's afraid of breaking this moment, so gentle is he.

But after mulling over the situation, Isa is tired of feeling like she's missing out on life, to the point where everyone seems to know better than she does what she should do or how she should feel. She moves closer to him, ready to discover for herself what it means to open up to someone else.

Damian crosses his arms, far from being stupid. He doesn't really know what drives him today more than any other day to confront Isa, but her avoiding his gaze is already an answer. Her behaviour has been confusing to him, and he would like to know what is going on rather than imagining things.

Isa ends up isolating herself in the kitchen, focusing on mundane chores in an attempt to organise her thoughts. She knows she will have to make a choice and that it is not fair to keep Damian waiting like this, potentially, and 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 for nothing. And sure enough, he ends up joining her.

Sunny weather is returning to Strangerville, accompanied by its usual heat. The rest of the birthday party is spent playing in the water. But Isa and Damian are a little apart, watching the scene from a distance, more focused on each other. Something has changed in his gaze, and Isa has noticed it.

He approaches to kiss her on the cheek, Isa still thinking about the advice of her loved ones. Isa has to face facts: things are simple with Damian, but 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚? Isn't she craving simple things? But she misses Jasper so... No, she refuses to think about him now, not again.

However, two guests are missing. Isa is there to welcome them when they finally ring the doorbell. Camille, as adorable as ever, can't help but snitch on her father, who laughs, while Isa smirks as she details Damian's usual outfit.

Isa's questions about her love life will have to wait, as it is finally time to celebrate Nath's birthday soberly with the family. He is now a little boy with a vivid imagination, and Luke and Aria's little miracle is more than ready to live his childhood to the fullest!

Hearing Octavia's blunt words, Isa can't help but let out an incredulous laugh. Isa continues to dwell on her situation without ever taking a step forward, nor really knowing what she wants. As she hugs her bff close, she reiterates her words: Isa deserves not to mope around for the rest of her life

There is someone who does not approve of this 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢, and that's Isa. Scrolling through her phone instead of enjoying her night, she stalks Jasp and pouts, hating each photo she sees of him and Em a little more. When she hands her phone to Octavia, the latter makes a face as well.

While their first podcast with Darlene was a complete disaster, this one is probably the most enjoyable they have done. The conversation between the two flows naturally, and their professionalism seems to be taking over, the host finds himself guiding the conversation without interrupting them.

Both lean against the counter, comfortable with the idea of calmly discussing everything and nothing about their jobs. When Jasper tries to compliment Em, however, she bursts out laughing, bewildered that he is trying to be so friendly, knowing their history.

But in reality, tensions have eased between the two, and even outside of interviews when they're taking a break together some normality has returned. It is easier for Jasper to be a little friendlier with Emma naturally, while Emma was relieved it didn’t get dirtier between them.

The rest of the interviews go a little more smoothly for Emma and Jasper. By repeating the same phrases, the same jokes, the same briefs, it becomes easier to create a false sense of closeness when you know what the other person is going to say.

Emma is grateful to see her take a step towards her, and soon she ends up with her daughter on her lap, affectionately stroking her hair. The two chat normally for the first time in forever, Erica ends up asking for advice, but Em raises an eyebrow. Isn't she too young to be thinking about that?

Em doesn't hear Erica slip into her room and lets out a surprised gasp when she hears her voice. But her daughter isn't there to fight, far from it. Erica's nature is more forgiving and forward-looking than anything else, and that's exactly what she intends to do with her mother.

But once the cameras are turned off, the make-up removed and the beautiful outfits put away, Em breaks down in the silence of her room. She has faced the cold reality recently, and now that she started to recognize her mistakes, it's becoming difficult to turn a blind eye as she has done until now.

For Jasp and Em, the interviews come one after another and end up the same. Same words, same pitches, same jokes. Now that they can't back out, they both realise what a huge mistake this is. But they have no choice, so Jasp is polite to Em, while she puts on her best fake smile for the cameras.

He's close, 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 to describe their relationship as mere friendship. She knows he's waiting for more, and Isa moves towards him, placing her hand on his cheek. But she stops herself. She hasn't been honest with him (or herself) and where she's in her marriage to do it.

Isa hoists herself onto the counter, still thinking about her writing, but Damian searches for the right words, trying to move her problem forward as he flashes a grin. When he looks at her like that, Isa finds it difficult not to ignore that her heart skips a beat when she meets his bright gaze.

Isa's feelings have been somewhat... confusing since she saw Jasper again. She doesn't know what to think or what to do, and the attention and help Damian gives her every day, whether it's towards her or when he gives her professional advice, clearly makes things even more difficult.