The babysitter

Bye

The air was heavy in the Bradford living room. Tim stared at Lucy, his thoughts racing. Her words had been so matter-of-fact, so resolute, that it took him a moment to register them.

"You're... getting married?" he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.

Lucy nodded, her expression calm but her hands twisting in her lap. "Yes."

"To who?" Tim asked, his tone sharper than he intended.

Lucy hesitated, then looked away. "Someone I've known for a long time."

Tim leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "You've known me for a while, and this is the first time I'm hearing about it?"

"It's complicated," she said, her voice softer now. "I wasn't ready to tell anyone until now."

"That's why you've been on your phone so much," Tim said, piecing things together.

Lucy nodded again. "Planning a wedding is... a lot."

Tim felt like the floor had shifted beneath him. He had grown used to Lucy's presence in the house, her laughter mingling with Emma's, the way she always seemed to brighten even the most mundane days. The idea of her leaving—of her life moving in a direction that didn't include them—felt like a punch to the gut.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked, his voice quieter now.

Lucy looked at him, her eyes full of emotions he couldn't quite read. "I wasn't sure how to bring it up. You've had so much going on with Rachel and Emma, and I didn't want to add to it."

Tim let out a bitter laugh. "Lucy, you've been a part of this family. You think something like this wouldn't matter to us?"

Lucy's expression softened, and for a moment, she looked like she might cry. "I didn't want to make things harder," she said.

Tim shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "And Emma? What about her? You've been such a huge part of her life, Lucy. You think she's just going to be okay with you leaving?"

"She has Rachel now," Lucy said, her voice trembling slightly. "Rachel's amazing with her, and she'll be here for her in ways I can't be anymore."

Tim felt a flicker of anger rise in his chest. "So that's it? You're just going to walk away like none of this mattered?"

Lucy flinched at his words but held her ground. "Of course it mattered," she said firmly. "But things change, Tim. People move on."

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Tim leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest.

"When's the wedding?" he asked finally.

"Next month," Lucy replied. "I'll send you an invitation."

Tim's jaw tightened. "And you're planning to leave tomorrow? Just like that?"

Lucy nodded. "I've already started packing. I'll finish the rest in the morning and leave in the afternoon."

Tim shook his head, a mix of frustration and disbelief coursing through him. "You're really doing this."

"I have to," Lucy said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What about what you want?" Tim asked, his tone softer now. "Are you sure this is what you want, Lucy?"

Lucy hesitated, her eyes dropping to the floor. "It's what's best for everyone," she said finally.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Tim couldn't focus on anything, his thoughts consumed by Lucy's announcement. He kept replaying their conversation in his mind, searching for something he might have missed, some way to change her mind.

Emma had gone to bed earlier, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around her. Tim stood outside her room for a moment, listening to her steady breathing, before heading to the guest room.

The door was slightly ajar, and he could see Lucy inside, methodically folding her clothes and placing them into a suitcase. The sight made his chest ache.

He knocked softly on the doorframe, and Lucy looked up.

"Hey," she said, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

"Hey," Tim replied, stepping into the room.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Tim watched as Lucy continued packing, her movements slow and deliberate.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked finally.

Lucy paused, her hands resting on the edge of the suitcase. "Yes," she said, though her voice wavered.

Tim took a deep breath, his hands shoved into his pockets. "You've been here for so long, Lucy. This house won't feel the same without you."

Lucy smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You'll get used to it. Rachel's amazing, Tim. She'll take good care of you and Emma."

"It's not just about that," Tim said, his voice breaking slightly. "You've been more than a babysitter, Lucy. You're family."

Lucy's eyes glistened, but she quickly blinked back the tears. "I know," she said. "And I'll always be grateful for that. But it's time for me to move on."

The next morning, the house felt eerily quiet. Lucy went about her usual routine, making breakfast and helping Emma get ready for the day. But there was a heaviness in the air, a sense of finality that no one could ignore.

Emma, oblivious to what was happening, chattered excitedly about the day ahead. "Lucie, can we make cookies later?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

Lucy hesitated, her heart breaking a little. "Maybe another time, Em," she said, ruffling Emma's hair.

Tim watched the exchange from the kitchen, his chest tightening. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were losing something irreplaceable.

By the time the afternoon rolled around, Lucy's bags were packed, and her car was loaded. Emma stood by the door, clutching her favorite stuffed animal and looking confused.

"Are you going somewhere, Lucie?" she asked, her voice small.

Lucy knelt down, her heart aching as she looked into Emma's innocent eyes. "Yeah, Em. I have to go away for a little while."

Emma's face fell, and tears welled up in her eyes. "But why? Don't you like us anymore?"

Lucy pulled her into a tight hug, her own tears threatening to spill. "Of course I do, sweetheart. I love you so much. But sometimes, grown-ups have to do things that are hard."

Emma clung to her, her small hands gripping Lucy's shirt. "I don't want you to go," she said, her voice muffled against Lucy's shoulder.

Tim stood nearby, his jaw clenched as he watched the scene unfold.

"I'll miss you every day," Lucy said, pulling back just enough to look Emma in the eyes. "But you have Rachel now, and she's going to take such good care of you."

Emma sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "Will you come back?"

Lucy hesitated, her throat tightening. "Maybe someday," she said, though she wasn't sure she believed it herself.

As Lucy walked to her car, Tim followed her out, his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Lucy," he said, his voice stopping her in her tracks.

She turned to face him, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and determination.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked one last time.

Lucy hesitated, then nodded. "I have to do this, Tim."

He stared at her for a moment, his heart heavy. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"You too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

And with that, she got into her car and drove away, leaving Tim standing in the driveway, the weight of her absence settling over him like a shadow.

I know this looks bad but trust me, Chenford will come on top