She let me love a flawed woman who had tried to safeguard my future.

We talked about the skyscraper, too.

The controlling stake came with voting power, but the company had debt, workers, contracts, and a history.

I told her I sometimes lay awake terrified of a mistake that would harm someone whose name I hadn’t learned yet.

“That fear can make you careful,” she said.

“Just don’t let it make you passive.”

Before leaving, I asked whether Eleanor had been happy.

Caroline considered it.