The babysitter

Silence

Tim woke to an unusual sound—silence.

For a moment, he lay still in their bed, listening for the cries that had punctuated the night, but heard nothing. The morning light filtering through the curtains told him it was past his usual wake-up time, and he realized with a start that he'd actually slept through the night. Lucy hadn't woken him once.

He padded quietly to the kitchen, running his hands through his hair as he started the coffee maker. The familiar routine felt strange after the chaos of the previous evening, and he found himself moving more carefully than usual, as if sudden movements might shatter the peaceful quiet that had settled over the house.

With his coffee in hand, Tim made his way to the living room and stopped short. There was Lucy, curled up on the couch in a position that looked anything but comfortable. She was still wearing the same clothes from the night before, her hair a mess, one arm dangling off the cushion. The baby monitor sat on the coffee table beside her, and he could see the dark circles under her eyes even in sleep.

He approached slowly, setting his mug down on the side table, and leaned over to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Lucy stirred immediately, her eyes fluttering open with the alertness of a mother who'd been sleeping with one ear always listening.

"Hey," she whispered, her voice rough with exhaustion.

"Hey yourself," Tim murmured, perching on the edge of the couch beside her. "How long have you been out here?"

Lucy blinked slowly, trying to orient herself. "What time is it?"

"Almost seven. You didn't wake me once."

She shifted slightly, wincing as her neck protested the awkward sleeping position. "Emma woke up around two, and then Evan was up again around four. After that, I figured it was easier to just stay out here in case one of them needed me again."

Tim reached out to smooth her hair back from her face. "You should have gotten me up."

"You needed sleep," Lucy said simply, though Tim could hear the exhaustion weighing down every word. "Besides, they both settled down okay. Emma's fever broke around three, I think."

"And Evan?"

"Still running warm, but he's been sleeping since—"

As if summoned by the mention of his name, Evan's cries suddenly pierced the morning quiet, starting as a whimper and quickly escalating to full-blown wails.

Lucy immediately started to push herself up from the couch, but Tim gently pressed her back down.

"I'll get him," he said.

"Tim, he's just going to want—"

"I know," Tim said, already heading toward the nursery. "But I can at least check his diaper and get him to you."

Lucy watched him go, her heart clenching at the determined set of his shoulders. She knew he was still carrying the weight of last night's defeat, still feeling like he'd somehow failed their son.

Tim returned a few minutes later with a still-crying Evan, who immediately reached for Lucy the moment he saw her. She took him without hesitation, and his cries began to quiet as he settled against her chest.

"His fever's down a little," Tim reported, settling back beside them. "Not gone, but better."

"That's good," Lucy murmured, rubbing gentle circles on Evan's back.

They sat in comfortable quiet for a moment, both of them watching their son's breathing slow as he dozed against Lucy's shoulder. Tim glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed.

"I should start getting ready for work."

Lucy nodded, though he could see the exhaustion in her eyes. "I'll be okay. Really."

"I know you will be," Tim said, leaning over to kiss her temple. "But I still wish I could stay."

"We'll be here when you get home," Lucy promised, tilting her face up to meet his eyes. "Both of them will probably be feeling better by tonight."

Tim stood reluctantly, then leaned down to press a soft kiss to Evan's head before cupping Lucy's face in his hands and kissing her gently.

"I love you," he said against her lips.

"I love you too," she whispered back. "Now go, before you're late."

"Call me if you need anything. Anything at all."

"I will," Lucy said, though they both knew she probably wouldn't unless it was truly serious.

Tim grabbed his coffee and headed toward their bedroom to get ready, pausing in the doorway to look back at his wife and son. Lucy had already settled back into the couch cushions, Evan peaceful in her arms, and despite the exhaustion written across her features, she looked completely at ease.

It was going to be a long day at the station, knowing his family was home feeling miserable, but at least he'd be coming home to help tonight. And maybe, just maybe, by then both kids would be feeling well enough to want their daddy again.