The babysitter

Long road ahead

Tim's heart raced as he stepped through the front door of the Bradford household, the weight of the day still clinging to his shoulders. The calm, warm evening air didn't seem to follow him inside. The house felt different now—more silent, colder. Emma's cries reached his ears as soon as he entered, echoing down the hallway.

He stepped into the living room, and there she was—his little girl, huddled on the couch, her face red from crying. Ashley sat beside her, her hand gently rubbing Emma's back, but it wasn't enough. Emma's sobs still rang out, a testament to the sadness that weighed her down.

"Em," Tim called softly, walking over to her. His heart twisted at the sight of his daughter, so small and broken in her sadness.

Emma's eyes, puffy from crying, met his. The moment she saw him, her face lit up with a flicker of hope. "Daddy," she whimpered, her voice choked with emotion. "I want Lucie."

Tim's heart clenched. "I know, baby. I know," he whispered, sitting beside her and pulling her into his arms. His voice softened, tender with the weight of the moment. "I found Lucy. She's okay now."

Emma's eyes widened, and the sobs began to slow, replaced by cautious hope. "Really?"

"Really," Tim confirmed, gently brushing her hair back from her face. "Now, go grab your shoes. I'm taking you to her."

Without another word, Emma scrambled off the couch, her little feet pattering down the hallway as she rushed to find her shoes. Tim watched her, his heart swelling with a mix of relief and gratitude. His daughter had been through so much in the past days, and seeing her have a glimmer of hope—seeing her still believe in the possibility of happiness—was something he could never take for granted.

As Emma disappeared into her room, Tim's gaze shifted to Ashley, who was standing nearby, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The tension in the air was palpable, and Tim could feel the storm rising once more. He couldn't let it derail his focus now—his daughter needed him, and Lucy needed him, too.

"Ashley," he said, his tone firm but calm. "Not right now."

Ashley's expression tightened. "Tim, I just did what was best for all of us. You can't keep putting her before us. I—"

"I said not right now," Tim interrupted, his voice rising a bit with urgency. "We'll talk later."

Ashley's jaw clenched, and she stepped back slightly, her arms still folded in front of her as she eyed him warily. Tim could feel the frustration radiating from her, but he couldn't afford to deal with this now. Not with Emma's world in shambles, not with Lucy still recovering.

"I'm taking Emma to Lucy," Tim said, his voice steady. "She needs her. Not you. Not me. Just Lucy."

Ashley's eyes softened slightly, but her tone was sharp. "You think that's going to fix things? You think that's going to make everything go back to normal?"

Tim didn't answer her. He didn't have the energy to argue anymore. He just needed to get Emma to Lucy. That was the only thing that mattered right now.

The sound of small footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Emma appeared, her shoes in hand. She had a hopeful look in her eyes, and Tim's heart nearly broke as she looked up at him, waiting for him to take her to Lucy.

"Ready, Em?" he asked, his voice soft.

Emma nodded eagerly, her little hands grabbing his as she pulled him toward the door. "Ready, Daddy."

Tim didn't say another word as he led Emma out of the house, Ashley's gaze burning into his back. He couldn't afford to look back now. There was no time for distractions.

The drive felt like an eternity, the streets quiet as the evening sky stretched overhead. Emma sat in the backseat, her eyes bright with anticipation, her little body vibrating with excitement. Tim's grip on the steering wheel was tight, his focus solely on getting them to Lucy. He couldn't afford to think about anything else—just the two women in his life who needed him, one healing in the hospital and the other broken by everything that had happened.

When they arrived at the hospital, Tim didn't waste a second. He led Emma inside, and they were ushered quickly to Lucy's room. The door was slightly ajar, and as they entered, Tim's heart skipped a beat. There, lying on the bed, was Lucy—still battered, still bruised, but looking more alive than she had when he found her in that dark warehouse.

Her eyes fluttered open as they entered, and a small smile tugged at her lips as she saw Emma.

"Lucie!" Emma shouted, rushing toward the bed, her voice full of relief.

Lucy's smile widened as she reached out for her. "Em, oh, I missed you so much," she whispered, pulling Emma into her arms as the little girl climbed up onto the bed. "No need to cry anymore. I'm right here."

Emma wrapped her tiny arms around Lucy's neck, holding on tightly as if afraid to let go. "I thought you were gone," Emma whispered, her voice filled with the remnants of her tears. "I didn't know where you went."

Lucy's hand stroked Emma's hair, her touch tender and comforting. "I'm here now, Em. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Tim stood by the door, watching the two of them, his heart swelling in his chest. It was a moment of pure relief, a moment of healing after everything they had been through. His daughter had needed Lucy more than he could put into words, and now, she had her back.

He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as he watched them—Ashley's words still echoed in his mind, reminding him of the delicate balance he was struggling to maintain. But for now, all he cared about was the sight of Emma and Lucy together, both of them finding solace in each other's presence.

Tim cleared his throat softly, stepping forward as he broke the silence. "You okay, Lucy?" he asked, his voice quiet but filled with emotion.

Lucy looked up at him, her expression softening. "I'm better now," she said, her voice weak but steady. "As long as I'm with you both, I'll be okay."

Tim nodded, a sense of calm washing over him. "We'll get through this, Lucy. Together."

Lucy smiled, her eyes closing as she rested her head back against the pillow. "I know. I've never been more sure of anything."

The weight of the past few days, the fear, the uncertainty, seemed to lift, even if only for a moment. There was still so much to work through, so much to rebuild, but Tim knew that they would face it together. He had promised Lucy he would always protect her, and he had kept that promise.

He looked at Emma, still curled up beside Lucy, her small hand grasping Lucy's as if she never wanted to let go. Tim's heart swelled with a fierce protectiveness—he would do anything to make sure they were safe, to make sure they both knew that, no matter what, they were his world.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Tim allowed himself to believe that things could truly be okay. They would find their way. Together.

"Let's just rest for now," Tim said softly, his eyes never leaving the two of them. "Tomorrow, we'll take things one step at a time."

Lucy nodded, her eyes fluttering shut as Emma snuggled closer to her. Tim stood there for a moment longer, watching them, before he pulled up a chair beside the bed. He wasn't going anywhere, not tonight. Not ever.

For once, everything felt right again.

And that was enough.