Olivia (Logan 5)

"I'm not talking about the baby, Nelson. I'm talking about my work, my business, my social obligations. The baby is not a problem. Belinda is a problem."

"Do you want me to recommend a good doctor?"

"I want you to do more," I said. "You're a judge now. I want you to sign a commitment order. She needs to be institutionalized."

"What? You're joking. Institutionalized?"

"She needs serious mental treatment. She always has. This is just the last straw. My parents never wanted to admit it to themselves, but Belinda has always been unstable. Now she's practically a lunatic."

"But you haven't even had her properly diagnosed, Olivia," he protested.

"I don't expect any other conclusion anyway, Nelson. I want you to help me with this, make it smooth. There's a clinic nearby. She'll be comfortable there; only there's a waiting list a mile long. I need you to use your political influence to get her in next week."

"Next week!"

"Do what has to be done and call me with results," I said.

"I won't do it," he said defiantly.

I smiled at him.

"Won't you? You're going to shirk your responsibility?"

"I'm not shirking anything, but . . ."

"You know why she's this way, who did it to her. You didn't just impregnate my sister and produce an illegitimate child; you've caused a terrible mental problem. I should just give up and let everyone know everything," I declared. "I'm sick of covering for everyone's weaknesses."

I returned to my desk chair and stared down at the desk.

"Olivia, are you sure about this?" he asked softly.

"It's the best thing for her and for us right now," I said. "It's not easy to do the right thing, Nelson, but I've always been able to do it anyway."

"Always?"

"Yes," I said meeting his gaze. "Are you going to take care of it for me?"

"It might damage her even more severely, Olivia."

"You mean more than she has been damaged, Nelson?" I asked pointedly. He tried to hold my gaze and then he lowered his eyes and nodded.

"All right," he said softly. "I'll take care of it."

"It's better for everyone, even her," I said. "You'll see."

He stood and held a small smile on his lips as he gazed at me.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I was just thinking, what was it they called you in school, Miss Cold?"

"Yes, and Belinda was Miss Hot. Which one of us was better off?" I challenged.

"That's something you'll have to answer for yourself," he said and left to do what I wanted.

Epilogue

.