Page 85 of Whistle

Daniel looked. Not that there was anything to see this time of night, but he knew that up that way was the derelict railroad crossing. For a moment he considered heading up to the house to tell Annie that if there was anything he could do, let him know, but their last meeting had not ended well, so he went back inside.

When he got back under the covers, Dolores asked, “Did she see it?”

“I didn’t speak to her. The boy wandered off, but she found him.”

“For now,” Dolores said, then rolled over and closed her eyes.

Now, sitting at the dinner table, she said, “Any time now.”

“You took your meds? Don’t want a repeat of what happened during that storm.”

Dolores said, “I took them. Maybe you should make some coffee.”

Daniel said, “I’ll clean up, make a pot.”

He started the coffee first, then rinsed off the plates and loaded the dishwasher. He was putting in the last fork—the one Dolores had used to eat her pie, and there wasn’t a single crumb on it—when there was a knock.

Dolores pushed back her chair and went into the living room as Daniel closed the dishwasher and went to the front door.

Annie stood there on the porch, looking apologetic.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hi, Annie. Come on in.”

“Thanks,” she said, but before accepting the invitation, she turned and said, “You just wait there.”

“Okay.”

Daniel peered down the porch steps and saw Charlie sitting there.

“He’s welcome, too,” Daniel said.

“He’s fine.”

He opened the door wider for her and led her into the living room, where Dolores was sitting in a recliner, staring at the television, which was tuned in toJeopardy!, but the sound was muted.

“Would it be okay,” Daniel asked, “if I took Charlie out a piece of peach pie? I’m afraid there’s no ice cream left, but the pie is delicious.”

“That would be... that’s very kind of you. Charlie would love that.”

“You have a seat and I’ll be right back.”

Daniel vanished into the kitchen, while Annie sat down on an angle from Dolores. “Good evening,” Annie said. “I’m sorry to drop in on you like this.”

Dolores, not taking her eyes from the TV, said, “I was expecting you.”

The front door opened and closed. Annie could hear Daniel offering Charlie some pie, and a quiet, “Thank you very much,” in reply. Seconds later, Daniel reappeared, offering coffee.

“Yes, that would be nice,” Annie said. “A bit of milk.”

“On it.”

He brought out a cup for her and one for himself. “Dolores doesn’t like coffee this late. Keeps her up.”

He sat and said, “I’m sorry if I offended you the other day, bringing up that business.”

Annie waved it off. “I was being oversensitive. What happened to me, it’s no secret. It’s out there.”

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