Page 37 of The Replacement Wife (New Hope 2)

When she looks at me, I get the feeling I want to know everything there is to know about her. At the same time, I understand. She isn’t the kind of person one can ever really know. She’s familiar in that way.

I shake my head slowly. The less you say the better.

“I’m Mrs. Ann Banks. Your advisor.”

“Mel.”

Her forehead crinkles to the extent that it can. “I’m aware of who you are,” she tells me, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth. “And your name is Melanie.”

“Only my mother calls me that.”

“Well—from now on, everyone does.” She cocks her head slowly when she speaks. Her icy stare burns into me. I want to be her when I grow up.

I glance around the office. This has to be some sort of joke. “Did my parents put you up to this?”

“I don’t know your parents from Adam.”

My eyes widen. “Adam?”

She leans forward slightly and then pulls back. “It’s just an expression.”

I study the painting. It’s the only thing somewhat cheery I’ve seen around this place. Everything else is clinical and bare. “It was a gift.”

I think she expects me to say something in return, but I don’t, so she fills the silence.

“I suppose you want to know why you’re here.”

“Yes,” I reply. “And I’d like to go home.”

Her fingers toy with the edge of the chart. “All in good time,” she tells me.

“How much time are we talking?”

“First, we’ve got to get you all recovered.” She glances at my waist. “I take it you’ve had a look?”

My brow crea

ses. I really hate it when people make me second-guess my opinion.

“Vaginal rejuvenation has about a week-long period where minimal activity is required. In six weeks you’ll be able to resume all activities.”

“Six weeks? You can’t keep me here for six weeks.”

Her mouth forms into a thin line. “It’s in the agreement you signed, Mrs. Anderson.”

The words feel strange and foreign coming from her mouth. Few people call me that name. It feels personal.

“I am fast at recovering,” I assure her.

“Maybe,” she says. “But what matters is how efficient you are with reprogramming.”

“Reprogramming?”

She slides a book across the desk. “This contains a copy of the agreement.” We both stare at the cover. “I highly suggest you take a look at it.” She exhales. I think she is waiting for me to say something. “It will save us both a lot of time.”

I take the book from the desk and turn it over in my hands.

“You’ll want to memorize it,” she says. “Make sure you can recite it forward and backward, in your sleep. You’ll be tested before you’re released to go home.”