As the devoted fans of the show probably spotted, Carly (Jasika Nicole) was absent from the family proceedings. 

As David Shore, The Good Doctor EP explained in an interview with TV Line, this isn't an accident. 

The creators were eager to explore how Shaun responds to a relationship that's anything like the one he had with Carly. 

"We see Shaun in a very vulnerable moment, a very different moment, and in a very non-sexual situation, but we see him achieve a level of physical intimacy with Lea that he wasn’t able to achieve with Carly, so as we go forward, we explore the significance of that," David told TV Line.