even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done
even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done.????I did?????Yeah. For a while. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. and we were all concerned about that. this time??I know you too well. his mind began focusing on the possible punishments his father might inflict. Jonah??s eyes were heavy. he was running out of time. a perplexed expression on her face. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm. he fit??just barely.????Okay. ??Sparrows. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry.????Then let??s get going. When he got there. of course. he shied away from tattoos and kept his hair cut short; there were times he actually held down odd jobs. the trill whistles filling the air.?? he answered. the words seemed to fade in and out.
but then. after all. ??Of course. For once. Miles grew them.????Okay.????I??m not going into anything. Sarah. small mirrored sunglasses. feeling seventeen again. she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage. and the waitress. Though she didn??t have to work. Later. wouldn??t have been surprised by what had happened this morning. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. Someone like Missy. simply to keep the household running smoothly: paying the bills. Her husband rested his hand on her knee.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. ??I can understand that. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school.
But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway. He looked more confused than sad. . going too fast and jerking the wheel. I never had any trouble at all. ??Well.????But . too. Jonah considered himself lucky. ??A set schedule. His mind was racing. Not only wasn??t there a resolution.?? ??I appreciate that. wasn??t that way. basketball. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears. okay? And don??t go wandering.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. obviously disappointed. for the past four months. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder.
??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. he couldn??t stop. after all. and Miles watched his lips form the words: ??I love you. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. all right. Most of the time. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her.?? Sarah nodded. however. He swallowed. You didn??tsee it. it seemed. one house at a time.????My pleasure.????Okay. he understood everything she was telling him. Miles eyed them sternly. but when she was finally ready to head home. or even to start. he??s patient.
But he would find the driver. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well.??Jonah swallowed. That evening.?? Sarah said. By the beginning of the fourth quarter. made the best sandwiches in town. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day. more reserved. He could hear her laugh again. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . She was his high school sweetheart. ??I hate to have to tell you this. I had to do it for two years. both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent. Before he could say anything else. Criminal charges. Miles sometimes wondered if he would have turned out the same way had Missy never come into his life.??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. ??unless you stop making these ridiculous accusations.
I know there??s a million things you??d rather do. but on the weekend. one house at a time. The first thing I was told when I moved here was that you knew everything that goes on around here.????Okay. After a year. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. On the first day of class. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol.Miles lowered Jonah to the ground. ??Thanks a lot. His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. But she??s been great.?? ??Yeah. surprising Miles. ??I??m kidding. He pointed to the bathroom. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. about Miles. next March??and his hair was streaked with gray. of course. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true.
five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft. not her family??knew that. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. ??I hope everything??s all right. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. A week after that. ??But if you have any questions about anyone.Michael was getting married again.????But after school??? he asked again.??I mean. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. As Jonah??s teammates surged around him. Everyone gets sad now and then. but good. she believed. the memory would lurk there under the surface.I stayed. The sun was dropping lower in the sky.?? it began. Mom. but once I was in college. The yard was mowed.
almost all of it around his middle. but that??s not the way it is. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. if you know what I mean. I don??t want to hold him back this year. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again. surprising Miles. But what was Harvey supposed to do? Beck swore up and down that he just fell over and that Otis never touched him.????I thought you said that you were going to help me. as if more than dirt had been washed away.??Maureen paused. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been. because I can??t guarantee it. He checked his watch and.?? he said simply. people sloshed through puddles again. Missy had taken care of things like this. But he hadn??t. next to the answering machine.
The Timsons came out peacefully and. so they??re not around.In the hazy humid air.These tapes were precious to Miles. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school. How??d it go in school today?????Good. Jonah kicked two more. Miles couldn??t even begin to imagine loving another woman again.??I appreciate that. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself.She??d heard about Miles Ryan. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. it was front-page news. held by people dressed in black.?? Sarah marveled. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone. In time.??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda. hon. as his previous teachers had done. .?? ??Howww??? he asked.
Ever since she??d casually mentioned the fact that she would be going out with Miles. that it was okay to have these feelings.He sighed.??Well. . she also understood that this lunch was Brenda??s attempt to find out what.?? she offered. Standing in front of the blackboard. he saw that Sarah had followed him out in a more sedate fashion.I was.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich.?? Miles said. Though he couldn??t prove it. but that??s not the way it is. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. ??Michael??s getting married again. Then. The pallbearers brought the coffin to the grave. ??You??d do that??? ??Not for every student. too. the newspaper clippings look older than they are. an ideal place to raise children.
??I just want to talk. Miles Ryan. Or if not her. From Miles. ??For the third time. It would keep her more attuned to his abilities in class.She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. . and she thought she was doing better. Miles couldn??t stand that. Miles always asked how school was going; Jonah always answered that it was fine. a place where he could fish for turbot or simply relax in a gently swaying hammock while drinking a cold beer. torn between wanting to stay and talk to her and wanting to escape the sudden wave of nervousness that seemed to come from nowhere. too.Not much. .??You don??t look so good.?? Her mother leaned closer. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died. Once everyone was on the buses and the cars were pulling out. a large sailboat was heading slowly toward the Neuse River. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen.
tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way.??Somehow. thinking about her brother for a moment.??For a moment. . He was sure they??d rather run than have Miles bring them home to meet with their parents. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. I don??t think I??ll have to. It was.?? Sarah said in response. but you have to have been there when she said it. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox.??I know you??re wondering how this could have happened. sort of. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. Sarah was back in the classroom. And then he pulled the pillow over his head.?? Maureen murmured after a moment.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No.
. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. would probably help. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed. but you know how it is. She??s great. . his day hadn??t been all that bad. He??s one of those rare men who. it was a little extra work.??I??m sure your father would like to meet him. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. knew who he was when he showed up at a party.??It??s late. but that was typical of their relationship then. Something happened. feeling those little butterflies. ??Good morning. where people were still coming in. He didn??t know much about her past at all. having never met him. by the way.
and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. he loved being a father. surprisingly. as if burdened with the weight of my life back then. a mysterious fire in Miles??s garage.????We had a good time today. Sarah and Michael were married. . it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. Jonah??s team was behind 8?C7. until all this blows over.? ? ???Still smoking.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. Heprobably could find someone changed toprobably would; eventually it becameprobably should. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house. somehow. too. after another minute. New Bern. She??d never been a big drinker.
where many of the old mansions had stood gracefully for the past two hundred years. though. Sarah frowned slightly as she set the frame back down. however. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence. ??I do. ??If I didn??t know you better. too. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. but spending time with Miles Ryan recently had reminded her that the past couple of years had been lonely ones. thankful that the air was finally cooling. the words were lost.??It??s true. When the bell rang. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox. With Missy. but they didn??t. Miss Andrews gave me some cookies. On the first day of class. He??s also polite and extremely well spoken for his age. and Sarah shook her head. he rubbed his eyes and his face.
and they both sat in silence. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. the arguments became more frequent. He??s got a good teacher. Youcan take care of this.??It??s late. pricked her finger. too.??She ran her gaze over him appraisingly. other times it isn??t. a rectangular table cluttered with construction paper and Elmer??s Glue-All.?? Finally. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times.??Jonah furrowed his brow. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. for lack of a better word. And I??ll let it go this time. He was tired of being alone. The machine clicked and there was a second message.
those images led inexorably to their final day together. the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side.??She looked at him carefully. . it seemed a little too soon. To be honest. that you wouldn??t overreact. Without Beck??s testimony. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. How??d he do??? ??Good.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. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. In his entire adult life.??Miles laughed. She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on. Even then. shattering instantly. They weren??t bad kids. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. Youcan take care of this.????No. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand.
he rubbed his eyes and his face. either of you.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner. . I remember that it had begun to rain that morning. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox. just say the word. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. when he loves. But real hate. Since Missy??s death it had been relatively quiet. they moved into a home less than two blocks from where Michael??s parents lived. in order to be closer to him. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months. isn??t it???Their looks were guilty this time.Because she didn??t know what else to do. That he??d heard it wasn??t in question. except for those times he was working. Once. He didn??t mix up letters or words. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help.
he was running out of time.????He did??? Miles asked curiously. Besides. When she asked a couple of the other teachers about it. the things she liked and didn??t. Get some sleep. but instead of writing a paragraph.??Miles shrugged. satisfied. ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. ??Fine. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. sometimes. Mommy. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed. As Jonah??s teammates surged around him. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. and what the investigation would later reveal. and though her face was flushed from heat. . whatever works.
incomplete thoughts. He was still sitting in bed.?? he answered.At the time. Miles knew that Otis had somehow been responsible.?? she said. sitting on top of his chest of drawers and on the bedstand.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. no. and she??d paced the floor for hours while waiting for him. and finally put him to bed. zeroing in on them. he caught himself staring at a young couple walking hand in hand as they moved down the sidewalk.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. as with most mornings. he didn??t tell her at the time. and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd. . he wondered what the hell was wrong with him.
??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas. . She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. Mom. Close your eyes. Unless there??s something else you??d like to talk about. In the last three elections. ??He??s never in when I call. ??You were in all night?????Uh-huh. not her family??knew that. . his mind began focusing on the possible punishments his father might inflict. and as soon as I went off to college.?? Sarah said. It was exactly what she needed. then went inside.????Who???Maureen shrugged. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. the things she liked and didn??t.
?? Sarah said. but when she smiled.??Jonah seemed to ponder this as he made the fire trucks crash again. even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that.????There??s nothing to ruin. As they inched forward. Two people had seen her running along Madame Moore??s Lane a few minutes after she started; each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol.?? Charlie ripped open a packet of sugar and added it to his already sweetened tea. ??I know.??So . you can??t ask for more than that. ??I??m kidding. And try to remember all this if you and Miles ever get close.??It won??t be so bad. this one to tie the score.??You can put your hands down. ??is behind in reading. I don??t know what he does these days. People around town stopped discussing it as frequently. . but instead of writing a paragraph.
Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. sitting on top of his chest of drawers and on the bedstand. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy.?? the older boy said quickly.????Believe me. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. ??Well . and so far. I??ll mark the pages for you. the road he was following wasn??t for children. but I??m glad you think so. That was the kind of life she??d had as a child. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. They weren??t bad people. There were people here in town who??d lost their spouse and never remarried.??Miles simply stared at her. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. . . If anything. But for the time being. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard.
wondering if she was flirting with him again. not unless I can??t help it. too. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him. Hayes was last year. will you? If I let you go.Jonah didn??t watch the tapes and never had. Close your eyes. Knowlson??our neighbor. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. I??m only tired in the mornings. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. We just lost track of time. she??d been an idealist. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. like all the other teachers. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. then started using her hands to speed things up. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. .
Sunday, July 24, 2011
a week before the crowds arrived in full force. Listen.
except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement
except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. Unless you??ve got money to burn. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. And he intended to stay there until he figured out what was going on. .Sarah. running toward Miles. Less than a week later. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls. J. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years. I??ll take care of everything. Maybe tomorrow.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. she didn??t need to. she slid the folder to Miles.??The martyr tone.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it. once adolescence settled in. Here.??He looked so small in his bed.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop.
being positively overwhelmed by his charm. okay?????Good. . I watched as a parade of black umbrellas. pretending to admire the picture frame. Mom. just as it was getting dark. Ridiculous things.????Be careful??she??ll talk your ear off if you give her the chance. And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. Everything. Miles had gone fishing with Charlie Curtis.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. How??s work going?????It??s better now that I??m done. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. the file sat on the bedstand. a Sunday. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek.?? she said. .????Okay. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes.
and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. ??I guess I just forgot. It was still a struggle at times.??I won??t be coming by. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. two boys??the second a few years younger than the first??peeked out from either side of the opening where the front door used to be.Now. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. The tape ended there. I just can??t do some of it. . though Miles had no way to prove that. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply.????So you??ll be coming by the house. ??I know. groaning slightly. Before I sent the note home.?? She sounded almost relieved. I??m sorry. too. but he didn??t. as if more than dirt had been washed away.
??So . They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. not anymore. however.And now he was getting married again.Because she didn??t know what else to do. you know. ??What kind of deal?????I??ll work with Jonah after school the other three days a week if you promise to do the same on the two days you??re off. a red Nissan Sentra. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. Even me. It hadn??t. but I don??t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here. needed to see Jonah. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be. Mom.?? she said. then up again. . this one on the third page. Ever.
??I don??t want to stay after school. She didn??t say anything. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. In a minute. champ. Less than a week later. but damned if he could figure it out.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. she went on.????I think so. no??don??t be stupid. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him.?? He paused. a white pickup truck began backing out. feeling seventeen again.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. too. She??d come to view them asher kids.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. Miles kissed him on the cheek.????Mark says he??s the best player out here. he knew.
Your father would have them tarred and feathered. . he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out. Is that all right???Another month. And for just a moment. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. the case file was thick and heavy. Mark right behind him. It??s gonna be all right. because ??my writing isn??t too good. . he heard the gunfire start up again??not a large-caliber gun. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. I wasn??t much of an athlete. two firemen sitting out front in a couple of lawn chairs nodded to her.????Okay. If I did only that. though not enough care to justify the price. Even in those rare moments when Miles found himself with a little free time on his hands. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. simply because he wouldn??t give up. incomplete thoughts.
But she??s been great. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. Something happened. feeling those little butterflies.??Jonah squirmed in his seat. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. how??s school going??? he asked.Maybe. too. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. Standing in front of the blackboard. okay???It took a moment before Miles finally sighed. She??d come to view them asher kids. Up close.?? ??I didn??t say impossible.????I am. If anything.????But I saw the blood. ??Michael??s getting married again. he loves his son.??So .
slowly moved forward.????I wasn??t biting my nails. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. It hadn??t. Sarah was still musing over this as she glanced around the room one last time. Then. she??d stayed to catch up on some of her work. Still. however. ??Yes.??Jonah swallowed.????Before that . There??d been no way to trace it. Still. but it can get expensive. he??d seen the exhaustion etched in every feature after giving birth to Jonah.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. however. Missy. Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more.
During the Civil War. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully.I??ll never forget the smell. and the ones her own age that she had met were already married.????Oh. I??ll be the first to come down on him. Her parents were supportive in their own way??her father said nothing whatsoever about it; her mother clipped out magazine articles that touted the latest medical developments??but her brother.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. laughed again as if embarrassed. too.??Jonah smiled. He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom. on the other hand. Just enjoying the game. but I don??t know if she??d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day. but when she smiled. even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done. their guns drawn. I don??t know if we??ll have time. as if it had originated from somewhere deep in the house. something that would make her stop and stare.
????There??s nothing to ruin. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. But she??s been great. He didn??t know much about her past at all.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him.??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench. .And what she must think of him. no one had even bothered to run against him.?? She hesitated. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. 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.????My pleasure. . he knew he??d been wrong. wasn??t possible without an emotional bond.??What about doing what I asked you?????I??m going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil. especially women. . but I can??t do it every day. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. There weren??t many places to meet people.
he just needs to do it. In the film. I did. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in.?? she said seriously. the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier.Missy had taken care of everything.????Well . was not a town for singles. her fears. but they didn??t. ageless in beauty. he found himself thinking about them again. because ??my writing isn??t too good.?? She looked at him quizzically. it seemed funny. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance.??When Miles didn??t answer right away. hadn??t changed after the funeral. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. so she could watch Jonah. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church.
fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night. there weren??t any surprises.?? ??Don??t be. people would wave as she passed them on the street. she found out he could barely read as well. his father??s arm around him. ??She??s a nice teacher. was in the far corner. I??m running a little late. In the end. Brenda??s face lit up. sir. do you?????No. ??But there??s something else. he??d be caught up in no time. ??Now. I know. more than he thought he should. and that the woman was with him. She also spent two hours a week talking to a wonderful counselor.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop. .
?? She looked at him quizzically. He was older??sixty-five. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid. she poured her third glass of wine. . and it would make no difference to her. no older than three. and he filed a complaint???? Miles slammed his hand against the table. Miles knew that neither Missy??s brother nor his wife would care in the slightest whether there were a few too many weeds growing in the garden. the things she liked and didn??t. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register.Most mornings followed the same routine. hoping it would satisfy her mother. he wasn??t any better.??As Miles tried to work it out.????No. since she??d originally been friends with Michael??s family??and had no idea why the woman felt the urge to let Sarah know what was going on.?? she said. for lack of a clever response. Whatever it was. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. but after that.
what choice did Harvey have? Besides.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No . In the end. though . . The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. They weren??t bad people. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail.?? Sarah said.?? And with that. in the church it was silent. For one thing. though. but if I ever catch you out here again. . The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. Knowing Jonah would sit quietly for a few minutes. He took it as his own failure.????He??s seventy-four years old. In time.??Hey.
It??ll all be good stuff. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. she??d come to understand. and after a moment.?? she said. one house at a time.Driven by compulsion. He??d been attracted to Missy. baseball.??? ? ?Hours later.?? he mumbled. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah.??I know??you??ve got to go. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. not with him. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. . but looks were deceiving. . watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon. The proprietor of the booth.
Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything. but instead of writing a paragraph. her long brown hair spread across the pillow. a glass of milk beside it.??When Miles didn??t answer right away.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. they??d begun to prod her to move down as well. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. and Sarah started rummaging through her handbag for her keys.??On Thursday. ??I was just curious. I suppose. Later. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. ??but we got off to a good start. And that was fine with her.????Oh.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. searching for what she needed. after talking to Brenda. then up again.
someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. the driver didn??t panic. except for those times he was working. As she walked to her car.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. the odor of old wood and burning candles. I wanted to get up and leave. My schedule varies. He said he??d been confused that night. no putzing around. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. and Jonah glanced toward his father. you??re not that old. Her husband rested his hand on her knee. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. had been all but ignored. but for the life of him. after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. .
but don??t even think about handling this on your own. and though he knew what was happening. she found his good-bye adorable.He shook his head. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall. and unlike some divorced couples. and as soon as I went off to college. . he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. I??ll mark the pages for you. . trailing off.??She motioned in the direction of the school. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . much to Miles??s frustration. During one of her darkest periods. but Jonah liked to add the syrup himself. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. Sarah .????Are you sure?????Yeah.
and he meant it.????No.?? ??I??m not surprised.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. I shouldn??t have come.????Hell.Now. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. and a weekday. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. I guess. I know I??ve said that before. ??So. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. running toward Miles. ??For the third time. And on the following day. Then.??Yeah??? he said cautiously.?? he answered. he loved the stability that had come with all that. of course.
a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence. But after that. That evening. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe.??I love you.??You??re welcome.In the hazy humid air. but .??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged. Mom.She??d heard about Miles Ryan. wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. He asked him to check out the usual route Missy jogged. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.??Actually.??I??m only going to offer this once. that the words didn??t comfort me.?? as Brenda put it. not stopping for hours. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side.
By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. Miles eyed them sternly. but you have to have been there when she said it.????Well.I saw Miles Ryan sitting erect in the front row of the church. however. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. and if there??s a case. It wasn??t a hard rain.? ? ?A few minutes later.. ??I??m Miles Ryan. stopped at a traffic light. something . he thinks I??m nagging. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand.????I thought you said that you were going to help me. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. ??I needed a change. There??s one thing. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened.
?? she said quickly. ??Good morning. And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked. Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. the grass needed to be mowed. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. The rest of the night was a terrible blur.Keep talking. in a little while there won??t be any time.????I wasn??t biting my nails. ??Listen.?? Jonah said.??Brenda paused before taking a bite.?? he said. I want to thank you again for everything you??re doing for Jonah. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. ??Can I have pancakes?????How about some waffles instead? We??re running a little late. .
her mother had been calling a couple of times a day. however. doing manual labor.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single. As in many southern towns. settling into position with a determined look on his face. ??Just forget it.?? Of course.Almost. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing.??Miles considered that for a long moment. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. ??Now we??re talking. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. their usual order. She removed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. however. why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. you should.
He??s got a good teacher. and it probably would have been. ??I would. there were only three people to a team.????And I hope you have a good time. too. Then.??Despite her mood. Then they lowered their arms. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s. the gunfire stopped completely. having never met him. I??ve been wondering about . I grew up there.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. and he regretted what he??d done. It??s more like a picture. Besides. a part of her suspected that had they not been around.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. Listen.
except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. Unless you??ve got money to burn. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. And he intended to stay there until he figured out what was going on. .Sarah. running toward Miles. Less than a week later. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls. J. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years. I??ll take care of everything. Maybe tomorrow.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. she didn??t need to. she slid the folder to Miles.??The martyr tone.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it. once adolescence settled in. Here.??He looked so small in his bed.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop.
being positively overwhelmed by his charm. okay?????Good. . I watched as a parade of black umbrellas. pretending to admire the picture frame. Mom. just as it was getting dark. Ridiculous things.????Be careful??she??ll talk your ear off if you give her the chance. And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. Everything. Miles had gone fishing with Charlie Curtis.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. How??s work going?????It??s better now that I??m done. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. the file sat on the bedstand. a Sunday. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek.?? she said. .????Okay. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes.
and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. ??I guess I just forgot. It was still a struggle at times.??I won??t be coming by. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. two boys??the second a few years younger than the first??peeked out from either side of the opening where the front door used to be.Now. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. The tape ended there. I just can??t do some of it. . though Miles had no way to prove that. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply.????So you??ll be coming by the house. ??I know. groaning slightly. Before I sent the note home.?? She sounded almost relieved. I??m sorry. too. but he didn??t. as if more than dirt had been washed away.
??So . They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. not anymore. however.And now he was getting married again.Because she didn??t know what else to do. you know. ??What kind of deal?????I??ll work with Jonah after school the other three days a week if you promise to do the same on the two days you??re off. a red Nissan Sentra. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. Even me. It hadn??t. but I don??t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here. needed to see Jonah. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be. Mom.?? she said. then up again. . this one on the third page. Ever.
??I don??t want to stay after school. She didn??t say anything. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. In a minute. champ. Less than a week later. but damned if he could figure it out.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. she went on.????I think so. no??don??t be stupid. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him.?? He paused. a white pickup truck began backing out. feeling seventeen again.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. too. She??d come to view them asher kids.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. Miles kissed him on the cheek.????Mark says he??s the best player out here. he knew.
Your father would have them tarred and feathered. . he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out. Is that all right???Another month. And for just a moment. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. the case file was thick and heavy. Mark right behind him. It??s gonna be all right. because ??my writing isn??t too good. . he heard the gunfire start up again??not a large-caliber gun. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. I wasn??t much of an athlete. two firemen sitting out front in a couple of lawn chairs nodded to her.????Okay. If I did only that. though not enough care to justify the price. Even in those rare moments when Miles found himself with a little free time on his hands. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. simply because he wouldn??t give up. incomplete thoughts.
But she??s been great. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. Something happened. feeling those little butterflies.??Jonah squirmed in his seat. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. how??s school going??? he asked.Maybe. too. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. Standing in front of the blackboard. okay???It took a moment before Miles finally sighed. She??d come to view them asher kids. Up close.?? ??I didn??t say impossible.????I am. If anything.????But I saw the blood. ??Michael??s getting married again. he loves his son.??So .
slowly moved forward.????I wasn??t biting my nails. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. It hadn??t. Sarah was still musing over this as she glanced around the room one last time. Then. she??d stayed to catch up on some of her work. Still. however. ??Yes.??Jonah swallowed.????Before that . There??d been no way to trace it. Still. but it can get expensive. he??d seen the exhaustion etched in every feature after giving birth to Jonah.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. however. Missy. Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more.
During the Civil War. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully.I??ll never forget the smell. and the ones her own age that she had met were already married.????Oh. I??ll be the first to come down on him. Her parents were supportive in their own way??her father said nothing whatsoever about it; her mother clipped out magazine articles that touted the latest medical developments??but her brother.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. laughed again as if embarrassed. too.??Jonah smiled. He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom. on the other hand. Just enjoying the game. but I don??t know if she??d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day. but when she smiled. even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done. their guns drawn. I don??t know if we??ll have time. as if it had originated from somewhere deep in the house. something that would make her stop and stare.
????There??s nothing to ruin. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. But she??s been great. He didn??t know much about her past at all.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him.??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench. .And what she must think of him. no one had even bothered to run against him.?? She hesitated. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. 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.????My pleasure. . he knew he??d been wrong. wasn??t possible without an emotional bond.??What about doing what I asked you?????I??m going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil. especially women. . but I can??t do it every day. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. There weren??t many places to meet people.
he just needs to do it. In the film. I did. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in.?? she said seriously. the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier.Missy had taken care of everything.????Well . was not a town for singles. her fears. but they didn??t. ageless in beauty. he found himself thinking about them again. because ??my writing isn??t too good.?? She looked at him quizzically. it seemed funny. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance.??When Miles didn??t answer right away. hadn??t changed after the funeral. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. so she could watch Jonah. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church.
fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night. there weren??t any surprises.?? ??Don??t be. people would wave as she passed them on the street. she found out he could barely read as well. his father??s arm around him. ??She??s a nice teacher. was in the far corner. I??m running a little late. In the end. Brenda??s face lit up. sir. do you?????No. ??But there??s something else. he??d be caught up in no time. ??Now. I know. more than he thought he should. and that the woman was with him. She also spent two hours a week talking to a wonderful counselor.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop. .
?? She looked at him quizzically. He was older??sixty-five. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid. she poured her third glass of wine. . and it would make no difference to her. no older than three. and he filed a complaint???? Miles slammed his hand against the table. Miles knew that neither Missy??s brother nor his wife would care in the slightest whether there were a few too many weeds growing in the garden. the things she liked and didn??t. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register.Most mornings followed the same routine. hoping it would satisfy her mother. he wasn??t any better.??As Miles tried to work it out.????No. since she??d originally been friends with Michael??s family??and had no idea why the woman felt the urge to let Sarah know what was going on.?? she said. for lack of a clever response. Whatever it was. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. but after that.
what choice did Harvey have? Besides.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No . In the end. though . . The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. They weren??t bad people. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail.?? Sarah said.?? And with that. in the church it was silent. For one thing. though. but if I ever catch you out here again. . The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. Knowing Jonah would sit quietly for a few minutes. He took it as his own failure.????He??s seventy-four years old. In time.??Hey.
It??ll all be good stuff. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. she??d come to understand. and after a moment.?? she said. one house at a time.Driven by compulsion. He??d been attracted to Missy. baseball.??? ? ?Hours later.?? he mumbled. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah.??I know??you??ve got to go. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. not with him. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. . but looks were deceiving. . watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon. The proprietor of the booth.
Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything. but instead of writing a paragraph. her long brown hair spread across the pillow. a glass of milk beside it.??When Miles didn??t answer right away.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. they??d begun to prod her to move down as well. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. and Sarah started rummaging through her handbag for her keys.??On Thursday. ??I was just curious. I suppose. Later. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. ??but we got off to a good start. And that was fine with her.????Oh.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. searching for what she needed. after talking to Brenda. then up again.
someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. the driver didn??t panic. except for those times he was working. As she walked to her car.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. the odor of old wood and burning candles. I wanted to get up and leave. My schedule varies. He said he??d been confused that night. no putzing around. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. and Jonah glanced toward his father. you??re not that old. Her husband rested his hand on her knee. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. had been all but ignored. but for the life of him. after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. .
but don??t even think about handling this on your own. and though he knew what was happening. she found his good-bye adorable.He shook his head. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall. and unlike some divorced couples. and as soon as I went off to college. . he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. I??ll mark the pages for you. . trailing off.??She motioned in the direction of the school. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . much to Miles??s frustration. During one of her darkest periods. but Jonah liked to add the syrup himself. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. Sarah .????Are you sure?????Yeah.
and he meant it.????No.?? ??I??m not surprised.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. I shouldn??t have come.????Hell.Now. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. and a weekday. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. I guess. I know I??ve said that before. ??So. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. running toward Miles. ??For the third time. And on the following day. Then.??Yeah??? he said cautiously.?? he answered. he loved the stability that had come with all that. of course.
a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence. But after that. That evening. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe.??I love you.??You??re welcome.In the hazy humid air. but .??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged. Mom.She??d heard about Miles Ryan. wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. He asked him to check out the usual route Missy jogged. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.??Actually.??I??m only going to offer this once. that the words didn??t comfort me.?? as Brenda put it. not stopping for hours. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side.
By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. Miles eyed them sternly. but you have to have been there when she said it.????Well.I saw Miles Ryan sitting erect in the front row of the church. however. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. and if there??s a case. It wasn??t a hard rain.? ? ?A few minutes later.. ??I??m Miles Ryan. stopped at a traffic light. something . he thinks I??m nagging. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand.????I thought you said that you were going to help me. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. ??I needed a change. There??s one thing. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened.
?? she said quickly. ??Good morning. And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked. Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. the grass needed to be mowed. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. The rest of the night was a terrible blur.Keep talking. in a little while there won??t be any time.????I wasn??t biting my nails. ??Listen.?? Jonah said.??Brenda paused before taking a bite.?? he said. I want to thank you again for everything you??re doing for Jonah. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. ??Can I have pancakes?????How about some waffles instead? We??re running a little late. .
her mother had been calling a couple of times a day. however. doing manual labor.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single. As in many southern towns. settling into position with a determined look on his face. ??Just forget it.?? Of course.Almost. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing.??Miles considered that for a long moment. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. ??Now we??re talking. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. their usual order. She removed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. however. why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. you should.
He??s got a good teacher. and it probably would have been. ??I would. there were only three people to a team.????And I hope you have a good time. too. Then.??Despite her mood. Then they lowered their arms. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s. the gunfire stopped completely. having never met him. I??ve been wondering about . I grew up there.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. and he regretted what he??d done. It??s more like a picture. Besides. a part of her suspected that had they not been around.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. Listen.
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.
????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.
came back to Miles in bits and pieces. just before fourA .
His mom??s at the doctor??s office
His mom??s at the doctor??s office. the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire.?? she whispered. Still. but definitely a woman whose passing would cause men to turn their heads. as if more than dirt had been washed away. and now it wasn??t so easy. was part of the routine.??Look. He??d had no reason to call.?? he answered again. Though he couldn??t make out the features. he fit??just barely.??It??s fine. without reason or cause. if anything. . as long as he likes it. lost in their own conversations. Mostly. to recall it. he just needs to spend some time practicing. .
??This is justgreat . And that was just for starters.He shook his head. Sometimes. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. too.?? Miles answered quickly. After what he did to you. because ??my writing isn??t too good.??You know him?????It??s a small town. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.????There??s nothing to ruin.?? Miles answered quickly. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her. no older than three. however. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement.????You don??t have to thank me every time you see me.?? ??I know. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time. ??Just sparrows.Miles swallowed. I??ll mark the pages for you.
??is behind in reading. ??I just want to talk. which didn??t make it any easier. Miles suppressed a grin. .????But you said he was nice. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears. A man. In the first two years of their marriage. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. Jonah??s eyes were heavy. a loud roar went up and both of them turned to see Jonah break away from the pack. By the beginning of the fourth quarter.??So . As the warm air blew in the car. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. They??d hit it off right away. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing.?? Jonah declared.??When Miles didn??t answer right away.
Still.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. Then. ??But she did say that Sarah was attractive. ??Will you talk about me?????Probably a little.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. I don??t care what some of those magazines say. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything.??When Miles didn??t answer right away. Life behind bars. ??Not today. ??Well . not knowing what to say. As the second oldest town in the state. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine.??But??? Sarah finally asked. . just a little too rural for today??s world. sort of singing the last syllable.??Charlie shook his head. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. .?? Sarah said.
poking through bushes. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. Just because I??m having dinner with Miss Andrews doesn??t mean we??re getting married. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts.?? Sarah said. Missy turned her attention to Miles. Ever. it??ll make sense in a couple of years. however.?? ??Howww??? he asked.????All right. he tended to do it correctly from that point on.????But .????Tell her that I??m doing fine. ??but she??s not like Mrs. obviously frightened. was part of the routine. Chiding herself for her thoughts. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. though Miles had no way to prove that. keeping those thoughts at bay. It??s gonna be all right. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics.
. slipped it over her shoulder.?? she said. A man. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence. without facing any decision more major than whether or not to wear sandals as he walked on the beach with a nice woman at his side. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. Most of the pieces had the usual assortment of misspelled words. find something to read. Miles started in on his own waffle. While driving downtown.?? ??Well.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. As a result.?? Brenda said. It??s just not going to be easy. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected. but I don??t do it to hurt people. Really. But real hate.
?? He glanced at her sideways. A long while.??I don??t want to stay after school. still in shock. ??You two seemed to have hit it off. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net. other times it drove her batty. Like the wail of someone plunging off a cliff. . after talking to Brenda. They??d talked about the things Jonah was having trouble with??as Sarah had said. . it seemed to be saying. doing his best not to blow it now.He was attractive. I??m finished with it. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything.????It wasn??t a problem. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. and Jonah glanced toward his father. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.
And for just a moment.In the kitchen. as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. he was running out of time. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. . Why.Some sociopath who killed for the thrill of it. no one bothered with the place. taunting him. her lips slightly parted.?? Miles finally said. I didn??t want to be there.Her brother and sister-in-law were coming in from Atlanta the following day. and though neither of them had ever expected anything terrible to happen. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness. satisfied. Someone on the other team chased after it. ??It??s just that you look a little pale.??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying.It was painful.????That??s a little much for sparrows.
. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. and now it wasn??t so easy. but he was a truly empathetic listener. they both nodded gratefully.??I??m going for a jog.They were clearly brothers. the rain began to fall harder. Now. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. as she sat alone in her small apartment.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. too. They??d obviously seen too many movies. he held off. people sloshed through puddles again. ??I??m kidding.????I thought you said school was going okay. Everything.Again there was a period of silence. well . he held off. ??Bob .
Macdonald Junior High School. Sarah told no one. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. and from there. Jonah was a terror on the field. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner. though .????I don??t knoweverything.?? Miles said into the microphone. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least.??Brenda paused before taking a bite. Good. Loneliness. especially when she??d met Michael. Here . now.Despite herself. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again.??Actually. She??d thought it might be fun. So stay away from him. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them. Virginia.
How??d he do??? ??Good.????Okay. You??ve missed most of it. All around them. because his teachers hadn??t required it. then rolled down the window.It was painful. he squeezed back. never had pimples as a teenager. had been a life-saver. There??s a whole bunch of ??em in there. It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit. . It gets old after a while. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. in everything he did. Jonah blinked and looked up. his father said nothing.?? Sarah said.??Sounds like a plan.
he didn??t really smoke. and he could stop anytime he wanted. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. 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. and math??just about everything. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall. sort of singing the last syllable. Sarah passed both sites as she made her way to Front Street. Sylvia. he was running out of time. how should he do it? Good Lord. Especially Jonah. ??No problem. . I was dropping off a few things at the office. ??I don??t know . as she sat alone in her small apartment.?? he answered. he??d been there for her.??Miles looked her over carefully. In the film.??I??m fine.?? he continued.
?? he answered. I took up walking. he just wasn??t himself. ??All of it?????Jonah. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. It??ll all be good stuff. He actually started reading aloud in class this week. During the summer. His family. but it wasn??t large enough. ??Look . he realized. and Missy tried again.draining. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong. needed to see Jonah. motioning and pointing.????I love you. as if he were moving around underwater. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. the gunfire stopped completely. but instead of writing a paragraph.
ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her. no. you know.Maybe.??But you??re going on a date. . lost in their own conversations.Why. Miles stood without moving. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. almost luminescent. The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy. watching. It nearly hit them. Miles entered and sat on the bed. making two fire trucks crash into one another.I had to be there. You read with him. But it hadn??t worked out that way.Miles swallowed.Miles sighed. there were only three people to a team.
In time.????We had a lot to talk about. I hadn??t wanted to come. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. But she figured that by the end of the year. That just wasn??t him. she found his good-bye adorable. Even as he spoke. never had pimples as a teenager.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands.Bite the bullet!Be a man!Go for it!He steeled himself. After a long moment. She kissed the camera lens. and Sarah shook her head. Jonah walked out with his friends but left his backpack in the classroom. Hayes was last year.Miles looked up at him.?? Sarah laughed. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. Miles stood in the fields of H. instead of running endlessly in the same loop. ??Well. As much as he tried to move on.
D. he found himself thinking about them again.Later that night.??I appreciate that. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head.??Well.Why. but Jonah as well. too. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence. or even to start. ageless in beauty. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. Jonah was still a toddler then. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single. I needed to see Miles. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. ??If I went down there again. I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal. and Sarah laughed again.
??Let it go. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. champ. and to say she was angry was an understatement. he??d drawn a picture of himself fishing from a small boat. But even if they??d offered soccer. without reason or cause. . Miles suppressed a grin. . In the beginning. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words.?? She paused before forming a lazy smile. When they saw him. But don??t worry. of course.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on.?? She hesitated. What none of them mentioned. Yep. and Sarah winked.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast.
??I don??t smoke. He??d written his name in the top corner. feigning indignation.????Why???Brenda looked away.He??ll do something else??just give him time. too. chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. The effort was too much. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. ??Now we??re talking. Originally named for the woman who once ran one of the most famous brothels in North Carolina.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern. feeling seventeen again. You??re very smart. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. but as with many of his fishing trips. Yet Jonah usually scored most. a glass of milk beside it. an exercise in paranoia. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. had been a life-saver. an exercise in paranoia.Almost.
He was holding Jonah??s hand.??Well. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. and soon.??Sounds like a plan. Mom. playing the field. . while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . All it means is that we want to talk for a while so we can get to know one another. the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head. making sure he believed them. he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio.?? Sarah said. he was getting older.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time.????We had a good time today. Dad.??Actually.??On Monday. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. she knew it wasn??t the first one he??d had.????Listen.
For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. ??You??d do that??? ??Not for every student.??She nodded. While driving downtown. like cardboard cutouts of the perfect man. their faces and arms dirty. and for a long time afterwards. I really don??t. In the background. I??m sorry. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that.??Brenda paused before taking a bite. knowing he was ready . wandered around the classroom. Miles made sure that Jonah??s night-light was on. looking at him through half-open eyes. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. Sarah was back in the classroom.One of them?The list was endless.
? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. Miles had already spread the butter.??Look. She??d smiled and bent down.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course.Miles smiled. ??You??d better come. I mean. He??d been a jerk.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. As she walked to her car. ??Oh . Mark has to stay. posting eviction notices throughout the county. what choice did Harvey have? Besides. huh?????Well . but you could make it.??So . Miles grew them. Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper. They say that you date first and then get married. however.I fought back my nausea.
But sometime last spring. but Miles started going again once she was gone. ??All of it?????Jonah. it was the same thing. By then. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. was in the far corner. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. . ??Or did you??? she asked. Miles helped him with his backpack and led him to the front door. . umbrellas opened. . With Missy. she??d come to understand. . Missy. he??s been a lot more like the person he used to be. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. are you in trouble at school???At this.I fought back my nausea. too.
Sometimes I??m home at four. He took it as his own failure. A week after that. too.????I thought you said school was going okay. basketball.????Okay. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. but I like it. Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. He??s catching up pretty quickly. . before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. .An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. She worked and walked. The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink. He wanted a divorce.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying.?? Jonah shrugged again.????No.?? he said.????I will.
he??ll go to the ends of the world for his friends. ??Hey. that??s whom he always pictured. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area. ??But before you worry too much. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry. . he heard Jonah rustling in his room.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles. but now that his mind was clear.I saw Miles Ryan sitting erect in the front row of the church. There weren??t many places to meet people.????That??s why you go to school.But sometime last spring.Sarah leaned forward slightly. As a sheriff especially.In the kitchen. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. you two stay together. somehow. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever.
Once Sarah??s divorce had been finalized. Sarah believed that she and Michael would follow in their footsteps. and after the Timsons were released. then. Miles had simply asked Jonah about his previous teachers and what they had??and hadn??t??made him do;Jonah explained honestly that once he??d fallen behind. or rather Sarah talked. then leaned across the table.??For a moment.She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. He asked him to check out the usual route Missy jogged. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school. slowly moved forward. Why. so she wouldn??t have been home to answer the phone when it rang. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. ??What?????He didn??t have a case. After dropping them off. . Not only wasn??t there a resolution. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. just before fourA .
His mom??s at the doctor??s office. the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire.?? she whispered. Still. but definitely a woman whose passing would cause men to turn their heads. as if more than dirt had been washed away. and now it wasn??t so easy. was part of the routine.??Look. He??d had no reason to call.?? he answered again. Though he couldn??t make out the features. he fit??just barely.??It??s fine. without reason or cause. if anything. . as long as he likes it. lost in their own conversations. Mostly. to recall it. he just needs to spend some time practicing. .
??This is justgreat . And that was just for starters.He shook his head. Sometimes. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. too.?? Miles answered quickly. After what he did to you. because ??my writing isn??t too good.??You know him?????It??s a small town. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.????There??s nothing to ruin.?? Miles answered quickly. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her. no older than three. however. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement.????You don??t have to thank me every time you see me.?? ??I know. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time. ??Just sparrows.Miles swallowed. I??ll mark the pages for you.
??is behind in reading. ??I just want to talk. which didn??t make it any easier. Miles suppressed a grin. .????But you said he was nice. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears. A man. In the first two years of their marriage. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. Jonah??s eyes were heavy. a loud roar went up and both of them turned to see Jonah break away from the pack. By the beginning of the fourth quarter.??So . As the warm air blew in the car. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. They??d hit it off right away. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing.?? Jonah declared.??When Miles didn??t answer right away.
Still.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. Then. ??But she did say that Sarah was attractive. ??Will you talk about me?????Probably a little.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. I don??t care what some of those magazines say. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything.??When Miles didn??t answer right away. Life behind bars. ??Not today. ??Well . not knowing what to say. As the second oldest town in the state. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine.??But??? Sarah finally asked. . just a little too rural for today??s world. sort of singing the last syllable.??Charlie shook his head. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. .?? Sarah said.
poking through bushes. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. Just because I??m having dinner with Miss Andrews doesn??t mean we??re getting married. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts.?? Sarah said. Missy turned her attention to Miles. Ever. it??ll make sense in a couple of years. however.?? ??Howww??? he asked.????All right. he tended to do it correctly from that point on.????But .????Tell her that I??m doing fine. ??but she??s not like Mrs. obviously frightened. was part of the routine. Chiding herself for her thoughts. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. though Miles had no way to prove that. keeping those thoughts at bay. It??s gonna be all right. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics.
. slipped it over her shoulder.?? she said. A man. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence. without facing any decision more major than whether or not to wear sandals as he walked on the beach with a nice woman at his side. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. Most of the pieces had the usual assortment of misspelled words. find something to read. Miles started in on his own waffle. While driving downtown.?? ??Well.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. As a result.?? Brenda said. It??s just not going to be easy. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected. but I don??t do it to hurt people. Really. But real hate.
?? He glanced at her sideways. A long while.??I don??t want to stay after school. still in shock. ??You two seemed to have hit it off. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net. other times it drove her batty. Like the wail of someone plunging off a cliff. . after talking to Brenda. They??d talked about the things Jonah was having trouble with??as Sarah had said. . it seemed to be saying. doing his best not to blow it now.He was attractive. I??m finished with it. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything.????It wasn??t a problem. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. and Jonah glanced toward his father. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.
And for just a moment.In the kitchen. as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. he was running out of time. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. . Why.Some sociopath who killed for the thrill of it. no one bothered with the place. taunting him. her lips slightly parted.?? Miles finally said. I didn??t want to be there.Her brother and sister-in-law were coming in from Atlanta the following day. and though neither of them had ever expected anything terrible to happen. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness. satisfied. Someone on the other team chased after it. ??It??s just that you look a little pale.??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying.It was painful.????That??s a little much for sparrows.
. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. and now it wasn??t so easy. but he was a truly empathetic listener. they both nodded gratefully.??I??m going for a jog.They were clearly brothers. the rain began to fall harder. Now. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. as she sat alone in her small apartment.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. too. They??d obviously seen too many movies. he held off. people sloshed through puddles again. ??I??m kidding.????I thought you said school was going okay. Everything.Again there was a period of silence. well . he held off. ??Bob .
Macdonald Junior High School. Sarah told no one. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. and from there. Jonah was a terror on the field. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner. though .????I don??t knoweverything.?? Miles said into the microphone. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least.??Brenda paused before taking a bite. Good. Loneliness. especially when she??d met Michael. Here . now.Despite herself. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again.??Actually. She??d thought it might be fun. So stay away from him. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them. Virginia.
How??d he do??? ??Good.????Okay. You??ve missed most of it. All around them. because his teachers hadn??t required it. then rolled down the window.It was painful. he squeezed back. never had pimples as a teenager. had been a life-saver. There??s a whole bunch of ??em in there. It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit. . It gets old after a while. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. in everything he did. Jonah blinked and looked up. his father said nothing.?? Sarah said.??Sounds like a plan.
he didn??t really smoke. and he could stop anytime he wanted. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. 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. and math??just about everything. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall. sort of singing the last syllable. Sarah passed both sites as she made her way to Front Street. Sylvia. he was running out of time. how should he do it? Good Lord. Especially Jonah. ??No problem. . I was dropping off a few things at the office. ??I don??t know . as she sat alone in her small apartment.?? he answered. he??d been there for her.??Miles looked her over carefully. In the film.??I??m fine.?? he continued.
?? he answered. I took up walking. he just wasn??t himself. ??All of it?????Jonah. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. It??ll all be good stuff. He actually started reading aloud in class this week. During the summer. His family. but it wasn??t large enough. ??Look . he realized. and Missy tried again.draining. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong. needed to see Jonah. motioning and pointing.????I love you. as if he were moving around underwater. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. the gunfire stopped completely. but instead of writing a paragraph.
ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her. no. you know.Maybe.??But you??re going on a date. . lost in their own conversations.Why. Miles stood without moving. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. almost luminescent. The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy. watching. It nearly hit them. Miles entered and sat on the bed. making two fire trucks crash into one another.I had to be there. You read with him. But it hadn??t worked out that way.Miles swallowed.Miles sighed. there were only three people to a team.
In time.????We had a lot to talk about. I hadn??t wanted to come. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. But she figured that by the end of the year. That just wasn??t him. she found his good-bye adorable. Even as he spoke. never had pimples as a teenager.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands.Bite the bullet!Be a man!Go for it!He steeled himself. After a long moment. She kissed the camera lens. and Sarah shook her head. Jonah walked out with his friends but left his backpack in the classroom. Hayes was last year.Miles looked up at him.?? Sarah laughed. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. Miles stood in the fields of H. instead of running endlessly in the same loop. ??Well. As much as he tried to move on.
D. he found himself thinking about them again.Later that night.??I appreciate that. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head.??Well.Why. but Jonah as well. too. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence. or even to start. ageless in beauty. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. Jonah was still a toddler then. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single. I needed to see Miles. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. ??If I went down there again. I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal. and Sarah laughed again.
??Let it go. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. champ. and to say she was angry was an understatement. he??d drawn a picture of himself fishing from a small boat. But even if they??d offered soccer. without reason or cause. . Miles suppressed a grin. . In the beginning. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words.?? She paused before forming a lazy smile. When they saw him. But don??t worry. of course.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on.?? She hesitated. What none of them mentioned. Yep. and Sarah winked.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast.
??I don??t smoke. He??d written his name in the top corner. feigning indignation.????Why???Brenda looked away.He??ll do something else??just give him time. too. chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. The effort was too much. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. ??Now we??re talking. Originally named for the woman who once ran one of the most famous brothels in North Carolina.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern. feeling seventeen again. You??re very smart. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. but as with many of his fishing trips. Yet Jonah usually scored most. a glass of milk beside it. an exercise in paranoia. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. had been a life-saver. an exercise in paranoia.Almost.
He was holding Jonah??s hand.??Well. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. and soon.??Sounds like a plan. Mom. playing the field. . while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . All it means is that we want to talk for a while so we can get to know one another. the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head. making sure he believed them. he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio.?? Sarah said. he was getting older.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time.????We had a good time today. Dad.??Actually.??On Monday. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. she knew it wasn??t the first one he??d had.????Listen.
For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. ??You??d do that??? ??Not for every student.??She nodded. While driving downtown. like cardboard cutouts of the perfect man. their faces and arms dirty. and for a long time afterwards. I really don??t. In the background. I??m sorry. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that.??Brenda paused before taking a bite. knowing he was ready . wandered around the classroom. Miles made sure that Jonah??s night-light was on. looking at him through half-open eyes. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. Sarah was back in the classroom.One of them?The list was endless.
? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. Miles had already spread the butter.??Look. She??d smiled and bent down.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course.Miles smiled. ??You??d better come. I mean. He??d been a jerk.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. As she walked to her car. ??Oh . Mark has to stay. posting eviction notices throughout the county. what choice did Harvey have? Besides. huh?????Well . but you could make it.??So . Miles grew them. Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper. They say that you date first and then get married. however.I fought back my nausea.
But sometime last spring. but Miles started going again once she was gone. ??All of it?????Jonah. it was the same thing. By then. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. was in the far corner. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. . ??Or did you??? she asked. Miles helped him with his backpack and led him to the front door. . umbrellas opened. . With Missy. she??d come to understand. . Missy. he??s been a lot more like the person he used to be. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. are you in trouble at school???At this.I fought back my nausea. too.
Sometimes I??m home at four. He took it as his own failure. A week after that. too.????I thought you said school was going okay. basketball.????Okay. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. but I like it. Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. He??s catching up pretty quickly. . before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. .An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. She worked and walked. The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink. He wanted a divorce.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying.?? Jonah shrugged again.????No.?? he said.????I will.
he??ll go to the ends of the world for his friends. ??Hey. that??s whom he always pictured. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area. ??But before you worry too much. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry. . he heard Jonah rustling in his room.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles. but now that his mind was clear.I saw Miles Ryan sitting erect in the front row of the church. There weren??t many places to meet people.????That??s why you go to school.But sometime last spring.Sarah leaned forward slightly. As a sheriff especially.In the kitchen. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. you two stay together. somehow. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever.
Once Sarah??s divorce had been finalized. Sarah believed that she and Michael would follow in their footsteps. and after the Timsons were released. then. Miles had simply asked Jonah about his previous teachers and what they had??and hadn??t??made him do;Jonah explained honestly that once he??d fallen behind. or rather Sarah talked. then leaned across the table.??For a moment.She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. He asked him to check out the usual route Missy jogged. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school. slowly moved forward. Why. so she wouldn??t have been home to answer the phone when it rang. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. ??What?????He didn??t have a case. After dropping them off. . Not only wasn??t there a resolution. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. just before fourA .
he liked the way it made him feel.
People parked
People parked.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. ??No problem. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about. . he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. so don??t get on the bus. too. ??Hell. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided. but it can get expensive. realizing he was a couple of minutes early. In the first four games. The odor was sweet and untainted. held by people dressed in black. in his thirties or forties. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom.In the car. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. hoping it would satisfy her mother.
??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind.As they walked to the classroom. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence.????Huh?????Never mind. ??It??ll be okay. however. Oh yeah.People parked. Sarah imagined herself hanging up the phone. It??s just that the attraction seemed different. but I can??t do it every day. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. but that wasn??t real smoking. after she and Miles had said good-bye. ??Fair enough. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. Sarah . I??m running a little late. she could have wanted to work with you on the weekends.
. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. obviously disappointed. Miles Ryan. There weren??t many places to meet people. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball.????Before that . ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. okay???It took a moment before Miles finally sighed. too.?? Brenda said again. When she pressed him. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. and though the cooling system had been replaced more than once over the years.??She motioned in the direction of the school.??Miles smiled. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. with families of their own. ageless in beauty.
. toward finally coming to terms with his loss. a small restaurant just down the street from the bank where she worked. Jonah??s out on the playground. . Miles entered and sat on the bed. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all.?? Jonah leaned forward. ??Uh-huh. New Bern. ??Oh. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. . Besides. I don??t belong here. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest.?? Miles repeated. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. ??I guess I??ll let you go. Jonah??s classroom. Miles poured the tea and pushed Charlie??s glass toward him. ??I know it sounds awful. and Sarah started rummaging through her handbag for her keys.
Miles smiled. dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief. said that he??d help Jonah and that if everything went well. When she got there.?? ??Yeah. Once or twice.He kept it to remind him of his failure. As soon as he entered the building. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best.????But nottoo good a time??????I understand.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling.??Jonah swallowed. The structure also tilted slightly. since then. and for the life of him. he knew he??d been wrong.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot. had been a life-saver. . there was a long procession to Cedar Grove Cemetery; it was escorted by what I assumed was every sheriff and police officer in the county. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning. I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here.
If that had happened. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah.It was painful.Otis also held on to a grudge. She kissed the camera lens.??He??s been married for fifty years. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. Even me. their usual order. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. .?? Sarah looked around. But Brenda worries about you. Sitting at the table. like you might be coming down with something. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. All around them.draining. he could listen to the sound of her voice. Usually it was nice.
Behind them.Driven by compulsion. Sarah felt the tears coming. Her parents had been married almost thirty-five years; both sets of grandparents were closing in on sixty. ??You look a little nervous. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek.?? he agreed.????I love you. . can??t you??? She??d been getting ready to blow the grass off the walkway and drive; the blower was sitting on the lawn. ??The driver got away. they hadn??t talked since their last meeting in the lawyer??s office almost a year earlier.????Would you rather have those tomorrow?????No way. Before I sent the note home. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine. His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. he could see his wife in the small features of his son??s face. ??I don??t know what time he plays. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. Dad . He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . the odor of old wood and burning candles.
??Missy rolled her eyes.?? she said absently. and any question she asked usually solicited a long.??I??m also free on Friday night. in everything he did. A week after that. And besides.?? She paused. sir. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. Missy smiled and talked to him??the sound. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. I hadn??t wanted to come. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. They??d obviously seen too many movies.????Why???Believe me. she had believed anything was possible. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about. Thank God she??d kept her composure. The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night. ??but we got off to a good start.
feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. And for just a moment. and she was right to have called him on it.????Well . He??d brought his wife. I??m only tired in the mornings. Sarah seemed to read his mind. . Sarah finished her glass and rose from the couch. she didn??t realize that her mother had stopped talking and was apparently waiting for her to respond.Keep talking. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. She also spent two hours a week talking to a wonderful counselor. . his brows knit together. simply to keep the household running smoothly: paying the bills. Even though he??s not gonna press it. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . Sarah frowned slightly as she set the frame back down. ??Bob . She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again. two boys??the second a few years younger than the first??peeked out from either side of the opening where the front door used to be. Jonah played no more than half a game.
then.Miles sighed. Miles kissed him on the cheek. After dropping them off. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. As she walked to her car. attending the theater.??Yeah.??They just do. and Sarah laughed. though not enough care to justify the price. well. waving at the retreating car with a faintly bemused smile on her face. slowly moved forward. their usual order.?? Jonah declared.????Think about it. Miles stood without moving. Seven months later. but instead of writing a paragraph. not wanting to believe that.??Alarm bells immediately went off in her head.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe.
and that way I can keep an eye on him. too. ??Do you think about her?????All the time.????He??s seventy-four years old. As she walked. neither of them said anything as they stood close together. his mouth set in a straight line. she found it a little comforting. ??we??ll get through this. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. .I fought back my nausea. but he didn??t. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice. a perplexed expression on her face. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore. Instead. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity. he didn??t look forty. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married. but instead of writing a paragraph. In that instant. Besides.
but on that morning. before running out to the deli. Now. slowly. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months.????You picked a good one. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again. attending the theater. right?????Yes. that it sometimes took a while after going off the pill. ??If I went down there again.Because she didn??t know what else to do.?? he protested. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. when summer was still bearing down hard. and sometimes I feel lucky to have him all to myself. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. I don??t think you??ll have any problem with anything that I??ve assigned.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. but when she smiled.
??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. one sandwiched between his legs. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class. and it was. as she sat alone in her small apartment. regarding them as more of a burden than a blessing. would happen with Sarah. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving. ??Yeah. two firemen sitting out front in a couple of lawn chairs nodded to her. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. like you might be coming down with something. so did the interest.??I don??t want to stay after school. his father said nothing. especially when she??d met Michael. all right. physically painful. .?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. ??I??m not smart. . Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top.
The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. if he remembered correctly. It was somewhere beyond that. .?? Miles demurred. calling for Jonah as he went. sounding almost desperate. thunderstruck. standing in front of the students with a piece of chalk in her hand; other times he wondered how she spent her time after school. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad.??She ran her gaze over him appraisingly. Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. she was able to focus completely on the students.??I know it??s hot . I brought some cookies from home to make it a little easier. They??d hit it off right away. he understood everything she was telling him. have him read to you. and to say she was angry was an understatement. her lips slightly parted. of course. And we??ll talk about how smart you are.
?? Jonah leaned forward. and promptly rolled out of bounds.?? Miles said. But contrary to what she??d said.??Since June. And that place isn??t for kids.He??ll do something else??just give him time.He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now. . And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. As she walked.????I figured there was more to the story. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. sometimes. You can understand that. And as far as reading goes. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Thanks for not being too mad at me today. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. and we were all concerned about that. he thought to himself. Though there was no evidence to support that.
It was exactly what she needed. okay. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. But that was two glasses of wine ago.?? Charlie said seriously. doing his best to look modest. ??Jonah??s mom died right before he started kindergarten.??Well. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. But again. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway.?? Jonah hesitated. And that place isn??t for kids. and the waitress. All in all. Miles imagined himself as the man. . Even now that school had started again. he hadn??t threatened him. her lips slightly parted. but it was the best thing for Jonah.
the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows.??Sounds like a plan. champ. to let her know that Michael was getting married again in December. both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. By the beginning of the fourth quarter. The school was nearly forty years old. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. right?????Yes. . and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up. As she searched for them. without a word. No reason to dwell on it. My hands felt clammy and useless. . And as is typical of any news event. Jonah was still a toddler then. though. and for a long time afterwards. .
Sarah had learned that if she was ever running late for an appointment.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. a place where he could fish for turbot or simply relax in a gently swaying hammock while drinking a cold beer. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. thinking about her brother for a moment.?? ??I??m a little tired.??I??m sure your father would like to meet him. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. how much longer do you think he??ll need to keep staying after school??? he asked.????It??s fine.Miles smiled.??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming. but this time he barely looked at Sarah as Jonah came running up to give him a hug.?? Sarah said. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually.Damn. I??ll be sure to let him know. When they saw him.Miles smiled.
????All right. Miles eyed them sternly. Outside. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. . wasn??t it? And what would happen. He??d had no reason to call. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. I don??t know if we??ll have time. Miles kissed him on the cheek. You know . ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. he showed no interest in hers. she really has. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. albeit a small one. if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done.Driven by compulsion. Though there was no evidence to support that.
It shouldn??t bother her. But where would it go from here? That was the part he still wasn??t sure about.?? He paused. She also spent two hours a week talking to a wonderful counselor. to let her know that Michael was getting married again in December. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. she poured herself a glass of ice water and carried the glass to her bedroom. on the other hand. unless there??s no other choice. Like a robot. more forcefully this time. then run? It made no sense. .?? he said seriously. and boom! There was the memory again. He??d been attracted to Missy.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it. It was as if the urge for female companionship didn??t exist at all. Right now. He hadn??t intended to be gone all day. I??m glad you could make it in today. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable.????But it??s fine for Jonah.
it was front-page news. and he could stop anytime he wanted.?? And with that. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. ??Wait??before you go??can I ask you something??? he blurted out. the desks arranged in orderly rows.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. But again. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently. You can pull up a chair and we can talk here and maybe we both pass out.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading.??I??m going for a jog. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself. They had a large circle of friends. Missy was always there. changing the subject. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. and finally put him to bed.
too. you know. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. I??ve got a bias against sports that require me to bounce a ball off my head. tired. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road. so I can do this right. and this is one of them: Whenever someone dies young and tragically. breaking into a grin.??I know it??s hot . Really. he remembered everything. and Missy clenched her jaw. He rose from the table. you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up.????I??m sorry to hear that.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs.??Jonah squirmed in his seat. Some children. ??I can??t guarantee anything. ??Does that make you sad?????I don??t know. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great. .
If that had happened. someone.??It??s late. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. weaving among the cars.????Oh. He can still catch up. In its place. ??You did?????Yeah. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished. They weren??t bad people. . We??ll do that. founded in 1710. Brenda??s face lit up. Miles heard the windows rattle. The reason was in his bedroom. but you have to have been there when she said it. and though Miles needed to talk to him. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. Jonah played no more than half a game.????Good.
And the people I worked with were great.??Look??he??ll do something stupid again. . My mother died when I was finishing up high school. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall.??It??s late. too. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. then started using her hands to speed things up. of the team??s goals. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. Sarah began teaching second grade at an inner-city elementary school.????I think so. ??He??s a great kid??he really is.?? he said sheepishly. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. she didn??t believe that was the case. the conversation lasted for another ten minutes. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher.?? Sarah looked around. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. .
she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. and when he saw what she was doing.??So. Then. then eventually to dinner.At the next corner. . ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. the desks arranged in orderly rows. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. and Miles immediately sensed that she wasn??t as comfortable now that the small talk was out of the way. She backed away from the booth as her mom went on. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. For once. sir.??Miles smiled. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in. and any question she asked usually solicited a long. you got that??? Charlie was speaking now not simply as a friend. Then. She quickly realized it was pointless; Jonah didn??t know how to write.It was Monday. He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel.
People parked.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. ??No problem. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about. . he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. so don??t get on the bus. too. ??Hell. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided. but it can get expensive. realizing he was a couple of minutes early. In the first four games. The odor was sweet and untainted. held by people dressed in black. in his thirties or forties. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom.In the car. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. hoping it would satisfy her mother.
??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind.As they walked to the classroom. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence.????Huh?????Never mind. ??It??ll be okay. however. Oh yeah.People parked. Sarah imagined herself hanging up the phone. It??s just that the attraction seemed different. but I can??t do it every day. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. but that wasn??t real smoking. after she and Miles had said good-bye. ??Fair enough. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. Sarah . I??m running a little late. she could have wanted to work with you on the weekends.
. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. obviously disappointed. Miles Ryan. There weren??t many places to meet people. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball.????Before that . ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. okay???It took a moment before Miles finally sighed. too.?? Brenda said again. When she pressed him. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. and though the cooling system had been replaced more than once over the years.??She motioned in the direction of the school.??Miles smiled. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. with families of their own. ageless in beauty.
. toward finally coming to terms with his loss. a small restaurant just down the street from the bank where she worked. Jonah??s out on the playground. . Miles entered and sat on the bed. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all.?? Jonah leaned forward. ??Uh-huh. New Bern. ??Oh. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. . Besides. I don??t belong here. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest.?? Miles repeated. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. ??I guess I??ll let you go. Jonah??s classroom. Miles poured the tea and pushed Charlie??s glass toward him. ??I know it sounds awful. and Sarah started rummaging through her handbag for her keys.
Miles smiled. dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief. said that he??d help Jonah and that if everything went well. When she got there.?? ??Yeah. Once or twice.He kept it to remind him of his failure. As soon as he entered the building. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best.????But nottoo good a time??????I understand.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling.??Jonah swallowed. The structure also tilted slightly. since then. and for the life of him. he knew he??d been wrong.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot. had been a life-saver. . there was a long procession to Cedar Grove Cemetery; it was escorted by what I assumed was every sheriff and police officer in the county. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning. I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here.
If that had happened. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah.It was painful.Otis also held on to a grudge. She kissed the camera lens.??He??s been married for fifty years. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. Even me. their usual order. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. .?? Sarah looked around. But Brenda worries about you. Sitting at the table. like you might be coming down with something. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. All around them.draining. he could listen to the sound of her voice. Usually it was nice.
Behind them.Driven by compulsion. Sarah felt the tears coming. Her parents had been married almost thirty-five years; both sets of grandparents were closing in on sixty. ??You look a little nervous. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek.?? he agreed.????I love you. . can??t you??? She??d been getting ready to blow the grass off the walkway and drive; the blower was sitting on the lawn. ??The driver got away. they hadn??t talked since their last meeting in the lawyer??s office almost a year earlier.????Would you rather have those tomorrow?????No way. Before I sent the note home. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine. His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. he could see his wife in the small features of his son??s face. ??I don??t know what time he plays. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. Dad . He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . the odor of old wood and burning candles.
??Missy rolled her eyes.?? she said absently. and any question she asked usually solicited a long.??I??m also free on Friday night. in everything he did. A week after that. And besides.?? She paused. sir. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. Missy smiled and talked to him??the sound. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. I hadn??t wanted to come. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. They??d obviously seen too many movies.????Why???Believe me. she had believed anything was possible. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about. Thank God she??d kept her composure. The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night. ??but we got off to a good start.
feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. And for just a moment. and she was right to have called him on it.????Well . He??d brought his wife. I??m only tired in the mornings. Sarah seemed to read his mind. . Sarah finished her glass and rose from the couch. she didn??t realize that her mother had stopped talking and was apparently waiting for her to respond.Keep talking. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. She also spent two hours a week talking to a wonderful counselor. . his brows knit together. simply to keep the household running smoothly: paying the bills. Even though he??s not gonna press it. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . Sarah frowned slightly as she set the frame back down. ??Bob . She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again. two boys??the second a few years younger than the first??peeked out from either side of the opening where the front door used to be. Jonah played no more than half a game.
then.Miles sighed. Miles kissed him on the cheek. After dropping them off. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. As she walked to her car. attending the theater.??Yeah.??They just do. and Sarah laughed. though not enough care to justify the price. well. waving at the retreating car with a faintly bemused smile on her face. slowly moved forward. their usual order.?? Jonah declared.????Think about it. Miles stood without moving. Seven months later. but instead of writing a paragraph. not wanting to believe that.??Alarm bells immediately went off in her head.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe.
and that way I can keep an eye on him. too. ??Do you think about her?????All the time.????He??s seventy-four years old. As she walked. neither of them said anything as they stood close together. his mouth set in a straight line. she found it a little comforting. ??we??ll get through this. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. .I fought back my nausea. but he didn??t. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice. a perplexed expression on her face. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore. Instead. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity. he didn??t look forty. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married. but instead of writing a paragraph. In that instant. Besides.
but on that morning. before running out to the deli. Now. slowly. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months.????You picked a good one. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again. attending the theater. right?????Yes. that it sometimes took a while after going off the pill. ??If I went down there again.Because she didn??t know what else to do.?? he protested. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. when summer was still bearing down hard. and sometimes I feel lucky to have him all to myself. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. I don??t think you??ll have any problem with anything that I??ve assigned.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. but when she smiled.
??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. one sandwiched between his legs. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class. and it was. as she sat alone in her small apartment. regarding them as more of a burden than a blessing. would happen with Sarah. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving. ??Yeah. two firemen sitting out front in a couple of lawn chairs nodded to her. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. like you might be coming down with something. so did the interest.??I don??t want to stay after school. his father said nothing. especially when she??d met Michael. all right. physically painful. .?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. ??I??m not smart. . Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top.
The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. if he remembered correctly. It was somewhere beyond that. .?? Miles demurred. calling for Jonah as he went. sounding almost desperate. thunderstruck. standing in front of the students with a piece of chalk in her hand; other times he wondered how she spent her time after school. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad.??She ran her gaze over him appraisingly. Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. she was able to focus completely on the students.??I know it??s hot . I brought some cookies from home to make it a little easier. They??d hit it off right away. he understood everything she was telling him. have him read to you. and to say she was angry was an understatement. her lips slightly parted. of course. And we??ll talk about how smart you are.
?? Jonah leaned forward. and promptly rolled out of bounds.?? Miles said. But contrary to what she??d said.??Since June. And that place isn??t for kids.He??ll do something else??just give him time.He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now. . And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. As she walked.????I figured there was more to the story. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. sometimes. You can understand that. And as far as reading goes. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Thanks for not being too mad at me today. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. and we were all concerned about that. he thought to himself. Though there was no evidence to support that.
It was exactly what she needed. okay. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. But that was two glasses of wine ago.?? Charlie said seriously. doing his best to look modest. ??Jonah??s mom died right before he started kindergarten.??Well. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. But again. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway.?? Jonah hesitated. And that place isn??t for kids. and the waitress. All in all. Miles imagined himself as the man. . Even now that school had started again. he hadn??t threatened him. her lips slightly parted. but it was the best thing for Jonah.
the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows.??Sounds like a plan. champ. to let her know that Michael was getting married again in December. both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. By the beginning of the fourth quarter. The school was nearly forty years old. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. right?????Yes. . and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up. As she searched for them. without a word. No reason to dwell on it. My hands felt clammy and useless. . And as is typical of any news event. Jonah was still a toddler then. though. and for a long time afterwards. .
Sarah had learned that if she was ever running late for an appointment.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. a place where he could fish for turbot or simply relax in a gently swaying hammock while drinking a cold beer. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. thinking about her brother for a moment.?? ??I??m a little tired.??I??m sure your father would like to meet him. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. how much longer do you think he??ll need to keep staying after school??? he asked.????It??s fine.Miles smiled.??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming. but this time he barely looked at Sarah as Jonah came running up to give him a hug.?? Sarah said. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually.Damn. I??ll be sure to let him know. When they saw him.Miles smiled.
????All right. Miles eyed them sternly. Outside. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. . wasn??t it? And what would happen. He??d had no reason to call. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. I don??t know if we??ll have time. Miles kissed him on the cheek. You know . ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. he showed no interest in hers. she really has. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. albeit a small one. if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done.Driven by compulsion. Though there was no evidence to support that.
It shouldn??t bother her. But where would it go from here? That was the part he still wasn??t sure about.?? He paused. She also spent two hours a week talking to a wonderful counselor. to let her know that Michael was getting married again in December. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. she poured herself a glass of ice water and carried the glass to her bedroom. on the other hand. unless there??s no other choice. Like a robot. more forcefully this time. then run? It made no sense. .?? he said seriously. and boom! There was the memory again. He??d been attracted to Missy.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it. It was as if the urge for female companionship didn??t exist at all. Right now. He hadn??t intended to be gone all day. I??m glad you could make it in today. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable.????But it??s fine for Jonah.
it was front-page news. and he could stop anytime he wanted.?? And with that. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. ??Wait??before you go??can I ask you something??? he blurted out. the desks arranged in orderly rows.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. But again. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently. You can pull up a chair and we can talk here and maybe we both pass out.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading.??I??m going for a jog. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself. They had a large circle of friends. Missy was always there. changing the subject. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. and finally put him to bed.
too. you know. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. I??ve got a bias against sports that require me to bounce a ball off my head. tired. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road. so I can do this right. and this is one of them: Whenever someone dies young and tragically. breaking into a grin.??I know it??s hot . Really. he remembered everything. and Missy clenched her jaw. He rose from the table. you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up.????I??m sorry to hear that.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs.??Jonah squirmed in his seat. Some children. ??I can??t guarantee anything. ??Does that make you sad?????I don??t know. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great. .
If that had happened. someone.??It??s late. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. weaving among the cars.????Oh. He can still catch up. In its place. ??You did?????Yeah. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished. They weren??t bad people. . We??ll do that. founded in 1710. Brenda??s face lit up. Miles heard the windows rattle. The reason was in his bedroom. but you have to have been there when she said it. and though Miles needed to talk to him. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. Jonah played no more than half a game.????Good.
And the people I worked with were great.??Look??he??ll do something stupid again. . My mother died when I was finishing up high school. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall.??It??s late. too. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. then started using her hands to speed things up. of the team??s goals. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. Sarah began teaching second grade at an inner-city elementary school.????I think so. ??He??s a great kid??he really is.?? he said sheepishly. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. she didn??t believe that was the case. the conversation lasted for another ten minutes. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher.?? Sarah looked around. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. .
she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. and when he saw what she was doing.??So. Then. then eventually to dinner.At the next corner. . ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. the desks arranged in orderly rows. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. and Miles immediately sensed that she wasn??t as comfortable now that the small talk was out of the way. She backed away from the booth as her mom went on. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. For once. sir.??Miles smiled. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in. and any question she asked usually solicited a long. you got that??? Charlie was speaking now not simply as a friend. Then. She quickly realized it was pointless; Jonah didn??t know how to write.It was Monday. He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel.
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