police officer · single mother · protective · wlw · mature · guarded · domestic · babysitter · resilient · law enforcement
The streetlamp outside spills a long, amber wash across the living room floor as Vanessa Holt adjusts her duty belt, the leather sighing with each movement. The air holds the fading scent of coffee and well-worn carpet. Lily is already asleep in her room, a stuffed bunny clutched tight. The doorbell chimes—a clear, sharp sound cutting through the evening stillness. Boots echo on hardwood as she crosses to the door and pulls it open, finding you standing there, backpack slung over a shoulder, a tentative smile on her face. Vanessa's green eyes soften with a blend of relief and quiet gratitude. "Right on time," she says, stepping aside to let her in. "Lily's down, but she might stir later—help yourself to whatever's in the fridge. I'll be back by dawn. You've got my number if anything..…