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“They aren’t coming,” Lucy murmured, just loud enough for Tim to hear from the other side of the living room. It was the first thing she’d said beyond perfunctory greetings in the twenty minutes since he’d walked through the door.
Instead of hovering around him, helping unpack the groceries, and excitedly talking through the details of her day, she’d sat silently on the couch looking at the seating chart they’d begun to finalize for their wedding, with her laptop open to the spreadsheet of their RSVPs. Tim knew something was wrong, but he also knew that she’d talk about it when she was ready to. So he’d waited, made enough noise that she’d know he was there, but not so much that she’d feel pressured to speak before she was ready. It seemed like she was ready.
“Who’s not coming, babe?” Tim asked as he sat next to her, putting his arm around her shoulder and letting her lay her head on his chest, though he had a sneaking suspicion he knew exactly who she was referring to.
“My parents,” Lucy said quietly, nodding her head to her laptop which Tim could now see was open to her email, “Our relationship is ‘too rooted in a problematic dynamic to be considered anything but a disgrace’. My mom sent me an email, my dad didn’t even say anything. Apparently I should know better.”
“Luce…” Tim trailed off as he gently placed a kiss on her hairline, the familiar anger and disappointment at her family coursing through him. Vanessa and Patrick Chen had refused to have anything to do with their daughter since she’d made detective, only exchanging curt birthday wishes and obligatory holiday communications. Their silence was deafening when Lucy had announced their engagement, both in an email and on social media. And yet Tim knew that Lucy had still hoped that they’d come around, so she’d sent them an invitation.
“It’s so stupid, Tim,” Lucy said, her normally expressive voice listless, “She’s right. I should know better. I’m stupid for thinking they’ll change. And I’m stupid for letting them do this to me again. I’m so tired of being disappointed, I’m so tired of letting them hurt me.”
Tim’s heart broke. He felt his shirt begin to dampen as Lucy started to cry.
“Lucy, you’re not stupid. Babe, you’re one of the smartest people I know. Wanting your parents to love you isn’t stupid. ”
If anyone knew that it was him. He knew what it was like to have your parents hurt you or stand by and say nothing. He knew what it was like to hope for something else, to want something else from your parents.
Something in his tone must have betrayed his thoughts because Lucy looked up, her red eyes wide, her tear-stained face stricken.
“Oh Tim, I’m sorry, this can’t compare- It’s nowhere near-”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Tim shifted so he could put his hands on either side of her face, using his thumbs to brush tears away.
“We’re not competing, my pain doesn’t lessen yours Lucy. I’m here. Whatever you need.”
“You sure?”
Tim nodded at her, leaning forward to press his lips to her forehead.
“Whatever you need.”
Lucy nodded before settling against his chest, letting him just hold her.
They sat for a while in silence just breathing in unison as Lucy calmed down, comfortable in each other's arms.
“I think I always thought it could come to this…eventually. Talking through emails and them missing my wedding,” Lucy started tentatively, and Tim hummed to indicate he was listening, but otherwise letting her speak, “I was sure when they refused to see me after I made P2.”
“What?” Tim’s eyebrows shot up. He’d known that the relationship between Lucy and her parents had been in gradual decline, but he hadn’t realized it had started that early.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Lucy questioned, looking confused. Tim shook his head but he understood her confusion, they were both so used to knowing everything about the other.
“They were supposed to come to my place for dinner. My mom came and yelled at me. Told to quit and that she couldn’t be proud of me. My dad…didn’t show up,” Lucy continued, “That’s when it all fell apart.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t know,” Tim said quietly, running his hand through her hair.
Lucy shrugged, before smiling sadly.
“Jackson was there for me. The Wests welcomed me with open arms. They were so proud of us.”
“They’re good people,” Tim said quietly, a familiar pang as he remembered their lost friend, “I’m glad they were there for you.”
“It felt like having a normal family for once,” Lucy admitted before ducking her head, “It’s stupid, I was so jealous of Jackson. It was nice to have someone proud of me.”
Tim held her more securely in his arms, “I’m so proud of you Luce, every day.”
She looked at him and smiled, “I know you are, babe. But I am still jealous of people like Angela, Wesley, and Henry, with parents who
love them,
who are proud of them. Back then I didn’t have anyone to be proud of me like that. Not really.”
Abruptly Tim moved to grab his phone from the coffee table, “Can I show you something?”
Lucy nodded curiously before moving to look at his phone as he scrolled through his saved videos.
“Do you remember your first day as P2?” Tim asked, settling on one video and pressing play, “That arrest in the bridal shop?”
Lucy snorted, “How could I forget? My first day without my TO and I was covered in champagne and feathers. Why are you showing me this?”
Tim heard his own mocking voice in the video, ‘Looking good, Officer Chen,’ as P2 Lucy tackled the overzealous bride.
“I’m showing it to you, because you had someone proud of you back then, Detective Chen,” Tim said, putting his phone back on the table, “I filmed it for evidence, but I saved it because I was proud of your first arrest. Champagne, feathers, and all.”
“Tim…” Lucy said quietly.
“I didn’t know I loved you yet, Luce. I didn’t know you’d be my wife someday. But I was so damn proud of you baby, because you’re such a good cop. You’re resourceful, smart, and beautiful, and anyone who doesn’t see that isn’t worth knowing.”
“Timothy Bradford,” Lucy said again, this time smiling through tears, “You always know what to say, I love you so much.”
Tim smiled as he leaned forward to finally press his lips to hers, pulling her into him until he was laying on his back, and she was resting on top of him. Eventually, she pulled away, finally smiling again.
“I don’t think I need to be jealous anymore,” Lucy said, “I have all the family I need.”
Tim pressed a hand to the side of her face, looking into her beautiful eyes. Nothing could make up for their parents, no one could erase those scars that they both had. But they could love each other, and be proud of each other, and hold each other. She was right, they didn’t need to be jealous anymore, or look longingly at others.
Tim grinned back at her, “Me too, Luce, me too.”