Page 54 of The Red Woman on Mars

4 Sols to Presentation Day

“Thank you, Vivian, for another memorable outing.” Ren paused outside the dormitory and bowed over her hand.

“I enjoyed the gallery,” Vivian said honestly. “Especially the sculpture garden.”

“I’m glad.” He stroked his beard. “Vivian … Presentation Day is four days away.”

“I—yes.”

He gave a tiny sigh. “I must ask. Is there another?”

“No.” Vivian shook her head rapidly. “No, of course not.”

“Very well.” He pulled a small black box from his pocket and handed it to her.

Vivian opened it and let out an involuntary gasp upon finding a large white pearl strung on a gold necklace.

“My mother asked me to present this to you, as a token of her respect. My father gave it to her on the day they wed. It’s an Akoya pearl gathered from the oysters found off the shores of Japan.”

“Thank you,” Vivian whispered. “This is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me.”

“My mother requested that I convey that she hopes to welcome you to the Nakamura home.” He bowed again and walked away down the redstone path.

Vivian clutched the gift to her and stared at his retreating back.Four days.She should accept him tomorrow. It was time.

In her bedroom, a handwritten envelope lay on her pillow. Vivian’s heart leapt, thinking it was from Xavier, until she recognized the handwriting. Delilah. Why would her sister bother writing to her when she could just visit?

Vivian placed the pearl necklace carefully on her bedside table and opened the letter.

Viv,

Guess where I’ve gone?? You’re going to be so surprised! I’m on my way to the Catena dome. Can you guess who I’m with? I’ve fallen in love with Silas, and we’ve run away together. Isn’t that so romantic? The best part is there’s nothing that bitch Mitzi can do about it. I wish I could see her face when she finds out. I’m cracking up just thinking about it.

Love you!

Delilah

Vivian sat down abruptly on the bed. The rent on her parents’ new trailer was only paid for another week or two. Could Arcadia claw back the funds sent to Earth? Had her mother already gotten a dog?

The Intelligence must be aware that Delilah had gone with Silas. The two of them wouldn’t have been able to conceal their actions. Would her parents, having finally found a taste of freedom, be confined again?

No, she couldn’t allow it. She should chase after Ren and accept his offer immediately, before the taint of Delilah’s decision made Vivian undesirable and no one wanted her at all on Presentation Day. She could send more money to her parents in a matter of days and shield them from Delilah’s actions.

Vivian rose, pacing in her tiny room, the letter clutched in her hand.

What did Silas want with Delilah? She had a partner. She’d signed a contract. She waspregnant.

Silas had encouraged Xavier’s sister to carry a pregnancy to term when he must have known it would most likely kill her. Why?

And he’d tested out the idea of running away on Vivian, but she’d dismissed him. What had he said?We could start a life together somewhere else.Had he made a similar proposition to Delilah?

What did the Catena dome have to do with any of this?

She considered what she knew of Catena. A newly elected charismatic leader. A rocky relationship with Arcadia. A water shortage. A nebulous threat. There was no reason Vivian could fathom why Silas would take Delilah there.

If Vivian had told Delilah about Silas’s past, she wouldn’t have run off with him. If she hadn’t prioritized loyalty to Xavier’s secret, she would have taken her sister into her confidence. If she had not left them alone to go to the law library. If, if, if …

Xavier.