Pulse of the Beat (Unspoken Vows)

CHAPTER 42: Home Still Beats Louder

Hey everyone! I know it's been a  while since my last update (March feels forever ago😅), but I'm finally back with Chapter 42! It's a massive one-51,868 words- so grab a snack and enjoy💕.

Thanks for waiting so patiently!

Tim's eyes flickered open in the dim pre-dawn light, his body already attuned to the rhythms of the world around him. His fingers brushed across the sheets, looking for the warmth that always greeted him in the early mornings. But today, the warmth was a little farther away than usual. He could feel the subtle shift in the bed—an absence where he was used to finding the comforting weight of his wife, Lucy.

The sight that greeted him made his heart skip a beat.

There she was, tangled in the sheets, as if she'd been sewn into them overnight. Her body was wrapped around their baby, Leo, whose tiny hands were curled tightly around his mother's chest, as though he was holding on for dear life. They were one unit—Lucy and Leo, a beautiful, serene pair, their connection deeper than any words could describe. He didn't want to disturb them. He never wanted to disturb them.

Tim slipped his arm out from under the covers, his movements slow and careful as he made sure not to wake them. He leaned forward, kissing Lucy's shoulder gently. He lingered there, breathing in the familiar scent of her skin, the softness of her hair, and the warmth of the bed that still held the echoes of the night before.

His heart ached at the sight of her. The way she held their son, so effortlessly, so naturally. He wanted to stay. He wanted to crawl back into bed, wrap his arm around them both, and stay there forever. But he knew he couldn't. The uniform waited for him, as it always did.

With a heavy sigh, Tim slid out of the bed, his feet hitting the cool floor. The uniform went on automatically, the motions of buttoning his shirt, pulling on his pants, and lacing up his boots like a second nature. But today, the motions felt hollow. His heart wasn't in it. Not when his whole world was lying in the bed behind him, tangled in the warmth of sheets and soft whispers of sleep.

He paused at the door for just a moment longer, his eyes lingering on Lucy and Leo. The stillness of the room, the quiet of the morning, wrapped around him like a comfort he didn't want to let go of. But then he swallowed, nodded to himself, and stepped out into the world that was waiting outside, leaving the stillness behind.

The sound of the front door closing was barely audible, but it was enough to stir Lucy. Her eyes fluttered open, her first thought still foggy with sleep. She didn't have to look to know that Tim was gone. She could feel it, the absence of him, like a missing piece in the puzzle of their life together. The house felt a little emptier without him, even though it was still just the beautiful family of them.

But the emptiness didn't last long. Almost immediately, Leo began to stir in her arms, his tiny hands reaching out, blindly searching for the comfort of her body. Lucy's arms responded without thought, drawing him closer to her. Her eyes remained closed, the early morning haze still clouding her mind, but her body moved instinctively to care for him. She didn't even have to think about it anymore. It was automatic, like breathing.

Her tank top shifted, and she guided him to latch with ease. The pull of him against her felt familiar, grounding. His tiny mouth worked, slow and steady, and she couldn't help but smile, even though she was still half-asleep. The softness of his body against hers was soothing, and she allowed herself a moment of quiet. Just a moment.

She sighed softly, her hand gently resting on Leo's back as he suckled. The world outside the room could wait. There was no rush here. She held him close, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his chest against her, his tiny fingers curled around her finger. Her mind began to clear, her thoughts slowly organizing themselves into something more coherent.