Evelyn hosted dinner at her home on a quiet Sunday evening.
Sarah brought Noah, who spent the first half hour admiring Lily's enormous collection of picture books and toy animals.
The children became friends almost immediately.
Lily showed Noah the brown handbag her father had given her.
She no longer carried it everywhere, but she kept it beside her bed.
"It's lucky," she explained.
Noah examined the gold emblem.
"Because it had the secret key?"
Lily shook her head.
"Because I had it when I found Miss Sarah."
Across the room, Sarah and Evelyn listened.
Neither interrupted.
After dinner, Evelyn led Sarah into Andrew's study.
The shelves were filled with books about architecture, business history, and small-town development.
A photograph of Andrew stood beside the desk.
"He loved this room," Evelyn said.
Sarah smiled.
"It feels like he was someone who enjoyed learning."
"He was. And he believed businesses had responsibilities beyond making money."
Evelyn opened a drawer and removed a folder.
Inside was a plan Andrew had written several years earlier.
He wanted to establish a foundation supporting locally owned restaurants that provided fair employment and practical assistance to struggling families.
The project had never moved beyond its earliest stage.
After Andrew's death, Evelyn had forgotten about it while dealing with grief and the company.
Now she wanted to revive it.
"Why are you showing me this?" Sarah asked.
"Because I want Miller's Family Diner to become the first participating restaurant."
Sarah examined the pages.
The proposal included employee training, scholarships for hospitality workers, and partnerships with local organizations helping families experiencing food insecurity.
It was more ambitious than the meal fund Sarah had introduced.
It also required careful funding and independent oversight.
Evelyn wanted Sarah to help design the program from an employee's perspective.
"I don't want a foundation that puts wealthy people's names on plaques while workers struggle behind the kitchen doors," Evelyn said.
Sarah nodded.
"Then we need to start by listening to the workers."
"Exactly."
They spent nearly two hours discussing practical details.
Sarah insisted that employees receive fair compensation for additional duties and that assistance programs protect recipients' privacy.
Evelyn agreed.
Before Sarah left, Lily appeared holding a framed drawing.
It showed the diner beneath a bright yellow sun.
A woman in blue stood at the door.
Beside her, a little girl wore a yellow raincoat.
Lily handed it to Sarah.
"Mommy says every place should have someone like you."
Sarah hugged her.
"Every place should have someone who notices when somebody needs help."
That night, Sarah drove home with Noah asleep in the back seat.
For the first time in years, she wasn't wondering how to survive another week.
She was imagining what she might build over the next ten.