Chapter 7 - MARGARET TRIED TO SAVE HERSELFMargaret requested a private meeting.
Charlotte almost refused.
Then accepted with counsel present.
Margaret entered without her usual crowd.
She looked smaller.
“I’m sorry.”
Charlotte waited.
Margaret continued:
“I slapped you.”
“Yes.”
“I believed you were trying to embarrass me in front of people I wanted to impress.”
Charlotte nodded.
“That is true.”
“And I told reception to block your invitation because Victor described you as someone trying to create trouble.”
“Yes.”
“I should have verified.”
“Yes.”
Then Margaret hesitated.
“I also laughed before I knew who you were.”
Charlotte stared.
“You weren’t the only one.”
“No.”
Then:
“I think I believed being invited mattered more than being decent.”
There.
That was closer.
Charlotte asked:
“If the card had another name on it, would you be sorry?”
Margaret looked down.
“I hope so.”
Not perfect.
Honest.
Charlotte accepted the statement.
Not friendship.
May you like
Not forgiveness.
Information.
