“It will be Harper’s house.”

“Exactly.”

“Don’t tell me you’re mad at Harper because she is getting the house?”

“Not mad. Jealous,” Carson confessed.

“I am, too. I wish I could buy it. Who wouldn’t want to live here? But it is what it is.”

“I wish I had the James money bankrolling me.”

“Hey, Devlin is bankrolling me!” Dora said with a laugh. “What’s your point?”

“He is not. You’re paying rent on the cottage.”

“Not enough. . . . You’re splitting hairs. Look, it’s the luck of the draw at birth. The flip of a coin.”

“Harper got heads and I got a kick in the tails.”

Dora laughed. “Good one.”

“I wasn’t being funny.”

“Cheer up. We’ve been very lucky to be able to come here all these years. It’s more than a lot of people get. We have to count our blessings, not our losses. Trust me, I’ve learned this summer that life is a lot more fun when you see the glass half-full.”

“I just wish Mamaw could have left the house to all of us. So it could all be the same as it always was.”

“But she can’t. We’ve known that all summer. Did you come up with the money to buy Sea Breeze? No. Did I? No. Harper did. And lucky us! At least we’ll still be able to visit.”

“Will we? It’ll be where she lives full-time. Someday she’ll be married, have a husband and kids here. She won’t want us crashing in all the time.”

“Honey, Harper’ll put out the welcome mat. But be realistic, Carson,” Dora added with a hint of frustration. “Of course you won’t be able to just drop in unannounced and expect to stay for a couple of months like you did with Mamaw. Sorry, precious, but those days are over.”

“Shut up.”

There was some movement, the sound of cabinets opening and closing. Harper peeked in to see Carson putting dried dishes back into the cabinets. Dora was scrubbing one of the new stainless-steel pots that Harper had just purchased. When Carson turned back, Harper ducked behind the door.

“Now I know why she bought all these pots and pans,” Carson said begrudgingly.

“Stop it,” Dora scolded.

Harper heard the sound of water being turned off.

Dora continued, “We all know you’ve felt a special ownership over this place all your life. Think about it a minute. You lived with Mamaw as a little girl and came out here all the time. Harper and I just visited in the summer. You have the biggest bedroom, and you know I was jealous of that.”

Harper heard Carson’s short chuckle.

“Naturally,” Dora went on, “I thought I should get the best room because I was the oldest. But I didn’t. Mamaw sat me down and told me flat out that it was your room and I simply had to live with that fact. And I did. So did Harper.” Dora’s voice changed to almost pleading. “Carson, now you have to live with the fact that Harper will buy this house and will, in effect, have a bigger room. But trust me, you will always feel ownership of the house because your memories are rooted here. Nothing can change that. And don’t you think I’m doing the happy dance because I know Nate can keep coming here? And someday you can bring your children here?”

Harper heard a pot fall in the sink.

“Oh, Carson, I’m sorry,” Dora blurted out. “I didn’t think.”

“It’s okay,” Carson said, but she sounded as if she were breaking into tears. “It’s just . . . I did see this place as my home. The problem is, I still do.” She sniffed. “Being invited back somehow isn’t enough when you don’t have a home of your own.”

“Aw, honey.” Again Harper heard movement and guessed they were hugging. “I know how you feel. Being homeless sucks.”

Carson made a noise that was a cross between a choked cry and a laugh. “Just what Harper needs. Another house.”

Dora laughed at that. “Yeah . . .”

Harper’s temper flared as the arrows of their words struck true. It was one thing to be reamed out by her mother for her wanting to buy Sea Breeze. It was another to be attacked by her sister for trying to save the place. On top of the phone call, the hurt felt so unfair, so unjust! Her already short fuse had burned to the quick. Harper blew into the room and stood before her sisters, her hands on her hips and her eyes sparking flames. Dora and Carson stared back, their eyes wide with the surprise at just being busted.

“I’ve got news for you, Carson,” Harper cried out, pointing her finger at her sister. “You don’t have to worry about my getting another house. Or any house, for that matter. I just had it out with my mother. The Ice Queen. I tried to get my inheritance money so I could buy Sea Breeze. Something I was doing for us. But not only didn’t I get the money, I’m getting cut out of my inheritance if I don’t go home pronto. So guess what? You got your wish. I’m leaving! Just like you.”

Harper could feel her face heating up, sure that it was as red as her hair. She pushed on, shouting now, letting all her pent-up frustration burst out like a volcano. “I’m not buying Sea Breeze. Sea Breeze will be sold to strangers. Are you happy now?” She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room. She passed Mamaw, who stood at the entry, one hand on the frame, her face ashen.

Harper slammed the front door as she left the house. Her feet pounded on the wood stairs as she fled down them, and then across the gravel driveway to the street. Why did they always see her as the lucky one? Because of money? Didn’t they know yet that she was just as adrift, just as vulnerable, as they were?

Her hurt felt as if it were burning a hole in her heart, and tears were streaming down her face, causing her to gasp as she pumped her arms, faster and faster, farther from Sea Breeze. Yet no matter how far or fast she walked, she knew she couldn’t outpace the hurt, the regret, and, too, the fear that was nipping at her heels.

Mamaw stood at the entrance to the kitchen staring at the shocked faces of Carson and Dora. They stood silently, looking contrite.

Although Mamaw had not heard all they had said, she’d heard enough. She looked into Carson’s eyes. “Shame on you.”

Then Mamaw slowly turned and left.

Chapter Sixteen

Harper pumped her fists as she ran full out along the beach. The tide was going out and her heels dug deep imprints into the sand. She ran until she couldn’t run any farther, almost clear to Breach Inlet. Panting, she walked higher up to the dunes and stretched her tired legs in front of her on the warm sand.