The First Night

The evening had arrived, and Lucy couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves in her stomach as she paced back and forth in the living room. Tim was holding Naiomi, rocking her gently, while Tyler lay asleep in his bassinet, the soft hum of the white noise machine the only sound in the room.

"So, what's it going to be like?" Lucy asked, trying to suppress the anxiety building in her chest. "Do we just leave her to do everything?"

Tim shot her a smile. "Pretty much. That's the point, right? We get some sleep. She takes care of everything."

"Right, right," Lucy replied, wringing her hands. "I just... I don't know. I feel bad, you know? Letting a stranger take over."

Tim stepped toward her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "She's not a stranger, Luce. She's here to help. And we need it. We deserve it."

Just then, the doorbell rang, startling them both.

"I'll get it," Tim said with a quick kiss to her forehead. He walked to the door, opening it to reveal Renee standing there with a big smile and a small bag of baby essentials slung over her shoulder.

"Hi!" she said, her voice cheerful and warm. "Ready to get some sleep?"

Lucy felt an immediate sense of calm as she met Renee's gaze. She looked friendly, confident, and even more reassuring in person. Renee gave off an energy that made Lucy feel like this was the right decision.

"Come in," Tim said, stepping aside to let her through.

"Thanks," Renee replied, glancing around the room. "I'll just do a quick tour so I can get familiar with where everything is. Then we can go over any last-minute questions you might have."

Lucy nodded and led her through the house, showing her the nursery and explaining the babies' usual feeding schedules. Renee nodded along, asking a few insightful questions about their routines, and Lucy felt her nerves begin to ease.

"We've got some milk ready to go for them, just in case," Lucy added, pointing to a cooler in the kitchen. "They usually wake up every two to three hours for a feed."

"Got it," Renee said, pulling out her phone and making a note. "I'll keep track of everything. If they wake early, I'll get them settled back down without disturbing you."

As Renee set up a small area near the bassinet with her bag and supplies, Tim and Lucy exchanged a quiet glance. This was happening. It was real.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Lucy asked softly, her voice full of hesitation.

"Absolutely," Renee said with a confident grin. "I've done this many times before, and you guys have done a fantastic job so far. You're just going to get the rest you need."

Tim placed a reassuring hand on Lucy's arm. "Let's go to bed, Luce. You need the sleep."

Renee smiled as she began checking the babies' blankets. "I'll take it from here. You two go rest. You deserve it."

⸻

The First Hour

The night felt different. As soon as Lucy and Tim retreated to their bedroom, the weight of exhaustion crashed down on them. They crawled into bed, but the absence of crying babies and bottles to prepare felt almost too quiet.

"I don't know if I can sleep," Lucy admitted, her voice quiet. "I keep expecting them to cry."

Tim wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "That's normal. But we've got someone out there who knows exactly what she's doing. We'll be okay."

Minutes passed, then hours, and slowly, Lucy drifted into a deep, much-needed sleep. The kind she hadn't had in what felt like forever.

⸻

Morning

When Lucy opened her eyes, the sun was already up, and she groggily looked at the clock. It was nearly 9 AM.

Tim was still asleep beside her, snoring softly.

She stretched, feeling like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and for the first time in months, she didn't feel like she was running on empty.

Tim stirred beside her, opening one eye. "You awake?"

"Yeah," she replied softly, smiling. "I can't believe we slept."

He rubbed his face, still half-asleep. "I know, right? It feels so weird."

They both got up and padded down the hallway to the nursery, where they saw Renee sitting calmly in a chair, reading through a baby care guide. Naiomi and Tyler were both asleep, their faces peaceful.

"How'd they do?" Lucy asked, her heart in her throat.

"They're doing great," Renee replied, standing up with a soft smile. "They had their bottles at midnight and again at 4:30. You've got a good routine set up for them. No issues at all."

Lucy blinked, shocked at how calm and collected Renee was. "That's it? They didn't cry? At all?"

Renee nodded. "I had a few moments of cooing, but nothing that needed more than a gentle rock. They're pretty easygoing, honestly."

Tim grinned and exchanged a look with Lucy. "I think we just hit the jackpot."

⸻

That Night

The next night, with another set of babies fed, bathed, and tucked into their beds by Renee, Lucy and Tim were able to enjoy a quiet dinner at the table together for the first time in weeks. No interruptions, no bottles to prepare.

"I didn't realize how much I needed this," Lucy said, pushing the food around on her plate. "Just a quiet moment. I don't even feel guilty about it."

"You shouldn't feel guilty," Tim replied. "We're doing the best we can. We've got a little help now, and we should be thankful for it."

That night, they went to bed without the usual fears of being woken up every few hours. The new routine had given them a sense of normalcy, and though it was only the beginning, it was a step forward.