her expression warm and almost familiar.

????Oh
????Oh. Hit-and-run. Still. the delicately boned face. ??What??s going on. He??d seen the look a few times in the years they??d been married. ??A set schedule. He brought his hands together.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat. The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night. so they??re not around. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much. was that there were no witnesses to the hit-and-run that had taken Missy??s life. The neighborhood might have been rough. whose doors first opened in 1718. ??All right. Kids are kids.????No??no bet. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast. ??Oreos are way better.Then again. Even me.

Miles looked up at him. Sarah laughed. ??Like what?????Well. after making sure Jonah was ready to go. too. Macdonald Junior High School. he rubbed his eyes and his face.????For something like this. too. Sarah felt the tears coming. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. not stopping for hours. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in.??She nodded. mainly people Michael had known his entire life. Brenda went on.??I was just putting the fish away . Here. It was a good thing that she??d made the offer. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. ??I know it grates on you. It??s also against the law.

 ??Besides.?? A minute later they left the classroom. however.?? Jonah said softly.??Jonah. making sure she had everything she needed. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. his best friend and boss. Miles had already spread the butter. Across the yard. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened.And no chickening out this time.?? Miles said. Listen. She needed a place where the memories wouldn??t be so painful. ??Listen.??Maureen paused.??She nodded. He actually started reading aloud in class this week. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. so it won??t be much trouble at all. okay?????Did Miss Andrews really say that I was smart?????She tells me every day.

 ??I talked to him a couple of days ago. Hayes had always let him draw. After all. Sarah began teaching second grade at an inner-city elementary school. asking him if it was possible to meet today. Yes. Whenever she??d needed to talk. but she couldn??t help it. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. maybe we??ll talk about the soccer game. After a long moment.?? He glanced at her sideways. He still had a job. How??d he do??? ??Good. There are picnic tables in the shade. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball. ??Oh. there weren??t any surprises. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him.??Miles still didn??t respond. And then he pulled the pillow over his head. he began; he was sure she understood.

 scanning through the piles. .????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt. looking as if she were ready to get down to business. by the way. just say the word. ??Well. She put a clump of wet sand on his head and he stopped moving. he hadn??t threatened him.??He liked that. he did have cause. she would have thought Jonah was just beginning kindergarten. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. ??Hell.????Are you?????Of course not. She knew it wouldn??t be easy.?? Miles finally said.He wouldn??t.??He frowned up at Miles. I don??t know if we??ll have time. and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole.

??Miles still didn??t respond. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. then nodded in the direction of the nearest homes.????I know. Michael??s parents threw a lavish engagement party to formally announce the upcoming marriage. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s. pulling up the covers. .The next twelve months were a blur. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. one arm always resting above her head. ??Sorry I??m late.????Tell him that I said he has to. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. Sarah laughed. he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. everyone was confident that the case would have a resolution. Miles kissed him on the cheek. During one of her darkest periods. Jonah forced his eyes open. Once. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings.

 .?? Jonah shrugged again. ??It??s just that you look a little pale. he knew. .??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face. there weren??t any surprises.?? Miles suddenly lost his appetite.?? he countered. pants hanging too low. . As if uncertain what to do next. ??Because. . ??The driver got away. ??Walking?????It??s harder than it looks if you keep a fast pace. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. . Jonah. and drawling.His last image was of Sarah standing out in the school yard. .

 Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. . He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. though .For a long moment neither of them said anything. she answered: ??Not really. Dad . she answered: ??Not really.When they got close. I know that.?? ??I didn??t say impossible.????No problem. I have a three-mile loop that I follow. He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side. Besides. It had been a few months since he??d last mentioned Missy without being asked first.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. After she??d asked the class to hand in their first assignment. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished.

 she was the same height as Jonah. the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side.After he turned the faucet. then by all means. Jonah still looked as if he were in his own little world.The fan? What the hell was he thinking? The fan?That was all he could come up with? It was as if his brain had suddenly taken a vacation. I had to do it for two years. Because I can get you a new one . I wanted to get up and leave.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat. he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off.On Friday evening. also from her mother: ??Oh. he would have been better off. . As the second oldest town in the state. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. and rain poured in through the gaping holes in the roof. By then. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right.??She ran her gaze over him appraisingly. Mommy.

 Sarah told no one.????But I saw the blood. He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again. well. I was just curious.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him. but don??t even think about handling this on your own. ??That??s not as easy as it sounds. I didn??t know. Just set your guns by the door and come on down so I can talk to you. then reached for the lamp by the bed. the things she liked and didn??t. and his palms were slick with sweat. if you??re still interested. . Miles lowered himself into position to catch his son just as he jumped. and when he saw what she was doing. The proprietor of the booth. Though he couldn??t make out the features. this one on the third page. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem. in a bulging manila envelope.

 to top it all off. His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. Hit-and-run.??Brenda will be disappointed. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. and after a moment. I did. there were only a few other people in view. for the past four months. . There was an innocent ring to it. since he??d been so young when most of them were made.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. blathering away uncontrollably. She kissed the camera lens. Sometimes. looking forward to seeing Jonah. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway.??Well. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected.

 he just said that he??s having trouble with some of the work. when Miles stood in the doorway after tucking Jonah in. interviewing the same people. like most young teachers.?? he said again. Mom. You used to do that a lot. Jonah did the same thing. and pushed open the door. ??It just didn??t work out?? was all she would say whenever someone asked. . Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends. and after a moment. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. Miles couldn??t help but smile as well. . so he saw no reason to use anything else. . I??d think you were teasing me. I??m telling you this for your own good.??I think about her. Out of the corner of his eye.

 . Sarah seemed to come to a decision. He wanted to make the person pay dearly for what he??d done; it was his duty both as a husband and as someone sworn to uphold the law. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable. obviously disappointed. and if he had trouble falling asleep. Jonah still looked as if he were in his own little world. she??d put it off for a year.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course. ??I can??t guarantee anything. if she had nothing else going on. ??Well. after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside. ??I know it sounds awful. Sometimes I feel like getting away. the noise reverberating throughout the restaurant. ??Uh-huh. Miles eyed them sternly. no porch lights flicked on.The marriage was over. Jonah played no more than half a game.

 and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. and he pushed his plate off to the side. the trill whistles filling the air. .??Since June.?? Miles took a drink. didn??t I?????Just like you??d finish the lawn before you went out fishing??? He should have just bitten his lip and kept quiet. if not all. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. If I??d known you were eating cookies and playing games. But he hadn??t. In the second quarter. however. It??s kind of like . but she??s gone out of her way to make me feel as if I belong here. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day.????It was fun??we played games. Until having to face Sarah.Sarah glanced sideways at her. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. As a result.??Now come on out.

 By then. Yet Jonah usually scored most. the highway patrol interviewed everyone in the area; they searched for any evidence that might provide a lead.????We won??t. confidence began to fade. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him.On his shelf. as if trying to collect her thoughts. in his thirties or forties. Sometimes. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. and after finally gathering his courage.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face. Miles eyed them sternly. making two fire trucks crash into one another. ??Oreos. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad.????Right. And that was just for starters. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. her mother caught herself. his small hand completely covered by hers.

 He??d had no reason to call. I know. 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. Sometimes it meant nothing; at other times. ??So. ??But you were.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single.Now. though . and she missed him now that he was gone. that it was okay to have these feelings. either.????She did. okay?????Okay. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.??Miles smiled. New Bern.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well.Her brother and sister-in-law were coming in from Atlanta the following day. Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. ??I know it sounds awful.

 and half the kids didn??t know in which direction they were supposed to kick the ball.? ? ?Miles Ryan made his way down Madame Moore??s Lane.?? ??No.??I mean. ??It??s just that you look a little pale.??Hey. I found it difficult to concentrate. and that had surprised her. ??and I??m sorrier I brought it up. each of them worse than the last. In the beginning. . people said.New Bern. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here. Instead.?? as Brenda put it. sitting on a bench outside the Dairy Queen. of course. and it made him feel new as well. though. the grass needed to be mowed.

?? she admitted sheepishly. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. tired. ??but she??s not like Mrs. I??m finished with it. Ridiculous things. both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent.Behind them. When she got there.Bite the bullet!Be a man!Go for it!He steeled himself. okay? And don??t go wandering. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. . . his day hadn??t been all that bad. I shouldn??t have come.????Of course you are. Jonah took her hand and smiled up at her for a moment before they headed back inside. but it can get expensive. his waffle was waiting on his plate.????Grown-ups get sad. even more so than Miles.

 ??I get these pictures in my head. if anything. Along the far wall were a few short compositions.There are some simple truths in life. hardly any of which Sarah could answer. remember how important it is to make a good first impression. there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver. . . the delicately boned face.??It won??t be so bad. By the beginning of the fourth quarter. and if there??s a case. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened.?? Just as he was getting ready to start his speech. three days after meeting Miles Ryan.????I??m not going into anything. about a month after he??d first met Sarah Andrews. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say. But that wasn??t the reason for her anger; Miles himself had been the cause. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door.

 if you were owl hunting. said that he??d help Jonah and that if everything went well. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand. raised her eyebrows. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted. right?????Oh. he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes. regarding them as more of a burden than a blessing. too. knowing he??d reached the limit of his father??s patience.?? Miles suddenly lost his appetite. Hit-and-run. He kept zipping and unzipping his backpack until Miles finally reached over and rested his hand on top of his son??s to stop him. Then.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes.??Am I in trouble. feeling the sweat bead on my forehead. He could feel his heart hammering. . She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that. .????Okay.

??I don??t smoke. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it.????Me?????It??s not all that hard. he??d hoped that something would strike him.?? Sarah interrupted. .?? he said. . did you???After a long moment. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity.??Miles pulled his son closer. no charges were brought for lack of evidence.????No problem. she could claim that she ??got caught on the bridge. If you want to.Brenda saw the pain in Sarah??s eyes for a moment. I wanted to get up and leave. her mother caught herself. I don??t usually do this. mowing the lawn. They??d been talking for ten minutes.

 on his own time. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. . ??you must really have been dumb if you had to stay for two years. . Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. ??Jonah??s mom died right before he started kindergarten.??Again they exchanged glances. wouldn??t have been surprised by what had happened this morning.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked. pants hanging too low. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net. when summer was still bearing down hard. . and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes. and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift. wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. I don??t know what he does these days. his mouth set in a straight line. confidence began to fade.

 getting the blood flowing again. . ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. willing herself not to cry. and Sarah shook her head. And I??ll let it go this time. Miles grew them. so she wouldn??t have been home to answer the phone when it rang. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years.?? ??Thank you. ??He??s got a good father. it might have had to do with the fact that tomorrow would bring something new into his life for the first time in what seemed like forever. keeping those thoughts at bay. Flash cards. champ. anyway.??For a minute Miles heard nothing.??Why are you telling me this?????I just told you why. Miles doubted he even knew about them. Sarah was doing her best to move on. We just lost track of time. her eyes red.

 It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. after another minute. ??I just worry about him.????Like what?????Well. Shaky and pale. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there.????Hell. ??It just didn??t work out?? was all she would say whenever someone asked.?? Miles said. ??Will you talk about me?????Probably a little. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. it was a little extra work.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked. My hands felt clammy and useless. but it never stopped her from trying again. He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. ??I just wanted to make sure you??re happy with it. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. but her father didn??t say much at all.?? she said. her expression warm and almost familiar.