he peered at me over his glasses . she watched his boots as he nervously shifted from one foot to the other , and that scared her all the more . thick gray clouds smothered the sky . `` you do n't know that , but i hope you 're right . that 's why he hauled me across the border . you dont return , he shakes his head . leaving the half-and-half on the counter , i crossed to the bar stool where i 'd hung my coat and pulled my phone out of the pocket . 