They called him every week afterward. As his health declined, he asked me not to bring the kids back—he wanted their memories to stay beautiful. Before he passed, he called to say he was proud of me for making him feel truly seen. At the funeral, his will stunned everyone: most of his fortune went to a children’s hospital, the lake house to a veterans’ group, and the kids received his coins and a final note: “Thank you for giving me the happiest summer of my life.”

Years later, my kids still carry Orville’s lessons. We visit the lake house, now a retreat center, and honor his legacy by sharing stories and laughter—his true wealth. That summer didn’t just change our lives. It gave them meaning.