The doorbell rang just as she finished setting out dinner and a bowl of fresh fruit.

“Coming!” She hurried to the door, peeking through the peephole before opening it with a bright smile. “You’re back!”

Jamison was exhausted, but the moment he saw her, a genuine smile spread across his face. “Yeah, I’m home.”

As he stepped inside, Ivy had already laid out his slippers. “Go wash up and eat. It’s almost eleven.”

Jamison looked back at her, his smile lingering. After changing shoes, he turned and pulled her into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her softly on the neck. “Having a wife feels pretty great…”

Ivy smiled, her lips curving as she responded with two quick pecks of her own. “Alright, enough. Go eat.”

“Okay.”

Jamison washed his hands and sat down at the dining table, eyeing the spread of food and fruit in surprise. “You made all this?”

Ivy looked a little embarrassed. “Not really. Boyd helped order dinner and had it delivered. I saved you some and just reheated it. The fruit, I just washed.”

Jamison laughed, picking up his fork. “You saved dinner for me, so why’d you try to talk me out of coming over? You say one thing and do another.”

Ivy replied, “I just didn’t want you making such a long trip when you’re tired. You have to be up early for the hospital tomorrow.”

“It’s fine. I wanted to come.”

After a long day, he was starving, so he dug in. Ivy sat with him, popping a grape into her mouth every now and then. The night was quiet and still. The two of them sat together–one eating, the other watching–lost in a peaceful kind of contentment.

“Did you move all your things over?” Jamison suddenly looked up and asked.

“Yeah, everything’s here.”

He nodded. “Then stay here from now on. I paid the rent for a year in advance. If you decide to do grad school, once you pick a university, we’ll sort it out!”

Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re actually supportive of me going to grad school?” He hadn’t even liked the idea of her coming back for her senior year.

“You’re smart and organized–perfect for further study. Besides, in your field, a master’s degree will give you an edge.”

Ivy couldn’t stop smiling.

Jamison glanced at her and kept eating. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m just happy! I never thought you’d be this understanding. Weren’t you against me coming back to study?”

“I never said I was against you going to school. It’s always a good thing to want to learn. I just didn’t like you leaving me alone in that empty apartment. Now that you’ve moved out, I can come over whenever I want. So I don’t care how long you study–even if you go for a PhD.”

Ivy grinned even wider. Resting her chin in her hand, she gazed at his handsome face, her eyes sparkling. “Dr. Ludwig, you’re the best.”

Jamison finished eating, set down his fork, and grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth before replying, “Miss Windsor, you deserve the best.”

“Oh, please. Someone’s full of himself,” Ivy teased, her smile radiant.

Jamison moved to clear the table, but she quickly stopped him. “Relax. Have some fruit and unwind. I’ll take care of it.”

She got up to tidy the kitchen, and Jamison watched her from behind, thinking how wonderful it was to have a wife around–life was sweet.

Ivy finished cleaning up quickly; it was nearly midnight.

“Let’s get ready for bed.”

“Yeah. Did you already shower?”

“I did.” She knew exactly what he was hinting at, shot him a playful glare, and hurried off to the bedroom–before he could drag her back for another “couple’s shower.”