Page 97 of The Red Woman on Mars

Gone. Just like that.

On the sidewalk outside the clinic, she paused. Her next shift at the water treatment plant wasn’t for two days. In her cozy apartment, her mini coffee maker and pre-law reading list waited. Her new life, the one she had built for herself, beckoned.

But something was missing.

Vivian walked slowly to the station. She thought about the first time she’d realized how desperately she wanted more out of life, lying in the field of thyme. The strength in her limbs when she held the greatsword. The power she’d felt standing in front of the Council, knowing she was making a compelling argument. The way Xavier had looked at her with pride and sorrow before he’d walked away on Presentation Day.

He’d told her she was free. And she was. Free, finally, to make her own decisions.

Vivian turned away from the route back to the university district and mounted the platform on the opposite side of the train tracks.

The first part of the route, Vivian now knew by heart. She got off in the industrial district and transferred lines without getting lost. When she stepped off the train at Dorsey Station, she stood for a long moment at the end of the road.

The cubed black-and rust-colored house was unchanged.

But she was different.

Vivian walked down the road with her head held high, her pulse jumping at her throat.

The housekeeper opened the door with a welcoming smile. “Miss Bowen, what a pleasure to see you again.”

And there he was. Descending the floating stairs.

The most infuriating man she had ever met.

The man who had inspired her to want more. Tobemore.

Now that she was in front of him, she found she did not know what to say. His black hair was longer. She wanted to reach both hands up to touch his head and find out how it felt. She wanted to grab him by his untucked dress shirt and pull him to her. But she remained frozen, just inside the door.

Xavier paused at the bottom of the stairs. “Vivian, are you well?”

Vivian swallowed a sudden lump in her throat and nodded.

He remained silent and still, as if afraid any movement on his part would frighten her away. Vivian twisted her hands in front of her. He hadn’t even invited her into the parlor or offered her a refreshment. Did he wish she’d stayed away? She shouldn’t have come.

“I saw there was a service for your aunt,” Vivian offered into the silence.

“Indeed. A grandiose affair. She would have been disgusted by the expense, but it was what Arcadia needed, after experiencing such violence.” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “What I needed, after committing such violence.”

Vivian thought of what he’d looked like the last time they’d been together. Drenched in blood, face heavy with grief. She shivered. “And August? Is he settling in?”

“He has ably led the Council through turbulent times these past weeks. There’s even some talk of supporting him permanently for the role.” After a short pause, Xavier said, “Caspian tells me your sister is well.”

“Very well. Filling Hayes House with paintings.”

“And you?” His hand gripped the railing so hard his knuckles turned pink.

“Fine.” She cleared her throat. “Well.”

“I like the coveralls. They suit you.”

Vivian looked down at her outfit in dismay. What had possessed her to come here in her work uniform? She’d taken to wearing the comfortable coveralls on her days off since she couldn’t afford yet to purchase a full new wardrobe.

Should she have changed into the attire he would expect from her? No. She wasn’t coming to him as a Red Mother. She was here as the woman she’d become. The woman she wanted to be.

“I have all my dresses lined up in my apartment closet.” Vivian picked at her khaki pants. “But I haven’t had the occasion to wear them since I’ve started working at the water treatment plant. Perhaps when the school year starts. I’ve been warned I’ll be the only Earther in the classes, and I know I’ll need to maintain appearances to earn respect.”

Xavier’s eyes crinkled. “Apartment? Job? And school? You’ve wasted no time.”