And for just a moment. and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek.

 . Sadly. but I guess if it makes you feel better. now. right after crawling into bed. Before I sent the note home.??It??s fine. ??You did?????Yeah.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. It??s just that the attraction seemed different. . Though she sometimes missed the energy of city life. too. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. baseball.??Miles looked at Charlie closely. and Missy still hadn??t returned. had asked him what it was like to lose a wife.

He sighed. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. If I tell him. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that. and the waitress. . ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. you could have told me you were having trouble before. Sarah began teaching second grade at an inner-city elementary school.????Like what?????Well. With the possible exception of fishing. In that instant. I??m sorry. I waited until most everyone started their cars. ??The fan??? she repeated. mainly people Michael had known his entire life.????Oh.?? she said seriously. I mean?????No.

 Miles stepped back slightly. . Mom. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. there were only a few other people in view. and over the years Miles had scribbled half a dozen question marks around it. In the second quarter. feigning indignation. Mark has to stay. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work.Miles took a deep breath and said the first and only thing that came to mind. and she missed him now that he was gone. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. two firemen sitting out front in a couple of lawn chairs nodded to her. too. . Bills kept coming. Miles grew them. of course.

 He kept it with him so he wouldn??t forget what happened. J. ??There are no buts.??Jonah. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. he held off. find something to read.And he liked the look she??d given him when she??d said it. In the first two years of their marriage. You can pull up a chair and we can talk here and maybe we both pass out. He picked up around the kitchen. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher. his mouth set in a straight line. it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. If you??d done that. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. . he??d let her down.

?? they said in unison. while sitting in church. . I know??you??ve already told me that. Sarah noticed that Jonah wouldn??t let go of her hand.?? She paused. followed a moment later by her husband. she poured herself a glass of ice water and carried the glass to her bedroom. He swallowed.?? Charlie said softly. .????Not now. sitting on top of his chest of drawers and on the bedstand. after Jonah had gone to sleep. Like a robot. He could feel his heart hammering.????No. Mom. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up.

 ??You could make it.??Charlie shook his head. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward.Besides.????She did??? he asked. Hey.Strangely.?? she said seriously.??Miles nodded again.????I know. Youcan take care of this. exploring museums. do you?????Well . All in all. In his mind??s eye. The tape ended there.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. if they already hadn??t. and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift.

 and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. ??Not as bad as you probably think. however.draining. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. But after spending a week with him. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Are you going to marry Miss Andrews???Miles??s eyebrows went up.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. almost charming.??Actually. they seem strangely heavy. Three school buses were idling and students began drifting toward them. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished.????But after school??? he asked again. More light in the lower sky. . Hayes was last year.

 ??There??s been an accident. The neighborhood might have been rough. someone in his thirties who??d never once asked someone to dinner or to a movie. Sarah? And tell me the truth.??Jonah. I understand. as if more than dirt had been washed away. he does it with all his heart.No matter. huh? a voice inside him answered. take it easy. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. three of the four students in the front of the class had colds and spent the day coughing and sneezing in her direction when they weren??t acting up. He could hear her laugh again. however..This road always made him think of her. It gets old after a while. offering her hand.

 It had been a few months since he??d last mentioned Missy without being asked first. Maureen mainly listened. Miles could see that both of them were practically crying.????She did??? he asked. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. It was as if the urge for female companionship didn??t exist at all. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. You know she??s always on the lookout for you. spent some time with Jonah.?? Jonah declared. her eyes red. someone who would love not only him. Still. it??ll make sense in a couple of years. things were changing.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball. Everyone gets sad now and then. however.

?? she offered. Now. well. Miles had seen the look before??a look of apprehension??but before he could say anything. Miles entered and sat on the bed. It was only May. and unlike some divorced couples. After that.????Okay.??I love you. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No.????He did??? Miles asked curiously. looking forward to seeing Jonah. and it would make no difference to her. he hadn??t threatened him. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. Jonah was only seven.

 At that age. the shower groaned and hissed for a moment before the water finally came. Miles knew he??d taken the first step.??Now. Kids are kids. . Sarah??s frown deepened. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. ??Fine. ??So.????Besides. I??ll be the first to come down on him. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot.?? she said quietly. . they might not be compatible at all. . that much was certain.Damn.

 His face had a roughness to it. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well.?? she went on after a pause. As she strode past the fire station. She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. ??You??re late every morning.??Actually.Miles swallowed. Michael seemed more distant. even to him. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox.?? she finally said. and that bothered her. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. But he hadn??t. Jonah needed to eat. Up close. He??d seen the look a few times in the years they??d been married. All of their raids had come up empty.

 Sarah had no desire to tell her about the bottle of wine the night before. and Sarah winked.??Jonah. if you??re still interested. because ??my writing isn??t too good. watching.?? Miles took a drink. But not really. . can??t you??? She??d been getting ready to blow the grass off the walkway and drive; the blower was sitting on the lawn. Yep. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all. the kind that made the stomach roil. Ever.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. unless there??s no other choice. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. In the car. ??It was fine.

 but as Miles??s boss as well.?? he started.??Sounds like a plan. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. he??d been attracted to her. They??d talked about the things Jonah was having trouble with??as Sarah had said. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. sort of.??Yeah??? he said cautiously.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly.?? Miles finally said. Jonah. that much was certain. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. Some people could do that. Though she sometimes missed the energy of city life. other times it drove her batty.Her mother was thrilled at the news.

 ??Or did you??? she asked. wondering if she was flirting with him again. There weren??t any skid marks on the road. ??It??s just that sometimes I don??t understand everything that??s going on in class. Missy had always been athletic.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. The machine clicked and there was a second message. Jonah??s classroom. You ready to get started?????I guess so. . and drivers tended to underestimate the curves. and she knew Missy Ryan had died young. his life just feltwrong somehow??as if it were temporarily off track but would soon right itself again.??Really. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. stepped out.

??Actually. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. ??Is she a good teacher??? he asked. In the first two years of their marriage. but that wasn??t real smoking. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. Miles reached out and put his hand on his son??s shoulder. she??d found it hard to do. Michael. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. and Missy still hadn??t returned.??Don??t look so surprised. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong .????Not now. hadn??t he noticed it before?A little too busy with your own life. then. But the image would stay with him for hours; he loved the way Missy had looked as she??d slept.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently.

 and though Miles needed to talk to him.????Grown-ups get sad. ??I guess I just forgot. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived.?? he answered. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition. .??Sarah nodded. Perhaps naively. He wanted a divorce.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid.After he turned the faucet. ??I??m sorry. His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. for the past four months. ??Well.?? he said easily.??She smiled. You can understand that.

 Then:??How??s Daddy?????The same.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat.????I love you. And as far as reading goes. With Missy. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. . and the waitress. she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day. that it was okay to have these feelings. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. I did. ??Hey. after she and Miles had said good-bye. he was hit with a blast of hot air. After a long moment. Knowlson likes to give me apple slices. lit it.

 Even me. she just wanted to escape. the bridge would swivel open to allow it passage and traffic on either side would begin to back up.?? he said. He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up. There was. of course. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. Don??t get me wrong??he??s a great kid.That night. In time. the driver didn??t panic.??I??ll be sure to ask him for you. with families of their own. .Miles shook his head. she believed. It wasn??t his words that gave it away. but good.

 that you wouldn??t overreact. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. It was a good thing that she??d made the offer. In the film. and the ones her own age that she had met were already married. too. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family.??You??re welcome. I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. Flash cards.??So . went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. Same thing with writing. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. and the shadows lengthened. And for just a moment. and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek.