The babysitter

unexpected messages

It had been a few weeks since the tumultuous end of her relationship with Tim, and the house felt quieter without Ashley's presence. Despite everything that had happened, there was a part of Tim that still grappled with the situation. He had never intended for things to turn out that way, but life had its way of throwing curveballs, and sometimes, it was hard to catch them.

Lucy, for her part, had been trying to find some semblance of normalcy in the midst of it all. With her decision to join the police academy and the challenges she faced in adjusting to the new chapter of her life, things had been busy, but she wasn't sure if busy was always the answer. She was exhausted from keeping up with the momentum of everything, but she kept going, day by day, with Tim and Emma by her side. Still, things between her and Tim were still in flux.

The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional rustling of Kojo's paws on the floor. Lucy had just finished tidying up the kitchen when she saw Tim's phone resting on the counter, the screen still glowing from an incoming notification.

She was just about to grab a towel from the drawer when a buzz from the phone interrupted her thoughts. Curiosity—something she usually tried to avoid when it came to Tim's private life—got the better of her.

The phone wasn't locked, a side effect of Tim trusting her completely. She knew he didn't have anything to hide, but as she reached out to grab the towel, her fingers brushed the screen of the phone, and the message notification from Ashley caught her eye.

It wasn't like she was snooping. It was an accident—just a quick glance.

"Tim! I'm sorry. It was a mistake leaving you. Please take me back. I know I'm wrong."

Lucy's heart sank as she stared at the words. She hadn't meant to see them, but they were there in black and white, a reminder of the unresolved feelings Ashley still had for Tim.

Lucy quickly pulled her hand back, her stomach flipping. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but seeing those words, knowing that Ashley was trying to worm her way back into Tim's life, left a bitter taste in her mouth.

She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the gnawing feeling that was creeping into her thoughts. It wasn't her place to be upset. Tim had made his decision, and Ashley was a part of his past now. Still, the jealousy that had been simmering in the back of her mind flared up again, even though she had no reason to feel that way.

Kojo padded over, sensing her tension, and nudged her hand with his nose. She absentmindedly scratched behind his ears, trying to steady her breath.

Tim, meanwhile, was in the next room, just finishing up a phone call with work. He walked into the kitchen moments later, his expression relaxed, but his eyes sharpened when he saw Lucy standing near the counter, her hand still hovering over his phone.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Lucy forced a smile, trying to mask the unease that had settled in her chest. "Yeah, everything's fine."

Tim narrowed his eyes, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. "You sure?"

Lucy glanced at the phone again, but quickly looked away. "Yeah. I just... I was grabbing the towel, and I saw something pop up on your screen. It was a message from Ashley."

The words hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. Tim's face instantly darkened, the easygoing nature replaced with tension. "What did it say?"

Lucy hesitated for a moment, then repeated the message she had read earlier. "She's sorry for leaving you. She wants you back."

Tim let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. He hadn't expected Ashley to reach out so soon, but deep down, he knew it was inevitable. She had been persistent even before their breakup. This wasn't the first time she'd tried to worm her way back into his life, but this time felt different. She had never admitted to being wrong before.

"Lucy..." he started, his voice cautious. "I didn't want you to find that. I should've told you about it, but it's complicated."

Lucy looked up at him, her face softening. "I get it, Tim. It's not about me being upset. It's just... I don't know how to feel about it."

Tim sighed, setting his phone down on the counter. "I never wanted to hurt you. I'm not going back to her. What we have is real. But sometimes, things from the past have a way of lingering, and I didn't want to bring that up."

"I'm not angry at you," Lucy replied, her voice low but steady. "I just... I guess I didn't realize how much it was still affecting you." She shifted on her feet, feeling the weight of the conversation settle around them. "I'm sorry for peeking. That wasn't my place."

Tim shook his head. "It's okay, Lucy. You have every right to know. But I want you to know that I'm here with you, not with her."

Lucy nodded, her throat tight. She had no idea why, but a part of her still feared that Ashley might somehow win him back, even though Tim had made his choice. It wasn't something she could easily shake, especially with the way Ashley had always seemed to worm her way into his life.

"But what if you still care about her?" Lucy asked quietly, not looking up from the counter.

Tim's expression softened, and he stepped closer to her. "I care about what we have, Lucy. And I care about Emma. I don't want to keep dragging things out with Ashley, but I know I need to set clear boundaries. I'm not going to let her come between us."

Lucy swallowed hard, the uncertainty in her chest easing slightly as she heard the resolve in Tim's voice. He was right. He had made his choice. But her insecurities, though she knew they weren't founded, were still there.

Tim placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, offering the reassurance she needed. "I'm with you. And no one is going to take that away from us."

Lucy nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Okay."

She wasn't sure if she could completely let go of the knot in her stomach just yet, but she believed Tim. He had never given her any reason not to.

"Thanks, Tim," she whispered, letting her own doubts slip away as he pulled her into a hug.

In that moment, she knew it would take time—time to heal, time to adjust, time to move forward—but she was willing to take it. With Tim by her side, she felt stronger than she ever had before. And together, they could face whatever challenges came their way.

Including Ashley.

But for now, that could wait. The future was in their hands.