Chapter 17
“Mom wrote the letter because Mrs. Whitmore suggested it. Mom knew things were difficult. She knew Dad was struggling with what happened at work, and she knew I was old enough to notice.”
Grace looked at Arthur.
“She didn’t blame you for everything.”
Arthur’s face tightened.
“She probably should have.”
“No.”
Grace shook her head.
“That’s exactly what she said not to do.”
Arthur looked confused.
“Mom said Dad made mistakes. Your company made mistakes. You made mistakes. She said turning one person into the villain of the whole story would be easier than accepting that several people made decisions they later wished they could change.”
Arthur leaned back.
“That sounds wiser than anything I managed.”
Grace continued.
“Mom was worried that if something ever happened to her and Dad, I would try to become both parent and sister to Caleb and Annie.”
I looked at Grace.
She laughed softly through her tears.
“She knew me too well.”
“What did she tell you?” Annie asked.
Grace glanced at the letter.
“She told me I could protect you without pretending I could do everything alone.”
That sentence stayed in the room.
I understood immediately why Grace had cried.
For six years, she had done exactly what Mom had feared.
Worked too much.
Slept too little.
Refused help.
Counted every dollar.
Said she was fine when she wasn’t.
Grace touched Annie’s hair.
“She said keeping a family together doesn’t mean one person has to carry the entire family.”
Helen looked at Arthur.
Arthur looked at Grace.
Nobody made a joke.
“What else?” I asked.
Grace hesitated.
“Mom knew Mrs. Whitmore wanted to help with my education.”
Arthur’s eyebrows lifted.
“What?”
Grace handed him one page.
He read it.
Then read it again.
“Eleanor established an education account?”
“Apparently.”
Arthur stood so fast the chair moved behind him.
“I never knew.”
“Maybe it’s gone,” Grace said.
“No.”
Arthur was already thinking.
“I would have known if money left the foundation.”
“Unless it wasn’t through the foundation,” Helen said.
Arthur looked at her.
Helen continued.
“Eleanor had personal assets.”
Arthur stared at the cedar box.
May you like
Then he left the kitchen.
We followed him to the study.
