The Unexpected Call

It was late in the afternoon when Lucy's phone buzzed on her desk. Her heart jumped, and her fingers froze as she read the name on the screen.Tim.She stared at it for a second, almost unable to breathe. After all this time, was he finally ready to talk?She swiped to answer, her voice unsteady. "Hello?""Lucy," came Tim's voice—calm, but uncertain. "I've been thinking a lot. About everything."Lucy swallowed. "I... I didn't mean to spring it on you like that. I just thought you should know.""You were right to tell me," he said quickly. "I'm not mad. I just needed a minute to... process it. A daughter? That's—" he paused, "That's a lot.""I know," Lucy said quietly. "It's a lot for me too.""I've been thinking," Tim continued slowly, "I don't know if I'm ready to be introduced as her father. I barely know how to handle my own life half the time, let alone be someone's dad."Lucy's chest tightened, her hopes caught in a delicate balance. "So... what does that mean?""It means..." Tim hesitated. "I'd like to meet her. Just meet her. Maybe just as a friend of yours or something. No pressure. I just— I want to see her. But I don't think I can show up and say, 'Hey, I'm your dad,' when I don't even know who I am in all of this yet."Lucy was silent for a long moment, trying to sort through her emotions. Relief. Disappointment. Hope. All tangled up."Okay," she said finally. "You can meet her. But just know that Charlotte is a smart kid. She asks questions. And I'm not going to lie to her. Not forever.""I get that," Tim said. "I'm not asking you to lie. I just need a little time before that part becomes real."Lucy nodded even though he couldn't see her. "Alright. Let's take it one step at a time."