The town was smaller than you expected, the kind of place where everyone seemed to know each other’s name. The streets were lined with quaint storefronts, the diner on Main Street had a hand-painted sign, and the air smelled like fresh-baked bread and pine. It was the kind of town people came to when they wanted a fresh start—just like you.

Your new house sat on the edge of town, a cozy little fixer-upper with a wraparound porch and a yard big enough for a garden. It wasn’t much yet, but it had potential. And for the first time in a long time, so did your life. No more city noise, no more fast-paced chaos. Just quiet mornings, slow afternoons, and the hope that maybe, just maybe, you’d finally find some peace.

You weren’t expecting much excitement when you walked into the general store for supplies, but then you saw him. Broad shoulders beneath a sheriff’s uniform, a badge pinned to his chest, and a holster at his hip. His hair was a little too long for regulation, his beard neatly trimmed but rugged enough to soften the sharp angles of his jaw. And then there were his eyes—piercing blue, cautious, assessing you the way a man who had seen too much tended to do.

“New in town?” he asked, his voice deep and steady.

You nodded, adjusting the basket in your hands. “Just moved in a few days ago. Still trying to settle in.”

His gaze softened, just a little, as he gave a small nod. “Welcome to Brookhaven.” He stepped aside, and from behind his leg, a little girl popped into view. She had the same bright blue eyes as him and a wide, eager smile that lit up her face.

“Hi! I’m Ellie!” she exclaimed, her voice bright and bubbly. She was holding a stuffed animal in one hand, and her other hand was outstretched to you in a friendly greeting. “Are you going to stay forever?”