Chapter 11

Ricky was so incredibly happy that Lucy had finally told him what she experienced. He never thought that he would see the day and it had finally come. They came home from Dr. Carlson's office and couldn't stop smiling at each other and didn't even want to be away from each other. They were acting the same way that they used to when they first started dating.

Bedtime had approached and Lucy had turned in early. She was exhausted and had fallen asleep the minute her head hit the pillow. Ricky was getting into bed and couldn't stop looking at his wife. She was so beautiful, laying there and he knew that they would be just as wonderful as they used to be. As he closed his eyes, he sighed happily and thought of his gorgeous redhead.

All of a sudden, Lucy woke up with a start and as she jostled the bed, she woke up Ricky.

"Sweetheart, what's wrung? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. That nightmare wasn't like the other ones that I've had."

"Well, you wunt to tell me 'bout it?" asked Ricky, as he encircled Lucy in his arms and had her lay her head on his chest.

"It started off with you telling me that I had made my choice and that you wanted me to leave, but as I was getting out of bed and crying, I said something different. Something I didn't say in the other nightmares. I told you that I was sorry for what I had done and that I didn't want to lose you. Your face softened and you opened up the covers for me to get back into bed. My nightmares never ended like that."

"Aww honey, that's wonderful. Maybe that's the end of the nightmares."

"I hope so. Those nightmares are so real that I don't think I can go through any more of them."

"Well, even if you do, I'll be righ' here for you every night, I promise."

Lucy looked up at her husband's face and didn't think that she could love him more than she did at that moment. Here he was, this man who was telling her that he would be there for her no matter what and that he would always be there. She thought of her friends' husbands and wondered how many of them would tell their wives that. She put her hands on Ricky's cheeks and gave him a kiss. After the kiss, she saw Ricky's face and knew what he had on his mind. As much as she wanted to, she wasn't ready to be intimate with him quite yet. As she was thinking this, it was as if he could read her mind. He took her hand and kissed it. That was Ricky's way of telling her that he understood her way of thinking.

"Are you sure you don't mind, sweetie?" asked Lucy, as if being able to read his mind, as well.

"I dun't wunt to pressure you. If you're nut ready, we'll just wait, but I gotta tell ya, I hope you're ready soon," said Ricky, with a laugh.

"I just need some time, but I must tell you that I hope I'm ready soon, too."

Ricky leaned back into the pillows with his wife in his arms, as she lay her head back onto his chest. As they stayed in that position for a few moments, an idea came to Ricky. He decided to share the idea with Lucy as he stroked her arm gently.

"I have an idea. Wunt to hear it?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Well, how 'bout you an' I go on a date? It'll be full of romance and it'll be jus' you an' I. How does that sound?"

Lucy loved the idea so much that she lifted her head and smiled at Ricky. The idea was a great way for them to reconnect the way they used to be before this awful experience. Lucy figured she should play along with this plan so it could be just the way it was when they were going together years ago.

"Well, are you asking?"

"I jus' did, Lucy."

"I didn't hear you do it properly," said Lucy, playing hard to get.

"Oooh, I know what you're getting at," said Ricky, catching onto the plan by getting down on one knee and taking Lucy's hand in his, "Lucy, would you do me the hunur of going on a date with me?"

"I would love to, Ricky!"

"Thank you, sweetheart," said Ricky, as he kissed her hand.

As Ricky got back into bed, he pulled Lucy into his arms, began stroking her arm again and lulled her back to sleep. He couldn't wait to begin planning all of the romance into their wonderful date. He also was hoping that after the date, they would come back to the apartment and indulge in the magic that they both wanted.