"Grace," I heard off in the distance. "Grace, look who's home. Come on, honey."

I sat up and gazed around. "Grace."

I turned. Mommy was beckoning to me from the rear patio. "Come here." she was calling.

I stood up. Someone was coming up behind her. "Daddy?" I muttered.

I saw him step alongside her. He took off his hat. and then he saluted. Two fingers.

Daddy?

"Daddy!" I cried, and I ran as hard and as fast as I could back to the rear loggia.

Only when I got there no one was there. Not even Mommy.

My legs seemed to sail out from under me.

18

Subterfuge

.

When I opened my eves I was looking up at

Mommy, and I was in my room lying in my bed. Jakks, our butler, was standing at the foot of the bed. looking very concerned through his gray eyes and bushy eyebrows.

"Thanks far your help. Jakks." Mommy said. "She'll be fine. I'm sure." She put her hand over my forehead and handed me a glass of water. -Go on, drink some water, Grace."

"If you need me, I'll be right downstairs. Mrs. Scott." Jakks said.

"Thank you Go on. Grace, take the glass and

drink some water. C'mon, sit up. I don't understand

this emotional hysteria. What's wrong with you? You

don't seem to have any fever, and your color is good." I took the glass from her and sipped same

water. -Am I awake?" I asked her.

"No, you're in Never-never Land. What is going

on with you, Grace? You're worse than ever, and just

when I have so many things to do. Well, talk." she

urged.

I simply sipped some water, "Apparently, from what the maid told me, you

ate a good breakfast, and you've been eating good

lunches and dinners, so there's nothing wrong with

Your appetite. What do I have to do, put you in some

mental clinic or something? Because I will if you

Tags: V.C. Andrews De Beers Horror
Source: readsnovelonline.net