Dora returned to the bags on the sofa. “Wait till you see what else I got.”

“Girls,” Mamaw said, clasping her hands close to her breast. She glanced at Lucille, who nodded in agreement. “There’s something I’d like to show you first. It’s my own little makeover.”

Dora released the shopping bag and glanced at Harper. “Is this connected to all that knocking and pounding of the past few days?”

“You’ll just have to look and see,” Mamaw replied cagily.

“I love surprises,” Harper said.

“Good. I hope you like this one. Come with me.”

Mamaw led them from the living room down the hall toward her bedroom. She opened the doors that led into the anteroom of the suite, where a framed photograph of Mamaw and Granddaddy Edward greeted them over a small foyer table. Immediately to the left was a small computer room that had been built into a large closet. They proceeded into the large bedroom, adorned with a collection of paintings of the lowcountry landscape that Mamaw adored, all done by local artists. Every spare inch of her walls was covered in paintings. She’d often told the girls that lying in bed, especially now that Edward was gone, she felt surrounded by friends.

Mamaw went to stand before a pair of sliding wood doors separating her bedroom from her sitting room that were not there several days before.

Harper looked to Dora and they shared a look of confusion.

Mamaw’s gaze swept over their expectant faces. “I’ve done a bit of work, as you’ve heard,” she began. She let her gaze rest on Harper.

“Harper, dear, you’ve been a true gem putting up with being evicted from your bedroom this summer without a peep of complaint. We’ve all appreciated it.”

“Of course, Mamaw,” Harper said. “It’s nothing. And I’ve enjoyed bunking with Dora.” She glanced at Dora with a smile.

“Precisely the spirit I’m referring to. Nonetheless,” Mamaw continued, “Carson and Nate are due back in a few days and I’ve done a bit of rearranging that I hope will suit you. This is your room now.”

Mamaw turned to grasp the large brass door handles and with a push slid open the doors. Sunlight poured into the bedroom from the bay windows, revealing a sitting room transformed into a bedroom. Instead of the settee and armchair, a feminine antique bed with scrolls and curves was set at an angle from the windows, a soft blue patterned Persian rug at its feet.

Harper sucked in her breath and walked slowly into the sunny room, her head turning from left to right to take in the changes. The small desk from Dora’s room had been painted a cream color and moved under the bay windows, and atop it, fresh flowers were arranged in the Chinese Rose Medallion vase she’d once told Mamaw she liked. Only Mamaw could be so attentive to the smallest details.

“You created a room . . . for me?” Harper asked in a small voice.

“It wasn’t much. I had that bed and armoire in storage. You don’t have a closet, I’m afraid. But you can have Edward’s computer room for yourself. It just sits there unused. Other than that, Lucille and I just moved things around a bit. Oh”—she indicated the pale blue coverlet on the bed—“we thought you’d like to pick out a new coverlet yourself.”

“Oh, Mamaw, I would have been content with an air mattress on the floor.”

Mamaw laughed in the manner that implied what Harper said was absurd. “That is precisely why it brought me so much pleasure to do this.” She kissed Harper’s forehead. “I had the doors added so you could simply shut me out. They lock, see?” she said, pointing out the brass bolt. “I also had a door added so you can have a private entrance from the porch. I know how you like your privacy.”

“Thank you, Mamaw. I’m . . . I’m overwhelmed.” Harper had been raised to hold her emotions in check and blinked rapidly, trying to stop the tears.

Dora stood in the background, her eyes taking in the new room with wonder. “I have to admit, I’m going to miss sharing a room with you.”

Mamaw looked to Dora to seek out any signs of jealousy that Harper had received such a boon. It was with relief that she saw nothing but genuine pleasure in Dora’s face. It made her feel all the more eager about her next surprise.

Mamaw said to Dora, “You don’t think I’ve left you out, do you? We’ve begun work on your room, too. Come take a look.”

They followed Mamaw, giggling, through the living room again to the west side of the house. As they passed the library, the smell of fresh paint permeated the air. Looking over her shoulder to make certain that Dora was behind her, she smiled at seeing all three women with expressions on their faces like children on Christmas morning. Without delay, she pushed open the door.

The small bedroom was in the chaos of transition. Most of the furniture had been moved out, a painter’s tarp covered the floor, and all the trim was freshly painted glossy white. One wall was covered with a pale pink-and-white-striped paper, feminine and chic.

“There’s a lot left to be done,” Mamaw said. “I had to call in every chit and I’ve been on the phone nagging seamstresses all over town.” She proudly walked them around the room, pointing out changes. “The wallpaper will be hung tomorrow and we can get the curtains in as soon as all is dry. I only have a small window of time, and I’m determined to have everything in place before Carson returns from Florida. You’ll have to sleep in her room until then. If that’s all right with you. Lucille’s changed the bedding. All is in the ready.”

“Of course,” Dora sputtered. “I don’t know what to say. I didn’t expect anything like this. I would’ve been happy with a bigger bed. But . . .” Worry had now entered her voice. “Mamaw, all this effort and expense. I . . . we’ll only be here for a short while . . .”

“I know, but I’m having so much fun and the Realtor told me I needed to freshen things up a bit. So it had to be done anyway.” She shrugged with a roll of the eyes and said, “Que sera sera. Now, Dora, there’s one object in particular I want you to see. It’s what sparked all this effort in the first place,” she said, guiding Dora out of the room. “I put it in Carson’s room for now. Come see.”

“A new bed, I hope?” Dora said. She hated sleeping in that twin.

“That, too,” Mamaw assured her. “I’m having a full bed brought over from storage.”