Chenford family

Dad on Duty: A Hero's Night in a Tiny Bed

One quiet night, Lucy was fast asleep, curled up under the covers when a tiny, tentative hand tugged at the edge of the blanket. A small voice whispered, "Mommy..." but it was Tim who stirred first, his eyes blinking open in the dim room. He squinted, adjusting to the dark, and saw their three-year-old son, Alexander, standing by the bed, his big eyes looking a little uncertain.

Tim- (softly) Hey, buddy. What's going on?

Alexander shifted on his feet, clearly not wanting to wake them, but he finally whispered.
Alexander- I peed the bed...

Without a second thought, Tim slid out from under the covers, giving Lucy a quick glance to make sure she was still sleeping peacefully. He scooped Alexander up, cradling him close as they made their way back to his room.

Tim quickly set to work, stripping off the damp sheets and replacing them with fresh ones. All the while, Alexander stood next to him, already cleaned up and dressed in new pajamas. Tim smiled down at him as he tucked the last corner in, then helped him climb back into bed.

Tim- (whispering) There we go. All good as new, buddy.

Alexander gave a sleepy nod, his eyes already starting to droop. Tim leaned down to kiss his forehead, but just as he straightened up, he felt a tiny hand tugging on his shirt.

Alexander- (murmuring) Daddy, can you stay with me?

Tim didn't hesitate. With a quiet grin, he slid down onto the bed beside Alexander. The little bed was barely big enough for the two of them, but as Alexander snuggled close, his small arms draping across Tim's chest, Tim felt a warmth in his heart that made the cramped quarters more than worth it.

Before he knew it, both of them had drifted off.

The next morning, Lucy awoke to an unexpected emptiness beside her. She reached out, expecting to find Tim still asleep, but her hand met only a cool, empty pillow. Confused, she sat up, rubbed her eyes, and then got up to search for him. Maybe he was already up, making breakfast.

She checked the kitchen, but it was empty and quiet. Curiosity getting the better of her, she decided to check each of the kids' rooms. When she peeked into Alexander's room, she finally found them.

Tim was wedged into the tiny bed, one arm awkwardly draped off the side, his legs curled up in a way that looked painfully uncomfortable. Alexander was sprawled across Tim's chest, his little face buried against his dad's shirt, sleeping soundly.

Lucy couldn't help but smile. Quietly, she knelt beside Tim and gently nudged his shoulder.

Lucy- (whispering) Hey, superhero. How's that bed treating you?

Tim's eyes blinked open, and he gave her a sleepy, lopsided grin.

Tim- (whispering back, stretching a little) Couldn't be better. Though... I think I might have lost all feeling in my back.

Lucy chuckled softly, brushing her fingers gently through Alexander's hair as he continued to sleep.

Lucy- (teasing) You know, you don't have to take on every mission, hero.

Tim grinned, though he winced as he adjusted himself in the too-small bed.

Tim- Yeah, I don't care, if one of these kids wants me to stay with them, I'm staying.

Lucy leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, admiration in her eyes.

Lucy- Well, I think it's safe to say you've earned yourself a hero's breakfast.

Tim chuckled quietly, carefully sliding out of the little bed so as not to wake Alexander. He gave him one last glance, watching the little boy sleep peacefully before stretching with a slight grimace as he followed Lucy out of the room.

They tiptoed down to the kitchen, and as the coffee brewed, Lucy handed Tim a warm mug and nodded to the chair.

Lucy- Here, sit down and relax. You might feel last night's mission in your back for a few days.

Tim- (sighing as he sat down) Probably. Worth it, though.

He took a sip of coffee, closing his eyes in contentment, though he grimaced a bit when he shifted in the seat. Without a word, Lucy moved behind him and placed her hands gently on his shoulders, massaging out the knots that had formed from his night in the tiny bed.

Tim- (relaxing) Mmm, that feels amazing. You should really open a spa, you know that?

Lucy laughed softly, leaning down to kiss the top of his head.

Lucy- Maybe, but I think you'd be my only customer.

They shared a quiet laugh, savoring the peace of the early morning before the house would be buzzing with the kids. Lucy finished the massage with a final squeeze on Tim's shoulders and moved to sit across from him, nursing her coffee with a smile.

Lucy- So, why did you end up in Alexander's bed last night? Usually, we'd just bring them to ours when they have a rough night.

Tim chuckled, leaning back in his chair as he recounted the events of the night.

Tim- (grinning) Yeah, that's the plan most of the time. But last night was a bit different. I woke up to him tugging on you, and when I asked him what was wrong, he just looked at me and said, "I peed my bed."

Lucy's eyes widened, her hand coming up to her mouth, trying to hide a smile.

Lucy- Poor little guy. Did he wake up upset?

Tim- A little embarrassed, I think. So, I got him changed, and then I redid his bed, but he was pretty drowsy by then. I was tucking him back in when he asked me to stay.

Tim looked down, his expression softening.

Tim- And you know me, couldn't say no to that face. Before I knew it, I was asleep right beside him.

Lucy- (smiling warmly) You're a softie, you know that?

Tim- (shrugging with a grin) Guilty as charged. But you know, if one of them asks me to stay, I'll stay, no matter what.

Lucy reached across the table, taking his hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Lucy- That's why you're their hero.

Just then, a loud thump interrupted them, followed by the unmistakable sound of little feet on the stairs. They looked up to see Ethan sliding down the staircase, one step at a time, scooting down on his bottom with a grin that grew wider with each step.

Tim- (raising his eyebrows) Well, look who's up early!

Ethan landed on the last step with a triumphant grin and hopped up, darting over to the kitchen table.

Ethan- Morning! I'm hungry!

Lucy laughed, getting up to pour a bowl of cereal, while Tim reached out to ruffle Ethan's hair.

Tim- (teasing) You sure you don't want to slide down the stairs a few more times first?

Ethan- (grinning) Maybe later!

As Lucy set the cereal in front of him, Tim caught her eye, giving her a soft smile. Despite his sore back, he felt every bit grateful for the simple, chaotic, and love-filled life they shared.