Page 89 of No More Words

“How can I help you, Ms.Carson?”

“I’d like to report my sister as missing.”

“Name, please.”

“Jenna Mason.”

CHAPTER 32

Olivia walks across her parents’ deck. The wind coming off the bay stings her cheeks, and the water is choppy. She can hear waves hit their dock. The eucalyptus trees rustle, the leaves sounding like rain. There isn’t a cloud in sight.

Charlotte sits alone, bundled in a thick floral blanket Olivia recognizes as the throw from the end of Lily’s bed. It’s been years since she’s seen it, and it’s strange seeing it wrapped around her mother.

Olivia grabs a chair as she passes the patio table and sits beside Charlotte, checking her phone once more. Nothing yet from Lucas. She hasn’t been able to reach Dwight either and she’s been trying them both since early this morning. She wants answers. What happened to Lily? Where is she? What did he do to her? But Dwight’s car isn’t in the drive. Neither is Lucas’s truck. Both should have been home by now.

“I was wondering when you’d come by.”

There’s a catch in Charlotte’s voice. Olivia studies her mom. Her cheeks are a deep red from the cold, blotchy from the wind. She pulls the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

Olivia shivers. She should have worn a thicker sweater. She didn’t expect her mom to be sitting outside. The wind always kept Charlotte in the house. But her mom didn’t answer the door when Olivia rang, so she thought to check the back, worried something might be wrong, only to find her here.

“Where’s Dad? I thought he’d be home by now.”

“He’s not coming home.” Olivia breathes through the panic pinching inside her rib cage.

“Did he decide to stay longer?” He’d told her two days. That put his arrival as yesterday. What’s the holdup? Did the conference go on for another day? Did he decide to visit a client?

Charlotte crumples a soiled tissue. She dabs the inner corner of her eye. Olivia leans forward to get a better look at her mom. The thin skin underneath her eyes glistens.

“Are you crying?”

Charlotte tsks. “For Pete’s sake, Olivia, must you point it out?” She quickly dries her face with trembling fingers. Concerned, Olivia reaches for her hand. Charlotte recoils. “Why are you here? Is it because of Josh?”

“Yes. But—” She stalls as a thought occurs and she rests a hand on Charlotte’s lap. “Is Dad with someone?” Have her mom’s suspicions been right all along? Did Dwight stay because he’s having an affair?

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Charlotte tears at the tissue, keeping her fingers busy.

“Is he with Lily?”

Charlotte’s breath flutters like bird wings. She shakes her head.

Olivia presses on. “I found Lily’s house in Oceanside. She wasn’t there. I spoke with a neighbor. Lily changed her name to Jenna. Jenna Mason. I think it’s pretty.”

Charlotte doesn’t react. She doesn’t even blink.

“Why do I get the feeling you knew that already?” Olivia whispers. “You knew Dad visited her, didn’t you?”

Charlotte plays with her fingers. She tugs at a cuticle. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Mom—”

Charlotte throws off the blanket, standing abruptly. “I’m going to open a bottle of wine. Do you want some?” She traverses the deck.

Olivia slowly stands, gawking at her mother.

“Get the glasses, will you?” Charlotte retreats into the house.

Olivia rubs her temples, feeling the early signs of a tension headache, and follows her mom into the house. Instead of retrieving the glasses, she trails her to the cellar, fed up with Charlotte’s deliberate avoidance.

---