good, Olivia. It's spreading, raging through me. I can
almost feel it oozing through my bones," she said with
another small laugh, more maddening.
"Daddy never said . ."
"Don't pretend you didn't know I wasn't getting
better, Olivia. You're not good at telling little white
lies because you can't tolerate any falseness or
dishonesty, no matter what the purpose. The ends
never justify the means for you, my daughter. I am not
silly enough to go to my Maker thinking He can
tolerate any dishonesty either. This is- a day I've
dreamed about, a day I've dreaded, and not because
it's a day when I have to face my own demise. It's a
day when all my make-believe gets swept out the
door, when the winds of truth come rushing through
and wash out the pretend, the facades, the masks.
There's nothing left now but honesty."
"Please don't do this to yourself, Mother. We'll
get another doctor. We'll . ."
She held up her hand, weakly.
"I'm not as upset about it as I thought I might
be. When you live a life that's essentially built on lies, you think you are going to panic when that false foundation crumbles, but do you know what, Olivia? I feel a sense of relief. I feel . . . strangely enough, stronger because of it. You were right about facing
reality and how that makes you a stronger person." "I'm not making head nor tail of what you're
saying, Mother. I'm going to have my own discussion
with Doctor Covington and your other doctors and . .
."
"This doesn't concern him or them," she said.
"It concerns you and me, Olivia. You and me first,
and then your father," she added.
She closed her eyes again and was silent so