The single chime resonated through Moira's brain and she tore her eyes from the page to glance up at the clock.  It was old, possibly an antique.  It had come with the house, which had been renovated ten years ago, but built in the late 1800's.  Her green eyes focused on the faded gold face plate as she read the time from the grandfather clock (http://www.proxibid.com/AuctionImages/2812/19886/1257_1.JPG).  6:30.  Her friends would be arriving shortly.<br/><br/>Sighing reluctantly, she bookmarked the page and pushed her chair away from the desk.  The wooden floorboards creaked their objections as she walked across them and into the kitchen.  The refrigerator door swung open, the suction pop familiar to her by now as she rummaged through leftover Tupperware and half-used jars of various color and brand.  Pushing aside last night's Chinese boxes, her hand reached through the chill to a sealed platter.  Her fingers gripped the flimsy plastic and she pulled out the dish and set it on the counter.  Over the next few minutes, several other items also ended up on the counter.  A pint of strawberries, three oranges, a stalk of celery, one cucumber and two green peppers all joined the saran-wrapped platter.<br/><br/>She shut the fridge and moved onto the next task.  Her hand clutched a drawer handle and she opened it and pulled out a knife.  The fruits and vegetables were then washed off and placed one-at-a-time on her cutting board.  She sliced them all into bite-sized pieces and put each variety of vegetable in their own small bowls.  The fruits were mixed together with two sliced bananas and cool whip and left to rest in a large glass bowl.  She rinsed the knife when she was through with it, and carried her snacks to the table.  Dipping vegetables with ranch and bleu cheese dressing, a mixed fruit parfait, and deviled eggs on their platter (now free of saran-wrap) were arranged neatly around her round oak table.  She set out napkins, coffee plates and glasses in front of each of the six chairs.  A bowl of mini-pretzels was placed as the centerpeice and she walked back to the den to check her clock.  6:50.  Ten minutes until Eagle Eye held their bi-monthly meeting.  Ten minutes before she shared with them her latest news.  She hoped it wouldn't be a mistake.