(See first part for disclaimer, notes, spoilers, etc.)

Pt 4: "Break Point"

Olivia enters her house, clutching several different sized shopping bags.

"Oh, Mrs. Richards! Let me help you." Rose takes some of the bags from Olivia and sets them on the sofa.

"Thank you, Rose," Olivia says as she hands the rest of the bags. "Are Caitlin and Sean here?"

"No ma'am. They have both gone out for the evening. Would you like me to fix you something to eat?"

"No, no. I had a late lunch. But you go on home for the evening."

"Yes ma'am. Goodnight." Rose nods and heads back to the kitchen.

Olivia lowers herself into the sofa and exhales deeply. She steps out of her heeled sandals and props her feet on the coffee table. It felt good to confide in Bette, she thinks. It felt good to say it aloud…Gregory has another son. She rests her head on the back of the sofa and closes her eyes. You knew Gregory had an active social life before he met you…And, it's not as if he lied to you about Alex's son for all these years. He never knew…Then why is this so upsetting?

She opens her eyes and stares up at the vaulted ceiling. She twists her wedding rings and her forehead furrows in thought. It's because he was intimate enough with another woman to produce a child. It's because if he had known Alex was pregnant with his child, he would have married her…not you. He would have married HER…

Three sharp raps on the front door pull Olivia out of her thoughts. She stands up wearily and makes her way to the door, pulling it open quickly.

There is a sharp intake of breath before Olivia manages to ask, "Can I help you?"

"Hello, Mrs. Richards. Is Mr. Richards in?" Casey Mitchum asks.

Olivia stares in shock at Casey. Oh god, not now…Not when Gregory isn't here! She shakes her head "no" and leans against the door.

Casey looks at Olivia with concern evident on his face, "Are you feeling well?"

"F-Fine, thank you. Just feeling a little tired…Gregory left for a business trip this morning. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Perhaps. When I was here a few weeks ago with my mother, I spoke to Mr. Richards about the annual fundraiser for the pediatric wing of the hospital that the Lifeguard's Association sponsors. He said he'd like to make a donation. I can always come back anoth-."

"Oh!" Olivia interrupts. "Please, come in. I'll write you a check." She steps back and opens the door wider. "Have a seat on the sofa and I'll go get the checkbook from Gregory's office." She watches Casey sit down carefully on the sofa and then walks down the hall to Gregory's office.

When she returns a few minutes later, she finds Casey looking out the patio door. She clears her throat and he turns around, smiling at her.

"It must have been really nice to grow up in this house," he remarks as he looks back out at the beach.

Olivia pauses and looks over at Casey. "What do you mean?"

"Your house is right on the beach! My dad's condo was a few blocks inland and it was about a fifteen-minute walk to reach the sand. But here," Casey says as he turns around to face Olivia, "it's just a few feet away."

Olivia nods as she fills out the check and gently tears it away from the book. "Here you are."

Casey reaches over and does a double take at the amount. "Mrs. Richards…This is a very generous amount. Thank you."

"You're welcome. How much longer is your mother staying in town?" Olivia asks tentatively.

"A few more months, I hope. Well, I've got to be going…Thanks again. Oh no," he says as Olivia stands, "I can show myself out. Goodbye."

"Goodbye," she says softly as Casey closes the door gently behind him. "Goodbye." She gets up and walks down the hall to Gregory's office. She tosses the checkbook onto the desk and sits down in Gregory's oversized leather chair. She brushes some hair out of her eyes and reaches over to answer the ringing phone.

"Hello?…Oh, hello darling," she answers with a smile. "How is San Francisco?…Good, and your meetings?…Does it mean you'll be coming home early?…Oh…No, I'm not disappointed…I went shopping with Bette and, um, Casey Mitchum stopped by…Nothing happened. I just wrote him a check that you promised him for a fundraiser…Yes, that's all…He didn't say anything else. Was he supposed to say something more?…Alright, go to your dinner…I love you. See you in a few days…Bye darling."

She gently places the phone back into the cradle and stares at a picture of herself and Gregory on his desk. We're happy. Why now? This can't continue, she thinks. Gregory and I NEED to talk about this. What the hell is he waiting for?

Olivia stands up and walks slowly out of the office and back to the living room. She turns around in a small circle. The house is deathly quiet and for the first time since Sean's accident, Olivia feels unsure of herself. She feels like the old Olivia: depressed and insecure…and she doesn't like it.

It can all go away, a voice hisses from the dark recess of her head. One vodka tonic and it'll all go away….All these bad feelings, all these insecurities…You'll feel better if you do.

Olivia puts her hands over her ears and closes her eyes. "Stop it…Go away," she whispers.

I can't, the voice whispers evilly, because I'm a part of you. I'll never be gone…not ever. I controlled you for many years…and I will again.

"No," Olivia says with a small sob.

Yes…yes…You can be at a bar in five minutes. Your car keys and purse are right over there. Go, go get them. You can't deny who you really are. You're a drunk who needs liquor to survive the way other people need oxygen.

Olivia's hands falls down to her side in defeat as she walks unsteadily to the coffee table. She gathers her purse and tucks it under her arm before going to the garage….

Olivia walks into the room that is quiet, save for the low murmur of people already present. The lights are dim and the air is smoky as several cigarette smokers exhale. She sits down in one of the empty chairs and leaves her purse demurely in her lap. She looks down and waits for the inevitable.

A lull in conversation gets her attention and she looks up. Ice cubes clink as they hit the sides of the glass…liquid laps gently over the cubes. A lighter clicks as another smoker puts a cigarette in his mouth.

Olivia takes a deep breath and looks around at the others present. She twists her engagement ring as she says quietly, "My name is Olivia…and I'm an alcoholic."

"Hello, Olivia," several voices dryly respond.