Nancy Merical

One for Agnes, One for Effie Nancy Merical

Soon after Lizzy Walker's sister, Effie, attempts suicide over a miscarriage and the later tragic death of a newborn son, mentally-challenged Lizzy accompanies her aunt on a visit to the home of Agnes Knopp, a woman frazzled from caring for a four-year-old daughter and identical twins. Sharing a package of M& M's with the four-year-old daughter, compassionate Lizzy comes up with what she, in her innocence, considers a perfect solution for two women in distress: "one for Agnes, one for Effie." When Lizzy's Aunt Hester brushes aside her niece's idea as unreasonable, and she overhears her sister's husband blaming her for her sister's losses and threatening to institutionalize her, Lizzy takes matters into her own hands. On her flawed and dangerous mission of mercy, with hopes of also regaining her brother-in-law's affection, Lizzy meets a soulmate, his feisty mother, a courageous hound and a compassionate preacher. Will this odd rescue team bring about a happy ending for Lizzy and all concerned or merely complicate the already serious situation? Humor adds relief to this heart-wrenching story, which came about due to a dream Nancy had years ago, after watching Savanna Smiles, a humorous but touching TV drama where a little girl's kidnappers are forever changed by their association with the precocious child. Nancy says, "if I could have somehow recorded my dream, the writing of this book would have been easier, but here it is, a few years and several rewrites later. I hope it touches your heart, as Savanna Smiles did mine."