11
The New Excelsior
I wake up with a start. Daylight. Kate never opens the drapes. I’m always up before her. I sit up and look around. It’s all unfamiliar. Clara moves towards me from out of the shadow by the windows. Clara?
She comes over and sits on my bed. Takes hold of my hand. “I didn’t want to wake you before, Meredith, but it’s eleven o’clock now. We have a lot to talk about.”
I pull my hand away. I’ve remembered.
Clara flinches. Good. Serves her right. She shouldn’t have blackmailed me.
She reaches for my hand again. “Don’t be like that, darling. I only did what was best for you. You will see that one day and thank me. Wait and see.”
I tense up and scoot back up against the bed head. I don’t want her touching me. She took advantage of my love for Sukey. It was unfair.
“Mer
