Perspective: Olivia's Story - Poor Reception

Chapter 2 of 7, posted 07/24/2007

Olivia looked at her watch. It was just after noon, giving her almost six hours before dinner. The university was only a short drive from home so she decided to go have a look around. Even if she didn’t turn up anything, the campus was beautiful and she always felt closer to her mother there. As she pulled through the main gates, she thought how many times her mother had made that very drive during her years as a student and professor.

The university had played a role in all of Lillian Rowe’s adult life. She completed her undergraduate degree in Art there before taking a job teaching at the local high school. Just after Marcus was born, she finished her Master of Arts program and learned of an opening in their art department. Her relationship with the department chair eventually landed her the position and at the time of her death she had been with the department for just over a decade.

Olivia, however, hadn’t been back to campus in several years. As she realized she didn’t even know which building her mother’s department was now in, she began to wonder if this was such a good idea. After consulting a map posted outside the student center, she made her way to Newman Hall. The Department of Art & Design was located on the second floor and wasn’t at all what Olivia had imagined. The small office area was cramped and smelled of mildew and gloom. It definitely didn’t inspire her to be creative and she couldn’t imagine her mother spending much time here.

The receptionist was on the phone but acknowledged her with a smile as Olivia entered the lobby. Olivia studied the names on the mailboxes behind the desk as she waited, hoping one would sound familiar but none did. The woman put the phone down and turned her attention to Olivia. “Thanks for waiting. May I help you?”

Suddenly Olivia had no idea where to begin. This was a bad time to be coming up with a plan. “Umm, I hope so. My mother was a professor here and I was wondering if there was anyone still on staff that might’ve known her. Her name was Lillian Rowe.”

The receptionist’s sunny face turned cold at Olivia’s words. “That was over twenty five years ago, I doubt it.”

Olivia tried to approximate this woman’s age but she seemed too young to be a former colleague. “Did you know her?”

The woman seemed to be studying Olivia closely as she answered. “Her death was a big deal. Everyone talked about it forever. You must be Olivia.”

“That’s right. I was only three when she died. I was hoping maybe I could just talk to someone that worked with her back then.”

The woman sneered at her. “Listen, I don’t think there’s anyone here that is going to remember anything about your mother from that long ago. And, even if they did? Some things are best left alone. You may not like what you find out about your mommy dearest. Now, this is a place of business. It’s exam week and we’re way too busy to sit around reminiscing. You should probably leave now.”

Olivia was so stunned at the woman’s change in attitude, she decided not to push. She hadn’t even caught the receptionist’s name but her reaction was so severe Olivia felt scolded and a bit threatened. Coming here had been a mistake. All she could do now was go back home and see if her father had anything helpful to tell her.

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