secrets

The Rookie: Healing Wounds (Chapter thirteen)

Late Night Reflection

After Angela and Jack left, and the kids had finally gone to bed, the house settled into an uneasy quiet. Lucy reclined on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, her body aching from both the recent injury and the emotional toll of everything that had happened. Tim sat across from her, watching her closely, but neither of them had spoken much since Angela left.

The conversation with Angela had gone better than Lucy had expected, but it had stirred up a lot of unresolved feelings. Tim had explained everything—about their marriage, about keeping their relationship a secret for years, and about the tension building between them after the fight. Lucy hadn't missed the way Angela's eyes had widened when she realized just how much Tim and Lucy had kept hidden from their colleagues.

Now, Lucy felt that tension in the room as if it were a living, breathing thing.

"You okay?" Tim finally asked, breaking the silence. His voice was soft, but Lucy could hear the concern woven into every word.

"Physically?" Lucy shrugged, wincing slightly as the movement tugged at her stitches. "I'll survive. Emotionally? I don't know, Tim."

Tim leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. He looked exhausted, guilt etched into his features. "I know I screwed up, Lucy. I shouldn't have left that night. I should've been here, helping you with the kids, making sure you were okay."

Lucy's heart clenched at his words. She didn't want to get into another argument, not now, not after everything. But the anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface. She had been alone when she needed him the most, and it hurt.

"You did leave," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You left us. And it hurt more than I can explain."

Tim looked down at the floor, unable to meet her gaze. "I know," he murmured. "And I'm sorry. I thought I was giving you space, but I didn't realize how much you needed me here."

Lucy closed her eyes for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. She didn't want to push him away, but the pain from their fight still lingered. And now, after getting hurt so badly, it felt even more raw.

"I get that you were mad," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "But I was mad too. We had a fight, and you just... left. I had to handle the kids, the stress, the work stuff, all on my own. And then everything happened so fast, and I got hurt, and I thought..." She trailed off, her emotions overwhelming her.

Tim moved to the couch beside her, sitting close but not touching her, knowing she wasn't ready for that yet. "Lucy, I hate myself for that. I hate that I wasn't there for you, that I wasn't the partner or the father I should've been in that moment."

Lucy wiped away a tear that escaped down her cheek, angry at herself for crying in front of him. She didn't want his pity. She just wanted things to be right between them again.

"I was scared," she admitted, her voice shaking. "When I got hurt, I kept thinking about you and the kids, and how I didn't know if I'd make it. And then you were there, and I was still so mad at you, but all I could think about was how much I needed you."

Tim reached out then, gently resting his hand on hers. "I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere. Not ever again."

Lucy looked down at their hands, feeling the warmth of his touch but still unsure of how to move forward. She loved him—God, she loved him more than anything—but she was still hurt. And trust, once broken, wasn't easy to mend.

"We've been through so much," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how to fix this."

Tim squeezed her hand gently. "We'll figure it out. Together."

---

The Next Morning

The following morning, the house was quiet as the first rays of sunlight crept through the windows. Ella and Jake were still asleep, their soft breathing barely audible from their bedrooms. Lucy stirred in bed, her body aching from the injury but her mind even more weighed down by the conversation with Tim the night before.

Tim had stayed in the living room, giving her space after their late-night talk. But as she lay there in bed, staring up at the ceiling, she couldn't stop thinking about how much had changed between them. They had always been each other's rock, but now things felt different—fragile.

The door creaked open, and Tim appeared in the doorway, holding a cup of coffee. He hesitated for a moment, then walked over and set it down on the nightstand beside her.

"I made you some coffee," he said softly, his voice careful, as if he was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

"Thanks," she replied, sitting up slowly and wincing as she moved. "You didn't have to."

"I wanted to," he said simply, sitting on the edge of the bed but leaving a respectful distance between them. "How are you feeling?"

Lucy took a sip of the coffee, grateful for the warmth. "Still sore, but better than yesterday."

Tim nodded, looking relieved. "Good. I was thinking... maybe we could take the day easy. I can handle the kids, let you rest. We don't need to rush into anything."

Lucy appreciated the offer, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they needed to address the deeper issues between them sooner rather than later. "Tim, about last night..."

"I know," he interrupted, his voice low. "We still need to talk. I just... I don't want to push you."

"I don't want to keep avoiding this either," Lucy said, her gaze locking with his. "I know we both made mistakes, but we need to figure out how to move forward. For us. For the kids."

Tim nodded, his expression serious. "I'm all in, Lucy. I want to fix this. I'll do whatever it takes."

Lucy sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "I want that too. I just need time to heal—physically and emotionally."

Tim reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I understand. And I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here every step of the way."

For the first time in days, Lucy felt a small glimmer of hope. They had a long road ahead of them, but maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.

---

Later That Day

Tim kept his word. He spent the day playing with Ella and Jake, keeping them entertained while Lucy rested. Every now and then, she'd hear their laughter from the living room, and it warmed her heart, reminding her of the life they had built together—the life worth fighting for.

By evening, the kids had worn themselves out, and Tim tucked them into bed, reading them stories as Lucy listened from the hallway. His voice was gentle, filled with love, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for how distant she had been.

When he finally came back to the living room, they sat in silence for a moment, the tension still there but softer now, less sharp.

"I think we're going to be okay," Lucy said quietly, breaking the silence. "It's going to take time, but I think we'll get through this."

Tim looked at her, his eyes filled with both hope and regret. "I'll never take you for granted again, Lucy. You and the kids... you're everything to me."

And in that moment, Lucy believed him. They weren't perfect, but they were trying. And sometimes, that was enough.