The Waiting: A Supernatural Thriller by Joe Hart Page A

his wineglass.
    “Me too.”
    A silence stretched out, broken only by Shaun talking to his cars and the tinkling of the wind chimes.
    “Professional question,” Evan said after a while.
    “Oh no, here it comes,” Selena said, smiling.
    “Nothing too weird, I’m actually curious about cabin fever.”
    “Why, are you already feeling isolated out here?”
    “No, nothing like that, it’s just —”
    He hovered over the subject, not knowing whether to get into it or not. The night was going so well.
    “The former caretaker here, Bob, he di sappeared a couple months ago.”
    Selena frowned. “Yeah, I think I heard something about that.”
    Evan nodded. “People seem to think he walked off in the middle of winter . Is that common with someone in isolation?”
    Selena pursed her lips. “It can be. The claustrophobia and isolated feeling people get after being alone or confined to a small area for a period of time usually results in them doing something that’s out of character.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like someone who is normally an early riser sleeps longer and longer into the day. Peaceful people become irritable, violent sometimes. Reason can be lost if the person doesn’t do anything to remedy the situation.”
    “So wandering off into the woods in the middle of winter could be a possibility?”
    “Sure. And mind you, some people are more resistant to isolation than others, they can handle being alone and not be any worse for wear.” She studied hi s expression. “Why do you ask?”
    Evan drained the last of his wine, feeling the pleasant buzz weaken with the conversation. “Yo u’re going to think I’m crazy.”
    “If I had a quarter.”
    He chuckled. “I bet. No, it’s—” He glanced at Shaun, who intently watched the lake. “It’s disturbing being here when I don’t know what happened to the last guy, you know? I have these feelings that ... that he isn’t really gone.”
    “You mean , like he’s hiding somewhere on the island?”
    Evan frowned. “Maybe? I don’t know . It’s unsettling, that’s all.”
    “I can see how it could be, you have a ton of responsibility,” she said , motioning to Shaun. “The weight of that sometimes does funny things to our minds. Makes us worry when there isn’t anything to fear. Not to say you’re unstable. A new location coupled with the last caretaker’s disappearance might have sent your protectiveness into overdrive.”
    Evan sat back in his chair , surprised by how much Selena’s words made sense. “I never thought about it that way. You’re probably right.”
    “A girl never gets tired of hearing that.”
    He smiled. “Would you like another glass of wine?”
     
    ~
     
    An hour later, he walked Selena to the door. The evening fell around the island in a cool hush that brought stillness to everything. Even the waves along the shoreline seemed calmer.
    Selena paused on the stoop. “I had a really nice time tonight with you guys, thank you for dinner.”
    “No problem, it’s great to have company, keeps the cabin fever away.”
    She laughed an d pulled out a business card from her pocket. “My home number’s on the back. I transfer it to my cell when I’m out in case I get an emergency call from the office for a patient.”
    He reached out to take the card from her, a simple act, but one that held so much more weight for him. He hesitated before accepting it. A small flash of uncertainty crossed Selena’s face.
    “Thank you,” he said , as lightly as he could. “And you already have mine.”
    S he blushed again and nodded. “Have a nice night,” she said, holding out her hand.
    He took it, feeling the softness of her skin again , and instead of shaking it, he just held it for a moment before letting go. “You too.”
    She turned and moved toward the dock , and he watched her go, wanting to say more, and at the same time, glad the night was over. When she was out of sight, he carried Shaun to the bathroom and helped him brush his