The Discarded Wife's Return

e manicured lawn, Richard's

mi

but did

ther's. Jessica needs something sp

amily heirloom, the last pi

s, where it wasn't pinned. It was saf

ed Aspen,

ssica my new, limited-edition sk

s a small thing,

king the only snowmobile. No heat, no phone signal. I'd n

aching me a less

as on the porch, Jessica n

said. "The code is our

rgotten for the

"Thoughtfu

n't a

ack, my st

ng guests watched w

pened the safe, and re

d it to

it to Jessica. "Here, darl

he fumbled with the clasp,

ooch s

ickening little crack. One of th

utching her hand.

visible scratch w

ntorted with rage

so clumsy, you probably d

..

Jessica's side, cradling her

. "Apologize to

rd was a constant

s too cold

a late meeti

other women. My fault

d, this

ize!" h

t except for Jessi

en at him. My heart

ightness in my chest, a precursor to the episodes m

rd if we could

Jessica, planning her grand

't be a hypochondriac, E

nd him by the door, ready to leave

needed to s

sed onto the Persian rug in the

the darkness took me w

sitive to smells. I don't want he

e, at Jessica's feigned distres

ce devoid of emotion, "that

back to the door, pi

no one trie