4

Julian started showing up at my short-term rental all the time.

The first time, he stood at my door holding a bag of supplements. "The doctor says you need plenty of rest and good nutrition."

I didn't let him in. I just took the bag. "You can leave it at the door."

"You won't even let me in?"

"This isn't your home."

His face darkened. "Nora, you don't have to take things this far."

"You're right. I don't want any drama either." I set the bag at my feet. "So you can go."

He didn't move. His eyes dropped to my stomach. "The doctor says we're still young. We can have more kids."

My fingers trembled, and the glass bottles in the bag clinked together.

"I know."

"Then why make this so ugly?"

I looked up at him. My eyes were still red.

"The baby's gone, and you say we can have another. My project gets shut down, and you say it's for my health. Our marriage runs into trouble, and you say we can start over.

"Julian, do you really think you get a do-over on everything?"

He was quiet for a moment. "I'm saying all this because I still want a life with you."

I couldn't help a bitter laugh. "Do you actually want to save this marriage? Or are you just scared people will call Chloe the other woman?"

He didn't answer.

Footsteps came down the hall. It was Ryan, carrying two boxes of homemade cookies.

He saw Julian first. "You're still here?"

Then he held the cookies out to me. "Chloe's really upset today. Could you go see her?"

I didn't take them. His words made my chest ache.

"Where were you the day I had surgery?"

Ryan looked uncomfortable.

"You're fine now, aren't you? And she lost her family when she was little. It's only right that we look out for her. Can't you cut her some slack?"

"That day, I signed the forms alone. I paid the hospital bills alone. I was discharged alone." My voice came out rough. "My whole family was busy taking care of her, and now you want me to cut her some slack?"

"Nora..."

"I'm not going to see her. She's got all of you, after all."

Once I'd said it, the dull ache that had been sitting on my chest for so long finally eased a little.

Julian reached for me. I stepped back. "I want a divorce."

His face changed. "You're going to wreck our marriage just to make a point?"

"I'm not making a point."

I picked up the divorce papers from the table and held them out to him. "Sign them."

He didn't take them. "I'm not signing."

"Then we'll go through the courts."

"Do you really have to push me like this?"

I looked at him, and my voice didn't shake anymore. "I'm just done making excuses for you."

Hurried footsteps came from the stairwell.

Chloe came toward us wearing my white coat, her eyes red. As soon as she reached us, she dropped to her knees.

Ryan hurried to steady her, and Julian stepped forward too.

"What are you doing?"

Chloe was sobbing. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have moved into your home. I shouldn't have let Julian take care of me. Nora, I'm sorry. I never meant to take him from you."

I looked at the coat she had on and recognized the coffee stain on the cuff.

It was the coat I'd once taken off and draped around her shoulders after she spilled coffee on herself.

She never gave it back, and I never asked for it.

Only now did I realize she'd long since gotten used to treating my things as her own.

I didn't look at her again. I just set the divorce papers on the table.

"Julian, sign them or don't. It's up to you."

He stared at me, stunned.

I picked up my suitcase. "My flight is tomorrow morning. Starting today, I'm done waiting for you to give me an answer."

"Nora!"

The elevator slowly carried me down.

I looked down at the passport in my hand.

This time, I was going somewhere they weren't, and I was never coming back.