Summary

In "The Painted Veil", Will's mom rarely ever goes to the doctor, so that she doesn't even know she has cancer when she returns from Afghanistan. Throughout her illness, she refuses to consider herself "brave." She's known many people from third world countries who've suffered far worse than she has. After chemo, she feels like she will be getting very good news soon. Her Harvard friend gives her money to help with the library but makes her promise to take it easy. He donates one million to the project, but Will's mom doesn't ease off, in fact she just works that much harder to complete the project.

In "Murder in the Cathedral", Will's mom is thrilled over the news of her friend's donation, but rapidly grows sicker. She goes to Geneva with Will's dad in April of that year...