Page 11 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Pullingher cart to the side to keep the aisle clear, Sana greeted the woman. "Oh,Ardath, I'm so sorry I didn't even recognize you."
"No,no do not even worry about it. I haven't been able to dye my hair in yearssince I'm either pregnant or breastfeeding," she raised a hand to combnervously through her shoulder-length brown hair. "And I'm as big as ahouse, so there's that."
Sanalaughed. "You are not that big, and congratulations."
"Thankyou, you're sweet, but I swear to God I'm so over it at this point,"Ardath let out a ragged sigh, immediately sinking into the familiar comfortwith her as if there hadn't been years between their last visit at all."Kevin doesn't yet realize it, but this is our last one. If he wants more,he can have them. Anyways, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble. After Kevin toldme you had moved back into town for good, I thought we should have a welcomeparty for you," she beamed at her suggestion. Before Sana could evenprocess or respond, Ardath continued right along excitedly. "Just you, me,and some other women you may remember—mostly Waatese women."
"Wait,did you say Kevin? Kevin Waatese is your husband?" Sana was desperatelytrying to put together the influx of information.
"Yes,"she smiled proudly. "He told me you’re his new boss."
"No,not at all," Sana rushed to correct. "We will simply be workingtogether on a few projects."
"You'reso modest, Sana," Ardath patted her playfully on the arm. "I just knewyou would be the same sweet Sana that would watch crappy horror movies with meback then. I'm so glad you're back."
Adark unmoving shape in her peripheral caught Sana's attention. A thindisheveled looking man stood at the end of the aisle, staring directly at her.His dark empty gaze kept moving back and forth over her features, never stayingin one place too long. It was as if he was scanning every detail of her body,clothes, and features and committing it to memory. Sana took an instinctive stepback from his intrusive stare.
Followingher line of sight, Ardath pursed her lips in a frown before setting them into atight fake smile. Waving, she called out to the man. "Hello, Mr. Becker.How are you doing today?"
Lookingas if he mumbled something under his breath, the man gave Sana one last darklook before walking away.
"Thatis just Walter Becker," Ardath said, turning back to her with a loweredvoice. "He moved in about five or six years ago; he runs the gas station.Don't worry about him, he is like that with everybody," Ardath assuredher. "Greasy old bastard. Anyways, how about tomorrow night around six?Does that sound good?"
"Oh."Sana had to shake her head to clear her thoughts from that awful man's stareand remember that Ardath mentioned something about a welcome dinner. "Umm,yeah sure, that sounds fine."
"Okgreat, don't worry about food. We will all bring the food as a welcome gift toyou."
Laterthat night, Sana sat in the breakfast nook in her kitchen and worked on her laptop.Reaching for her wine glass, she took a sip of the sweet red wine beforeforking another bite of the sautéed vegetables of diced onions, cappedmushrooms, yellow squash, and asparagus. She had cooked it in a homemade herbbutter her grandmother taught her how to make a few years ago. Reading over herdocument again, she saved it and sent it off to the mayors, and sent anothermore informal version to the Waatese crew. Shutting her laptop, Sana leanedback in the bench seat with her back against the wall. The breakfast nook was afeature both her grandparents and parents hated about the kitchen andconstantly debated over the years getting it changed. With a walk-in pantry onone side of it and the door that led to a small basement on the other, the nookwas set up a lot like a restaurant booth with two long wooden benches and atabletop that led to a large window at the end. Sana loved it, she always had.She loved snuggling against the cool glass with a warm drink and staring acrossthe lawn to the forest that bordered the property.
Withonly the dim overhead light from the stove still on, Sana was able to look outthe window perfectly into the night. Tonight was one of those brighter thannormal fall nights that made it feel eerie and magical all at the same time.Looking past the old swing set that still sat rusted in the backyard, shescanned the tree line. Her eyes stopped at the darkest spot, where the light ofthe night seemed to be repelled. Leaning forward until her forehead nearlytouched the glass, she squinted harder at the odd black shape. Two white dotssuddenly reflected back at her within the darkness.
Goingvery still, Sana barely breathed as she stared back at the two glowing eyes.Slowly and deliberately, the dark void moved forward until she could see twolarge paws reaching forward with each step. The black wolf was back.
Prowlingslowly around the swing set, it stalked closer and closer until he stood at thebottom of the stairs at the back door. Not once did it take its eyes from hers.Sitting down, it gave her a waiting stare.
Whatdid it want? Fear kept her rooted to her seat while curiosity kept her gazelocked onto the wolf.
Asif sensing her trepidation, the large wolf moved its front paws and laid downwhile keeping its head upright. The change in position only made her curiositygrow larger. It looked so soft. Its midnight black fur made her long to reachout and stroke the creature. Sliding off the bench, Sana moved to stand at thebackdoor and peered out the window and down the steps to where it sat. Cockingits head to the side with canine curiosity, the creature watched and waited. Ifshe opened the door, would it be startled? Even if she opened the door, therewas still a secondary glass storm door that would stand between her and thewolf, meaning she would still have some sort of protection.
Herhand paused over the doorknob. What was she even thinking? This was a wolf! Awild wolf that could kill her within minutes if it wanted to. Looking back outthe window, she could see that its ears had perked up as it continued to stareat her expectantly. It didn't look vicious, she mentally hedged, though thatwas probably its ploy. It was most likely using its big furry body and majesticgolden gaze to lure idiotic animal lovers out of their house and then eat them.Her hand lowered from the door handle at the thought.
Pullingits ears back flat against its head, the wild creature gave her the mostpitiful look she had ever seen as it lowered its head between its paws.
DearGod, that was low. Frowning, she grabbed the doorknob and turned. Excitedly,the wolf lifted its head but remained laying down, its black, flagging tailwaved with happiness behind it.
Standingnow with only a thin glass door between them, Sana stared at the seeminglydocile beast. Now that the door was open, her confidence in this crazy decisionwas fading fast. The thing was massive, easily about five feet long and two anda half maybe three feet tall. What was she thinking?! Stepping backwardquickly, she shut the door and locked it. Not looking back, she shut off thelight and went upstairs.
~*~
Takinganother bite of the delicious crispy fish, Sana did her best not to let out agroan of contentment. It was probably the best fish she had ever eaten in herlife.
"It'sgood, isn't it?" Ardath said, sitting across the table from her."Sandra makes the best fried fish in the entire county."
Justas promised, Ardath and two other women showed up at Sana's door directly atsix-o-clock. Gathered at her dining room table, the women laid out enough foodto feed at least double the amount of people: sautéed vegetables, casseroles,pie, dinner rolls, and a huge dish of fried fish.
"Iwill be more than happy to give you the recipe Sana," Sandra offered.
WhenSana recognized the woman stepping through her door behind Ardath, her stomachimmediately hollowed with nervous energy. She had only seen and spoken toZach's mother a handful of times all those summers ago, and most of thosetimes, she had no idea it was Zach's mom. She was simply the soft-spoken beautythat appeared in town occasionally and volunteered for the handful of cityevents. On sight, it was apparent the woman was a Waatese. From her darkhoneyed complexion and midnight black hair, Sandra had passed her fine featuresdirectly to her renegade son. All except the eyes, of course. Where her son'sand brother-in-law's eyes were the traditional Waatese gold, her eyes were abeautiful garnet brown that gave anyone who looked at them a sense of warmth.
