“Mary Margaret,” Uncle Bertram called, rapping on the door and stepping in slightly. He looked at Kelly and then stopped in the doorway, as if he didn’t want the lady-in-waiting to see him enter Meg’s room.“Yes, Uncle,” she called, standing, her eyes on the floor.“Your mother asked me to give you these.”She glanced up to see several envelopes in his hand. She could tell from across the room that none of them had even been opened.Kelly jumped up out of her seat and made her way across the room to retrieve them. “Thank you, sir,” she said as she took them from him.While Meg wanted to ask why they were never given to her in the first place and why it was okay for her to have them now, she didn’t do so. “Thank you, Uncle,” she said, dropping her eyes back to the floor.She watched as his heavy shoes turned, thankful that he was leaving. But a few steps out into th

New York CityWith high school nearly at an end, Charlie was glad to be back at home for one final weekend before his end of term exams. Then, he’d have the summer off before he attended Harvard in the fall. Though it had been a difficult decision for him to make, his father assured him that Harvard’s business program was one of the best in the country, and if he wouldn’t be attending his father’s alma mater, then Harvard was the next best thing.Walter would be attending New York City University, and Charlie was a bit concerned about not having any friends at his new school, though he did know of a few others from his school who would be attending. It wouldn’t be the same not having Walter around, but his mother had recently taken ill, and he wanted to stay close to home. Charlie had also considered NYCU but in the end, he just didn’t feel there were many schools in the same league as Harvard, and NYCU certainly didn’t meet th

Though she didn’t dance herself, Meg quite enjoyed watching the others spin around the room. Alise was asked to dance by her own father, which was a bit of a faux pas in some stricter rule books since she was so young, but Meg found it endearing. She was hopeful that some of these ridiculous rules would begin to change. After all, she should be able to get up and use the ladies’ room without having to wait on an escort. Watching her young friend spin around the dance floor with her loving father was both joyful and melancholy. How she longed to have the opportunity to dance with her own father once more.She watched her own mother dance as well, though she had no idea where her uncle might have gone off to. She assumed he would be getting his fill of the spirits and other alcoholic beverages Mrs. Edgebrook had on offer. There were not too many times in her life when she could actually remember being proud of her mother, but watching her twirl so gracefully around

SouthamptonMeg entered her room and noticed an envelope on the desk, something she hadn’t seen for several months, and was a bit surprised to see that Charlie had finally written her back. The last time he had corresponded he had seemed quite distant. He’d discussed his classes at Harvard and a few of his friends, but the letter was short and not very personal. She wondered if it was in response to the sort of letter she was forced to send him, but she couldn’t imagine what it might have been that had changed his tone.She picked the letter up and was about to open it when she heard footsteps behind her. Setting it back on the table, she found Kelly approaching her bed, the expression on her face quite serious. “What is it?” Meg asked, sitting down next to her.“I have something important to tell you, and I’m not quite sure how you’re going to react,” the redhead said with a heavy sigh.Meg was quite

Meg’s mother was nowhere to be found, but when she walked into the kitchen, she found Kelly there scrubbing a pot, and she couldn’t tell if the beads of liquid running down her face were tears or perspiration. She instantly felt awful for how she’d treated her friend.Noticing her entering the room, Kelly shouted over her shoulder, “Don’t worry. As soon as I finish this pot, I’m off to find a stocking.”Leaning on the counter next to her, Meg said, “I’m sorry, Kelly.” She ignored her, still concentrating on the pot, scrubbing so viciously, Meg thought she might tear a fingertip off. “I only said those things because… because I was afraid of losing you. That’s all.”“I already told you that will never happen,” Kelly replied, setting the pot back into the sink and turning to face her.“I know, but you can imagine, from my perspective, how worrisome that mi