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She unfolded the newspaper she’d bought and idly read the local section, noting all the advertise place at the parks She wondered idly if Dan was going to play Raccoon Ralph with fangs or dress up as Franken-coon

As she sat there, still looking at her paper, she suddenly realized that she wasn’t alone, that someone had joined her at the little table with the umbrella overhead

Then it started

A sense of chills like icy water sweeping down her spine

She didn’t want to look up

And yet…

She felt as if she had to

The breeze stirred, and it was alic, poignant…

It was the breeze, she told herself, and finally looked up

She exhaled, feeling like a fool There was no one there

S in embarrassment at her own lunacy, she picked up her coffee and headed for her car Ten minutes later, she turned down her street and pulled into her driveway

The ain That terrible, chilling sensation As if she was not alone As if so her

There’s no one here, she told herself No one This was the sa that had happened at the coffee shop

Still, she i in alone She sat on the porch and tried Mike’s nu machine She tried Dan next, and he answered

"What’s up, cuz?" he asked

"What are you doing?"

"Watching TV, killing ti shift," he told her Then, carefully, he asked, "Why?"

She hesitated "Is there any chance you can coain

"I…it’s silly I keep thinking someone is in the house," she adh "Christie…are you afraid that Gran is haunting the house or soht I’ll be there in a few ht that she’d had to call her cousin to co stupid Like go into a house where a

Dan made it to the house in record time She rose froot out of the car "Let’s see what’s up, kid," he said, stepping past her and entering the house She followed hih the ground floor, and she only caught up with him as he hurried up the stairs

There was no one downstairs, and not a sound--other than the old floorboards creaking beneath their feet--could be heard as they went to check the bedroo, Dan paused, hands on hips, staring at her "Maybe you should sell this place," he said softly

"No way," she said fir"

With a groan, he checked the bedrooms one by one, then pulled down the stairs to the attic It wasn’t a spooky attic; it ell used and even well lit There was a rocker by the littlethat now looked over the neighbor’s yard but had once offered a view of a sloping green hill There were trunks and boxes, an old love seat and an overstuffed chair, and even a braided rug set between those so people could sit and play games

It had always been a faer, a presence, or anyone who shouldn’t have been there

"Basement," she said

Dan rolled his eyes ireed, and they traipsed back down the stairs

The door to the baseht switch, and they headed down into another bright, co table in the center of the e chairs There was a wet bar in the corner, and the laundry roo else

"Okay?" Dan asked

"Yeah, thanks," she said aardly "I’m…uh…sorry I bothered you"

He set an arhtly patted the top of her head "Don’t worry about it"

"Thanks," she said lightly

"And…well, you are living here alone You’re right to be careful Call anytime, Christie I’ll be here"

Back upstairs, she asked hi to eat or drink