The Last Letter

In her 15th letter, Ella writes back expressing condolences for Chaos’s loss. She remembers how losing loved ones—like her parents and her grandmother—always caused her to shut down. Ella believes Chaos is capable of connection; he is just more careful of whom he connects with. She also believes he would make a good father one day.

Two weeks after the conversation with Ella, Beckett signs the papers to accept his disability leave and meets with Jeff. He makes Jeff sign over his parental rights as well as write a check for six years’ worth of child support, threatening to tell the media about Jeff’s parents’ attitude toward Maisie if he refused. With Jeff dating a senator’s daughter, this information becoming public would hurt his image and relationship.

Beckett takes the papers and check to Ella. He knows she won’t take the money but wants to give her an option between it and having Beckett adopt the kids. Ella rips up the check and chooses Beckett.

In her third letter, Ella rants about parenthood. She got called into the principal’s office because Colt and Maisie got into an altercation with another child. A boy tried to forcefully kiss Maisie, and she punched him in retaliation. When the boy called Maisie names, Colt jumped in and gave the boy a black eye.

A month after Jeff signed over his rights, the day arrives when Beckett and Ella have to sign the adoption papers in court. Hailey gets asked out on a date, and her excitement makes Ella a little sad; she can’t remember the last time she felt that way or invested in any self-care. Beckett asks Hailey to take Ella out for a few hours so she can get a haircut and some pampering before meeting him at the courthouse. He promises to take Ella out for a real, adult dinner after.

In his fourth letter, Chaos tells Ella that he thinks her kids are amazing for responding the way they did. He confesses that he loves kids but is too scared to have any of his own as he didn’t have a father and doesn’t think he will be a good role model.

While they are out shopping, Hailey encourages Ella to start things with Beckett, claiming that everyone knows he has feelings for her. Beckett and Ella make it to the courthouse in time, and as they step out after, Ella is sure she is in love with Beckett. Beckett takes her out to dinner as promised but ends their date with a hug before dropping her home. With Ada’s encouragement, a frustrated Ella decides to go over to Beckett’s and confront him about his feelings for her. They finally sleep together and confess their love for each other.

In her fourth letter, Ella tells Chaos that someone recently asked her out, but she turned them down because she didn’t feel any chemistry. She wonders if it is silly for her to wait around for something romantic in her situation and asks Chaos if it is difficult for him to date.

Beckett wakes up feeling happy but also a little conflicted as he hasn’t told Ella the truth about him being Chaos. Ella is flustered and embarrassed, but Beckett reassures her that he still wants her and is in love with her. The two decide to begin a relationship and tell the kids the same.

Beckett reserves his cabin indefinitely while simultaneously secretly working on building a more permanent home at a location nearby. Ella takes Maisie for a round of treatment, and while they are away, Beckett builds an overjoyed Colt a treehouse. When Ella and Maisie return, Ella tells Beckett that Ryan was planning on building Colt one when he came back.

As everyone climbs up into the treehouse, Colt briefly loses his footing and almost falls off before catching himself again. Ella is terrified and warns him to be more careful, while Beckett reassures Ella that Colt is fine, and accidents happen. Up in the treehouse, Ella expresses how much she loves coming home to Beckett, and he reciprocates the feeling.

In his fifth letter, Chaos confesses that he doesn’t date as his life wouldn’t be fair to any woman. He doesn’t know if he is happy being single, but perhaps he is content. He will see how things are once he leaves the military.

Ella feels content with her life once she begins a relationship with Beckett. She has partially accepted that parts of him will always be secret, but his secrecy factors into her decision not to tell the kids about the adoption.

It has been one year since Maisie’s diagnosis. Ella and Beckett take her in for tests, and Dr. Hughes tells them Maisie is in partial remission. She doesn’t need more treatment at the moment but will have to keep getting scans and tests done. Ella cries in relief at having a future to plan for and feels hope for the first time.

Two weeks later, Ella and Beckett’s alone time is interrupted by a call from search and rescue. Beckett can’t turn it down, because a child is involved. After he leaves, Ella gets a call from an insurance officer who is investigating Beckett for insurance fraud because of Maisie, and Ella learns that he is still in the military. She confronts Beckett about this once he returns, and Beckett explains that he took the disability deal so that Maisie could get the insurance benefits. Ella apologizes for not trusting Beckett and tells him about the phone call.

Beckett is exhausted after the rescue, and Ella asks him to stay over. Beckett confesses that he accidentally killed a child with a ricocheting bullet back in the military; this is why he never turns down a rescue call involving a child. Ella asserts that it wasn’t Beckett’s fault. He spends the night, and the two reiterate their love for each other.

In her 21st letter, Ella thanks Chaos for her Christmas gift and confesses how excited she is that she will see him soon. Even though they have never met, she is attracted to the person she has gotten to know in the letters.

Ella and Beckett await a visit from the insurance office, and Captain Donahue, who has also been summoned, arrives as well. He is surprised to discover that Ella doesn’t know Beckett is Chaos. Beckett takes him aside and tells him he cannot reveal the truth as it could end his relationship with Ella.

The insurance agent, Danielle Wilson, arrives and begins interrogating how Beckett came to adopt the twins. Beckett asserts that he is in love with Ella, and Ella explains that she doesn’t believe in marriage. Beckett shows her Ryan’s letter, and Danielle accuses Captain Donahue of offering disability benefits to help Ryan’s niece out.

Captain Donahue reveals that Danielle’s sister, Cassandra, is married to Ramirez, who was in the same unit as Ryan and Beckett. Ramirez lost his arm and had to quit, and Danielle is targeting Captain Donahue because he didn’t offer Ramirez the same deal as Beckett. Danielle denies any vendetta and demands proof that Beckett had a pre-existing relationship with the children before Maisie’s diagnosis, or else she will pause payment for Maisie’s treatment. Realizing he has no other option, Beckett shows Danielle the letters from Ella to Chaos.

Danielle makes a phone call and returns with an apology, stating the investigation has been concluded. She and Captain Donahue leave, but Ella is furious when Beckett finally admits that he is Chaos.