Chapter 2

The next day, Paddy showed up half an hour late.

But what I noticed was the faint mark on his collarbone.

"Noreen insisted on going back to see our old high school this morning. It held me up."

I nodded lightly and walked into the county clerk's office with him.

When we came out, he loosened his grip on the divorce certificate with something like relief and pulled open the passenger door.

"I'll drive you home."

I suddenly remembered the day he first got this car, how he'd driven me out to the city outskirts to watch the sunset, thrilled about it.

Back then there was a jasmine diffuser in the passenger seat, the one I loved, and even on turns he'd reach out to shield me without thinking.

Now the whole car smelled of some sweet, cloying perfume I didn't recognize.

"I want to leave the apartment for Noreen. It's close to the hospital, so it's easier for her checkups."

"I'll take you back to pack your things. I've booked you a hotel nearby. I know it's an imposition, but stay there for a while."

A wave of blood-warm sweetness surged up my throat.

I was the one who'd overseen every part of that home. The clock in the entryway I'd found after combing through seven antique shops.

The velvet sofa in the living room I'd designed and had custom-made.

We used to drink red wine on the balcony and watch the moon, and curl up together in the media room to watch horror films.

Only days ago he'd been pulling me around, buzzing with excitement, redoing the nursery.

Yet today Paddy was telling me that my home no longer belonged to me.

When the car stopped downstairs, I fled up to the apartment like something was chasing me.

My things had been tossed into a corner, like trash waiting to be hauled off.

And on the wall right above the sofa, where our marriage certificate used to hang.

Now there was a brand-new frame, a photo of Noreen and Paddy at the beach from years ago, his head bowed to kiss the top of her hair.

"You're back!"

Noreen came out of the bedroom, wearing my house slippers.

She trotted over and threw herself into Paddy's arms, tilting her face up, all sweetness.

"Paddy, that diffuser in your room was so harsh. I switched it to my favorite rose scent."

Paddy wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his touch gentle.

"If you're not feeling well, don't stand around. Go lie down. I'll make you some gourmet bone broth to build your strength back up."

Noreen laughed and tugged at his cuff. "Your cooking is awful. Just get a housekeeper."

She turned to look at me, a taunt rising in her eyes.

"Naomi, thank you for giving Paddy back to me."

"If I get better, I'll definitely have you over for the wedding toast."

I forced my anger down, but Paddy pulled me aside and lowered his voice.

"Noreen only has her memories from age eighteen right now. Don't hold it against her."

"She's a patient, and you're a doctor. You should have some basic empathy."

I shook off his hand, my eyes going past his shoulder.

The bedroom door stood half open. My skincare was gone from the vanity, replaced by Noreen's jars and bottles.

The Polaroid on the nightstand, the one where we were both grinning like idiots, had been torn to pieces.

So being replaced was really that easy.

I'd just been an ordinary day away from sulking and playing coy with my own husband, waiting for him to come coax me around.

But when I opened my eyes again, even my home no longer belonged to me.

I held back the tears and clumsily gathered my things into a suitcase.

As I was leaving, Paddy came after me.

"Once I've seen Noreen through this, we can remarry whenever you want. You can hit me, scream at me, whatever you need."

Noreen coughed twice, right on cue, and his feet stopped where they were.

I walked into the elevator without looking back. "No need. Your promises never keep very long."

As the elevator went down, I opened the Doctors Without Borders website.

On the application page, I filled in my name.