Olivia (Logan 5)

"All I'm saying is keep in mind you two are going to be married soon. You have a life to build together and you don't want to go and spoil things now," Daddy advised.

"It's Carson who's spoiling things," she insisted.

I couldn't contain a small smile, but I pressed my lips together so Daddy wouldn't see. Belinda could be pigheaded when she let her pride and her arrogance become her lead horses. In that respect she wasn't unlike many people I knew, even Daddy.

Belinda went to the bathroom to check her makeup. A little while later, Carson was at the door; however, Belinda did not permit him to enter. She greeted him herself and went outside with him, ordering him to drive off immediately.

I went into the den to discuss the work I had done for Daddy that day. He seemed distracted and went up to check on Mother. When he returned, he told me she was asleep, but groaning.

"I don't like it," he said shaking his head. "She has no

fever. It's not a stomach flu."

"Don't be the doctor, Daddy. Get her to one in the morning."

"Yes," he said. "You're right, Olivia. You're always right when it comes to doing the sensible things. I wish Belinda had one-tenth of your good sense," he said, "but I'm afraid she was born without any."

Nearly a half hour later, the front door slammed and we both looked up with surprise and anticipation. Then we heard Belinda charge up the stairs.

"What's that all about?"

"I don't know," I said. "I'll find out."

"Come right back and tell me everything she tells you," he said.

I nodded and followed Belinda up the stairs to her room. She had her door closed. I knocked softly and opened it to find her sprawled on her stomach, her head hanging over the side of the bed. She wasn't crying as much as she was fuming.

"What happened?" I asked.

She turned and I saw her face was a shade darker than pink, her lips a bit white in the corners. Her eyes were burning with rage.

"He says that he can't marry me now. He says he spent the whole day thinking about it and he had a discussion with his parents about it and they agree. That's where he was all day, talking to his mother and father instead of talking to me. He wants me to tell Daddy that he'll pay for any expenses we might have incurred up to now. I threw my engagement ring out the window of the car."

"You what?"

"1 just opened the window and tossed it out as we were driving. That's where we've been most of the time. He was out there on the road with his flashlight combing the brush and dirt. He didn't find it," she said with satisfaction. "He said he'll be back there in the morning. I hope he spends the rest of his life looking.

"How could you throw away a ring worth thousands of dollars!' he screamed. I laughed in his face. I said, 'How can you throw away a woman like me just because you heard some rumors and believe some stories?' You would have been proud of me, Olivia. I told him he was a wimpy, wet noodle, a mama's boy and that the only way he would ever get into bed with a woman was if he went to some dark neighborhood and paid a prostitute and then she might reject him anyway,

"You were right. He doesn't really love me, not if he can do this to me. I told him he still owed me a shopping spree and a dinner in Boston and I would send him that bill, too."

"So the wedding is off," I said nodding.

"Daddy's going to be mad about the business, but I couldn't help it, Olivia."

"I'll explain it to him," I said.

"Would you, please? Thank you, Olivia. I'm so lucky to have you as my big sister. You are wise. Thank you for your good advice, too," she said. "Well," she continued almost without a beat, "I guess I should call some of my friends and let them know I'm a free agent again, huh? Can't let moss grow under my feet," she said and went to the phone.

I watched her for a moment before leaving to go down to Daddy. Other women might be

heartbroken and cry all night, but Belinda behaved as though she had simply lost a high-school date.

Daddy looked up from his desk as soon as I appeared in the doorway.

"Well?" he said before I had completely entered the den.

"Carson broke off their engagement. The wedding is off, Daddy."