Olivia (Logan 5)

"He didn't mention it," I muttered to myself.

"He didn't even ask. It was as if he knew that love was

something I believed grew between two people. Those

who claimed they were struck by lightning and heard

bells ringing every time they kissed were people

living in a fairy tale, putting themselves into romance

novels and films. In the end when reality set in, they were the most disappointed. The best marriages were ones like the one I was about to consent to: a marriage built on sensible, logical blocks, giving it a firm foundation. Love would come later, I thought. First, we had to respect each other and succeed together. Then, we would look into each other's eyes and say, "Yes, yes, there's another strong bond there, an emotional tie that is now strong enough to hold two independent people together securely. Now it's proper and right to say, 'I love you,' and have it mean

something."

I climbed the stairs and went to Mother's room.

She was dozing. Her nurse looked up at me. "I'll stay with her awhile," I said.

"Very good." She rose. "I'll just go down to

have some coffee," she said looking at Mother. She

shook her head, her eyes dark. "Call me if you need

me," she said before leaving.

I sat by the bed and studied Mother's small,

burdened breaths that made her chest look heavy. Her

bald head ravished by the chemotherapy was wrapped

in a silk scarf. Her skin was so pasty white, she looked

like she had no blood.

After a few more moments, she whimpered and

grimaced and then opened her eyes to see me sitting

there. "Oh, Olivia, dear. Have you been here long?" "No, just a few minutes, Mother. I came to tell

you something so you would be the first to know," I

said, despite the fact that Daddy had been in on

Samuel's plan, perhaps even before Samuel had

thought of it himself.

"What, dear?" she asked trying to turn toward

me. I fluffed her pillow and helped her sit up. Even

though my hand moved around her face like a

hummingbird, she didn't notice the ring. It was as if