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One Father’s Day:
It’s an awkward conversation that Lucy doesn’t quite know how to approach. It’s one she’s not even sure she should approach but—
It’s Father’s Day on Sunday, and Lucy wants to celebrate Tim. She wants him to know how grateful she is for him
He does so much for her and Emma. Especially Emma. When she’s upset and Lucy can’t quite calm her down. Tim is there. When Emma just needs to get out of the apartment and breathe in the fresh air.
Tim is there.
He is more of a dad than Chris ever was or ever will be. And it’s not lost on Lucy that she started thinking of Tim as a dad.
He’s just her friend, her coworker but he’s also Emma’s hero and that counts for something. She knows she has to handle this delicately.
Nicely.
She knocks on Tim’s door, and it opens up after a few minutes. Emma immediately reaches out for Tim and he takes her.
“This is a surprise.” He says. “What’s going on?” He blows on Emma’s belly and she giggles and kicks her feet.
Of course.
Whenever Lucy tries to do that she gives her a look. But when Tim does it, Emma giggles like no other.
She loves hearing her daughter giggle and she loves seeing Emma happy.
“Nothing.” Lucy says giving him a smile. “I just thought Emma and I would come out and hang out with you.”
“Really?” Tim asks. He flips Emma over again and blows on her belly once again. Emma giggles loudly. “You just thought of this today?”
“Yes.” Lucy says. “Are you busy?”
“No.”
“Do you want me to leave?” Tim’s face remains neutral but it looks like the last thing he wants.
“Of course not.” He says. “It just seems a little random.” Lucy blows out a breath, and then looks at him seriously.
“Okay the truth?” Lucy asks. Tim raises his eyebrows, looking a little confused.
“Sure?”
“Today is Father’s Day.” Lucy says. “I know. I know. But you have been a da—a father figure to Emma since the minute you met her and I know this day isn’t easy but—”
Tim gapes at a her a little. He looks stunned and she doesn’t blame him. Maybe she should have talked to Tim first but—
“Lucy I don’t—”
“Look,” Lucy says. “We don’t have to call it Father’s Day but this is just a day to celebrate you. You have done so much for me. And for Emma. You made us feel safe again. You made me believe there is good out there.”
“You deserve that.” He whispers. Lucy smiles at him and wipes a tear from her face. The feeling of falling for Tim became more evident but she pushed it away. She couldn’t think of that right now.
Not right now.
“See?” She says. “You just are the person I want to—Emma’s first word was im. She loves you.” Tim blinks at her, and then without warning pulls her into a hug. He still has Emma in his arms so it’s a little awkward.
She’s not sure what to do but she lets her body relax and rests her chin on his shoulder. It just feel right being in Tim’s arms. It feels like she was always meant to be there.
“My im!” A voice says and Lucy pulls away to see Emma looking at her with a scowl. “Mine!”
Lucy laughs and backs away and a little.
“Right. Your im.” She gives Tim a knowing look and he shifts Emma to the other side. “Sorry Emma.” She leans forward and gives her a kiss.
“So what do you want to do for me?” Tim asks and Lucy hadn’t exactly thought it through. “Because you and Emma being here is enough.”
There’s a weight behind those words, she’s not quite sure what to say at the moment. She swallows and looks at him. “I guess we can just hang out if that’s okay.” She says. Tim nods and starts walking towards the living room. Lucy follows him, and watches as he sets Emma on the ground.
She crawls over to some of the toys that Tim has collected over the months for her. “You know you don’t have to keep toys here for her.”
“Of course I do.” He says. “She comes over a lot and I don’t want her to be bored.” Lucy blows out a breath.
“Okay.” She says. “That’s sweet of you.” Tim smiles at her, and Lucy’s heart beats uncontrollably in her chest. She doesn’t know what it is about Tim that makes her feel this way. She has never felt this way before about any one. Especially not Chris, he never made her feel safe or loved. He never made her feel comfortable. Their relationship was a whirlwind, they met up and slept together and then he became controlling.
She felt like she couldn’t leave him and then she became pregnant and she really felt like she was trapped.
Tim didn’t make her feel that way and they weren’t even together. Hell, she had been here four months and Tim was the closest thing to safety. He was her friend, her safe place to land. And Emma’s hero. Emma was what mattered and if she was happy and safe—
“Lucy?” She looks up and sees Tim studying her. “Thank you for this.”
“Of course.” Lucy says. “I appreciate you Tim. For everything you have done for me and Emma. Finding her a new daycare.” Tim frowns a little and it takes her back at how angry he was when they walked in and Emma was hurt.
If he hadn’t been holding Emma, she was shire he would have lost it.
“That’s a no brainer. You shouldn’t be worried about your child’s safety and well being.” He says. “She should be safe and happy in daycare.”
“I agree,” Lucy says. “Just thank you. And I know you aren’t—we…” She pauses but Tim seems to know what she’s trying to say.
“Anything for you and Emma.” He says. Lucy smiles and for once in her life she believes those words.
And she couldn’t be happier.
***
Another Father’s Day:
“Dada!” Emma squeals and Tim barely has time to prepare before the toddler is launching herself on him. “Dada!”
“Hi Bug!” He says and she giggles and sprawls herself across him. Lucy stirs next to him and leans over to press a kiss to his cheek.
“Happy Father’s Day.” Lucy mutters and Tim’s heart pounds in his chest. He remembers Emma and Lucy coming over last year. It was before they were together, before the thought even crossed his mind.
But Lucy still wanted to celebrate him as Emma’s father.
It was amazing really because now that baby girl was now a toddler and sprawled across him. And her mama was in his bed looking at him like he hung the moon and stars. It felt like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“It’s Father’s Day.” He says. Lucy nods her head, her eyes still on him.
“And you are my baby’s daddy one way or another. So we will be celebrating you.” She says. It amazes him how quickly he went from being Emma’s favorite person (Lucy sometimes said Emma preferred him to her. He said that was crazy.)
It’s amazing how Emma called him dada now and everyone just accepted it. He still struggled but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Emma was his baby girl, his sweet girl. Lucy was her mama that he was falling for more and more everyday.
“Okay.” Tim says and he’s not sure what else to say. He just appreciates her so much and everything she does for him.
He loves her.
She knows that, and she loves him.
“Emma has a few things for you.” Lucy says. “And we are taking you out for dinner.”
“Sounds good.” Tim says and he rubs Emma’s back a little. “That sounds perfect.”
“Good.” Lucy says softly. “Hey Tim?” Tim hums softly and looks at her curiously.
“Yeah?”
“Happy Father’s Day.”