“Take thirty-eight thousand for the surgery.”
Vanessa’s head came up. “What?”
“The money,” I said. “This fund. Take what Danny needs. For the last surgery.”
“No,” Vanessa said immediately. “No. Absolutely not. That money is for you. For Ellie. People gave it for your daughter’s family.”
“My daughter ran into a fire to save your son,” I said. “She’d want him to be able to turn his head.”
“Nora—”
“Lisa died for him,” I said. My voice cracked. “I’m not going to let her die so he can live with half a neck because an insurance company says it’s cosmetic. No. Not with her money. Not in her name.”
Vanessa started crying.
“Then keep the ring,” she said. “Keep my grandmother’s ring. Please. Let me give you that.”
“I don’t want your ring.”
“Ellie found it,” Vanessa said. “She found it, and she gave it back, when you needed it more than anybody I’ve ever met. When you have a bucket named Gerald and she has holes in her shoes.” She pressed the ring into my hand. “Please. Let me give her this.”
