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utter a word. “Savannah, your mama wanted you to write your book, that’s all . . . but she wanted you to do it from the house.” Finally, he turned to Augusta and looked at her soberly. “Augusta, your mama wanted you to be the one to restore the family home.”
    Augusta exploded. “I hate that goddamned house!”
    Caroline squeezed Augusta’s hand and forced a calm voice. “What if we refuse?”
    George’s gaze returned to Caroline’s. “It’s certainly within your power to do so,” he offered. “But if you don’t abide by the terms specified in this will”—he rifled through his papers, drew out three stapled packets and handed one to each of them—“the remaining twenty-seven million dollars will be donated to various charities, all in the name of Samuel Robert Aldridge III and the house will be sold, all profits also to go to charity.”
    Caroline blinked. “What about the Tribune ?”
    For Caroline’s entire life the paper had been a bit like her mother’s unwelcome lover—charming from a distance, but up close, jealous, needy and controlling. Now that it might vanish in the blink of an eye, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing it. The Tribune might not be the lifeblood of the family fortune, but it was their legacy nonetheless.
    His gray-brown eyes were steely, unwavering, and she understood in that instant why Daniel had given him the duty of breaking this news. “Should you refuse to abide by the terms of the will, the Tribune will close its doors after one hundred and forty-five years of publishing daily news for the City of Charleston, and the Post will happily have one less competitor.”
    “Just like that?” Savannah asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
    “Just like that,” George affirmed. “Flo was adamant that no one but an Aldridge sit at the paper’s helm and she thought it should be Caroline.”
    A shiver jetted down Caroline’s spine. “Can she do this?”
    George nodded. “This is your mother’s last will and testament,” he said. “That’s what it dictates. That’s what I intend to carry out.”
    The room fell awkwardly silent.
    Caroline glanced back to find that Sadie had made her way out into the hall with Josh’s help. She was sobbing quietly, clutching his shoulder.
    Augusta turned on Savannah suddenly, her angry blue eyes narrowed. “Did you know about this? You always seem to know everything before we do!”
    Savannah’s eyes widened. “Of course not!”
    “Yeah, I’ll bet!” Augusta stood and grabbed her purse. “Well, I don’t intend to sit here for another minute. I’m not going to let mother derail my life from the grave! This is the biggest pile of dog shit I have ever heard!” She pushed Caroline’s hand away when Caroline reached for her again. “Get off me!”
    “Augie! Where are you going?”
    Augusta didn’t bother turning. “Where do you think?” she said defiantly as she marched straight for the door. “I have a plane to catch!”

Chapter Four
    A ugusta talked Josh into taking her back to the house and from there, suitcases packed, went straight to Charleston International Airport.
    One of two things would happen now: After Augusta landed in New York, she’d think about her hasty decision, reconsider, maybe dawdle a bit so her capitulation didn’t seem quite so easily won and then she’d turn around and come back to Charleston.
    On the other hand, she might mean every word she’d said and nothing anyone could say would change her mind—in which case, they could all kiss everything good-bye—everyone except Sadie and Josh, of course. Realizing it was a distinct possibility, Caroline spent some time contemplating that particular scenario while she unpacked her suitcase and took a hot bath.
    Feeling like an interloper in the house she’d grown up in, she sat immersed in her mother’s antique porcelain claw-foot tub, with her feet propped on the ironwork fixtures.
    When you got right down to it, not much would change.