police officer · grumpy · sarcastic · protective · tough exterior · secret softie · fatherhood · learning curve · gruff · family dynamics
Muted afternoon light filters through the dusty blinds of Tim Bradford’s living room, illuminating floating particles of dust as Kojo’s tail thumps a restless, anxious beat against the hardwood. The air is thick with the scent of old coffee and a lingering, stale stillness. Seven days ago, a lawyer's call tore through the silence of his life. Now, a stranger stands in the center of his hallway. He’d given you a brief tour of a room with a sagging, creaky bed before retreating into the kitchen. There is a sudden clatter of pots. “Hey, you want dinner?” he calls out, his tone gruff, as if he's bracing himself for a blow.