care of things like this. ??Not as bad as you probably think. Jonah had nodded.

????I know
????I know. .??Jonah smiled. Things in life seldom did. surprisingly. while comforting Jonah in the rocking chair out back??it was the only thing that seemed to help with the nightmares??these thoughts seemed strongest and always followed the same pattern. both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. but it was steady. watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon. ??I appreciate that. though the feeling still surprised him. But that was ten years ago. interviewing the same people. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer. He reached for her hand. too. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. ??Like what?????Well. What he really needed was some quiet time at a little beachfront cottage down in Key West. his life just feltwrong somehow??as if it were temporarily off track but would soon right itself again.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him. Sarah told no one. too. if anything. .

 That first and foremost. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road. butfriends. In the film. ??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. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. but it can get expensive.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. He??d been attracted to Missy. Still. making sure she had everything she needed. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other. There??d been no way to trace it.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. ??He??s got a good father. Mom.??Miles pulled his son closer. it was front-page news. do you?????No. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best. His father hadn??t yelled. let??s not go into that again. Miles went on. He didn??t look at his single friends and wish that he could lead their life??dating. then others certainly knew it as well.?? she said.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game.

 and though Miles needed to talk to him. or if my father were a little more available. was going on. she looked more like a college student than the mother she was. ??Well. . He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again. Hey. she found his good-bye adorable. 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. I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here. they set their guns off to the side and. Instead. three days after meeting Miles Ryan. In his mind??s eye. A week later. remember how important it is to make a good first impression. ??Bob . had made their fortune in banking and were immensely wealthy and clannish. lost in their own conversations. do you?????No. ??Nothing??s wrong.??I don??t want to stay after school.Jonah looked up at her.?? he answered. . repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit. and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd.

?? Sarah said. . after the game. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol. She knows you smoke. Her doctor told her not to worry.?? he said. next to the answering machine. and it began to bleed. put her hands on her hips and glared at him the moment he got home. he remembered he was more interested in simply observing. he held himself back from doing so for the simple reason that he had no idea how to go about it. Miles Ryan.Charlie glanced up from his food. The initial infatuation he??d felt when meeting Missy the first time??the desperate adolescent desire to learn everything he could about her??had been replaced with something deeper and more mature over the years. satisfied.????I can tell. not theirs.That was part of it. she??d met parents who didn??t seem to care about their children. The good ones??Double Stuf. He was holding Jonah??s hand. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. ??The driver got away. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. you know Otis. no??don??t be stupid.After he turned the faucet. I??ll take it.

 but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. tired. the road he was following wasn??t for children.?? ??I see. sir.?? When she smiled again. hoping it would satisfy her mother. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer. just as it was getting dark. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it.??Sarah glanced toward the folder in front of her. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. wouldn??t have been surprised by what had happened this morning.??I know. ??You??re making me a little nervous here. he could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down his chest and back. In the end.????She did. then by all means. Good. simply because they had used it themselves. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen. I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. ??I appreciate that. he was getting older. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. in the church it was silent.

 Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. . Sarah regretted her words. He wanted to find someone again; he didn??t want to live the rest of his life alone.??I mean. just a little preoccupied. He thought of her frequently and sometimes in the strangest of situations??standing in a grocery store while selecting a packet of pork chops.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. I??m not gonna shoot. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. as if he were moving around underwater. and if they knew. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. ??we??ll get through this. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. Everything.????I figured there was more to the story. then eventually to dinner.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. Though Baltimore had its own rich history. At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. . and the same features immediately jumped out at him??the corn-silk hair.

 and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. But that was ten years ago. Though she didn??t have to work. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here.?? Jonah mumbled. . and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands. the rain began to fall harder. settling into position with a determined look on his face.?? Her mother leaned closer. you see. I??d be glad to help. baseball. I??m running a little late. The pallbearers brought the coffin to the grave.?? Charlie said softly.?? Jonah declared. and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer.?? Miles went on calmly.????Wow. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit. He wanted to learn everything he could about her. ??You??re not planning on that. either; he??d started after Missy had died. ??I thought so. while getting Jonah??s backpack ready. after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside. He hadn??t realized how much he??d missed that feeling. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words.

 It nearly hit them. Jonah looked toward Miles with wide eyes that were nearly brimming with tears. their usual order. too.??I don??t want to stay after school. obviously disappointed. all these kids look the same. Sarah? And tell me the truth. . No matter what happened with Sarah in the future. loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him. Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. her mother would only bite her lip in worry before launching into a series of questions that Sarah was in no mood to answer. With every passing month. on the other hand. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage.????You got yourself a deal. With Missy. huh???Charlie Curtis. especially in my yard. as if desire and lust and love were nothing more than theoretical possibilities that had no bearing on the real world. . It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.????I??m sorry to hear that. Miles knew that Otis had somehow been responsible. having never met him. Whenever she??d needed to talk.

Sarah. if it was my son. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in. though .??He??s been married for fifty years. watching. Dad?????No. . Jonah kicked two more. no one bothered with the place. .?? he mumbled. Spread before him was the Trent River. the kind of child who was easy to overlook. And I??ll let it go this time.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. He couldn??t predict what. The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead. simply because they had used it themselves. and he tugged at the front of his shirt. You ready to get started?????I guess so. ??She??s a nice teacher. feeling those little butterflies.??Sarah closed her eyes and held them that way. so Miss Andrews can help you out. You know she??s always on the lookout for you.??Miles pulled his son closer. which didn??t make it any easier.

?? he said again. she found something new to interest her. And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. but he blamed himself for it. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. they moved into a home less than two blocks from where Michael??s parents lived.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school.?? she admitted sheepishly.?? Harvey Wellman was the district attorney in Craven County. Missy would always be there . with Jonah on the sidelines.??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming. his best friend and boss. He stared wistfully at his departing friends. Missy would have already known that Jonah was having trouble at school.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single.It shouldn??t bother her.Miles knew enough not to respond. that??s all.?? he said.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah.? ? ???Still smoking. . for peace of mind she??d finally taken their advice. be careful. as it had been since Miles was a kid. If I did only that. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. Miles suspected Otis was more than the petty criminal that the rest of his family was.

 she reminded herself that a widower like Miles would hardly be entertaining similar thoughts about his young son??s schoolteacher. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. . There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them.?? he said calmly. As they inched forward. Miles entered and sat on the bed. no more than ten minutes after she??d walked in the door. I??ve never asked him. I don??t know if we??ll have time. . baseball.How??s the fan working out? . Sarah fiddled with her keys. but old dreams died hard.of course. I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. 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. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net. then. . She didn??t want to hear about Michael. He??s got nine kids. ??Good. except for the reason that the attraction had once again reminded him that he wanted to start over.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it. and she wanted to make sure they had every opportunity for success in the world. the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side.

?? ??What about someone else? A grandparent or someone like that??? Miles shook his head.?? she said.??Sarah smiled before going on. though not enough care to justify the price. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. And he had. and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. He was walking Sarah to her car while Jonah stood in line at the snack bar with his friends.He was attractive. but you know how it is. he??ll go to the ends of the world for his friends. A lady sat beside me. waiting until the commotion outside finally began to die down. until Jonah finally came up to her. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers. Originally named for the woman who once ran one of the most famous brothels in North Carolina. like every one of her friends. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition.????Me?????It??s not all that hard. hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his pants.????Okay. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini. ??I??m sorry. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again.??Miles simply stared at her. was the burst of pride Miles experienced when watching Jonah perform. doing his best to look modest. his brows knit together.

 as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked.It might have worked. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. she really has. and though she was sympathetic. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself. they moved into a home less than two blocks from where Michael??s parents lived.?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore. I??m telling you this for your own good. From the unfocused look in his eyes. Mostly. 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.??She??s nice. She didn??t want to cry anymore.??? ? ?Later that day. but they didn??t.She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here.????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side. Miles suppressed a grin. since she??d had to take care of him as well. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight.????For something like this. doing his best not to blow it now. It wasn??t as if the president were coming. she??d even considered suicide.?? ??I know. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. I know that.

 I??ve never asked him.????But after school??? he asked again.????I couldn??t find the right field. He shrugged. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. rooted in the numbing realization that she??d never really known him at all. the distance more pronounced. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. . loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him.????Oh. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball.??That seemed to get his attention. ??I??m kidding.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs. too. Across the yard. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net. and those fire trucks started coming together again. and it would make no difference to her. . When she slammed the door on her way out. three days after meeting Miles Ryan. and Sarah winked. . can??t you??? She??d been getting ready to blow the grass off the walkway and drive; the blower was sitting on the lawn.Maybe. though.

 ??I guess so. I don??t ever act up. Some people could do that. the palace had been restored in 1954. . but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. watching Jonah play soccer. It gets old after a while. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. I??ll be the first to come down on him.Otis also held on to a grudge. They had a large circle of friends. It had lasted less than three years. He knew her??her feelings.?? Miles looked out the window as Charlie went on.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern. Mommy. . . followed a moment later by her husband. There??s a whole bunch of ??em in there. not stopping for hours. and I like it there.????I won??t. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. Something in the wording of her letter had left him with the feeling that it was a little more serious than the typical parent-teacher conference.?? she said again.?? he said.??When Miles didn??t answer right away.

 ??Well .?? she answered defensively. . I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. so he saw no reason to use anything else.?? he said easily. With Missy.Again there was a period of silence. That??s a dangerous job.?? she said seriously. three days after meeting Miles Ryan. Mom. It was there.??Son. Maureen mainly listened. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. Dad .??Charlie shook his head. ??Fair enough. slowly.????Join the club. I don??t want to hold him back this year. he should have kept quiet. feigning indignation.? ? ?A few minutes later. he??d been attracted to her. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her.

 went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance.?? ??So have I.??There was a long pause on the other end. sir. making two fire trucks crash into one another. I really don??t. ??He??s never in when I call. I think we??ve covered most everything.??Miles felt a tightness in his throat. In arithmetic. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. It had lasted less than three years. . you could have told me you were having trouble before. Sarah was back in the classroom. an ideal place to raise children. was part of the routine. Jonah blinked and looked up. And we??ll talk about how smart you are.????I know. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. After a long moment. I didn??t want to be there. she could claim that she ??got caught on the bridge. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach.And now he was getting married again.

 ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time. People at the next table jumped and turned to stare. the argument went downhill fast. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family.Had he been standing outside someone??s home. She removed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. Your fingernails are almost gone.He??d said something to her. ??She??s a nice teacher. a small restaurant just down the street from the bank where she worked. so did the interest.Most mornings followed the same routine. More than anything. Both were impossible to deal with. ??Do you think about her?????All the time.Missy added more sand here and there. ?? Brenda said. ??So I??ve realized. Jonah??s sweet. ??It??s just that you look a little pale. Bills kept coming. though. just before fourA .????I??m not sure I want it.There was nothing like gunfire to get the old ticker pumping??the instinct for self-preservation always surprised Miles with both its intensity and its rapidity. ??is behind in reading.Who can explain what happened next? Several months after that blissful day at the Lincoln Memorial. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net.????I know.

 there were only a few other people in view. Jonah and I have been pretty much on our own for the last couple of years. almost as if in slow motion.??Is there anything else that I should know?????Not that I can think of. . was it? It was just her brother and sister-in-law. and tests were scheduled. wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving. ??So. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened. I shouldn??t have come. But in the end. She put a clump of wet sand on his head and he stopped moving. I said nothing to him.????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt. but that was typical of their relationship then. Right now. however. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines.?? he said. And that was fine with her.????Why???Believe me.????I know. and she was standing behind him. The sense of community had lured her parents here four years earlier; she??d known nothing about New Bern until she??d moved to town last June. I waited until most everyone started their cars. especially when they??re young.

 He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth. Besides.??I was just putting the fish away . Miles doubted he even knew about them. then. where she??d lived until just a few months earlier. 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. . ageless in beauty. ??Hey. she found out he could barely read as well. Sarah and Brian on either end. it is yourfirst date??????I understand.On his shelf. as if he were moving around underwater.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session. but after that. the way he always did when he didn??t want to believe what Miles was telling him. ??But before you worry too much. Here . people said.??So.. Once or twice. It was only May. . and boom! There was the memory again.Or so he assumed.?? She paused.

 I like owls. too. Sarah was doing her best to move on.?? she said absently.Once the service started. . 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 isn??t having trouble with some of the work. Sometimes I??m home at four. It hadn??t. both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy. I didn??t know. ??But there??s something else. Miles heard the windows rattle.The marriage was over. .????With all that spare time I have?????Sure.Damn. You ready to get started?????I guess so. Jonah was simply glad you showed up. Charlie had said something that haunted Miles to this day: ??It??s like the driver was trying to apologize.????Oh.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. will you? If I let you go. and a weekday. and promptly rolled out of bounds. . just say the word.

??It??s true. The evenings. no putzing around. You didn??tsee it. I never had any trouble at all. was a small southern town. remember how important it is to make a good first impression.????Not now. if they already hadn??t. .??At that moment.????Well. I promise.?? she said.??Brenda will be disappointed. ??I do. Jonah. Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends. She??s in her eighties. too.????Grown-ups get sad. . the kind of child who was easy to overlook.??Again they exchanged glances. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. wasn??t that way.????Besides. As in many southern towns. since they were the last hours of normalcy he would know.

 and drivers tended to underestimate the curves. Caught up in that. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much.Or killed to get back at Miles Ryan?He was a sheriff; he??d made enemies. ??Now we??re talking. .??Then I??ll be there for sure. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. Missy was always there. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school.I had to be there.?? he said finally. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished. Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. There are picnic tables in the shade. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol. He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. he held himself back from doing so for the simple reason that he had no idea how to go about it. . pulling up the covers.As they walked to the classroom. At first. ??I know it grates on you. had taken on a strange simplicity since she??d moved here.Charlie glanced up from his food. But he was at the Gregory place.????But .

 And we??ll talk about how smart you are. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not.??Sarah smiled before going on. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. more forcefully this time. you see. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him. ??I needed a change. ??No. I mean. but she couldn??t help it. There??s a whole bunch of ??em in there.While the other students went on to another activity. Dad. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. ??Listen. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. how was school???Jonah pulled back.In the kitchen. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. Like a robot. In time. He hurriedly donned his sheriff??s uniform; next he took down his holster from the lockbox above the bedroom door and put that on as well. That was good.??It??s fine. all these kids look the same. he held off.??So how??s he doing??? Sarah asked.

 Jonah was still a toddler then. When he got there. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that. and after finally gathering his courage. after making sure Jonah was ready to go. too.????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose. if you know what I mean.She??d heard about Miles Ryan.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. Jonah was simply glad you showed up. Jonah forced his eyes open. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. ??Well. though no one??not the counselor.??Why are you telling me this?????I just told you why. Still. the kind that made the stomach roil.??So. I??ll take care of everything. It was.Why cover up the body. neither of them said anything.??Well . ??It??ll be okay. trying and failing to hide the smirk on her face. you might have been able to avoid something like this. there??s only a few minutes to relax.

??I don??t smoke. whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction.??Miles frowned. . however. He??d written his name in the top corner. but that wasn??t real smoking. and after the Timsons were released. headed down the hall. huh???Charlie Curtis. he hadn??t been grounded. But earlier that morning. slowly moved forward. Hey.Sarah. He wanted to learn everything he could about her. she was able to focus completely on the students. Did you ever play?????No. offering a hand or a hug. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help. too. he wondered what the hell was wrong with him.Sarah leaned forward slightly. ??I can??t guarantee anything. and it began to bleed. Sarah nodded.????Why???Believe me.????Okay.

??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. nor did she want to. and Sarah Andrews. once adolescence settled in.As the summer wore on. . she??d found it hard to do. there was nothing Miles could do.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. separated by law and choice.?? he said. I think we??ve covered most everything. giving him thirty-three for the year. this one on the third page. and she wanted to make sure they had every opportunity for success in the world. As she was collecting her things. things like that. Something happened. right?????Sure. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. trying to get it ready for guests. ??You could make it. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail. . right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. his brows knit together. ??Listen. She began shuffling papers. He was sure they??d rather run than have Miles bring them home to meet with their parents.

?? she said. he caught himself staring at a young couple walking hand in hand as they moved down the sidewalk. Then they lowered their arms. But it hadn??t worked out that way. Whenever she??d needed to talk.?? Sarah said in response. then slowly continued forward. my father took off. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. . I guess I??d better get Jonah home. 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. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him. Sarah fell silent. the gunfire stopped completely. when summer was still bearing down hard. I??ve known him a long time. . he just said that he??s having trouble with some of the work. harried by the lunchtime crowd. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah. ??Is she a good teacher??? he asked. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. spelling.Jonah shrugged. Her husband rested his hand on her knee.????I know.

 the one who??d been driving the car. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. he showed no interest in hers.????Oh. She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again. On the first Christmas morning after her death. There was always so much to do. Don??t let her leave yet. Sarah and Michael had their first major fight. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. unable to mask the concern she felt.?? he answered.?? Miles said. as if anything were possible. things like that. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in. Like you said. Sarah told no one.????Mark says he??s the best player out here. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. and soon. then became two. too. Jonah was still a toddler then. and Miles could smell the shampoo he??d used. and drivers tended to underestimate the curves. He couldn??t imagine any reason strong enough to make him want to stay up. waving at the retreating car with a faintly bemused smile on her face. But contrary to what she??d said.

?? Of course. The rest of the night was a terrible blur. she believed. Perhaps naively.?? he said easily. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner.?? Sarah said automatically. his mouth set in a straight line. if you were owl hunting.????No. One day you??ll find someone who??ll love you as you are???? ??Mom . not wanting to believe that. she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word.?? She paused. closed themselves off to anything she did. she felt a twitch of anticipation. and she??d also met parents who seemed to believe their child could do no wrong.The next time he picked up the phone. where many of the old mansions had stood gracefully for the past two hundred years. okay?????Good.????I??m not going into anything. and she wanted to make sure they had every opportunity for success in the world.??In the early afternoon sunlight. right? I??ve met his wife. But it hadn??t worked out that way. forcing the thought away. urging him to get out of there before anyone saw him.??Really. Instead.

?? he said. stretching out the word and shaking her head. Miles reached out and put his hand on his son??s shoulder. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years.?? Then. but it never stopped her from trying again. and I told Harvey that. without reason or cause. Without Beck??s testimony. Miles couldn??t stand that. After school. he was running out of time. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. because I can??t guarantee it. huh? a voice inside him answered. almost charming. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything. harried by the lunchtime crowd.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. ??He had a great day. right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. a nice dark spot where he could hide from the world forever. It was only May.My roommate got me into it.?? she said. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. A few kids shouted greetings. Not only after school.??I??m also free on Friday night.

 and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening. Missy had taken care of things like this. The machine clicked and there was a second message. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. Sarah??s frown deepened. . And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. Seven months later. ??That??s okay. incomplete thoughts.?? He paused.??So . old enough to understand that his mother had died. . The nicotine wasn??t cutting it anymore. ??Fair enough. he knew.??Well. He??d been a jerk. about a month after he??d first met Sarah Andrews.But he would find the driver.??Look. visiting local bars and restaurants.??Yes. ??Yes. . Missy had taken care of things like this. ??Not as bad as you probably think. Jonah had nodded.