Meghan ran up to her bedroom with the letter clutched in her hands, she sailed into her room and slammed her door shut behind her. Flinging herself onto her bed she ripped open the envelope. She was still depressed after Corey's unexpected departure, and the arrival of this letter from an old friend in Boston lifted her sagging spirits.

Diana Parker had been Meg's best friend from the time the two could walk, Diana's father was a colleague of Daniel's and the two girls were inseparable growing up. Meghan was anxious to read of any news about her old friends in Boston, or Boston Society, and she knew Diana would be full of gossip. As Meg began to read, her entire posture slumped. She couldn't believe her eyes. A soft knock sounded on her door followed by Serena's quiet voice asking to come in. Meg absently gave her consent as she read the letter again.

"So how are things in Boston?" Serena asked.

"Fine I guess." Meg answered dully.

Concerned at the spiritless tone in her stepdaughter's voice, Serena sat beside her on her bed. "What's wrong honey?"

"Diana's getting married."

"Well that's great news, isn't it?"

Meg sighed and sat up. "It's marvelous, wonderful, exciting news, and I'm very happy for her." She said sarcastically.

"So what's the problem Meg?" Serena knew that Meg was at a sensitive age, and that fact combined with the loss of her best friend in town put Meg on an emotional roller coaster. Serena wanted to help her stepdaughter through this difficult time.

"It's not the fact that Diana's getting married, it's the way she told me." Meg unfolded the letter, "Listen to this. Oh Meg, it seems we're all marrying and soon we'll all be mothers. Who knew that our little group would be so lucky? It seems that all of dreams are coming true." Meg looked up from the letter. Serena was staring at her questioningly.

"Don't you see Serena? When we were little girls, my friends and I used to sit around and talk for hours about what we wanted when we grew up. Diana and the rest of the girls all wanted to marry well and have lots of babies. But not me, I wanted to be a doctor, and now everyone's wishes are coming true. Everyone's but mine."

�

Serena enveloped Meg in a tight embrace. "Oh honey, you'll get your wish, I'm sure of it."

Meg pulled away slightly and shook her head. "No, you're wrong. Daddy will never let either of us become doctors. I might as well give up on that dream." Meg thought for a second before continuing. "Maybe I should just get married, then again I can't get a date to the town's dance so how will I ever nab a husband. I bet I'll end up a spinster living with my cats."

Serena tried but could not hold back the grin and chuckle that escaped. "Meg you are still a very young woman. You have plenty of time to 'nab a husband' as you've so eloquently put it."

"Easy for you to say, you're already married. If I'm not married by eighteen I might as well be eighty cause no man will want me. I'm past my prime as it is."

This time Serena didn't even try to hold back her laugh. "I think you missed your calling Meg." She said after she regained her composure.

Meg frowned at her, "What do you mean?"

"You belong on the stage, who knew you could be so melodramatic." Serena said as she pretended to faint.

Meghan couldn't help but smile, "I wasn't that bad, was I?" She asked as she poked Serena in her ribs.

Serena sat up and held Meghan's hands in hers. Looking into the younger girls eyes she said, "Meghan sweetie, everything will work out, you'll see. You just have to be patient." Serena then rose, and after placing a quick kiss to Meg's forehead she turned to leave the room. "Lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes." She called as she left.