When The Bough Breaks

So Olivia had finally left the public domain.

"Do you have that number?"

"One moment, sir."

"Thanks anyway." I hung up and consulted the Yellow Pages under Mental Health Services. The number belonged to an address on Broadway where Santa Monica approached Venice, not far from Robin's studio. I called it.

"S.M.P.M.G."

"Mrs. Olivia Brickerman, please."

"Who shall I say is calling?"

"Dr. Delaware."

"One moment." The line was silent. Apparently the utility of phone hold Muzak hadn't become apparent to S.M.P.M.G.

"Alex! How are you?"

"Fine, Olivia, and you?"

"Wonderful, wonderful. I thought you were somewhere in the Himalayas."

"Why's that?"

"Isn't that where people go when they want to find themselves - somewhere cold with no oxygen and a little old man with a beard sitting on top of a mountain munching on twigs and reading People magazine?"

"That was the sixties, Olivia. In the eighties you stay home and soak in hot water."

"Ha!"

"How's Al?"

"His usual extroverted self. He was hunched over the board when I left this morning, muttering something about the Pakistani defense or some such naarishkeit." Her husband, Albert D. Brickerman, was the chess editor for the Times. In the five years I'd known him I hadn't heard him utter a dozen words in a row. It was difficult to imagine what he and Olivia, Miss Sociability of 1930 through '80, had in common. But they'd been married thirty - seven years, had raised four children, and seemed content with each other.

"So you finally left D.P.S.S."

"Yes, can you believe it? Even barnacles can be dislodged!"

"What led to such an impulsive move?"

"I tell you, Alex, I would have stayed. Sure the system stank - what system doesn't? But I was used to it, like a wart. I like to think I was still doing a good job - though I tell you, the stories got sadder and longer. Such misery. And with cuts in funding the people would get less and less - and madder and madder. They took it out on the caseworkers. We had a girl stabbed in the downtown office. Now there're armed guards in every office. But what the hell, I was brought up in New York. Then my nephew, my sister's boy, Steve, he finished medical school and decided to become a psychiatrist - can you believe that, another mental health person in the family? His father's a surgeon and that was the safest way for him to rebel. Anyway, he's always been very close to me and it's been a running joke that when he goes into practice he was going to rescue Aunt Livvy from D.P.S.S. and take her into his office. And would you believe he took me up on it? Writes me a letter, tells me he's coming out to California and joining a group, and they need a social worker for intakes and short - term counseling, would I like to do it? So here I am, with a view of the beach, working for little Stevie - of course I don't call him that in front of other people."

"That's great, Olivia. You sound happy."

"I am. I go down to the beach for lunch, read a book, get tan. After twenty - two years I finally feel like I'm living in California. Maybe I'll take up roller skating, huh?"

The image of Olivia, who was built somewhat like Alfred Hitchcock, whizzing by on skates, made me laugh.

"Ah, you scoff now. Just wait!" She chuckled. "Now, enough autobiography. What can I do for you?"

"I need some information on a place called La Casa de los Ninos, in Malibu."

"McCaffrey's place? You thinking of sending someone there?"

"No. It's a long story."

"Listen, if it's that long why don't you give me a chance to dig in my files? Come over to the house tonight and I'll give it to you in person. I'll be baking and Albert will be meditating over the board. We haven't seen you in a long time."

"What are you baking?"

"Strudel, pirog is fudge brownies."

"I'll be over. What time?" "Eightish. You remember the place?"

"It hasn't been that long, Olivia."

"It's been twice as long. Listen, I don't want to be a yenta, but if you don't have a girlfriend there's a young lady - also a psychologist - who just came to work here. Very cute. The two of you would have brilliant children."

"Thanks, but I've got someone."

"Terrific. Bring her along."

The Brickermans lived on Hayworth, not far from the Fairfax district, in a small beige stucco house with Spanish tile roof. Olivia's mammoth Chrysler was parked in the driveway.

"What am I doing here, Alex?" Robin asked as we approached the front door.

"Do you like chess?"

"Don't know how to play."

"Don't worry about it. This is one house where you don't have to be concerned about what to say. You'll be lucky if you get a chance to talk. Eat brownies. Enjoy yourself."

I gave her a kiss and rang the doorbell.

Olivia answered it. She looked the same - maybe a few pounds heavier - her hair a hennaed frizz, her face rosy - cheeked and open. She was wearing a shift, a Hawaiian print, and ripples went through it as she laughed. She spread her hands and hugged me to a bosom the size and consistency of a small sofa.