Carson’s mouth dropped open. “That’s because I’m hoping to buy the car from Mamaw. It’s a business transaction. I have to know its current value.”

“Uh-huh.” Harper rolled her eyes. “I’m sure.”

“And your eyes didn’t practically fall out of their sockets when you saw Mamaw’s diamond earrings?” Dora asked.

Harper had the grace to laugh. “Score. They are amazing. I do so love nature’s vintage carbon products.” She turned shrewd eyes toward Mamaw. “That ring you wore tonight caught my fancy. Is that open for the grab?”

“No!” Dora sat straight and almost shouted the word. “That’s a family ring! It’s always given to the Muir sons to give to their wives. By that virtue, the ring will go to Nate. He is the only male heir.”

“So far,” Carson countered. “What makes you think we’re not going to have sons?”

“Well,” Dora said primly, “you are thirty-four and you don’t even have a boyfriend.”

“My eggs are fine, thank you very much,” Carson said dangerously.

Harper said smugly, “Well, cool your jets, sisters. I’m only twenty-eight and I’ve got plenty of boyfriends. I’m putting that ring as my number one.”

“You can’t!” Dora fumed. “It was given to my mother, and she had the decency to return it to Mamaw after the divorce. It’s only right that the ring go to my son.”

“Dora,” Mamaw said in a tone that immediately silenced her. “Your mother received a hefty settlement after the divorce on the condition that she return the ring. So I’ll hear no more about her noble intentions. As for the other wives . . .” She shifted in her seat like she was sitting on a burr. “I mean no disrespect to the dead”—she looked at Carson—“but neither of the other two women deserved the ring and I told Parker that. The ring is mine. And I happen to like it. Whichever decision I make, it will be mine and mine alone. Is that understood?”

There were hesitant nods all around.

Mamaw continued in a firm tone, “My dears, you needn’t worry about me. I’ve always managed to take care of myself. Each of you will likewise have to make your own way in this world. I can, however, offer you this advice: Friends come and go. But through the thick and thin, the good and bad, you can only ever count on your family.” Mamaw took a breath, feeling more in control again. “That’s the heart of it. Family.” She searched their faces, pleased to see she had their full attention. “Which leads me to my next point.”

“There’s more?” Harper muttered under her breath.

“Yes, Harper dear,” Mamaw said pointedly, “there’s one bit more. I’ve given this a great deal of thought, so I hope you don’t think what I’m about to say is the rambling of an eccentric old woman. It worries me—deeply—that we, the last of the Muirs, are not as close as we once were, at least not as close as we were during our summers here at Sea Breeze. We’ve become strangers. I’ve thought about what I could do to rekindle that spark of family in us before Sea Breeze is sold and we all go off to the four points of the earth.”

“It was never Sea Breeze that brought me to Sullivan’s Island,” Harper said. “Frankly, I’m not a big fan of Sea Breeze. It’s perfectly nice, don’t get me wrong, but it’s always been you, Mamaw, that I came to see. And my sisters.” She smiled shyly.

Mamaw sat back in her chair, momentarily thrown by this comment. She glanced at Dora and Carson and saw that their expressions reflected agreement.

“I’m so very glad to hear that,” she said slowly. “But I fear, more deeply than ever, that once I’m gone, the connection of Muir family blood will truly dissipate.”

“I don’t want to think of you dying,” Carson said.

“I can’t live forever,” Mamaw said with a gentle laugh. “No one can. But once I’m gone, what will become of my family? That is the worry that keeps me up at night. So!” she said, slapping her thighs with her palms. “I’ve a plan. I’m asking each of you to spend the entire summer at Sea Breeze. Our last summer. What do you say?”

Carson leaned back in her chair and shrugged. “You know what I say.”

Dora inched forward on her seat. “I always come for two weeks in July. I suppose I can try and extend it another week or two, if you wish.”

“I’m sorry, Mamaw. I can’t possibly stay here for a whole month, much less a summer,” Harper said incredulously. “I don’t even get a month’s vacation! I’m sorry, Mamaw. I appreciate the invitation, I truly do. But this weekend is all I can swing. Believe me, it was tough enough. But we have this weekend, don’t we?” she added, trying to spin a positive note.

Mamaw slowly leaned back in her chair and clasped her hands together. “I don’t think I made myself clear,” she said. “I’d hoped you’d all be delighted to accept my invitation to spend the summer. But, as it appears that is not happening, I must tell you that I’m not merely inviting you. The invitation that you stay at Sea Breeze for the summer is, well”—she tapped her fingertips against each other—“more a stipulation.” She stilled her hands.

“Of what?” Dora asked.

Mamaw took a breath. “Stay for the summer, or you are out of the will.”

“What!” Harper exploded, leaping to her feet.

“That’s blackmail!” said Dora, puffed up and sitting at the edge of her chair. “You’re saying that each of us needs to spend the entire summer here or you’re essentially writing us off?”

Mamaw lifted her gaze and a coy smile played at her lips, one that her pirate ancestor would have been proud of. “I prefer to think of it as adding sugar to the pot,” she replied. “Truly. Just think! A vacation together. A time to reconnect. Think of it as a gift.”

Mamaw waited in the tense silence as the girls digested this ultimatum.

Dora sat back in her chair, apparently resigned. “All right, Mamaw. If it means that much to you I’ll manage it somehow. And I will have all those workmen in the house,” she added with dejection. “Besides, there’s no one waiting for me at home anymore. I’ll have to go back and forth from Summerville a few times, but I suppose if I juggle things . . .” Her voice trailed off in thought.