The Goodbye Cousins

When Diotima "Di" Linzer's was eleven years old, her mom kidnapped her and took her to England making it almost impossible for her father to find her. Now a single mom with a two-year-old child, Di returns to the United States hoping to obtain some normality; something she feels she never had in England. In Pittsburgh, her engaged cousin Alecia and her fiancé Ben take in Di and her son into their apartment. Di obtains a position as a nanny to Gusty, a diabetic troubled teen whose wealthy father Augustus Catalano is divorcing his mother Mazie. On the estate, she meets the gardener, Dave after driving on his manicured lawn. To her fickle chagrin, she is attracted to her employer and her fellow employee; at the same time Alecia's relationship seems on the verge of collapse. The sequel to THE DIAGNOSIS OF LOVE (Ben's sister Holly's tale) is a terrific straightforward relationship drama. The two cousins have problems with commitments as each struggle in their own way with the men in their lives. With a nod to Neil Simon (and Herbert Ross), fans will enjoy the aptly titled THE GOODBYE COUSINS. Harriet Klausner