What if Tim had a daughter?

Part 25

Tim and Olivia spent the morning at Genny's house for their usual Sunday brunch. The routine was familiar, comforting even—coffee, waffles, and Genny's playful jabs at Tim for being "fashionably late, by three minutes." Olivia and her cousins disappeared into the backyard while Tim and Genny caught up on life, teasing each other like siblings do. Still, even amidst the warmth of family, Tim found his mind wandering more than once.
He'd been thinking about Lucy all morning. Not in any way he could explain to himself—just fleeting thoughts, like wondering how her weekend was going or if she'd gotten around to starting the book she mentioned last week. He considered texting her a couple of times but always stopped short. They were just friends, coworkers. This kind of friends didn't text each other every day, right?
After brunch, he and Olivia headed home. Once the groceries were put away, Olivia retreated to her room, likely FaceTiming her friends or working on her latest craft project. Tim had nothing pressing to do, so he settled into the living room and flipped on the football game he'd recorded earlier in the week. But knowing the final score took all the fun out of it, and by halftime, he was bored out of his mind.
He grabbed a book from the shelf, deciding that reading was a better use of his time. Stretching out on the couch, he opened to the first page, but before he even made it to the bottom of the page, the quiet of the house lulled him to sleep.
It was the buzz of his phone that woke him. He blinked groggily, reaching for it on the side table, his heart giving an odd little skip when he saw Lucy's name on the screen. He unlocked the phone, a small part of him hoping for a casual message—maybe something about her day or a playful callback to their last conversation. But as he read her text, that flicker of hope quickly faded.

Lucy: Hey, Bradford, quick question—do you know if the Tuesday shift schedule got updated? Grey mentioned something last week but I'm  not too sure.
Tim stared at the screen for a moment, letting out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. It was a perfectly normal, work-related text. He shouldn't have expected anything else, yet the disappointment still stung. Shaking his head, he typed back, keeping his tone professional.
Tim: Still the same as far as I know. We can double-check tomorrow and see if anything changes.
Her reply came quickly.
Lucy: Thanks. Appreciate it. Have a good one!

Tim glanced at the time after setting his phone down and realized how late it was. The soft hues of the evening light filtering through the windows reminded him he should probably start dinner. With a stretch, he stood and headed upstairs to Olivia's room.
Tim knocked on her door.
Tim- Hey, Livi? What do you want for dinner?
There was a pause before her slightly muffled voice called back.
Olivia- I don't care. Whatever's fine.
Tim shook his head, smiling faintly at her typical response.
Tim- Alright. I'll figure something out.
He made his way back to the kitchen, deciding on rice and chicken with a side of roasted vegetables. The familiar rhythm of chopping, stirring, and seasoning helped him settle into the evening, his thoughts drifting between the day and, inevitably, Lucy.
By the time dinner was ready, Tim called Olivia down, and she appeared a moment later, plopping into her usual chair. They ate together, the initial quiet giving way to an easy back-and-forth.
As they ate, Olivia poked at her rice absentmindedly before glancing up at Tim.
Olivia- Zoe did pretty good in tutoring this week.
Tim raised an eyebrow at the unexpected comment, pleased she'd volunteered something about her day.
Tim- Yeah? What's she working on now?
Olivia- Fractions. She got through a whole worksheet by herself yesterday. I didn't even have to explain much.
Tim gave her a nod of approval.
Tim- That's impressive. Looks like you're a pretty good teacher.
Olivia shrugged but smiled faintly.
Olivia- I guess. She said I make it less scary, so... that's something.
Tim- It's more than something. You should be proud of yourself.
The corners of Olivia's mouth twitched upward as she returned her focus to her plate.
The conversation shifted after that, Olivia mentioning an upcoming science project and her partner's obsession with insects. Tim chuckled at her exaggerated groan over the possibility of having to deal with bugs, cracking a joke about bringing a jar of spiders to class. He knew how much she hated bucks.
The moment felt easy, normal, and Tim didn't push for anything more. They were settling back into their rhythm, and he wasn't about to jeopardize that.
When dinner was done, Olivia helped clear the table, rinsing the dishes while Tim loaded the dishwasher. They worked in companionable silence until the kitchen was clean, and Olivia headed to the living room to pick their nightly episode.
As they settled on the couch, Tim noticed Olivia seemed more relaxed. She put on the next episode, laughing at the antics on-screen. Tim joined in, happy to see her mood lighten as the evening went on.
When the credits rolled, Tim glanced at the clock and nudged her lightly.
Tim- Alright, kiddo. Time to get ready for bed. School tomorrow.
Olivia sighed but didn't argue, stretching as she got up.
Olivia- Night, Dad.
Tim- Goodnight, sweetheart.
He lingered on the couch for a while after she disappeared upstairs, flipping through channels without really watching. His mind wandered back to the brief tension earlier in the day, grateful that the evening had gone smoother than he'd expected.
Later, when he went to check on Olivia, he knocked gently on her door.
Tim- Goodnight, Liv.
Her reply came softly through the door.
Olivia- Night, Dad.
With that, Tim went to his own room. After a quick shower, he slid into bed and reached for his phone. His thumb hovered over Lucy's name in his messages, considering whether to send her a text.
He thought about it, scrolling through their past exchanges, a faint smile tugging at his lips at some of her teasing remarks. But after a moment, he set the phone down with a sigh. What would he even say?
Tim- It's better this way.
He muttered to himself, turning off the lamp.