The babysitter

Bubbling Castles

Tim stood outside his home for a moment longer than necessary, the brisk morning air tugging at his jacket. A part of him hesitated to leave, his thoughts still lingering on the image of Lucy and Emma laughing together on the living room floor. It wasn't often that he let people into his personal life, especially when it came to Emma. Protecting her had always been his top priority, and trusting someone else with her care wasn't a decision he made lightly. But Lucy had surprised him. She wasn't just attentive; she was thoughtful, warm, and genuinely good with Emma.

As Tim climbed into his truck, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Maybe leaving Emma in Lucy's care wasn't such a risk after all. Lucy wasn't part of his usual world—she wasn't a cop, wasn't someone who lived in the chaos that surrounded his job. She was different. Her life was quieter, grounded in the small moments she seemed to cherish, and somehow that made it easier for Emma to connect with her. Over the past few days, Lucy had become a calming presence in their home, and Tim couldn't deny the comfort it brought him to see his daughter so happy.

Inside, Lucy sat cross-legged on the floor beside Emma, who was determinedly arranging crayons into neat rows. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the living room. Emma's tiny hands worked with focus as she picked out colors for their next masterpiece.

"Lucie," Emma said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "What color should the castle be?"

Lucy smiled, her gaze flickering between the crayons and Emma's wide, curious eyes. "How about we make it rainbow-colored? That way, Mr. Huggles and Princess Ella can have all their favorite colors in one place."

Emma's face lit up with excitement. "Yes! A rainbow castle!" She grabbed the crayons eagerly, already scribbling bold lines of color across the paper.

As they worked together, Lucy couldn't help but admire Emma's imagination. Every detail of their castle came with a story, from the glittering towers to the magical moat filled with pink water. Lucy found herself swept up in the little girl's enthusiasm, laughing at her wild ideas and adding her own suggestions.

The hours slipped by unnoticed. They moved from coloring to building towers out of blocks, constructing an elaborate kingdom for Mr. Huggles and Princess Ella. When Emma declared that the stuffed animals needed crowns to rule their kingdom properly, Lucy took it upon herself to craft tiny paper crowns, complete with glitter and stickers from Emma's art kit.

"Look, Mr. Huggles!" Lucy said, carefully placing a golden crown on the plush bear's head. "Now you're ready to rule the kingdom."

Emma giggled, clapping her hands. "He's the best king ever!"

Lucy watched as Emma arranged the stuffed animals in a semi-circle around their block castle. It struck her how easily she'd fallen into this role, how natural it felt to be part of Emma's world. She hadn't expected to feel so at home here, but every moment spent with Emma felt like a gift—a chance to slow down and appreciate life's simpler joys.

After a while, they settled on the couch with a pile of Emma's favorite books. Lucy let Emma choose the first one, smiling as the little girl nestled against her side. Reading with Emma was one of Lucy's favorite parts of the day; she loved the way Emma's face lit up with wonder at every story, how she interrupted with questions or gasps of surprise.

"Lucie," Emma said suddenly, looking up from the book. "Do you like staying here?"

Lucy paused, caught off guard by the question. "Of course I do. Why do you ask?"

Emma shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "I like when you're here. It's fun."

Warmth blossomed in Lucy's chest, and she reached out to brush a strand of hair from Emma's face. "I like being here too, Emma. You make everything more fun."

Emma beamed at the response, her arms wrapping around Lucy in a quick hug before she returned to the book.

As the day went on, Lucy found herself reflecting on how much she'd come to care for both Emma and Tim. When she'd first started helping out at Tim's house, she hadn't anticipated how quickly they would feel like family. Tim was still guarded, but Lucy had glimpsed the softer side of him in the way he doted on Emma, in the rare smiles he offered when he thought no one was looking.

By the time Tim returned that evening, the living room was a colorful chaos of crayons, blocks, and stuffed animals. Emma was perched on the couch, proudly displaying the crowns she and Lucy had made for the stuffed animals.

"Daddy!" Emma called, leaping off the couch to greet him as he stepped through the door.

Tim scooped her up with ease, his eyes flicking to Lucy as she stood, dusting glitter off her jeans. "Looks like you two had quite the adventure."

"We built a rainbow castle!" Emma announced, pointing to the block tower in the corner. "And Mr. Huggles is the king!"

Tim chuckled, setting Emma down gently. "Sounds like you've been busy."

Lucy smiled, feeling an unexpected warmth at the way Tim's gaze lingered on her. "Your daughter has quite the imagination. She kept me on my toes all day."

"Good," Tim said, his tone light but genuine. "She needs someone like you around."

The comment caught Lucy off guard, and she found herself searching his expression for some deeper meaning. But Tim only smiled, his attention shifting back to Emma, who was tugging on his hand to show him the castle.

As the evening unfolded, Lucy realized just how much she valued her place in their lives. It wasn't just about helping out or passing the time; it was about being part of something that felt real and meaningful. And for the first time in a long while, she felt like she belonged.