The babysitter

First

Lucy tapped the submit button on her computer with trembling hands. The final exam for the academy was done. She let out a shaky breath, leaning back in her chair as a wave of emotions washed over her—relief, anxiety, and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

"You did it," she whispered to herself, her lips curling into a small smile.

It wasn't just about passing—it was about everything this moment represented. The sleepless nights, the grueling physical training, and the countless times she'd questioned if she was good enough. And now, she was at the finish line.

The results were set to be emailed out later in the day, so Lucy did her best to distract herself. She cleaned her apartment, went for a quick jog, and even attempted to read a book that had nothing to do with law enforcement, but her mind kept wandering back to her inbox.

Finally, as the sun was setting, her phone buzzed with a notification.

Academy Results Available Now

Her heart pounded as she clicked the link, her fingers trembling. She logged in, scanned the page, and froze.

Lucy Chen: First in Class

She stared at the screen, her eyes welling up with tears. "I did it," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Then louder: "I did it!"

Without a second thought, she grabbed her phone and called Tim.

"Chen," Tim answered, his voice calm and steady as always.

"I passed!" Lucy blurted out, unable to contain her excitement.

"That's great!" Tim replied, his voice lighting up.

"No, wait—there's more," she said, barely able to sit still. "I was first in my class!"

There was a pause, and then Tim let out a low whistle. "First? That's impressive, Chen. I knew you had it in you."

Lucy grinned, pacing her living room. "I still can't believe it. First!"

"Believe it," Tim said. "You earned it."

The next day, Lucy stopped by Tim's house to celebrate with him and Emma. She knocked on the door, and when it opened, she was greeted by Emma's excited squeal.

"Lucie!" Emma cried, throwing her arms around Lucy's legs.

"Hey, Em!" Lucy said, scooping her up for a hug. "Guess what? I passed my exam!"

Emma clapped her hands. "You did? Yay! Daddy said you're super smart!"

Lucy laughed. "Well, your daddy's not wrong."

Tim appeared in the doorway, holding something behind his back. He had a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Chen," he said, stepping aside to let her in.

"Bradford," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "What's with the look?"

Tim smirked and brought out a small trophy, handing it to her.

Lucy stared at it, her jaw dropping. The gold-plated trophy read: First in Class—Lucy Chen

"Did you—" she began, looking up at him.

"I knew you'd get first," Tim said, shrugging like it was no big deal. "So, I got this made ahead of time. You always said you loved trophies."

Lucy's face broke into a wide grin as she took the trophy. "This is the most ridiculous—and amazing—thing anyone's ever done for me."

Emma tugged on Lucy's sleeve. "Lemme see!"

Lucy crouched down, showing Emma the trophy. "What do you think, Em? Pretty cool, huh?"

Emma nodded enthusiastically. "Super cool! You're the best, Lucie!"

The three of them spent the evening celebrating. Tim cooked dinner while Lucy played with Emma and Kojo in the backyard. Emma kept showing the trophy to Kojo, who seemed more interested in chasing his ball than admiring the shiny object.

After dinner, Tim brought out a small cake he'd picked up, and they sang a hilariously off-key rendition of "Congratulations."

As the night wound down, Lucy sat on the couch, the trophy in her lap, feeling more content than she had in a long time.

"Thanks for this," she said to Tim as Emma dozed off beside her, clutching her stuffed bunny.

"For what?" he asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"For believing in me," she said, meeting his gaze. "For pushing me when I wanted to give up. For... everything."

Tim shrugged, his expression softening. "You did all the hard work, Chen. I just gave you a nudge."

Lucy smiled, looking down at the trophy again. It wasn't just a symbol of her academic success—it was a reminder of the people who had supported her along the way.