Seeing Lindy grow more and more distressed, Effie turned to Lyman. "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine," she assured him.


    Lyman nodded and stepped aside. Still, he cautioned her quietly, "Be careful."


    "I will."


    Effie called out to Andie, and while Grace was distracted, she swiftly grabbed Grace by the neck and yanked her back.


    Grace''s face contorted as she struggled for air; in seconds, the difort overwhelmed her and she released her grip.


    Effie dragged Grace aside before letting go. Gasping for breath, Grace rubbed her sore neck, ring at Effie in disbelief.


    "What are you doing, Effie?" Grace choked out, every word strained and halting.


    Effie met her gaze, her voice even. "You need to calm down."


    Turning to Andie, she gently reassured him, "It''s alright now, Andie."


    Andie finally stopped trembling. Effie gathered him up in her arms and took him to get cleaned up.


    Effie didn''t notice the look on Grace''s face as she left.


    When she reappeared with Andie, now dressed in fresh clothes, amotion erupted from the kitchen-a loud tter, sharp and metallic.


    Effie instinctively moved to investigate, Andie still in her arms, but a housekeeper quickly blocked her path.


    "Ma''am, it''s dangerous in there. Please, don''t bring the child inside."


    Just then, the unmistakable sound of a knife ttering to the floor rang out.


    Momentster, Lyman burst from the kitchen carrying Grace with one arm. His other hand was mped tightly over Grace''s wrist, blood streaming down between his fingers, leaving a shocking crimson trait on the floor-red as a rose in snow.


    Effie immediately covered Andie''s eyes.


    But it was toote. Andie had seen everything. He let out a terrified wail and began to sob uncontrobly.


    Drawn by themotion, Lindy, pale as a sheet, hurried from the kitchen. She rushed to Effie''s side. "Are you both alright?" she asked anxiously.


    Effie shook her head. "We''re fine. I''ll take Andie to the bedroom and try to calm him down."


    Lindy nodded. "Thank you, Effie. I''ll call the therapist right away. Andie needs someone to help him process this."


    "Alright."


    Andie nestled against Effie''s shoulder, crying softly and refusing to let anyone else near him when the therapist arrived. He clung to Effie and wouldn''t speak to anyone else.


    The therapist patiently taught Effie


    ways to talk to Andie, to soothe and


    reassure him. Gradually, Andie''s


    ve


    sobbing slowed. Eventually, exhausted, he drifted off to sleep in Effie''s arms.


    Effie looked down at his tear-stained cheeks and dampshes, her heart aching.


    What could such a young child have gone through to be so afraid, to recoil from his own mother''s touch?


    They always say a mother''s love is unconditional, but Effie couldn''t help but feel that, in Grace''s case, she seemed to love herself far more than she ever loved her


    son.


    Quietly, Effie slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her. Standing


    just outside were Annabel McCloud and Lindy, both watching anxiously.


    "How is Andie?" Annabel asked, her worry etched deep in her features.


    "He''s asleep now," Effie replied softly.


    Annabel let out a long sigh. "You''ve done so much for us. I never imagined things would turn out like this. If I''d known that lunatic Grace woulde back, I would have made sure she never set foot in this house again."