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September 5th
It started when she had just moved to LA. Actually it was Jackson’s idea. He said she needed time alone and that she had been working herself silly. He would take Emma and then she would have time alone. It happened again the next year, she left Emma with Tim but didn’t tell him what she was doing. They weren’t together yet. The next year was the same and then the next.
It was the same date every year or close to it. She set aside time and made sure Emma and now Sophie were taken care of.
(She made sure Tim had that day off as well so she could slip out without any questions).
It wasn’t that she was embarrassed or anything but it was just her time. She loves Tim, and she loves her girls but it was just something that she kept close to her heart. This year was no different and the date was getting closer and closer.
“When are you going for your me time?” Tim asks coming up behind her. She turns around to look at him.
“What?”
“Your me time,” he says like it’s completely normal. “I saw it on the calendar. September 7th.”
Oh.
“I didn’t realize I put it on the shared calendar.” She mutters to herself.
“It’s okay.” Tim says. “I have suspected it for awhile. Every year on September 7th you disappear.”
“I don’t—”
“It’s okay Lucy.” Tim says. “Believe me. You deserve this more than anything. You deserve more than one day actually.”
“I don’t have time for more than one day.” Lucy says. “You know it was Jackson’s idea.”
“He is a good friend.” Tim comments. “So are you going on September 7th?”
“That’s my plan. I’m just going shopping and it’s only for a few hours—” Lucy starts but Tim shakes his head and wraps his arms around her. He rests his chin on her shoulder.
“Do more.” Tim says simply. “Make it the whole day.”
“What?”
“Do more.” Tim says. “Get a manicure and pedicure. Get a massage. Do it all Lucy. You deserve this day and you should always be able to have it.”
“Tim you really don’t—”
“I’m your husband and I absolutely do.” Tim insists. “I absolutely do.” Lucy stares at him, and she knows she is lucky. She knows that Tim will always be that person for her.
Always.
“Okay but the whole day?” She asks. “It’s your day off too.”
“And?” Tim asks raising his eyebrows. “Emma doesn’t have school, Sophie will be home too. We would spending it with the girls anyway.”
Lucy swallows hard and it does sound nice. In the past, she would only try and take a few hours so whoever she was leaving Emma with wasn’t stuck with her all day.
“Okay.” Lucy says. Tim gives her a smile and then presses a kiss to her neck. “Thank you Tim.”
“For what?” Tim asks. “This is your day and you deserve it.” Lucy blinks at him and then she just nods.
She would tell him how much she appreciates him later. She never got to do this when she was with Chris. For one, she would never leave Emma alone with him and two, Chris isolated her and made her feel bad when she wanted to go out.
Tim was different and she has always known that but now she realizes that this was something special and she wouldn’t get this with anyone else.
She is so grateful for him.
So, so grateful.
***
September 7th
Lucy leaves the house early in the morning. She does it before the girls wake up, and Tim just gives her a kiss and tells her to enjoy herself. Lucy wants to kiss him some more but he gently pushes her away.
“If we do anymore of this you won’t have your self care day.” He says gently. “We can do it later.” She nods and then slips out of the room.
She needs this and Tim was giving it to her, and she was going to make the best of it.
***
The first thing she does is go to her favorite coffee shop. She gets her chai latte, something that she doesn’t always get. She gets a scone too just for fun, and then she heads next door to the nail shop.
She gets the works—nails, toes and a neck massage. They hand her a glass of sparkling wine and she drinks it happily. She sends a picture of her toes and nails to Tim so he can show Emma.
Tim: Emma says pretty. And this is all on me by the way.
Lucy: Tim… you don’t have to pay for this.
Tim: I do. It’s on me babe. No arguing.
Lucy: I love you.
Lucy smiles to herself, she really did have it good and it couldn’t get better than this.
She really had a wonderful life.
***
After her manicure and pedicure, Lucy goes to her favorite little boutique. She never got to come here, and she only discovered it when she first came to LA of course when she had no money.
But she deserves this.
She deserves to treat herself.
She finds a few things for herself, but then she sees a cute little jean skirt and shirt for Emma and of course she has to get Sophie something.
After shopping, she goes for her scheduled massage that Tim made for her. She waits for the massage therapist in a small room with cucumbers over her eyes and she feels at ease.
Completely at ease.
She is so relaxed that she doesn’t ever want to go back to reality.
(She does want to go home to her girls and husband but right now she is relaxed).
She gets pulled back for the massage, and once again she feels so lucky to have Tim in her life. All the other times she has had her self care day, she never got to do all this. She never got to just have the whole day to herself.
She would be too worried about Emma and leaving her with Jackson (he was fine with keeping her, Emma was just attached to Lucy). And then came Tim, and before they were together Lucy always felt guilty about leaving her with him for too long.
But now—
The massage therapist massages her all over and it’s like she is completely transformed when she walks out of there.
After the massage, she goes to the store and picks up some snacks for the girls and Tim. And then a few more things for the girls because she can’t help herself.
(Plus she finds herself buying something that would be for her and Tim).
And then she goes home.
Tim meets her at the door and ushers her in. Sophie spots the fuzzy little bunny Lucy got for her.
“Bunny!” Sophie squeals. Lucy takes it out and hands it to her. The two year old runs off.
“Lucy this was your day.” Tim says. “You didn’t have to—”
“I know but I got everything I wanted. And I had the day to myself—that’s huge.” She says. “Emma!”
Emma comes running in looking eager probably wondering where her stuffed animal was. Lucy pulls out a little dog that reminded her of Kojo. She knew Emma would love it.
“Thank you mama!” Emma squeals and hugs Lucy and then skips off.
“You spoil them.” Tim says shaking his head.
“Oh like Emma doesn’t always leave the aquarium or zoo with a stiff animal.” Lucy says. “It’s a good thing we haven’t taken Sophie yet.”
Tim rolls his eyes and then looks in the bags. “What else did you get?” He asks. Lucy pulls out the snacks she got him and watches his face light up a little. And then the outfits she got the girls and herself.
“There is one more thing.” Lucy says. “I went into this store by accident but—” She pulls out a set of lingerie. She had no plans on even going into this store let alone buy anything but yet she found herself going in there and she’s glad she did.
“Is that for you or me?” Tim whispers.
“Both.” Lucy says. Tim just lets out a soft laugh, and she knows she did the right thing.
“So you had a good day?” Tim asks.
“I did.” She confirms. “Thank you again Tim.”
“Anytime Luce. You know you could do more than one day.” He says.
“I know but I like setting aside a day that I know I will take even if it’s just a half day.” Lucy says.
“Okay.” Tim says softly. “I’m glad you had a good day. You deserved it.”
“Thank you baby.” She says. “Did you have a good day?”
“Oh yes.” Tim says. “Emma found out what you were doing and decided I needed it too.”
“Oh my god.” She says and she grabs his hands. His fingernails were painted pink. “They match mine!”
“I got a massage and a foot rub.” Tim says. “It was very relaxing.”
“Oh you got pampered too.” Lucy says grinning at him. Tim runs his fingers through his hair.
“I did.”
“You loved it!” She says looking at him. “Just admit it.”
“I love Emma and Sophie.” He says. Lucy rolls her eyes and pulls him down for a kiss. She’s glad they both had good days and they both go pampered.
She’s glad this is her life, no matter all the ups and downs of it.
It really was a wonderful life.