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.
