Shay rolled herself up to Livia's front door, looking both vulnerable and aggrieved. She knocked softly, her voice carrying a hint of desperation, "Ms. Livia, could you please open up? I promise I haven't done anything to hurt you. I don't know who's trying to frame me, but I swear I've never harmed you. Even when you were with Finley, I kept out of the way."
Silence from inside. Maybe Livia wasn't home.
Shay's voice trembled as she continued, "Ms. Livia, I've never meant you any harm. Could you at least help me find Josefina? I really need her help to get back on my feet."
Josefina, lurking just out of sight, couldn't help but chuckle at the unfolding drama. Shay, trying to stand again? Yeah, right.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Livia stood there, arms crossed and disdain written all over her face. She gave Shay a once-over and scoffed, "Still hanging around, huh?"
Shay was left speechless.
What happened to the Livia she knew? She used to be soft as a marshmallow, and now she seemed like she could cut glass with that glare.
"Ms. Livia, I can't stand on my own anymore. I haven't done you any wrong. What do I have to do to make you believe me?" Shay pleaded.
Livia's voice was cold as ice, "Maybe if you were dead, I'd believe you."
Shay was struck silent.
Josefina, still watching the spectacle, almost burst out laughing. This was turning into quite the show.
Trying to suppress her anger, Shay said, "Ms. Livia, you can yell or scold me, but please, could you ask Josefina to help me stand?"
"I'm right here. Why don't you speak to me directly? Do you think she can make your legs work?" Josefina said, walking over with a bag of groceries.
Shay caught sight of a figure from the corner of her eye and grabbed Livia's hand, pleading earnestly, "Ms. Livia, please help me. I don't want to be stuck in this wheelchair forever. I want to stand again. I'll stay away from Finley, I promise. Please?"
Taking the groceries from Josefina, Livia said, "Josie, come on in. I've made some cheesecake, and you should give it a try."
Josefina settled in as Livia brought over the cheesecake, topped generously with fresh berries.
"Give it a taste, Josie."
Josefina took a spoonful and praised Livia's baking skills.
Livia, tasting it herself, grinned, "I might just have a knack for this, don't you think? I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out."
Seeing Livia so unfazed, Josefina couldn't help but wonder if Livia had really moved on.
Livia leaned back on the couch and smiled, "Josie, don't worry about me. Finley is just a stranger to me now, one you wouldn't even stop to chat with. He means nothing, and I'm certainly not wasting my energy getting upset over him."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess