Payback
Lexi’s discharge from the hospital paralyzed me. It had only been a week since I visited her in the hospital and she still had both legs. She waved when she saw me. How can she be so cheerful? Along with her leg, Lexi gave up her third floor walk-up, and that jerk of a boyfriend, Josh.
After Lexi was situated in the former dining room turned bedroom, I started dinner.
“How’s frozen lasagna?”
“Anything I don’t have to cook is great. No standing over a hot stove for me.”
I cringed when she said that. I hate gallows humor.
“Look Misty, I know you hate to cook. We could order pizza — my treat.”
“Not tonight. We’re celebrating. I even bought a loaf of garlic bread and two bottles of wine.”
“The garlic bread sounds yummy, but no wine for me. Too many meds.”
Of course she wasn’t allowed to drink, but I was, and I knew I’d need it tonight.
“Listen, Misty, I’m feeling a bit wiped out. Do you mind if I take a nap for awhile? My home-nurse will be here in an hour to check on me. Maybe we could eat after he leaves.”
“Lexi, you don’t have to ask my permission for anything. Just do what you need to do.”
“I’m glad you feel that way because there’s another person who wants to visit tonight — Josh.”
“Josh? My Josh? My ex Josh?”
“He called me at the hospital, and wanted to see me. I told him I’d be at your house. He said if it was ok with you, it was ok with him. Is it, Misty? Is it ok if Josh comes over?”
I felt as if Lexi had just slapped me across the face. She knew how much I’d hate a visit from Josh.
“If you really want to see him, I guess it’s all right.”
“He feels so badly about what happened.”
“Why should he feel badly? We broke up weeks before you two got together.”
“I mean about the accident, Misty. He feels like the accident was his fault.”
“Why would it be his fault? You were in the car by yourself, right?”
Her eyes filled up, and she slammed the back of her head into her pillow.
“Anybody home?”
It was Josh. I had to admit the sound of his voice still sent shivers down my spine.
“In the dining room,” Lexi called.
Lexi wiped her eyes and tried to look presentable as Josh entered her room with a bouquet of long stemmed yellow roses. He looked at the flat sheet where her leg should have been and rushed past me to Lexi’s bedside.
I couldn’t stand watching them anymore, so I returned to the kitchen and poured a glass of Riesling. Josh used to say that Riesling suited me — sometimes a little sweet, but not often. I was on my third glass of wine before the couple emerged from the dining room; Josh was pushing Lexi in the wheelchair.
“She can probably do that herself.”
“She probably can, Misty, but I want to do it. It’s the least I can do.”
“Josh, I told you it wasn’t your fault.” Lexi was shining him her happy smile.
“I never should have let you drive. Too much arguing, too much wine.”
“May I ask what the argument was about?”
“It was about you Misty; I asked Lexi to move in with me."
“Well, there was a vacancy.”
I pictured them in Josh’s apartment, sitting on the sofa that I chose, getting drunk on the wine I collected, and spending the weekend in our bed.
“I told him 'no,' Misty. I couldn’t do that to you.”
“So you wrapped your car around a tree to prove what?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose. I passed out behind the wheel. It was so stupid, Misty.”
“I know how much you’ve always wanted Josh. And I know how you’d do anything to get him.”
“Even have my leg amputated?”
“That’s enough Misty. Lexi, you’re coming home with me. I was so taken by you, Misty, when we first met. You were beautiful and smart. I knew you were self-centered, but until now, I never thought you were cruel.”
I wasn’t disappointed that Lexi left. Soon Josh would find out how hard it is to take care of a one-legged girl. Then he’d be back for me. Why wouldn’t he?
