The babysitter

Dating apps

The sun had long since set by the time Tim finally made it home. It had been a grueling day at the LAPD, filled with paperwork, training sessions, and more than a few moments of exasperation with rookies who just didn't seem to get it. As he pushed open the front door and stepped inside, the familiar warmth of home wrapped around him like a comforting blanket.

"Daddy!" Emma's delighted voice rang out as she came sprinting down the hallway.

A tired but genuine smile spread across Tim's face as he knelt to scoop her up. "Hey, kiddo," he said, holding her close. "How was your day?"

"Good! Lucie and I made spaghetti, and I helped stir the sauce," Emma declared proudly.

Tim chuckled, glancing toward the kitchen where Lucy stood, wiping her hands on a towel. She was dressed in one of her usual casual outfits, her hair tied back in a messy bun, and there was a streak of flour on her cheek that made him smile.

"Spaghetti, huh? Smells amazing," Tim said, straightening up with Emma still in his arms.

Lucy grinned, leaning against the counter. "She's a natural in the kitchen. We might have a future chef on our hands."

Emma beamed at the praise, and Tim set her down so she could dart back to the living room where her toys were scattered.

Tim walked into the kitchen, the fatigue of the day still clinging to him. "Thanks for keeping an eye on her. Work ran late."

Lucy waved him off. "No need to thank me. You know I love spending time with her."

There was a moment of comfortable silence as Tim grabbed a glass of water and leaned against the counter. Lucy watched him closely, noticing the subtle slump in his shoulders, the way his eyes seemed distant despite the smile he gave Emma.

"You look exhausted," she said softly, tilting her head.

Tim shrugged, taking a sip of water. "It was a long day. Nothing out of the ordinary, though."

But Lucy wasn't convinced. She'd been staying with Tim and Emma long enough to notice the patterns. He threw himself into work, came home to be a great dad, and then retreated into his own world once Emma was asleep. It was like he was running on autopilot, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders without letting anyone in.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking, unsure of how to broach the topic. "Tim... can I ask you something?"

He raised an eyebrow, his tired gaze shifting to meet hers. "Sure. What's up?"

Lucy fidgeted with the edge of the towel she was holding, gathering her thoughts. "Have you ever thought about... dating again?"

The question hung in the air like a bombshell. Tim blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Dating?" he repeated, his tone more incredulous than anything else.

"Yeah," Lucy said, her voice soft but steady. "I mean, you've been so focused on work and Emma that I don't think you've really had time for yourself. And you deserve to be happy too, you know?"

Tim let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "I don't have time for dating, Lucy. Between work and taking care of Emma, it's not exactly a priority."

Lucy crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. "Maybe it should be."

He frowned, his expression turning defensive. "Emma's my priority. I'm not going to bring someone into her life unless I'm absolutely sure it's the right thing."

"And that's fair," Lucy agreed. "But that doesn't mean you can't put yourself out there. Even just to meet people, to have some adult conversation that isn't about work or parenting."

Tim sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Lucy, I appreciate the thought, but I'm fine. Really."

"You're not fine," Lucy said gently, her eyes searching his face. "You're lonely, Tim. And it's okay to admit that. It doesn't mean you're failing as a dad or as a cop. It just means you're human."

Tim opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he saw the sincerity in her expression. She wasn't judging him or pitying him—she genuinely cared. And that realization made it harder to brush off her concern.

"I wouldn't even know where to start," he muttered, finally admitting a sliver of vulnerability.

Lucy's face lit up with a mischievous grin, and Tim immediately regretted his words. "Funny you should say that," she said, pulling her phone out of her pocket.

"What are you doing?" Tim asked warily as she tapped away at the screen.

"Helping you," Lucy said, her tone entirely too cheerful.

Tim's eyes narrowed. "Lucy..."

"I'm signing you up for a dating app," she announced, holding up her phone triumphantly.

"Oh, no, you're not," Tim said, reaching for the phone, but Lucy danced out of his reach with a laugh.

"Come on, Tim! It's just a little profile. You don't even have to use it if you don't want to," she said, backing away toward the living room.

"I'm serious, Lucy. Don't—"

"Daddy, what's a dating app?" Emma's curious voice piped up from the couch, and Tim froze, groaning.

Lucy laughed harder, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "It's a way for people to meet new friends, sweetie," she explained to Emma, who seemed satisfied with the answer and went back to her toys.

Tim glared at Lucy, but there was no real heat behind it. "You're impossible," he muttered.

"And you're welcome," she shot back with a wink.

Despite his protests, Lucy spent the next half hour crafting a profile for Tim. She kept it simple and honest, describing him as a hardworking single dad who loved his daughter and had a dry sense of humor. She even managed to snap a picture of him while he wasn't paying attention, claiming it captured his "rugged charm."

When she was done, she handed him the phone. "Here. Take a look."

Tim stared at the screen, his jaw tight. He wanted to delete the whole thing on principle, but curiosity got the better of him. He scrolled through the profile, reading her words and feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and amusement.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered, though he didn't sound as angry as he had earlier.

Lucy leaned against the counter, her arms crossed as she watched him. "You might think so now, but who knows? Maybe you'll meet someone great."

Tim sighed, setting the phone down. "Lucy, I'm not... I'm not good at this kind of thing. I haven't dated since... well, since Emma's mom."

Her expression softened, and she stepped closer, her voice gentle. "I know. And I'm not saying it's going to be easy. But you don't have to do this alone, Tim. I'm here for you, okay? Whatever you need."

He looked at her, his defenses slowly crumbling under the weight of her kindness. "Thanks, Lucy," he said quietly.

She smiled, reaching out to squeeze his arm. "Anytime."

Later that night, after Emma was tucked into bed and the house was quiet, Tim sat on the couch with his phone in hand. He stared at the dating app, his finger hovering over the screen. He still wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but a small part of him—buried under years of doubt and loneliness—was willing to give it a shot.

With a deep breath, he tapped the icon and began to scroll.

From the kitchen, Lucy peeked around the corner, watching him with a satisfied smile.

Progress, she thought. One step at a time.