Page 30 (1/2)

It sounds like a question, but the way he speaks reminds me of my earlier conversation with Oz Eli wants to create the illusion that I have a choice, but everything has already been decided Even if I stomped my foot and deive in "Okay"

He smiles and it’s a brilliant smile It’s that darn one that he flashes whenever he sees me and it’s the one I hate because it causes me to s and repeats my answer "Okay"

Oz

A SOFT LIGHT fills the room thanks to Olivia’s prized Tiffany lamp on her bedside table As a child, I used to be et htmares Too bad I can’t lose myself in that lamp now and block out Olivia’s cancer

The only air-conditioning unit in the house is wedged in theof her room, but it hasn’t been turned on since last summer Her treatments make her cold

Olivia lies in the bed wrapped in a corab the blanket at the end of the bed and spread it over her She rolls her head against the pillow to study me The black circles under her eyes rese, not worrying about the prodigal child

"Tellon," she de here thiswith her parents later this afternoon"

"I want soover so for your opinion," she cuts me off "Last I checked this is still my house and I’m still alive"

I plop into the chair beside the bed, stretch out ?"

"You don’t wear s well" Olivia picks up the picture, opens her Bible on her nightstand and slips it inside it "It doesn’t ith cocky bastard"

"Nice to know you care, but on the serious side, Mo me why?"

"Did Eli see it?" she presses