Wife in Disguise

Her outrage, her slightly pouty lower lip, all eased Josie’s tension. For some reason she suddenly found the situation slightly amusing. She was in a wheelchair for heaven’s sake. How much of a threat could she be? Yet the woman was staring at her as if she were the devil himself.

In that second Josie made a decision. She knew it was both wrong and childish, but she couldn’t help herself. So she gave her guest her best smile.

“I’m Josie Scott. Del’s wife. And you are?”

The woman’s gaze narrowed. If her eyes had been a laser beam, Josie would now be a puddle of steaming goo. “I’m Jasmine, Del’s girlfriend. And I know for a fact that he’s divorced. Which makes you his ex-wife.”

Don’t do it, Josie ordered herself. She had no right to interfere in Del’s personal life. Maybe this woman was someone important to him.

She mulled over that thought and found she didn’t believe it. He’d been spending all his free time at home. Unless Miss Congeniality had been out of the country for the past month, they weren’t getting along all that well. Besides, Del had kissed her, Josie. He wasn’t the kind of man to do that while he was involved with someone else. Although there was the matter of the key.

She told herself to be nice.

She didn’t listen.

“I’ll admit to being his ex,” she murmured softly. “But haven’t you heard that possession is nine-tenths of the law. That would mean I live here now and you don’t.”

Jasmine’s full mouth twisted. “I don’t believe you.”

“You don’t have to. Ask Del yourself. He’ll tell you that I’m staying with him indefinitely.”

Jasmine took a step back. “No way. He wouldn’t want someone like you when he could have me. Del isn’t into pity and why else would he want a cripple.”

With that she turned on her heel and stalked out of the house. Josie tried to tell herself that the ultimate victory had been hers, that she’d driven the younger, pretty predator out of her territory. But the words didn’t offer any comfort. Not when she was forced to accept the truth.

Jasmine was right. Del wouldn’t be interested in Josie. She was too different, and even if her body had been as perfect as it’d been before, he hadn’t liked her personality all that much. His actions were two part kindness and one part guilt. Nothing more. Despite her fantasies to the contrary, he wasn’t falling for her.

Unfortunately, there was no way to stop herself from falling for him.

Annie May arrived a little after twelve. She brought with her a large bag from a local burger place, along with a six-pack of Josie’s favorite soda.

“I heard,” the older woman said when she’d helped Josie into a regular chair at the table and had put out their food. Humor glinted in Annie May’s eyes. “Jasmine flew into that office like her pants were on fire. I don’t usually spend much time there, so I might have missed it all, but Del had called a staff meeting. We’d just finished and most of the guys were long gone, but I was still chatting with Jan about her kids.”

Josie wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what her friend had to say, but she couldn’t help the curiosity welling up inside of her.

“She was upset?”

Annie May bit into her burger and chewed. When she’d swallowed, she raised eyebrows. “Upset doesn’t quite cover it. She was out for blood. She stormed into his office and slammed the door so hard the windows rattled.” Annie May grinned. “It was almost like having the old you back again.”

“That’s hardly a compliment,” Josie muttered. She didn’t want to be reminded of her past. Nor could she believe Del would get involved with another woman who had a temper. “Has Jasmine always been volatile?”

“Not that I knew about.” Annie May dragged a couple of French fries through a puddle of ketchup. “But he’s been slowing things down with her for a few months now. I don’t think she’s been real happy at the thought of the relationship ending. I guess this was the final straw.”

“So what happened?”

Annie May chuckled. “They were going at each other like two tomcats. She was screaming and he was trying to calm her down.” She sighed. “Don’t men know they only make things worse when they act reasonable while we’re all upset?”

“I guess not.”

The older woman shrugged. “Anyway, Jasmine demanded to know who you were. I couldn’t hear Del’s answer, but I’m guessing he told her the truth. She let out a shriek they probably heard in China. Then she began stomping around, demanding that he get you out of his house. He raised his voice enough for us to hear him tell her it was his house, and he would do as he pleased. Then he told her it was over between him and her and asked for his key back. She got really ugly, calling him names and saying you-”

For the first time since she’d started the story, Annie May hesitated. Josie knew what that meant. Jasmine had talked about her condition, saying unkind things about the wheelchair and maybe Josie’s appearance.

“I can guess,” she said, turning her burger over in her hands but unable to eat.

“Well, the good news is Del took his key back and showed her the door. She was still spitting fire as she stomped to her car. Then he got all embarrassed, knowing we’d heard just about everything they’d said, so he slammed his door. That’s when I decided to bring you lunch.”

“I hope Del ended his relationship with Jasmine because he wanted to and not because of me,” she said, feeling slightly guilty for what she’d said to the redhead.

“Liar,” Annie May announced. “You don’t want that man of yours thinking about anyone but you.”

Trust Annie May to cut to the heart of the matter, Josie thought. “Maybe, but I’m also a realist.”

“What does that mean?”

She sighed, then set down her burger. “Look at me. I’ll never be the woman I was. My life is a mess and Del isn’t going to want to be a part of that. He’s only taking care of me now because he feels sorry for me. He’s never going to want me-not while there are women like Jasmine around. Why would he settle for someone who will never be completely whole again? I can’t do any of the things I used to do. I can’t run or ride or play sports. I can’t even do my job. No school is going to want a cripple for a PE teacher.”

Annie May took another bite and chewed it slowly. Josie fought against the burning in her eyes. She wasn’t about to give in to tears. She had already done that once this month.

Her friend wiped her hands on a paper napkin, then took a drink of her soda. “I thought you had some attitude going for you,” she said. “I was impressed by the way you handled Jasmine. Whatever you said put her in her place. But I see I was wrong. So this is where I tell you that people who sit on the pity pot look real silly after a time and they get a permanent red mark on their butt. That’s not your style.”

Annie May’s words stung. “That’s not fair. I’m not feeling sorry for myself, I’m stating the reality of the situation. Don’t you dare tell me that I’m giving up. I’ve worked damn hard this past year. Harder than I’ve ever worked for anything. Until you’ve lived through what I have, don’t you dare judge me. You can still do just about everything you want to. You don’t understand and you never will, so don’t you ever presume to judge me.”

Red eyebrows raised slightly. “Well, you go girl. I’d wondered if there was still some of the old spirit left in that body of yours. I’m glad there is.”

Her reaction didn’t make sense. “What’s your point?”

Annie May leaned toward her. “I don’t want you getting lost in your pain, Josie. You’re too strong for that. Yes, your situation is pretty horrible. It’s not fair and it’s never going to be fair. But everyone has to overcome something. Your thing is just a little tougher than most. But you’re improving. You’re doing more than surviving, you’re learning to live again. Don’t let go of that. You’re healing and you have people who care about you. That’s more than a lot of folks can say.”

Josie didn’t want to admit it but she knew her friend was right. “I see your point,” she said slowly. “But I still hate my physical limitations.”

“Hate all you want. Just don’t feel sorry for yourself. You still have a lot going for you. You don’t have to worry about money.”

Josie nodded. Her settlement from the company that owned the truck that hit her had been more than enough to take care of her for the rest of her life. Her medical expenses were covered, as well.

“You might not look the same, but you’re still pretty.”