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.