if there be thorns

Cathy and Chris now live together as "husband" and "wife". The book is narrated by Cathy's two children, Jory and Bart. Chris and Cathy now have a child together (adopted), Cindy. Jory is handsome and is taking up ballet, but Bart is misunderstood. The two boys enjoy playing at an abandoned mansion beside their house, and are saddened when they are not allowed to play there anymore because an old lady is moving in. The boys become very curious about the old lady and begin to spy on her. Bart goes more often then Jory and soon the old lady invites him in for milk and cookies. She tells him to call her "Grandmother". Bart becomes stranger than he ever was before and begins saying very cruel things to his mother. John Amos Jackson, the butler that is mentioned in the other books, is now the cause for more heartache for the Sheffield family. He tells Bart that all women are sinful. He gives Bart Malcom Foxworth's journal and tells Bart to read it every night and take in his words. Bart starts to think that he is