"Multiple townspeople called in reports early this morning. Elliott was spotted lurking around Steph's apartment building." The chief pauses. "Mrs. Patterson across the way got video of him trying door handles, peering in windows. Lottie Carmichael called it in the moment she saw him on her morning walk. Tony from The Lucky Tap spotted him in the parking lot and followed at a distance while calling us."
Steph's eyes are wide, her hand trembling in mine.
"Martinez and two other officers caught him red-handed," the chief continues. "Clear restraining order violation. Multiple witnesses, video evidence. This isn't going away, Kevin. We've got him, the idiot."
"What about bail?" I ask, my voice tight.
"He's being held without bail pending the hearing. Given the stalking behavior, the multiple violations, and the evidence we have? His lawyer can't save him this time. The charges are going to stick."
I close my eyes, letting the words sink in. "Thank you, Chief."
"This town takes care of its own, Dawes. You know that." There's warmth in his voice. "Give Steph our best. And tell her she's got an entire police department backing her up."
“Thanks Chief, will do.” When I hang up, Steph is just standing there, staring at the phone in my hand.
"It's over?" she whispers.
"It's over."
She doesn't move. Doesn't speak. Just stands there processing, and I can see the exact moment it hits her.
"They did that for me?" Her voice breaks. "Mrs. Patterson, Lottie, Tony—they all—"
"You're one of theirs, Steph. One of ours." I pull her into my arms, holding her tight. "Of course they did."
She breaks then, not with fear but with relief. With gratitude. With the overwhelming realization that she's not alone and never has been.
I hold her while she cries, pressing kisses to her hair, murmuring reassurances.
"It's over," I tell her. "He can't hurt you anymore. And you didn't have to face it alone."
She pulls back, wiping at her eyes. "I didn't have to do anything. They just... took care of it."
"That's what our community does." I brush a tear from her cheek. "That's what family does."
She lets out a shaky laugh. "Thank God for fake relationships, right? Otherwise, Elliott never would've backed off long enough for them to catch him."
I cup her face in both hands, making sure she's looking at me. "It was never fake, sweetheart. Not for a second."
Her breath catches. "Kevin—"
"I meant what I said last night. And this morning. And every moment in between." I kiss her. "I love you. This is real. We're real."
"We're real," she repeats, testing the words. Then she smiles, bright and genuine. "We're really real."
"Yeah, sweetheart. We are."
We finish our coffee in comfortable silence, the tension of the past weeks lifting. Steph is quiet, processing everything, but there's a lightness to her now that wasn't there before.
"I'm starving," she announces, setting down her mug. "Want to make breakfast?" She gives me a cute smile and bats her eyelashes at me.
I chuckle, unable to deny her anything. "What are you in the mood for?"
"Eggs? Toast? Something that isn't a casserole from Lottie?"
I laugh, kiss her, sit her on the stool, and move to the fridge. "I can make eggs."
We talk while I make us breakfast, and when I sit down next to her, we give each other sweet kisses, stealing bites of each other's food, and finding any excuse to touch each other. It's domestic, simple, and perfect.
