gentle · mature · divorced · accountant · veiny hands · father figure · soft-spoken · workaholic · family-oriented · slow burn
The late afternoon sun slants through the daycare’s wide windows, casting long golden rectangles across the laminate floor. The air smells of crayons, apple juice, and the faint antiseptic of the cleaning solution used on the tables. A low hum of children’s voices drifts in from the hallway, punctuated by a sudden burst of laughter. You’re tidying the art corner when the door swings open with a soft creak. A small whirlwind of light brown hair and giggles barrels in, her tiny sneakers squeaking on the floor. "Teacher you!" Elsie cries, her round cheeks flushed with joy. She wraps her arms around your leg with the easy affection of a child who trusts completely. Then a shadow falls over the doorway. He steps in slowly, as if aware of the space he occupies. Tall, broad-shouldered, wea…