"All right, then," Lindy finally rxed, reassured. "If you need anything, just let me know."


    "Will do."


    After being discharged from the hospital, y and Grace went straight home.


    Life seemed to slip quietly back to normal. Everyone returned to their own routines, each person busy in their own world.


    Today was the Etheridge family''s monthly dinner.


    Fidelia Etheridge clung to Marcia''s hand, giving it a gentle shake. "Mom, please say yes. I really, really want to go."


    "No, absolutely not. You''re a young girl, and I wouldn''t feelfortable letting you go alone," Marcia insisted.


    Just then, Lindy and Effie came in.


    Fidelia immediately pointed at Effie. "You cane with me."


    Effie raised an eyebrow, confused. What''s going on? Since when were she and Fidelia on such friendly terms?


    She thought Fidelia was still holding a grudge about that awkward matchmaking dinner.


    "Go where, exactly?" Lindy asked.


    "To an escape room," Fidelia exined. "A real-life one. I promised some... friends I''d go with them this weekend. But Mom thinks it''s too risky for a girl to go alone."


    She turned to Effie. "So this weekend, you''reing with me."


    It wasn''t a suggestion-Fidelia sounded more like she was issuing amand.


    Effie was about to reply when Marcia, trying to sound gentle and reasonable, said, "Escape rooms and all this new stuff-we older folks don''t really get it. Effie, you''re young, about the same age as Fidelia. Maybe you could keep herpany?"


    Marcia''s tone was at least kinder, almost like she was asking for a favor.


    Effie didn''t agree. She said, "Sorry, I already have ns with a friend that day. I can''t bail on them."


    In truth, Effie had no such ns. She just didn''t want to go.


    She and Fidelia weren''t close. After that awkward dinner, there was still tension between them; Effie doubted Fidelia genuinely wanted her along.


    Fidelia seemed to have expected her refusal and snorted. "Fine, don''te. Whatever."


    Marcia frowned, seeing Fidelia''s disappointment. She tried to coax her daughter, then turned a pleading gaze to Effie "Effie as Fidelia''s sister-inw, couldn''t you just-"


    "No," Effie cut in.


    At that moment, Bancroft Etheridge strode in, his voice cold. "If Effie doesn''t want to go, why are you pushing her?"


    Marcia quickly protested, "Dad, we wouldn''t dream of forcing her."


    "Then let''s drop it," Bancroft said, his tone brooking no argument.


    With Bancroft''s decision made, no one dared pursue the matter further.


    After dinner, Bancroft asked Effie to stay behind for a game of chess.


    Nobody else was in a hurry to leave They were curious-Effie had won against Bancroft so many times before was it just luck or did she really have that much skill


    As it turned out, Effie was every bit as formidable as before. She won nearly every


    match, and even Bancroft had to admit defeat with a gracious smile.


    "Effie, did you ever study chess with a master?" Bancroft asked, looking at her with newfound respect.


    "I learned from my grandfather," Effie replied. "When I was little, he''d teach me whenever he had the time."


    A thought struck Bancroft. He hesitated, then asked, "Your grandfather—hisst name was Spencer, wasn''t it?"


    Effie found the question oddly


    endearing. Bancroft had visited her


    grother before and had


    addressed her as Mrs. Spencer Had he really forgotten so soon?


    But she answered honestly, "Yes."