Meghan Webster Character Analysis in Never Say Never

Overview

Meghan Webster is the twenty-two-year-old daughter of Oona and Charles Webster in Danielle Steel's Never Say Never. She is described as having dark auburn hair and brown eyes, a more reserved personality than her mother's, yet she speaks her mind forcefully when moved. Meghan is an advocate for the underprivileged, having interned with foundations involved with indigent populations globally. Her professional aspirations lead her to take a job at a refugee camp in Kenya shortly after her family's world is shattered by her father's revelation. Meghan's journey in the novel is one of processing betrayal, redefining family loyalty, and committing to a path of service that aligns with her values.

Plot Role

Meghan enters the story as a supportive but observant daughter. On Thanksgiving in Chapter 1, she and her brother Will are visiting home; she teases Will about his new girlfriend and seems close to her mother. After Christmas, when Charles confesses he is gay and plans to move to Argentina with Roberto, Meghan becomes the most openly furious family member. She confronts her father directly, calling his decision "disgusting" and accusing him of caring only about himself. Throughout the following weeks, Meghan acts as a protector of her mother, encouraging Oona to prioritize her own healing even as Meghan herself prepares to leave the country. She participates in the family trip to France in February, using it as a final bonding moment before she departs for Africa. After that, her primary role becomes symbolic: she represents the next generation's capacity to turn personal pain into purposeful action.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Meghan is driven by a strong ethical compass and an innate sense of justice. When her father announces his departure, she does not attack his sexuality—she explicitly says she can live with him being gay—but rather his selfishness in abandoning the family without regard for their feelings. She notes that he is "doing exactly what he wants to do" and refuses to soften her stance. This directness shows courage and moral clarity.

Her decision to work in a refugee camp in Kenya was already in motion before the family crisis, but the events at home deepen her resolve. In France, she jokes with her mother that "you're going to ruin me for life in a refugee camp," indicating she expects hardship but is committed. She also demonstrates empathy: despite initial skepticism about Will's girlfriend Heather, Meghan admits she likes her more than expected. She is able to set aside her protective instincts when she sees that Heather is genuinely kind and supportive of Will.

Meghan's anger is not merely reactive; it becomes a catalyst for her own independence. She does not wallow but instead redirects her energy toward a vocation that matters to her.

Chronological Arc

• Thanksgiving (Chapter 1): Meghan is home, relaxed, and happy. She learns nothing yet about her father's secret.
• December 26 (Chapter 2): Charles tells the children he is gay and leaving. Meghan reacts with fury, calling his actions "shitty." She refuses to meet Roberto.
• Between Christmas and France: Meghan spends time in New York supporting her mother, while also finalizing her plans for Kenya.
• February in France (Chapter 3): Meghan arrives first at the rented château. She bonds with her mother, goes riding with Will and Heather, and explores local markets. She treasures this time as "the first one without their father."
• After France: Meghan leaves for the refugee camp in Kenya. The novel does not depict her time there, but her departure marks a clean break from the old family structure.
• Christmas on a yacht (Chapter 14): Meghan is present, along with Will and Heather, when Ashley surprises Oona by bringing the family together. By then, Meghan has presumably completed her service or taken a break. She witnesses her mother's new relationship with Ashley and the family's healing.

Relationships

With Oona (mother): Meghan is fiercely protective. She resents the unfairness that her mother returns to an empty apartment while Charles "plays around in Argentina." She repeatedly tells her mother she is "furious" on her behalf. Yet she also respects Oona's strength and is willing to be vulnerable, admitting she likes Heather when Oona approves.

With Charles (father): Initially adoring? Not shown in evidence; rather, the revelation causes a complete rupture. Meghan judges him harshly, particularly for leaving New York. She refuses to meet Roberto and expresses no interest in reconciling.

With Will (brother): Their bond is warm and teasing. Meghan is attuned to his emotions, noting that their father's news hit Will harder. She supports his relationship with Heather and is glad to see him happy.

With Heather: Meghan initially assumed she would dislike Will's girlfriend, but after meeting her in France, she admits she was wrong. She appreciates Heather's nurturing side.

With Ashley (Oona's new partner): No direct interaction is shown in evidence, but Meghan's presence on the yacht at Christmas implies acceptance of her mother's new life.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Theme and Symbol Connections

Betrayal and Trust: Meghan embodies the theme of betrayal through her reaction to Charles. Her fury is not about his sexuality but about his breach of trust as a parent. She originally saw her father as a role model; his departure destroys that trust.

Self-Discovery and Resilience: Meghan's journey to Africa symbolizes a search for meaning independent of her family's drama. She refuses to let her father's choices derail her own life plans. Her resilience is quieter than Oona's but equally determined.

Pandemic and Isolation: Although not depicted on the page, Meghan's work at a refugee camp during the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic (which kills Roberto later in the novel) places her in the kind of frontline, isolated environment that tests character. The novel acknowledges the pandemic through other characters, and Meghan's choice to serve in such a setting underscores her commitment to helping the vulnerable.

Second Chances: Meghan, unlike her mother, does not seek romantic second chances. But she gives the family a second chance for unity during the France trip and later at Christmas. She also gives Heather a second chance after her initial suspicion.

Family Bonds: Meghan's arc reinforces that family is not defined by a single marriage. Though Charles abandons them, Meghan, Oona, and Will remain a tight unit. The final holiday on the yacht shows that new bonds (with Ashley and Heather) can expand but not replace that core.

Meghan Webster: Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why is Meghan so angry at her father after he tells the children he is gay?
   Meghan is angry because her father is moving to Argentina for six months with his lover, leaving their mother to face an empty apartment. She tells him, "You're doing exactly what you want to do," and accuses him of being selfish. She can accept his sexuality but not his abandonment of the family.

2. What does Meghan's job at the refugee camp in Kenya reveal about her character?
   It reveals her commitment to service and her desire to create meaning independent of her family's crisis. She had already been pursuing such work before her father's news, but the experience of betrayal strengthens her resolve to focus on what she can control.

3. How does Meghan's relationship with Heather change over the course of the France trip?
   Initially Meghan says she "thought I was going to hate her," assuming Heather was taking advantage of Will. But after meeting her, she admits she likes her. She sees that Heather is "nice" and that Will needs her support after their father's departure.

4. What is Meghan's role in helping her mother Oona heal?
   Meghan provides emotional support by listening without judgment, including during the afternoon they spend together after the family meeting. She also accompanies Oona to France and assures her that she will stay as long as possible. Her presence reminds Oona that she still has a family.

5. Does Meghan ever reconcile with her father after he returns from Argentina?
   The novel does not depict a reconciliation. Meghan is present at the Christmas gathering on the yacht where Charles is not mentioned as being there. Given her earlier refusal to meet Roberto and her strong words, it is likely she maintains distance, though the story leaves room for future contact.