Courtney pulled the twins’ can from the trash with shaking hands and wiped it clean. It held nearly seven thousand dollars and two savings bonds. Sophie’s was almost as full. Greg sat down heavily and told me he had known I saved, but never imagined this much, and that he was ashamed he had let his wife speak to me that way.

Courtney tried to explain, but Caleb cut her off. He said he had watched her talk about me for years, and he had stayed quiet because it was easier. Now it was not. He asked his mother to apologize, and for once she had nothing clever to say. She apologized, stiffly, then again, more honestly.

I told them the money was for college, for the children alone, held in trust where no one could touch it. I stayed for cake. Caleb sat beside me and asked about his grandfather, and I told stories until the candles burned down.

Over the next year, Courtney slowly changed. She still has her sharp edges, but she calls me now, and the children visit every Sunday. Caleb keeps his empty can on his desk with a rubber band around it, and says it is the best gift he has ever been given.