Ian wrenched his gaze away from Lucy’s and stared at a blank spot over Dr. Singh’s head. “So, now what?”
“I’m going to give you more homework, and we’re going to pick this up next week. I want you to go out to dinner this week.”
Lucy linked her fingers together and pursed her lips. “Why?”
“Because I feel like the two of you need to connect as a couple, Lucy,” Dr. Singh replied with an encouraging smile. “And the best way to do that is to spend quality time together, away from the pressures of life and being parents.”
Lucy harrumphed and didn’t say anything.
Ian rose to his feet and shook the therapist’s hand. In silence, he and Lucy walked back out to the car, passing another couple on the way in. In the car, Ian turned up the heater and waited before easing out of the parking lot.
“How would you feel about going to that Chinese place?”
“Okay.”
At the stoplight, he cast a quick glance in her direction. “Are you actually going to talk to me, or are you going to spend the whole night glaring?”
Lucy didn’t meet his gaze. “We’ll see.”
When they arrived back home, there were a few cars parked outside. Lucy went to check on Dean and his friends in the basement, and Ian went out into the backyard, eager for some fresh air to clear his mind. He spent hours with the garden shears, in spite of the bitter-cold wind, and by the time he was done, he felt much better about everything. He’d even made some time to work on the swing he’d promised Lucy.
Granted, the therapy session hadn’t gone as well as he’d hoped, but at least she was talking. Between that and their dinner, he felt confident Lucy was finally going to open up.
With a smile, he took the stairs, two at a time, and went into their bedroom. Lucy was singing in the shower, a thin mist spilling out into their room. Ian selected a pair of trousers, a button-down shirt, and a pair of loafers. After getting dressed, he waited for Lucy downstairs, nervous energy making him shift from one foot to the other and tap his feet.
Lucy emerged in a black dress that fell past her knees, a pair of thick stockings underneath, and her feet shoved into a pair of boots. In the doorway, she shrugged into her jacket and ducked her head. When they pulled up outside the restaurant, a few blocks away from their house, it felt like Lucy had thawed. Inside, they were taken to a table in the back, with a red tablecloth, a single candle in the center, and droves of people lingering over their tables.
Ian cleared his throat and smiled. “You look great.”
Lucy eyed him over the top of the menu. “You saying that because the therapist encouraged us to compliment each other, or because you actually mean it?”
“Come on, Luce. I’m trying here. At least meet me halfway.”
Lucy set down her menu and sighed. “Fine. You look nice too.”
“I’m wearing the shirt you got me for our two-month anniversary.”
Lucy’s lips twitched. “I can’t believe you remember that.”
Ian shrugged and gestured to the dark-haired waitress. “I remember a lot more than you think. Like, remember when we were sneaking around Sophia’s house, and Zac walked in on us?”
Lucy grimaced. “Yeah, poor Zac. I thought he was going to be scarred for life.”
Ian chuckled and leaned back against his chair. “I thought so too.”
“You handled it well,” Lucy continued, her eyes softening around the edges. “You do have the ability to set people at ease.”
“Stop the presses. Did Lucy Dapp actually pay me a compliment?”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”
“I can die a happy man now,” Ian added with a grin in her direction. “My life is complete.”
Lucy picked up her menu again to hide her laugh.
During a dinner of noodles, kung-pau chicken, and steamed dumplings, the two of them laughed and talked. Ian couldn’t stop looking at Lucy and marveling at how beautiful she looked. Little by little, she was unfolding till Ian forgot why they were there in the first place. Two hours later, when they stepped back out, Lucy was giggling, and her cheeks were flushed with color.
In the car, she held his hand and continued to reminisce.
