Absolutely, Positively

curiosity.”

    “To be honest,” Olivia said, “it became clear very quickly that Harry had a serious emotional disorder which had to be dealt with therapeutically before he would be able to form a healthy, normal relationship with a woman.”

    “Hmm.”

    “I tried,” Olivia said, grimly earnest. “Lord knows I tried. He wouldn't talk to me. He refused counseling or therapy. I told him there was medication now that could help him. He wouldn't even speak to a doctor about it. And then…”

    “Then, what?”

    “Well, he began to make me nervous, if you want to know the truth.”

    “Why?”

    Olivia gazed out into the night. “I had the feeling that he wanted something from me, something I could not even begin to give to him. I didn't know what it was that he seemed to need. I just knew I couldn't supply it.”

    “What did you want from him?” Molly asked.

    Olivia shot her a swift, searching glance. “A healthy, well-balanced, mutually satisfying relationship, of course. A marriage based on respect and trust and compatibility.”

    “And you didn't think you could find that with Harry?”

    “It was impossible. Harry…” Olivia struggled for the right words. “Harry seemed so restrained at first. But toward the end of our engagement he became stranger. He started tooverwhelm me.”

    “Overwhelm you?”

    “It's difficult to explain. I never really understood it, myself. I had never encountered his particular symptoms in my clinical practice, and I had never studied such a syndrome when I was in school. I'm sure his odd behavior is the result of a posttraumatic stress disorder, but it was not clear what was going on. I became very frightened. I knew that I had to get out of the relationship.”

    “And Brandon was there, waiting to rescue you?”

    Anger flashed in Olivia's eyes. “He didn't rescue me. I rescued myself.”

    “Sorry.”

    “Brandon and I had come to know each other during the weeks I was engaged to Harry. I admit that there was a strong attraction between us from the start. We both knew it and tried to ignore it. But Brandon realized that I was becoming increasingly anxious about Harry's bouts of depression and his…his intensity.”

    “You talked to Brandon about Harry's behavior?”

    Olivia nodded. “I could talk to Brandon in a way that I could never talk to Harry. It was such a relief.”

    Molly leaned forward. “Olivia, it's all right. Don't torture yourself any longer with guilt.”

    “I don't feel any guilt in the matter,” Olivia flared. Tears glittered suddenly in her eyes. “Guilt is a paralyzing, destructive emotion. I have no reason to feel guilty.”

    “No reason at all,” Molly soothed. “You and Harry were never meant to be a couple. Trust me on this. I'm absolutely, positively certain of it.”

    “What makes you say that?” Olivia demanded.

    “Harry connects emotionally in ways that you will never be able to explain with any fancy psychological theory. You will never truly understand him. As I keep telling you, he's different.”

    Olivia's teacup rattled in its saucer. “I tried to help him.”

    “I know.”

    “I did everything I could to get him into therapy.” Olivia grabbed her purse, reached inside, and snatched a tissue. She blotted her eyes. “Oh, God, you can't possibly understand. It was like watching my father all over again.”

    “Oh, dear,” Molly whispered.

    Olivia did not appear to have heard her. She dabbed at more tears. “My father suffered from bouts of depression. They got worse as time went on. Mother tried to get him to see a doctor. So did I. But he refused. One day he went into the woods with a gun. He never came back.”

    Molly put down her teacup and rose from the sofa in a single movement. She went to Olivia and hugged her tightly. Olivia did not resist the offer. Instead, she turned her face into Molly's shoulder and began to sob.

    Molly patted her gently. “Olivia, you're an expert. Surely you don't need me to tell you that you weren't responsible for your father's suicide.”

    “No. Lord knows, I've had enough therapy in the course of my training to deal with that.” Olivia's tears began to subside.

    “And you probably don't need me to remind you that Harry is not your father. You don't have to worry about saving him. He's not your problem.”

    Olivia sniffed once or twice and then raised her head. She managed a tremulous smile. “You know something? I think you missed your calling.