‘Why are you saying that now?’ she almost squeaked. ‘You think I don’t feel guilty enough about Mum and Dad paying out for a wedding that never happened? I’m paying them back each month! And you think I would have chosen to be left standing there like an idiot? You think that was a picnic for me? And yes, I went away, left everything and everyone I love. I couldn’t stand to be the girl everyone was talking about, whispering about, pointing at and feeling sorry for! The new Lizzie Lick! Having to walk past the house I nearly lived in and seeing the man I nearly married! Can you imagine? And yes, I live in a castle, but it’s just any other hotel. I don’t lie around while people bring me grapes – I work hard, bloody hard! I fall into bed at night so tired—’

‘Yeah, we know how hard you’ve had it,’ Ruby tutted. ‘Mum couldn’t exactly go back to cleaning for old Ma Mortimer, could she? Not after that, and so she lost a big chunk of her monthly money and things have been tight. Really tight. And you might not have been able to stand people whispering about you, pointing at you, but do you think that stopped because you weren’t here? Did it fuckery! It’s always about poor Merry.’ She swallowed. ‘You created havoc and then swanned off into the sunset!’

‘I did not!’

‘You did, though!’ Ruby shouted. ‘You did! And people still whisper, Merrin. Our name is gossiped about, something funny or to be pitied, and what do you think that does to a man like Dad? A proud Port Charles man?’

Merrin felt her chest cave with sadness and guilt at the fact that this might be harming her dad, but equally that her worst fears were again confirmed.

Ruby wasn’t done. ‘Life has been shit here, while you wake up to peacocks! But it’s bloody typical of you, like when you first met Digby and you all but dropped me and Bells.’

‘I have never dropped you and Bells!’

‘Yes, you did; you only wanted to be with him and now you’ve buggered off to Thornbury! I’ve been so bloody lonely. Thank God for Bella and Jarvis!’

‘So what are you saying? That I’m not part of the gang because I fell in love with someone who shat on me from a great height and I had to move away? Instead of staying there and going completely mad?’

‘No, that’s not what I’m saying!’ Ruby fired.

‘Well, it bloody feels like it!’ Merrin hated the catch to her voice.

There was a beat or two of silence while the girls regrouped.

‘I think Gran deserves better,’ Ruby said finally. ‘I think we all do.’

‘That’s a low blow! I loved Gran and she knew it! Go to hell, Ruby!’ Merrin sobbed.