I looked toward Maisie, who was studying the photos.
"That sounds familiar."
"Yeah."
Ray sat across from me.
"After she died, I didn't do anything charitable for years. Didn't want to turn her into a reason for me to feel noble. Then one of the guys had a kid who needed a ramp after an accident.
We had tools. We knew builders. So we helped. Then somebody else needed something.
It grew."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He shrugged. "Would it have changed what happened?"
"Maybe it would have changed how I saw you."
"That's exactly why I didn't tell you."
I frowned. Ray explained. "I didn't need a dead sister as a character reference. You either believed the evidence or you didn't."
That sounded so much like Daniel that it hurt in a good way. Maisie rolled over holding the photograph from the wall.
"Is that you?"
Ray looked horrified. "No."
"You had no beard."
"Fake picture."
"Your hair is huge."
"Forgery."
"Mommy, Hammer had hair."
"I can see that."
Ray took the photograph from her. "Project canceled. Everybody out." Maisie laughed so hard she hiccupped.
That afternoon, Lena arrived with foundation paperwork. She and Ray were preparing the next spring ride and wanted to decide how to use the remaining designated equipment funds.
"We've got six grand left from Maisie's project, plus new donations," Lena said. "Need a name for the program line."
Ray frowned. "Access equipment."
"Very inspiring."
"It's accounting. It doesn't need inspiration."
Maisie raised her hand. Lena pointed. "The board recognizes Princess Road Machine."
"Daniel Fund."
The room became quiet. Maisie looked at us.
"For kids whose grown-ups don't get listened to."