Trista Sutter speaks out after Ryan's cryptic messages about his disappearance and addresses his absence

SATURDAY, The Bachelorette The alumna took to Instagram to address speculation and concerns surrounding her marriage and apparent absence after Ryan's posts raised questions among fans.

Trista – who shares son Maxwell, 16, and daughter Blakesley, 15, with her husband of 20 years – posted a photo of her and her family on a beach while on vacation in Mexico.

“Damn, people. Can't a girl have a nervous breakdown/breakup trial/midlife crisis/death/divorce in peace around here?! ,” she said started in the post's long caption.

“Seriously, to those concerned, I am safe and sound, happy and healthy, in love and grateful. . For those who prefer to focus on critical thinking and looking too hard for the darkness, good luck with that ,” she continued.

“An opportunity for perspective and personal growth presented itself and with the unconditional support of my family and friends, I chose myself and bettered myself, knowing that my work as a stay-at-home mother and the end of my children's school year needs were in the best and most capable hands,” she added.

The 51-year-old then explained her husband's reaction and explained that his messages were ultimately what she “needed.”

“My stoic husband, who usually chooses privacy over posting, decided to share his love for me in messages that would find me on my travels,” Trista said. “We look at Instagram as a digital newspaper. Most of the time the world doesn't pay too much attention to it.”

“This time he couldn't say anything right and almost every media outlet picked up his 'enigmatic/confusing/attractive/dramatic' photos and captions,” she wrote. “For me, they gave me exactly what my love language of words of affirmation needed to get me through some serious doubts and fears…and that's all that matters. He owes no one an explanation and doesn't need permission to post what he wants just post and share what he wants to share .”

Trista ended her post by hinting that there was more to the story, but she's not saying more at the moment.

“If you want to know the rest of the story, I'll share it in due time,” she wrote, before concluding: “For now, we're returning to our usual programming – from a beach in Mexico! After all, nervous breakdowns and separations require well-deserved rest and relaxation .”

This comes after Ryan shared several posts on Instagram that left fans wondering if there was trouble in paradise between him and Trista.

“They say absence makes the heart grow fonder,” he wrote on Instagram on May 11. “I can only think of a few days where I haven't, at the very least, spoken to this incredible woman. She is the love of my life and my best friend. I can't imagine loving her more or more dearly .” . But I guess we'll find out…I miss her already.

The next day, Mother's Day, the firefighter revealed that he and his children would not be spending the holiday with Trista.

“I know you wish you were here for Mother's Day. We wish you were too. But sometimes being a mom means letting go, granting independence, and boosting your courageous spirit,” Ryan wrote in the caption. a family photo. “Sometimes it's necessary to exemplify the characteristics you're preaching – to do rather than say. Sometimes it takes being uncomfortable and afraid to show them that it's okay to be uncomfortable comfortable and afraid. Sometimes you have to leave so they know that you will come back, that your love is limited neither by distance, nor by difficulty, nor by time. sometimes do. We are proud of you pajamas mom for everything you do for us, near or far, Happy Mother's Day!!

A few days later, The Bachelorette an alum shared another post, in which he explained how much he missed his wife during her apparent absence.

“I really wish I could talk to you,” Ryan began the May 17 message. “I'm asking how you are? How was your day? I'd really like to hear your voice – just for a minute. So many times I've called without much to say, without realizing how lucky I am I didn't know how I would miss this opportunity if it disappeared. I want to know how you are doing. I want to support you and encourage you. But I can't because I know you need this time. , time to discover yourself again.”

“Then I’ll be here for you instead,” he continued. “I'll be there when you come back. I'll be there to listen to you, to smile with you, maybe to cry with you – I'll be there to love you… I'll be there… forever.”

Ryan later set the record straight after fans voiced their concerns in the comments section of her previous posts.

I write what I'm thinking right now,” he wrote last weekend. “I write my feelings without worrying about how they will be interpreted and with absolutely no intention to deceive or misleading anyone – that's the furthest thing from my mind. “

“I choose to share my thoughts on occasion because it helps me process them and, I hope, can help others navigate their own lives,” he added.

“Trista's fine. We're fine. We're fine,” Ryan continued, referring to his wife's position. “Trista is at a point in her life where she's a bit of a search. An opportunity presented itself that could help her in this quest. With the support of her family, she took it. Part of that process means that she is temporarily inaccessible to us. I miss her.

Ryan and Trista tied the knot in a televised wedding in 2003 after getting engaged on the very first season of The Bachelorette.