Mary Wallace and Joe Mahaffey were all smiles Monday. After being separated for over two months, the couple were able to see each other again. [Submitted photo]

After two months of separation, Mary Wallace rushed to the assisted living facility Monday to reunite with her long-time partner Joe Mahaffey.

Wallace learned yesterday morning that a motion had been filed in Henry County Circuit Court to voluntarily dismiss the stalking order of protection against her. An emergency order of protection had prevented her from visiting or seeing Mahaffey since last month.

Wallace and her family and supporters were preparing to attend a plenary order of protection hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 9am but Wallace said she is relieved and happy that for the most part, her legal woes appear to be over.

“I’m happy and relieved, but skeptical,” said Wallace. “I’m not positive if things will go back to the way they were.”

When Wallace first saw Mahaffey Monday, she said he was thrilled to see her, and Wallace said he understands what is happening.

“He knew I wasn’t there because I could not be there,” Wallace said.

Wallace said that after the article published by The Kewanee Voice came out detailing her ordeal and the reason she felt it necessary to place signs around town with the words, “Justice for Mary & Joe,” she received an outpouring of support from the community.

It was Mary Wallace’s idea to place signs around town. The hope was to raise awareness of the couple’s plight. [Photo by Susan DeVilder]

On Monday, her daughter Stephanie Johnson said the family was happy with the dismissal of the order of protection but they are wary, she said, of what will come next. Johnson said as far as they know, Mary is free to visit and take Joe on outings like she used to do. The couple often went for drives, visited family and got ice cream.

Mahaffey went into an assisted living facility last year after being hospitalized for a bout of illnesses. Wallace, who had been living with Mahaffey for seven years, was asked by his family to find another place to live. Wallace moved into another house, but continued to visit Mahaffey at the assisted living facility. She was later trespassed from the facility for several weeks before being allowed to see Mahaffey again. But months later, she was served a summons for a stalking order of protection. A judge granted an emergency order of protection and a plenary hearing was set for Tuesday, April 30. A motion was filed on Monday to voluntarily dismiss the order, and the hearing was removed from the docket.

For now, Wallace and her family are hopeful that things can return to normal, but they aren’t taking anything for granted.

“I feel like it’s not done yet,” said Johnson. “We’re worried that something could prevent them from seeing each other.”