The babysitter

A helping hand

Tim Bradford was rarely rattled. As a seasoned officer, he had faced high-pressure situations that would have left most people trembling. Yet, as he sat at the dining table surrounded by stacks of books, notebooks, and flashcards, a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest. The sergeant's exam was in just two weeks, and he felt woefully underprepared.

He rubbed his temples, staring at the dense text of one of the manuals. His study routine consisted of a mix of audiobooks and a single recording Lucy had made for him weeks ago when he first mentioned needing help. He replayed it often, finding comfort in her calm, encouraging voice, but it wasn't enough. He needed more.

Still, Tim was stubborn—too stubborn to ask for additional help. He didn't want to burden Lucy, who already did so much for him and Emma.

Lucy, however, wasn't blind.

She noticed the way Tim had been staying up later, his face etched with lines of worry. She saw how he shuffled through his study materials with an air of frustration, muttering to himself under his breath.

When Tim left for work one morning, his uniform crisp but his shoulders tense, Lucy decided she couldn't just sit by and watch him struggle.

After Emma left for school, Lucy set her plan into motion. She grabbed one of Tim's textbooks, her laptop, and a microphone, setting them up on the dining table. She flipped to the first chapter and began to read aloud, her voice steady and clear.

The hours ticked by as Lucy worked tirelessly. She read through chapters on leadership principles, tactical procedures, and regulations, pausing only to sip her coffee or adjust her microphone.

Her throat grew dry, and her voice grew hoarse, but she pressed on. She knew how much this exam meant to Tim, how it was a chance for him to advance in his career and provide an even better life for Emma.

At one point, Kojo padded over to her, resting his chin on her lap. She smiled down at him, giving his ears a gentle scratch.

"Almost done with this section, buddy," she murmured.

Kojo wagged his tail, as if cheering her on.

By the time Emma returned home, Lucy had finished recording three chapters. She greeted Emma with a warm hug and helped her settle in with a snack before returning to her makeshift recording studio.

"Lucie, what are you doing?" Emma asked curiously, peeking over her shoulder.

"I'm helping your dad study for his big test," Lucy explained, smiling. "He listens to these recordings to learn the material."

Emma's eyes lit up. "Can I help?"

Lucy chuckled. "That's sweet of you, Em, but I think this is something I need to do on my own. Maybe you can help me cheer him on when he gets home?"

"Okay!" Emma said enthusiastically.

The pattern continued over the next several days. Lucy spent her mornings and afternoons recording, meticulously going through each chapter of the textbooks. She made sure to speak slowly and clearly, adding little notes of encouragement at the end of each section.

"You've got this, Tim," she would say. "Keep going—you're doing amazing."

She stayed up late into the night editing the recordings, ensuring they were polished and easy to listen to.

It was exhausting work, but Lucy didn't mind. She thought about how much Tim had done for her and Emma, how he had opened his home and his heart to them. This was her way of giving back, of showing him how much she cared.

One evening, after putting Emma to bed, Lucy was in the middle of recording a particularly dense chapter on disciplinary procedures when she heard the front door open.

Tim stepped in, looking tired but smiling faintly when he saw her. "Hey," he said, setting his bag down. "What are you up to?"

Lucy froze for a moment, caught off guard. She quickly hit pause on the recording software, hoping he hadn't heard anything.

"Just working on something," she said casually, standing up to greet him. "How was your day?"

"Long," Tim admitted, running a hand through his hair. "But not too bad. Emma behaved for you?"

"Of course," Lucy said with a grin. "She's an angel."

Tim chuckled. "That she is." He glanced at the laptop on the table, tilting his head. "What are you working on?"

"Just... a little project," Lucy said vaguely, hoping he wouldn't press further.

Tim raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Alright. Well, don't stay up too late, okay? You need your rest too."

Lucy smiled softly. "I will. You should get some sleep too."

Tim nodded, giving her a grateful look before heading upstairs.

As soon as she was sure he was asleep, Lucy returned to her recordings. She wanted to finish the last section of the book before the weekend, knowing how much it would help Tim if he had all the material in audio format.

Her voice was raspy, and her eyes felt heavy, but she pushed through, her determination unwavering.

"You're almost there," she said aloud, both to herself and to Tim, imagining him listening to the recordings. "You've worked so hard for this, and I know you're going to ace that exam."

When she finally finished, the clock read 1:45 a.m. Lucy leaned back in her chair, exhaustion washing over her. But as she looked at the neatly organized files on her laptop, a sense of satisfaction filled her chest.

She had done it.

The next morning, Lucy handed Tim a small flash drive over breakfast.

"What's this?" he asked, frowning in confusion.

"Your study guide," Lucy said with a smile. "I recorded myself reading all the chapters from your textbooks. Now you can listen to them whenever you want—while you're driving, working out, whatever."

Tim stared at her, his expression a mix of surprise and gratitude. "You did all that for me?"

Lucy shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Well, I noticed how stressed you were, and I figured it might help."

Tim's gaze softened, and for a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Finally, he said, "Thank you, Lucy. Really. This means a lot."

"You're welcome," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Emma, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "See, Daddy? Lucie's the best!"

Tim chuckled, ruffling Emma's hair. "She sure is."

As they sat together, enjoying their breakfast, Tim felt a renewed sense of hope. With Lucy's support, he knew he could face anything—even the sergeant's exam.