Annabel saw a man sitting at the big dining table in the sunny kitchen, his eyes sharp like a hawk's watching every move. His brooding gaze scared her even more, making her little heart beat fast like a drum.
He was tall and scary like a giant from her bedtime stories, with no kindness in his stern face at all. This man was also much bigger and rougher, with broad shoulders and a face that looked like it never smiled!
Annabel took a quick step back right away, her sneakers squeaking on the shiny floor. She was always very careful about stranger danger, just like Mommy taught her, and she feared random scary-looking adults who showed up out of nowhere. Her mind raced with all the warnings from school about not talking to strangers.
"W-Who are you?!" Annabel asked loudly, her voice almost
