She Waits by Kate Sweeney

horrible." Then she laughed. "She actually had your car towed?"
    "Yeah. Look, the reason I called," I said and explained the situation. "What do you think?"
    "I think it sounds like I'll be there about noon."
    "Are you sure?" I asked again. "I have no idea what in the world is going on here, but I can feel it, Ter. This kid is in real trouble."
    "You get yourself in the strangest predicaments," Teri said. "Oh, hell, I have to talk to Mac. Can I call you back in five minutes?"
    I read her the number off the phone and went back into the kitchen. Hannah looked at me hopefully.
    "Well, Teri will come for sure. She's talking to Mac now to see if he can come. She's going to call back in a minute to let me know," I said, and then looked at both of them. "Are you sure you want to do this? You didn't want anyone to know about this, now you're about to have half my family here."
    "I'm sure, Kate. If they can help you then I'd like them to be here," Maggie said.
    The phone rang and Hannah left the room to answer it.
    Maggie was studying her wineglass and I could tell her thoughts were a million miles away. She looked up at me. "Sorry, my mind--"
    "I understand. You know there's safety in numbers. This might be a good thing."
    "I'm sure it will."
    Hannah came into the kitchen talking on the phone. "That will be fine, Teri. You and Mac are welcome, please come whenever you like... Noon? That will be wonderful. I'll have your room ready... it's no problem at all. Well, see you tomorrow dear. Here's Kate."
    She handed me the phone. I sat there with my mouth open staring at her.
    She looked at me. "It's a portable phone, dear. You put it to your ear and talk."
    As I took the phone from her, I heard Maggie chuckling in the background. "Hello," I said flatly.
    Teri was laughing on the other end. "We have to come now. She promised pie."
    I gave Teri the directions and was glad they were coming up for the weekend.
    Hannah brought the coffee to the table along with what I had hoped was homemade pound cake. She also brought another decanter. This time it was cognac.
    She looked at me and answered the questioning look on my face. "It complements the dessert," she said properly. She prepared the coffee, cognac and a piece of almond pound cake lavished with butter, for each of us.
    "Everything all set?" Maggie asked tiredly.
    "Yes, they'll be here around noon."
    I went to the big bay window behind the kitchen table. The rain had stopped and now there was only a cool autumn wind rapidly blowing the clouds. As the clouds passed, I could see the near full moon shining brightly. I started thinking about the present situation, wondering what I could do to help. What did I know? I looked at the moon and through my reverie, I heard Hannah calling me.
    Hannah looked at Maggie, who looked exhausted. "Look, I think we could all use a good night's sleep. Why don't you go to your room and take a nice hot bath, and go to bed? It's been a long day, sweetie," Hannah said.
    "I have to take Chance out. I think I'll skulk around the back yard," I said.
    Maggie whirled around to face me. "Don't, don't go out there."
    "Hey," I said. "I have to get Chance out. I'll be right back."
    "Promise you won't go into the woods?" she asked, putting her hand on my arm. "I'm not going upstairs until you come in."
    "Okay, I'll be right back." I gave her hand a reassuring pat.
    Chance had heard the word "out" and waited patiently at my side. "Come on, you mutt."
    Once outside, I realized how cold it was. I waited for Chance to finish as I watched the woods. Maggie spooked me, thank you very much, and now I had an eerie feeling I was being watched, and not by Maggie.
    It was cold and windy. The yard was unbelievably bright when the moon came out, then dark as pitch when it went behind the fast-moving clouds. As I looked out at the woods, my imagination got the better of me.
    In the dark of the night, at the edge of the woods, I thought for sure I saw someone looking at me. Just