“Oh, thank you, Dad,” said Meg as she took the gold bracelet. “I’m so glad you found it. I don’t know what I would have done if I lost it for good.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” said Nick. “You better get that clasp looked at.”
“Where was it?” asked Meg, winding the bracelet around her wrist.
“Right out there on Belinda’s patio, where we were sitting last night. Actually, Meg, it was Caroline who found it.”
“Oh.” Meg busied herself with searching through papers at her desk.
“Come on, Meg,” said Nick. “Can’t you please give Caroline a break?”
Meg sighed. “Look, Dad, we’ve been through this before. If Caroline makes you happy, I’m glad. But I can’t help it. I’m nota fan.”
“You’ve never given her a chance. You were prepared to dislike her from the first time you met her.”
Meg didn’t argue with her father’s observation. She glanced at the radio alarm clock, suddenly eager to get away. “I’m sorry, Dad, but I have to get going. There’s some stuff I have to do at the theater. I have to stitch up a seam on the sleeve of one of Belinda’s gowns and then steam all of her dresses to make sure they look perfect tonight.”
“I hope Belinda’s there to wear them,” said Nick.
“What do you mean?”
Nick described what he and Caroline had witnessed at Curtains Up.
“Oh, no, Dad,” said Meg, her brow furrowed. “She’s been so nice to me. She kinda reminds me of Mom. She has to be all right.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, sweetheart,” said her father. “Belinda will turn up.”
Meg shivered involuntarily. “No offense, Dad, but you said there was a good chance Mom would get better, and look how that turned out.”