Page 85 of Redeeming Melodies

"She'd like hearing that." Watched him eat, something warm unfurling in my chest. "Used to say food was love made visible."

"Smart woman." He paused, fork halfway to his mouth. "Think she'll be okay with this? With us?"

There was vulnerability in the question that made my chest tight. "Mom's always wanted me happy. Even now, on her bad days, she remembers that much."

"And this?" He gestured between us. "This makes you happy?"

"Scared shitless sometimes." The honesty came easy now. "But yeah. Happier than I've been in a long time."

His smile could have powered the whole damn town. "Good. Because I kind of like having you in my kitchen."

"Just the kitchen?" I asked, trying for casual but my voice came out rough.

"Fishing for compliments, Sheriff?"

"Maybe." Reached across the table, tangled our fingers together. "Or maybe I just like hearing you say it."

"Say what?" But his eyes went soft around the edges. "That I like having you here? That waking up to you cooking in my kitchen feels right in ways I can't explain? That watching you take care of me makes me want things I never thought I could have?"

"Fuck." My voice came out wrecked. "You can't just say stuff like that."

"Why not?" His thumb traced patterns on my palm. "It's true. All of it."

"Because it makes me want to drag you back upstairs and forget about breakfast entirely."

His laugh held pure joy. "Later. Got plans for you first."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He squeezed my hand. "Want to meet your mom properly. Want to show you I'm serious about this. About us."

The words hit like sunlight after storm clouds. "Elliot"

"I mean it." His eyes held mine, steady and sure. "Whatever happens with Tommy's case, with Jimmy's investigation, with all of it - I'm here. For as long as you'll have me."

Couldn't speak past the lump in my throat. Couldn't do anything but pull him into my lap, bury my face in his neck where he couldn't see how much those words undid me.

"Still scared?" His fingers carded through my hair, gentle and grounding.

"Terrified." Pressed closer, breathed him in. "But the good kind of terrified. The kind that means something real."

"Good." He pulled back just enough to kiss me, soft and sure. "Because I'm kind of terrified too. But mostly? Mostly I'm just grateful you pulled me over that day."

"Even though you were going way over the limit?"

"Last I remember you let me off with a warning." His smile turned playful. "Changed my whole life with that speed trap."

Looking at him in the morning light, breakfast forgotten between us, everything felt possible. Mom would like that - would like him. Would see how he made me better just by being here.

"So." His fingers traced my jaw. "When do we visit your mom?"

"Today?" The word came out hopeful. "She's usually clearest in the mornings."

"Today." He nodded, eyes soft but determined. "Let me shower and change first though. Want to make a good impression."

"You will." Pulled him closer, because I couldn't not touch him right then. "Just be you. That's more than enough."

His kiss tasted like promise and possibility. Like future mornings in this kitchen, like shared meals and quiet understanding and everything I never knew I was missing.

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