A month before classes began, Grace made one final decision about Eleanor’s trust.
There was money left after tuition and books.
Arthur assumed she would save it for future semesters.
Grace did something else.
She asked Samuel Bell whether the trust could be amended.
“It can,” he told her, “depending on the purpose.”
Grace changed its name.
The Eleanor Whitmore Education Fund became the Eleanor Whitmore and Laura Foster Education Fund.
My mother’s name.
Arthur read the document in silence.
“I thought,” Grace explained, “if there’s money left when I graduate, maybe it could help someone else.”
Arthur looked at her.
“Someone else?”
“A student raising younger siblings. Or caring for family. Someone who thinks school has become impossible.”
Arthur sat down.
“Eleanor would have liked that.”
“So would Mom.”
He nodded.
“I believe she would.”
Years later, people sometimes asked me when our lives changed.
I used to think there was a single answer.
