Page 59 of No More Words

She nods. “Ruby.”

He then stares at the youngest Crimson. Olivia yanks a pen from the mug on her desk and rapidly clicks the end. What’s going through his mind? Does he see his mom’s likeness as well?

“She looks ...”

“Like your mom. Yes.”

His face scrunches up. “Some.”

“I didn’t have a recent photo when I created her. Her name is Dahlia.” And she’s how Olivia imagines adult Lily. Wise, beautiful, kind. But she doesn’t hesitate when she executes justice. “Your mom’s name used to be Lily. Lily May. She was born in May and named after that month’s flower. Lily of the valley.”

Josh watches her with open interest, absorbing every word.

“She didn’t tell you much about her childhood, did she?”

He shakes his head. “Doesn’t like ...” He presses his mouth flat.

“She didn’t like to talk about it or didn’t like her childhood?”

He stares at the floor.

“Josh?”

His mouth turns down as if he’s ashamed of how his mom feels about her family. “Both.”

Olivia looks down her length. She pulls off a loose hair clinging to her shirt. She could have done something about the way the family treated Lily and she didn’t.

“What name does she use now?”

“Sun ... no. Jim.” He scowls. His nostrils flare with a stream of hot air.

“That’s okay. It’ll come to you.”

“Know it, but can’t—”

“Say it.” They’ll have to figure another way.

Josh turns his attention back to the wall. He widens his arms to encompass the three prints. “What?”

Olivia guesses he’s asking who the characters are. “The Crimson Wave. The superheroes from my graphic novels.”

His mouth opens. “Your? No ... way.”

“Way.” She can’t help smiling at his reaction. Like a kid at Comic-Con. Wouldn’t that be the dream, to sign at the biggest comic bookconvention around? She’d buy tickets for Josh and his friends. She’d even invite Lily and Lucas if they were interested.

Josh crosses the room to her bookcase. His gaze darts over the spines before glancing back at her. “Where?”

He can’t read the titles. She can only imagine how frustrating that must be.

She drops the pen and pulls two books off the shelf. “Books one and two. I’m working on three.” She shows him the covers and hands them off.

“Cool.” He hugs the books and looks at her with stars in his eyes.

“Yes, you can keep them.”

“I will ... rip ... read ... when better.” His smile wavers like he’s apologizing for the fact he can’t read. She stops short of pulling him into a hug, afraid if she makes a big deal it’ll only embarrass him further. It would her if their roles were reversed. Instead she smiles warmly. His gaze returns to Dahlia, his longing unquestionable, and another realization dawns. Can Olivia be any more selfish? She’s been fixated on Lily and hasn’t once considered how Josh must be coping.

She picks up the pen again and starts clicking. She points it at Josh’s hat. “I saw your scar.”