Page 238 of Texting Dr. Stalker

I returned her kiss, then sniffed back tears as Zander and I faced each other one last time as separate people.

“I—”

“I—”

We both laughed. “Sorry, you go.”

“No, you first.”

Zander blushed. “Okay.” Taking my hand, he slipped the most stunning flower-shaped diamond onto my finger and kissed my knuckles. “Not a single day goes by that I’m not in awe of you, grateful for you, and head over heels in love with you. It took a false identity to realise who I truly am, and now that you’re mine, I’m never letting you go. I love you, Lori. Forever.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I slid the gold band onto his finger and whispered, “There isn’t a TV here, but I know it would’ve turned itself on with approval that we finally did this. I’ve always secretly loved the boy next door, but it wasn’t until he guarded me in the shadows that I realised I was in love with him too. I love every piece of you, Z. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”

A few aw’s feathered out from the older women watching us. They dabbed their eyes, giving Zander besotted looks.

Lily grinned, Colin laughed, and at the exact moment the priest said, ‘I now pronounce you husband and wife’, a sparrow fluttered down the aisle and landed in Zander’s hair. It chirped, flittered to my shoulder, then flew into the church rafters.

It wasn’t a snowing TV.

But it was a sign.

A sign of approval from two matchmaking women who finally got their wish.

* * * * *

Zander held my hand as the judge read Milton’s verdict.

Testifying against him hadn’t been easy. I’d had a few sleepless nights and one mild panic attack on the way to the courthouse, but…thanks to Zander, he’d held me through it, comforted me, and given me strength. I’d held my head high while I testified against the man who tried to strip me of my incredibly happy life.

Milton had lost weight, and his eyes no longer held any resemblance of being human, almost as if evilness eroded him from the inside out. He watched me with pure hatred the entire time I answered the lawyers’ questions and studied photos that’d been taken of my wounds and strangulation marks when I’d been admitted into the hospital.

I’d feared facing him would send me back in my healing…but hearing the gavel come down and his sentence delivered, a tiny part of me that was still terrified of him breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Fifteen years with no parole for nine years.

It wasn’t forever, and in a decade, I might have to face him again if he was stupid enough to come after me a second time, but…I wasn’t alone anymore. I had Zander. I was safe. And as we headed out of the courthouse and back into the autumn sunshine, I tipped my head back to the sky and sent a quick prayer of thanks to all those watching over us.

* * * * *

“Oh no, you don’t.” I scooped Peng around the middle and plopped him back onto the

floor. Within a second, he was back on the counter, sniffing the garlic butter fish I’d just pulled out of the oven.

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed my favourite fluffy nuisance and smooshed him.

Instead of squirming to get down, he lolled like a boneless orange noodle in my arms and purred as I buried my face in his belly fur. “You’re a terror. A wonderful, rascally, far too adorable terror.”

The sounds of keys clinking on the sideboard had my eyes shooting up and a bigger smile spreading my lips. “Yay, you’re home.”

“Thank God.” Dumping his satchel that no doubt held a few notes he wanted to review on current patients, he yanked off his tie as if he was sick of it strangling him. With a heavy sigh, Zander kicked off his shoes and prowled toward me.

Peng immediately turned traitor, meowing to be rescued as if I was the world’s worst cat cuddler.

Zander grinned as he scooped Penguin out of my arms and flopped him over his shoulder. “Hello, wife.” With a tired smile, he pulled me close and hugged me.

Peng grumbled in annoyance and leapt down.

I hugged Zander back, then squeaked as his strong arms circled my waist, picked me up, and placed me on the countertop beside the bowl of home-made fries and fresh garden salad.

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