Olivia (Logan 5)

I could read it like the front page of a newspaper. The headlines were in his eyes and on his brow. "She's gone, isn't she? Where did she go?" I followed before he could even attempt to deny it.

"Out with some old friends," he confessed.

"Tonight? She buried her father this afternoon and she went out to party with some of her friends tonight? Why did you let her go?" I demanded.

He shook his head.

"I don't think I could have stopped her, Olivia. She doesn't listen to me," he explained.

"Well, why didn't you come up to tell me she was planning on leaving?"

"I didn't want you disturbed any more than you are," he said. "You're only ten days from your due date."

"She has no respect for her own family. She doesn't have the smallest concern about what people here will think of us."

"Maybe shell just have a quiet dinner and come home early," Samuel suggested. I stared at him and the optimism leaked out of his face, turning his hopeful smile to a grimace of despair. "Do you want me to try to find her?"

"Of course not. How would that look and besides, she wouldn't come back with you." I thought a moment. "This confirms what I was thinking I should do," I muttered.

"What?"

"Never mind now." I swung my feet over the bed. "What are you doing? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go through some documents, family documents," I said. "I have everything in the den."

"Just tell me what you want and I'll go get it and bring it up to you, Olivia."

"You don't know where it is and it would take too long to explain.I'll be all right," I snapped. "Hand me my robe. Please do as I ask, Samuel," I said when he hesitated. "I won't sleep if I don't do this now."

Reluctantly, he got me my robe and slippers and escorted me down to the den. I sat at my desk and opened the top drawer, taking out the key to my wall safe. He stood by watching my every move.

"You can leave me now, Samuel. I don't need anyone hovering over me. I'm fine."

"I could help you."

"There's nothing for you to do. Watch television, read, relax," I said. It came out more like an order. He stared a moment.

"All right," he said, flashing me a tired look and a weak smile. "As long as you're fine," he added and then left.

Soon after Daddy had had his stroke, I had gone to his files and removed his personal documents. I took his will and his titles and deeds, all of his estate materials home and put them in my own safe. I had planned to read it all with Belinda present, but now I thought it would be better if I looked at everything first and decided on my own what would and would not be done.

Daddy had left half of his estate to her and half to me, but he had placed a great deal in trust to be kept for our children. It was a considerable estate. Belinda would have more than she needed and too much to waste. The only stipulation that gave me any promise and hope was the clause providing that in the event either she or I became mentally or physically incapacitated, the other would become the sole executor of the entire estate. Daddy had some foresight there, I thought.

Belinda had no idea where any of the trust funds we

re kept, nor did she have the slightest inkling as to how much we had. Money and property details were always boring to her. She simply wanted to have whatever she wanted when she wanted it. That was all that concerned her. I sorted everything out and planned out what actions I would take during the next few days.

Belinda didn't return until very early in the morning. I had gone back to bed and fallen asleep, which was a blessing, for if I had been awake to hear her stumble around in her drunken state, I would have gone into a rage. She didn't get up until late in the morning. I had brought everything up to my room and had it organized. I told Samuel to bring her to me as soon as she had had some breakfast. She wanted only black coffee and came upstairs in her nightgown, groaning, her hair wild, her eyes drooping.

"You look like a shipwreck, Belinda. Where did you go?"

"Just out with some friends who were feeling sorry for me," she replied. "I guess I had too much to drink, but couldn't help it. I was feeling so miserable and everyone kept buying me a drink." She paused and looked at me as if just remembering I, too, had lost a father. "How are you?"

"Fine," I said sharply. "Sit."

"What do you want so early? I just want to rest today," she moaned, her eyes suddenly full of panic. "I don't want to be bawled out or hear any lectures."

"Just take a seat, Belinda," I said firmly and glared at her until she took the seat to my left. Samuel stood with his hands behind his back, rocking on his heels.