Lyman spoke up first, trying to lighten the mood. "I think my hands were just a little damp earlier, that''s probably why Grandma didn''t want a massage. But I''ve dried them off now. Can I give it another try?"


    Grandma was about to refuse, but then she saw Lyman''s eager face he looked so hopeful, as if he just wanted to do something right for her.


    How could she say no to that kind of earnestness?


    Effie chimed in, “Grandma, he''s really good at it. Every time he helps me, I''m so rxed I almost fall asleep!"


    "Well..."


    "Let me try, Grandma?" Lyman offered, his voice gentle.


    "Oh, alright then."


    At first, Grandma seemed a bit ufortable, but it didn''t take long before she started to enjoy it.


    You really had to admit-smart people seemed to seed at everything they did.


    "Looks like Grandma''s fallen asleep," Effie whispered, grinning as she watched Grandma''s head nodding with drowsiness.


    Lyman paused and checked. Sure enough, she was fast asleep.


    "I''ll carry her to bed," he said softly. "The couch can''t befortable."


    "Okay."


    Lyman carefully lifted Grandma and carried her to her bedroom.


    She stirred awake for a moment as he picked her up, and smiled dreamily at him. "Old man..."


    "Grandma, it''s me. Lyman."


    "Mmm. My grandson-inw," she murmured, drifting off again.


    Effie stood by the door, watching as Lyman gently tucked the nket around


    Grandma and quietly closed the door behind him. Her eyes stung, and she had to blink back tears.


    "Let''s go," Lyman whispered.


    Effie nodded, and without thinking, reached for his hand. They slipped out together.


    "We''ll take a walk, thene back," Lyman suggested.


    She nced at him, a touch of suspicion in her gaze. "Yeah?"


    Lyman grinned. "You want Grandma toe live with us, don''t you?"


    Effie nodded. Of course she did. She''d dreamed about it.


    But could it really happen? Grandma was stubborn-she''d never agree.


    Lyman squeezed her hand. "She''s just worried about being a burden, and she''s set in her ways. But habits can change. She already let me give her a massage tonight, didn''t she? Tomorrow, when she wakes up and finds out we stayed here, she''ll be surprised, but she''ll get used to it after a few days. Maybe she''ll grow to like having me look after her-and not want to let me go."


    Effie felt a surge of warmth in her chest. Lyman always went further than she ever expected.


    "Alright," she said softly.


    "But what about clothes and stuff...?"


    "No worries. I already asked Luther to drop everything off."


    Effie hesitated. "It''s sote-isn''t that a bit much to ask?"


    Lyman nced at her, amused. "That''s his job. Besides, he gets overtime pay. With a six-figure sry, he ought to earn it, don''t you think?"


    Effie swallowed. Six figures!


    "Say, are you looking for more assistants?" she teased, brightening. "Suddenly, I feel like I could handle it!"


    Lyman reached up and yfully tapped her nose. "Sure. If you ever get tired of being a designer and want to be my secretary instead, just let me know."


    "Alright. I''ll let you know if I ever get bored," she joked.


    Hand in hand, Effie and Lyman walked out of the apartmentplex, not noticing the pair of eyes burning holes in their backs from the shadows.


    "No way... Lyman''s just putting on an act. There''s no way he really means all that!


    He''s faking it—every word is a lie. Once he''s bored, he''ll just move on to someone else. There''s no such thing as a faithful man in this world," Mitchell muttered bitterly to himself.