And now they got to reap the rewards. To build the life they both deserved.
Together.
***
Sunday morning, Nora woke to the smell of coffee and pancakes.
She found Carson in the kitchen, wearing pajama pants and a T-shirt, flipping pancakes with surprising ease.
“You cook breakfast now?” she said from the doorway.
“I’ve been practicing. Turns out cooking is therapeutic. Who knew?” He plated pancakes and handed her one. “Plus, I wanted to do something nice for your first official morning back.”
“This is very nice.” The cakes were golden, not a trace or burn anywhere. Nora was still somewhat skeptical, but she was willing to give it a try.
They ate at the table, feet touching underneath, both smiling for no reason except that they were happy.
After breakfast, which was better than she had expected, they went for a walk around the neighborhood. Holding hands. Talking about nothing important. Being the kind of couple they’d always wanted to be.
“I start my second contract next week,” Nora said. “A tech company that needs help organizing their financial projections for investors.”
“That’s great. How many clients does that make?”
“Three now. All good contracts. All the kind of work I wanted to do.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m building something real, Carson. Something that’s mine.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m proud of us. For making it through the hard part. For not giving up.”
“We didn’t just make it through. We came out stronger.” Carson stopped walking and turned to face her. “I know it’s only been a month. I know we’re still rebuilding. But I’ve never been more sure of anything than I am of us.”
“Me neither.”
“Good. Because I’m in this. All the way. For however long you’ll have me.”
“How about forever?” Nora went up on her toes and kissed him. “Think you can handle forever?”
“With you?” He nudged her nose with his. “Yeah. I can handle forever.”
They walked home hand in hand, both feeling like they’d finally found what they’d been searching for. Not perfection. Not the absence of problems. Just partnership. Just love that showed up every day. Just the commitment to keep choosing each other no matter what came next.
And whatever came next—cases, challenges, the normal ups and downs of life—they’d face it together.
As partners. As equals. As two people who’d fought for each other and won.
***
That night, Nora’s phone rang. Her former boss from Morrison & Associates.
“Ms. Bell, I wanted to personally thank you for your help with the Shaw investigation,” Patricia said. “We’ve been going through old files. Your father’s case against Robert Whitmore? Turns out Shaw buried evidence that would have implicated other people at the firm. Because of your situation with Eugene, the whole thing was reopened. Several people are facing charges now.”
“I’m glad justice is being served.”
“We all are. And, Nora, I’m sorry we didn’t believe you when you first reported the stalking. We should have taken you seriously from the beginning.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
After they hung up, Nora told Carson about the call.
