Lucy scrunched up her brows and pondered that. “You’re welcome to, but I’ll be fine.”

Doris nodded, then looked to Theo. “So, how exactly did you come up with the idea to assume the identity of Brad Zirkle in order for Lucy to vent her anger?”

Theo glanced sideways at Lucy, checking to see if this was a trick question. But Lucy just smiled amenably. Theo didn’t know whether the throbbing in his head was from the now rainbow-hued slice on his brow or simply the stress of being trapped in a small room with two women and a paper screen decorated with little anorexic Japanese chicks.

He shrugged. “It seemed like the thing to do at the time. Lucy was obviously ready to let it out, so I let her take it out on me.”

Doris smiled at him. “Yes,” she said. “It certainly appears you did.”

Lucy reached over and grabbed Theo’s hand. He squeezed her fingers tight and smiled. And when he looked back toward Doris, the therapist had a thoughtful expression on her face.

Mercifully, the session soon ended, and Theo shook Dr. Lehman’s hand and waited while Lucy hugged her good-bye. He was half out the door when the two women broke into hoots of laughter, and Theo could have sworn he heard one of them say something about biscuits.

He asked Lucy about it in the car, but she pleaded doctor-patient confidentiality.

The entire hour of the WakeUp Miami show was to be dedicated to the story of Lucy’s life, and she was supposed to be sitting alone in a producer’s office while her family and anyone else they’d hauled in for this freak show were left to mill about in the green room.

Lucy sipped at a Styrofoam cup of black coffee and tried not to obsess about what she’d decided to wear to her own execution (a tailored suit jacket and matching slim skirt in a rich brown that looked great with her hair) or what Brad Zirkle would look like after all this time (she was hoping for fat and bald and poorly dressed) and what strange conversations might be taking place in the waiting room down the hall.

She was contemplating another trip to look out the window toward the MacArthur Causeway when the office door creaked open and Gia’s lush head of hair appeared.

“There you are, chica! She ran over to the desk chair and threw her arms around Lucy and whispered, ”God, I’ve missed you! You look mahvelous! I’m not supposed to be in here-it’s like it’s your wedding day or something; they don’t want anybody to see you before!“

Gia looked beautiful as always, but there was something different about her, and Lucy studied her closely until it dawned on her-it was Gia’s eyes. She looked radiantly happy.

“What have you been up to?” Lucy asked her, patting the desktop for Gia to have a seat. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“Oh, Lucy. Work has been crazy, you know? I got a shoot scheduled for next month in Sydney.”

Lucy smiled. “Wow!”

“And that’s not all, and I’m afraid to tell you about this other thing because-”

“Of Dan?”

Gia jolted and pursed her luscious lips. “Yeah. Because he’s your brother and he’s great, but he’s just not-”

“Right for you?”

Gia smiled and shook her head. “Yeah. I just ran into him in that green room, you know? And he was so sweet and we talked and I told him I was sorry for not being direct about it, but we’re cool now. I really like him, Lucy, but he’s more friend material, you know?”

“I know.”

Gia sighed. “But I met someone in. New York last month. He’s incredible. You’ll love him. I brought him home with me.”

Lucy felt her eyes go wide with surprise. “Like a puppy from the pound?”

“Ooh, girlie, listen to me when I tell you that this man is no puppy!”

The door opened. It was Theo. “You’re not supposed to be in here, Altamonte. Get back to the green room.”

Gia got up and acted all huffy as she strutted to the door. “But it’s OK for you, Theo-dorable? You’re allowed? How come you’re allowed? Who crowned you king?”

Lucy laughed.

“Just go back to the green room.” Theo turned Gia in the right direction and then grinned at Lucy. He’d obviously gone for a more formal look today himself-a white cashmere knit sweater and a pair of charcoal gray pleated slacks, plus a discreet little bandage applied lengthwise along his stitches. Lucy had indeed gotten used to seeing Theo’s charming face, but it didn’t mean she appreciated it any less.

“Are you looking at my bruise?” He lightly touched his brow. “I probably shouldn’t stand too close to you on the set-we’ll clash.”

Lucy smiled at him. “Hi, Theo-dorable.”

He checked behind him in the hallway, then closed the door. In a flash he was leaning on the armrest of Lucy’s chair and kissing her, his lips warm and soft and more demanding than she’d felt since before she’d kicked him. He was apparently gaining back the use of his facial muscles.

“You doing OK, Cunningham?” He left little kisses all over her forehead. “You up for this?”

She nodded. “I am.”

“Well, he’s here, baby. Brad Zirkle is down the hall. They put him in a separate room.”

Lucy felt a hot rush of fear move through her, but it didn’t stay long, and its passage only gave her a burst of energy. “I’m ready to rumble.”

Theo laughed and pulled her to her feet, then hugged her hard. “No kicking. No punching. No cussing.”

“You’re no fun anymore.”

He chuckled, releasing her and holding her by her shoulders. He leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, “I can’t wait to show you just how fun I really am.”

There was a knock on the door, and it was time.

“It’s time to WakeUp Miami!” Lucy was an expert at this by now, and she gestured broadly toward the set and the band took it as their cue to start up and the crowd went crazy. The audience today was a sea of white T-shirts with red hearts and lettering that proclaimed: We Love Lucy!

Lucy had already spotted a few guests of note in the studio that morning. Doris sat in the second row, engaged in nonstop conversation with Tyson. Stephan, Maria, Barry, and Veronica were in the back left section, and Lola was sitting by herself in the far right corner, looking pissed.

The producers of this extravaganza had apparently decided that chronological order wouldn’t be dramatic enough, so John Weaver and Carolina Buendia brought out everyone but Brad Zirkle, including family members, to childhood teachers, to friends from junior high and high school, to Lucy’s first boss in Pittsburgh. In between there were softball teammates and a Girl Scout leader and a horse trainer and Gia Altamonte and even Buddy.

Lucy was thirsty and hot and her stomach was in knots when they took a final commercial break.

“Don’t go away, Miami,” Carolina cooed. “When we come back, we’ll have a shocking surprise confession that Lucy may want to hear…” She patted Lucy’s knee. “And then what we’ve all been waiting for-we’ll get the skinny on this month’s weight loss! Can she do it with only one month to go? Don’t go away!”

During the break, the makeup technician blotted Lucy’s damp forehead and let her take a swig of water. Theo stood at the edge of the set, his arms crossed over his chest, his face serious. She gave him the thumbs-up sign and he winked at her.

When Brad Zirkle walked onto the set, Lucy felt her head swim and her vision fail-then she remembered to breathe. He sat down in the chair right across from her, his eyes focused on his shoes. He wore an expensive business suit and a red-and-white-striped dress shirt with cuff links and a silk tie. He held a little blue book and a piece of folded notebook paper in his hand. Lucy had to admit he looked just the way he did in college, except better.

So much for fat, bald, and poorly dressed.

Her glance darted to Theo, but he didn’t notice-he was staring at Brad Zirkle like he wanted to eviscerate the man. She hoped he remembered his own advice regarding acts of violence and curse words.