Her mother-in-law knew she was right. “We were wrong, Luisa. Both of us. We had no right to do what we did. We hurt both of them, and their child. If I were you, I’d do everything I could to make it up to him, and to Savannah while she’s here. That would mean a lot to him.” Luisa was bereft of speech for once, nodded at her mother-in-law, and went back to her car. She was no different to Savannah that night, or to Tom, but she was very, very quiet. Tom could see she had something on her mind. He stayed away from her, because it was easier for him. Luisa went upstairs instead of having dinner with them. She said she had one of her sick headaches, and went to bed.

Spring was in full bloom when Alexa came back to Charleston again. She was bringing two important things with her, Savannah knew, her college acceptance letters, and her grandmother from New York. Savannah was excited about both, and threw herself into Muriel’s arms the moment she saw her.

“You look wonderful, Savannah,” her grandmother said, looking pleased. She’d been afraid that being away for so long had been hard for her granddaughter. Instead, she looked happy, and was thriving, and seemed even more grown up and poised. She could see why Alexa was worried. Savannah seemed so comfortable in Charleston that it was hard to believe she would ever want to leave. But Muriel was still certain that ultimately she would want to come home. And New York with her mother was home.

“Okay, so shall we open the letters?” Alexa asked excitedly after Savannah greeted her grandmother in the suite. Savannah hadn’t allowed her mother to open them and read them to her. She didn’t want to hear the news on the phone. They had all finally come in that week, some several weeks late, others right on time. Some were thicker envelopes than others, which usually meant acceptance. She had heard back from every college where she’d applied, and she looked nervous as she held the envelopes. Her future was about to be decided, and where she would spend the next four years. And more than likely, she would have several choices. She hoped they were the ones she wanted, and not just her backups.

There were six envelopes. Some of her friends had applied to a dozen schools, but Savannah had narrowed it down to six. Alexa and Muriel sat on the couch and waited with bated breath. Savannah began.

She opened Stanford first, and they had turned her down. She looked crestfallen for a moment, and her mother quickly said that she wouldn’t have let her go there anyway, so it was a moot point, which softened the blow. Savannah knew that was true since her mother had said it all along, unless it was her only option.

Harvard declined her as well. Savannah hadn’t been in love with it either. The school seemed too big and scary to her.

Brown had wait-listed her, and congratulated her on her good work. She was a little disappointed by that. Brown was her second choice.

That left Princeton, George Washington, and Duke. She opened Duke next and got in. The three women in the living room of the suite let out a cheer. They hugged each other, Savannah was grinning, and they sat down again. She had a school. A good one.

“Why do I feel like I’m at the Academy Awards? And for best picture…,” Muriel said as Savannah giggled, even more nervous than she had been before. She opened GW next. Another yes. She had two schools now. And the last one was the one she wanted most. Princeton. The envelope seemed slim. They had probably turned her down. She sat holding it in her hands. “Will you open it, for God’s sake?” Muriel prodded her. “I can’t stand the suspense.”

“Neither can I,” Alexa admitted. But this was Savannah’s show. She had worked hard for this and waited a long time to know. Her applications had been sent in three months before. She ever so slowly tore open the last envelope, agonizingly, and carefully unfolded the letter. She closed her eyes for an instant, and then read it, jumped to her feet, and let out a scream.

“I got in! I got in! Oh my God! I got in!” she shouted as she danced around the room, and both her mother and grandmother cried. They were on their feet in a minute hugging her. “I’m going to Princeton,” she chortled, and then remembered instantly that Turner would be disappointed when she didn’t accept Duke. He had gotten in and was going there. But they could visit each other. Princeton was her dream. She wasn’t giving that up for a boy, not even one as nice as Turner.

The excitement in the room was overwhelming. Alexa opened the champagne, while Savannah went to call her father. He had known Alexa was bringing the letters, and he was anxious to know too.

He picked up his cell phone at the house. “Stanford, Harvard no, Brown wait-list, yes GW, Duke, and …Princeton!” she screamed into the phone, and he grinned broadly. “I’m going to Princeton, Daddy!” Like Turner, he would have preferred Duke, but he was partial to southern schools. And Princeton was very impressive. All her choices were. She had aimed high and done well. He was very proud of her.

“Congratulations! Let’s celebrate tomorrow night. I’ll take everyone to dinner. Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you!” She thanked him and went back to her mother and grandmother then. They sat talking about it for ages, and then went out to dinner at Savannah’s favorite restaurant. It was noisy and friendly and full of college students. Most of her friends had heard about their colleges that week, and true to her word, Julianne hadn’t applied and was taking a break year, but was a little sorry now. She felt left out, so Savannah didn’t call her and rub it in. But she called Turner before they left the hotel, and he was thrilled for her, although disappointed she didn’t want to go to Duke with him. But he knew how much Princeton meant to her, and he promised to come and visit her as often as he could, and she vowed to do the same.

It was a wonderful night, and Savannah still looked ecstatic as they walked back to the hotel. Her grandmother was enjoying the city. She had always liked it when she visited Alexa there when she and Tom were married. She thought it had a huge amount of charm. They sat and talked for an hour before they all went to bed, still excited by Savannah’s great news. And the next morning Travis called to congratulate her, and so did Daisy. She wanted to know if she could visit Savannah at Princeton, and her older sister said of course she could. Henry called her after that and was thrilled, although he said he was hurt she wasn’t going to his alma mater, and asked to speak to her mother after that. He and Alexa chatted for a few minutes, and Alexa was smiling when she handed Savannah the phone. Everyone had called. And her grandmother Beaumont was next. She told her she should have gone to a southern school, but if she was going to a Yankee school, Princeton would do very well.

“Isn’t that all men?” Eugenie asked, somewhat confused.

“It used to be,” Savannah answered. “Not anymore.”

“What’s the world coming to,” Eugenie said, smiling on her end of the line, and then said that she would like to come to tea to see Savannah’s mother and grandmother at the hotel that afternoon. Savannah was stunned. She said she was sure they’d be delighted, and thanked her grandmother for making the effort. “I’ll have your father bring me.” She suggested four o’clock. Savannah hung up, and hoped her mother wouldn’t object to the visit.

“I think that’s very sweet of her,” Alexa said nicely, with a somewhat reserved tone. This was the woman who had orchestrated her downfall ten years before, and destroyed her life, but she was Savannah’s grandmother, and she was willing to be gracious about it. Alexa was determined to make the effort for her daughter, and her own mother was proud of her. Alexa said she had seen Tom, she supposed she could see his mother, although she didn’t have warm feelings about her.

“Thanks, Mom,” Savannah said gratefully. She knew what a huge gesture it was for her grandmother Beaumont to come out. She very seldom left her house anymore. She was old enough to be her other grandmother’s mother.

They continued to celebrate all day, and went to the spa together. Muriel loved it, and got her hair and nails done after a massage. They were all back in the suite at three-thirty to dress to meet Mrs. Beaumont for tea at four.

She arrived promptly with Tom. Savannah was excited to see her, Muriel greeted her cordially, and Alexa looked tense. Grandmother Beaumont walked straight to Alexa first.

“I owe you an apology, Alexa.” She stood resting on her cane and looked straight into Alexa’s eyes with a serious expression. “I ruined your life, and my son’s. No apology will ever cover that. But I want you to know that I’m aware of it and I’ll answer to my Maker for it one day. But you have a wonderful daughter, and I love her very much.” Alexa thanked her quietly and embraced her graciously. It was true, an apology would never make up for her marriage. But at least she had the grace and the courage to acknowledge what she’d done. Tom stood behind her looking embarrassed, and didn’t meet Alexa’s eyes.

And after that, it was pure celebration. Alexa showed Grandmother Beaumont the brochure of Princeton. It was a beautiful school and campus, and Savannah could hardly wait to get there. She had called several of her New York friends that morning, and e-mailed others. And two of her friends were going to Princeton. She was planning to room with one. They had it all worked out.

Tom’s mother stayed for an hour, and then he took her home. It had been a big outing for her, especially after her recent flu, which had left her feeling weak. She embraced Alexa as she left, and congratulated her again on Savannah.

Tom reminded them all on the way out that he would meet them at the restaurant at eight, and Daisy, Travis, and Scarlette would be with him, and Turner was coming too. Eight of them to celebrate Savannah’s acceptance to Princeton. He dropped his mother off then, and went home. And when he got there, he went to look for Luisa, and invited her again to come with them. Her face was set in hard lines. It was a familiar look to him.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Tom. I’m not having dinner with her.” She meant Alexa, which he knew. “And I don’t care where Savannah got into school. She’s not my child. What’s more, I’m sure Alexa doesn’t want to see me either. I wouldn’t in her shoes.”

“You may be right,” he conceded. “But you could at least participate somehow. You’ve done everything you could to avoid Savannah since she got here, and make her feel unwelcome. She’s my daughter.”

“But not mine,” Luisa said again. She looked somber, and sad. “I don’t want her here. You knew that and brought her here anyway.”

“I had no choice. You don’t have to make it as difficult as possible for everyone, Luisa. She’s not going to hurt you, and neither is her mother. They don’t want anything from you, or even from me.”

“They already have it,” she said sadly. “Alexa has had you for the last eleven years. You never left her, Tom.” He was stunned by what she said.

“What are you talking about? I left her eleven years ago, for you, and Daisy. I left her so we could get remarried. I never saw her again, or even spoke to her until February of this year.” Luisa nodded. She believed that, and checked up on him often. In her mind trust did not exclude supervision.

“And you never stopped loving her either. I knew it every time I looked at you, and the way you looked at me. I thought I could steal you from her, and you’d forget about her. You never did. You never loved me, Tom. You wanted me back to get even with Thornton, because I left you for him. Your ego was hurt, not your heart. Alexa has always had your heart.” Tom didn’t say a word when she said it. He couldn’t deny it. It was true. And they both knew it, and so did Alexa, even though she didn’t want him. “You never stopped loving her, and now you love her child, who looks just like her.”

“Savannah is her own person,” he defended.

“You had lunch with Alexa the last time she was here.”

“Yes, I did.” She always knew everything he did. “We share a daughter.”

“And what else?”

“Nothing. She doesn’t want me,” he said grimly. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with his wife.

“Did you ask her?”

“No. But I’m not happy, and you know it. You’ve been hard on me for years. You got me, and then for some reason I don’t understand, you’ve been punishing me ever since.”

“Because I knew you still loved her. You never loved me.”

“But I stayed with you. That must count for something. Loyalty at least.” But they both knew he wasn’t loyal. He had proved it to Alexa. He was weak. That was different, and Luisa knew it, and so did he.