The babysitter

New Begining

The morning sunlight poured through the windows as Lucy sat cross-legged on the living room floor, her books spread around her. Her police academy training was only a few days away, and her nerves were starting to creep in. Tim, ever the over-prepared mentor, had dropped a stack of recommended reading in front of her the night before.

"Start with the basics," Tim had said, pointing at one of the titles, Procedures and Protocols: An Officer's Guide. "And don't skim. They'll know if you skim."

Lucy had laughed at his seriousness but secretly appreciated the effort he put into helping her prepare. Now, as she flipped through the dense material, her head began to spin with all the information she needed to absorb.

Emma sat nearby on the couch, swinging her legs as she held a small object in her hands. Kojo lay sprawled on the floor, his tail wagging lazily as Emma occasionally reached down to pet him.

"What's that, Em?" Lucy asked, glancing up from her book.

Emma's face lit up. "It's for you, Lucie!" She hopped off the couch and ran over, holding out her little treasure. It was a keychain shaped like a police badge, with her name "Emma" etched into the middle in big, blocky letters.

Lucy's heart melted. "Oh, Em, this is amazing. Did you pick this out yourself?"

Emma nodded proudly. "Uh-huh! So you can remember me all the time when you're at school."

Lucy pulled her into a hug. "I'll treasure it forever, sweetie. Thank you."

Emma beamed, snuggling into Lucy's arms. "You're gonna be the best police officer ever, Lucie."

Kojo, sensing he was missing out on the affection, nudged his way into the hug, causing Emma to giggle. "Kojo wants to be in your class too!"

Lucy laughed. "I'm not sure the academy is ready for a police dog as lazy as Kojo."

The rest of the day passed in a flurry of activity. Lucy alternated between reading and playing with Emma, who insisted on showing her "police moves" she'd made up. Tim occasionally poked his head into the room, offering pointers or making sarcastic comments about Emma's dramatic reenactments.

Meanwhile, Ashley lingered in the background, clearly trying to find her place in the household dynamic. She attempted to engage Emma in play several times, but Emma was less than enthusiastic.

"Hey, Emma," Ashley said, crouching down beside her with a board game. "Wanna play this with me?"

Emma glanced at her, then at Kojo, who was chewing on his favorite squeaky toy. "Nah, I'm playing with Kojo."

Ashley frowned but tried again. "How about we do some coloring together? I got these new markers—"

"No thanks," Emma said, grabbing Kojo's toy and tossing it across the room for him to fetch.

Lucy watched the exchange from the couch, biting back a smile. She didn't want to encourage Emma's coldness toward Ashley, but it was hard not to notice how natural her bond with the little girl was compared to Ashley's strained efforts.

Tim noticed too, though he said nothing, instead retreating to his home office to work on some paperwork.

Later that evening, after dinner, Tim handed Lucy a cup of tea and sat beside her on the couch.

"Feeling ready?" he asked, nodding toward the stack of books still sitting on the coffee table.

Lucy sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be. There's just so much to learn, and I'm worried I'll mess up."

"You'll be fine," Tim said firmly. "You're smart, you're capable, and you've got the right instincts. Just focus on taking it one step at a time."

Emma climbed onto Lucy's lap, her bunny in hand. "Lucie's the smartest," she declared confidently.

Lucy smiled, kissing the top of Emma's head. "Thanks, Em. You're my biggest cheerleader."

Emma grinned. "And don't forget your keychain, okay? It's magic. It'll make you brave."

Tim chuckled. "Magic, huh? Where'd you learn that, Em?"

Emma shrugged. "It just is."

As bedtime approached, Ashley made another attempt to connect with Emma. She offered to read her a bedtime story, but Emma refused, insisting Lucy do it instead.

"Lucie always reads to me," Emma said matter-of-factly, climbing into her bed.

Ashley's expression tightened, but she forced a smile. "Of course. Maybe next time."

Lucy hesitated but ultimately decided it wasn't her place to intervene. She tucked Emma in and began reading her favorite story, her voice soft and soothing.

Tim stood in the doorway, watching the scene unfold. His gaze shifted between Lucy, who was completely at ease, and Ashley, who stood awkwardly to the side. He couldn't deny the growing tension between the two women, and he knew he needed to address it sooner rather than later.

As Lucy finished the story and kissed Emma goodnight, Tim lingered in the hallway, deep in thought.

That night, as Lucy sat in her room, rereading one of the books Tim had given her, she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about the journey ahead. She glanced at the keychain Emma had given her, now attached to her bag.

With a small smile, she whispered to herself, "I won't let her down."

In the quiet moments before sleep, she allowed herself to dream of what the future might hold—not just for her career but for the unconventional little family she had grown to love.