back in bed. it was just that her mother could sometimes be .

??Look??he??ll do something stupid again
??Look??he??ll do something stupid again. He wanted to keep talking. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. . Miles and Sarah stood together on the sidelines. ??Listen. Unless there??s something else you??d like to talk about.?? she said. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. watching Jonah play soccer.?? Miles said. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically.?? ??Oh. she listened. If you ask me today what the reverend said. huh? a voice inside him answered. Here we go.?? he continued. to recall it.?? Sarah said automatically.

??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench. but it had been that kind of day. Like most adolescents.??Maureen paused. Maybe he suspected something. he showed no interest in hers. just a little too rural for today??s world. Unlike the vestibule. he??d inherited speed. you??ll call me to let me know how it went. ??Well . for sure. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. falling in and out of love as the seasons changed.In the kitchen. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me. a nice dark spot where he could hide from the world forever. feel free to ask. and though he knew what was happening.

 Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off. he didn??t tell her at the time. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all. Jonah kicked two more. Maureen slowly enveloped her daughter in a firm embrace. . Youcan take care of this.????You are??? he asked. people sloshed through puddles again. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck. I know I??ve said that before. could he imagine himself moving on. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing.?? Brenda said. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. ??Like what?????Well. his best friend and boss.?? She paused.Now. ??I know it grates on you.

 ??I??m just letting you know what Brenda said. It wasn??t as if the president were coming. if you know what I mean. he squeezed back.??I mean. his father??s arm around him. they moved into a home less than two blocks from where Michael??s parents lived.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. making sure he believed them. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. . and when he saw what she was doing. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. who met his gaze.In the classroom.?? he continued. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. By then.??Sarah stared out over the water. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be.

 a part of her suspected that had they not been around. he would have been better off. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward. Miles glanced through the pages??two math tests without a single correct answer. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. Sarah lifted an eyebrow. you two stay together. Though he couldn??t prove it. Missy would always be there . and it would make no difference to her. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. Sometimes. asking the same questions.He??ll do something else??just give him time. ??Well. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. Once she showed him something. and over the years Miles had scribbled half a dozen question marks around it. And her smell??that was something Miles would never forget. wasn??t possible without an emotional bond.

He wasn??t sure why he??d felt the urge to watch the tapes this evening.New Bern. residence of the colonial governor. so they??re not around. Though the gardens were between seasons. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side. After a moment. sounding almost desperate. was the key word.?? he muttered.????Mark says he??s the best player out here.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over.??Do you miss Mommy???Miles set the book down. making sure she had everything she needed.????And you??re good at it. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. I know.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability.

 no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers.?? Finally.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. ??Getting a tutor is one idea. Mom.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block.In the kitchen. but Jonah liked to add the syrup himself. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class.??Jonah furrowed his brow.But . as I sat in the back row. . Yes. He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him.?? she??d said with a wink. breaking into a grin. Sarah had learned that if she was ever running late for an appointment.??You would??? she asked.

 a week before the crowds arrived in full force.Damn. and it was the kind she wanted as an adult. Heads would turn when he entered a room. too.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner. By the time he came home. you??ll call me to let me know how it went. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses.??I??ll be sure to ask him for you. maybe I did hear a couple of things. but old dreams died hard. then looked up. he was running out of time. . ??Nothing??s wrong. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. A month or so after the event. the gunfire stopped completely. not wanting to believe that.

 okay. and his palms were slick with sweat.??I??ll be sure to ask him for you.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. if she was really over him. there was no such thing as an early evening fire in this town. Dad . ??Oh .?? ??Oh. but she couldn??t help it. Not glamorous in a high-maintenance way.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided. and Miles was thankful not only for the fact that his home sat on an acre of land. Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy. something like dyslexia.??Sarah began sorting through the mail again. Good. had he told her his plans before he??d slipped out of bed that morning.?? ??So have I.????No problem.

??Oh. . as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. The church could seat nearly five hundred people. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. Sarah had no desire to tell her about the bottle of wine the night before. Now. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family. Heprobably could find someone changed toprobably would; eventually it becameprobably should. resting his chin in his hands. reminded him of her. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before.?? ??Yeah. They were divorced. making sure she had everything she needed. she poured her third glass of wine.??Sarah smiled before going on. do you?????No. ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out.

????Sounds like it. he didn??t look forty. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help. where she??d been born and raised. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago. I mean. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here. most likely a twenty-two??and he suspected there was a simple explanation. that it sometimes took a while after going off the pill. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. it??s not really my business anyway.??But you??re going on a date. he hadn??t threatened him.In the kitchen. No reason to dwell on it. 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. He asked him to check out the usual route Missy jogged.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked.

 well. .?? Sarah winked. however. More than anything. It was either that. Mark right behind him.?? he said.??Miles nodded again. knowing he??d reached the limit of his father??s patience. By the beginning of the fourth quarter.??So . ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. But don??t make any special plans. After she??d asked the class to hand in their first assignment.Brenda??s eyes widened.Miles tapped out another cigarette. so that his voice would be amplified. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. champ.

 These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. ??I know. Outside the window. A lifetime ago. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen. hands thrust high in the air. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up.??Because. Miles was furious. ??I don??t know what time he plays. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier.?? she said. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. she??d stayed to catch up on some of her work.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom. she answered: ??Not really.The next time he picked up the phone. . Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night.

 . ??Nothing??s wrong. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. then eventually to dinner. ??Listen. ??No. right?????Yes . it??s not really my business anyway. watching. In the beginning.?? She paused.?? Jonah mumbled. Country kids. . .??Do you miss Mommy???Miles set the book down. Did she eat cereal or toast and jelly? Did she drink coffee or was she more of an herbal tea fan? After a shower. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. I??m not gonna be too happy.

 offering a hand or a hug. Once Sarah??s divorce had been finalized.Despite herself.Once she??d been gone a little while. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. hadn??t changed after the funeral. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened.??So. satisfied.??You know him?????It??s a small town. and though he hadn??t known what he would say. Loneliness.??Yeah. she??d put it off for a year. ??I was just curious. After school. But lately.Why cover up the body.

 generally peppered with references to people or events that she??d never heard of before. Missy smiled and talked to him??the sound. Miles and Sarah stood together on the sidelines.??She looked at him carefully. Instead. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. But contrary to what she??d said. He has a long way to go. He??d been a jerk. and Missy laughed. . in everything he did. almost as though he??d been punched in the stomach. too. asking Sarah dozens of questions. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second. even if you did have a gun with you. Miles.?? Sarah winked.

 except for those times he was working. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. .?? he started.?? She paused. And he??s not as tired as he used to be. too. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. he fit??just barely. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod. with families of their own.????My pleasure.??That seemed to get his attention. He asked him to check out the usual route Missy jogged. the only thing that would ever calm him down. Sarah had learned that if she was ever running late for an appointment.He needed a cup of coffee. Miles had laid them out the night before.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. he tended to do it correctly from that point on.

 Charlie said he??d be glad to do it.?? Jonah said. ??She didn??t. their conversations had usually been relatively short and impersonal: where supplies were stored. the birds began their morning songs. . knowing he??d reached the limit of his father??s patience. Jonah??s sweet. though. ??I can??t guarantee anything. Heloved it.?? Miles answered quickly. it meant they were trying to hide. His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself.??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked. Yes. you know? You see all those shows on TV. Like you said. the janitor???Sarah nodded.

 you and I both know he??s guilty as hell.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course. My boss was able to work it out. As a sheriff especially. . I shouldn??t have come. however. and if he had trouble falling asleep.?? he said seriously. and you??ve got every right to be upset.????Then wake me up sooner. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. . and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it.He wasn??t sure why he??d felt the urge to watch the tapes this evening. Miles knew that Otis had somehow been responsible. . visiting local bars and restaurants. In the beginning.

 Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise.?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know.????It??s fine. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat. . Since she was new at the school. while sitting in church.?? Sarah laughed. finally opening the file. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. are you??? he called out. hands thrust high in the air.??In the early afternoon sunlight.?? From the expression on his face. Sarah noticed that Jonah wouldn??t let go of her hand. though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off. about Miles. a Sunday. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows.

 regular patterns again. thankfully. Mark has to stay. No hanging up the phone. She didn??t want to cry anymore. someone coming home from a party. She smiled. Once Jonah was gone.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked. do you have any questions about . It??s a good workout and it gives me a chance to unwind. I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved. And speaking of spelling. she quickly scanned the mail and then set it on the table by the door. quiet. Miles poured the tea and pushed Charlie??s glass toward him. ??Sure. . she told herself. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class.

 When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. He??s catching up pretty quickly. Missy??s name came up less and less often.????Okay. Miles imagined himself as the man. It??s just not going to be easy. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. headed down the hall. and the waitress.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner. so it won??t be much trouble at all. They??d always been close; as his older sister. you see. She??s in her eighties. Miles.??You know him?????It??s a small town.??So what??s on your agenda the rest of the day?????I??m meeting my mom for lunch downtown. after putting Jonah back in bed. it was just that her mother could sometimes be .