“You’re doing this for him, aren’t you?” Fran asked quietly, suddenly feeling quite humble in Joanna’s presence.

“I love him, and if this gives him a better life, then why not do it?”

“I can think of several reasons, the first being that you’ll be giving up your freedom. Obviously, if you’re Mrs. Addison Kane, you won’t be able to date or see anyone until it’s all over. You do understand that, don’t you?”

“I haven’t had a date in years, so what’s a few more,” Joanna said with a shrug.

Fran had not traveled to Burnt Oak in search of a friend, but as each minute passed, she found herself liking Joanna Sheppard even more. She seemed perfect. She seemed too perfect.

“What’s wrong with you?” Fran blurted, the words in her mind escaping her lips before she could stop them.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, Christ, I’m sorry,” Fran said as her cheeks flamed. “I didn’t intend to say that.”

“Well, now that you did, what do you mean?”

“I came here believing I would find a tremendously long list of reasons why you can’t possibly become Addison’s wife, and so far I haven’t found one. So, I have to ask you to be honest with me.”

“I have been. I have nothing to hide. Trust me. My life is fairly boring and simple.”

“Then why hasn’t someone swept you off your feet?”

Joanna let out a throaty chuckle, and after taking a second to get herself under control, she said, “Because I spend my time at work or at home taking care of my father. I don’t have time to date, and even if I did, who would want a live-in father-in-law.”

“Speaking of men, Millie told me you’re straight. Are you sure you won’t have a problem playing the part of a lesbian?”

“I don’t know. Exactly how does a lesbian act?” Joanna said as she pointed to the ring on Fran’s finger, proudly displaying two interlocking female symbols. “You don’t seem any different to me.”

It was Fran’s turn to chuckle. “You’re observant. I'll give you that.”

A wee bit of Joanna’s temper surged. Believing Fran had just insinuated she was dumb, Joanna’s jaw tightened. “I am not stupid.”

Fran’s eyes flew open wide. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry. That's not what I meant.”

“No?” Joanna said, crossing her arms. “It sounded like it to me.”

Fran had just found the chink in Joanna’s armor of perfection, and a smile spread across her face.

“You think this is funny?” Joanna asked, glaring at the woman.

“No, not at all,” Fran said with a snicker. “And I apologize if you took what I said the wrong way. I never once thought you were stupid, and I’m sorry if that’s how it sounded.”

“So why are you smiling?”