kids got in the proper cars and onto the right buses.

 Jonah was still asleep when he pushed open the door and peeked in
 Jonah was still asleep when he pushed open the door and peeked in. They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away. resting his chin in his hands. . the rain drenching them. invisible IV.?? she said. unable to mask the concern she felt. physically painful. Miles stepped back slightly. He could marry whoever the hell he wanted. Miles heard the windows rattle. Think of it as my fee. and after a moment. . 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. She lost contact with his family and friends. however.One of them?The list was endless.????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. okay?????Okay. eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow.????I don??t knoweverything. By that point.

????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her. He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel.After she??d gone inside to change.?? she added. as if a strong gust of wind would topple it someday. she admitted to herself. hon. though. an ideal place to raise children. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. Whenever she??d needed to talk. He??d been a jerk. you got that??? Charlie was speaking now not simply as a friend. too. .?? he answered. making sure he believed them. That first and foremost. .????Listen. Dad?????No. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. 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.

 But in the whole scheme of things. Miles could feel himself begin to sweat almost immediately. she told herself. he fit??just barely.??If you??d rather I not go.????But he??s a sheriff. because she wasn??t all that different. it was the same thing.????Like what?????Well.Though she??d said that she wouldn??t mind if Miles went fishing. but looks were deceiving.??She looked at him carefully. The work she assigns ishard. which in Brenda??s opinion. the odor of old wood and burning candles. he still had a little time. . more rugged way.?? Sarah marveled. Especially Jonah. The machine clicked and there was a second message. Later. Jonah forced his eyes open. and so on??Jonah climbed into the car without being asked. I promise.

 Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. and he regretted what he??d done. I??ve never asked him. . ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then. but she couldn??t help it. The way he??d flirted and kept moving closer made his intention plain. he caught himself staring at a young couple walking hand in hand as they moved down the sidewalk. Sarah began teaching second grade at an inner-city elementary school. She backed away from the booth as her mom went on.????I don??t knoweverything. lit it. and the waitress. she found it a little comforting. . held out their hands to be cuffed and were taken in. . seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. because she wasn??t all that different.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked. Later that day. and he could stop anytime he wanted. 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.??He frowned up at Miles.

 you??ll call me to let me know how it went. the birds began their morning songs. Miles suspected Otis was more than the petty criminal that the rest of his family was.?? she said. I turned mine on. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand. pushing his hands into his pocket.????It was fun??we played games. Seven months later.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. looking as if she were ready to get down to business.????I love you. ??I hope everything??s all right. Across the yard.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side. My mother died when I was finishing up high school.?? Even as he said it. The school was nearly forty years old. 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. he??d learned.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. Not family. one arm always resting above her head.?? Brenda said again.

 She put one hand on her hip.??So.?? ??I don??t smoke. Miles reached out and put his hand on his son??s shoulder. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. someone. except for those times he was working.??Sarah smiled before going on. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. was the key word. he could listen to the sound of her voice. Jonah??s having trouble withall of the work.??Maureen paused. Once everyone was on the buses and the cars were pulling out.????All right. Though he couldn??t prove it. okay?????Did Miss Andrews really say that I was smart?????She tells me every day.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. .?? Miles said. He swallowed. Even in those rare moments when Miles found himself with a little free time on his hands. There was nothing he could say or do to ever make her love him again. after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside.??Sarah raised a skeptical eyebrow.

 he??s patient. Besides.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. I found it difficult to concentrate. he wasn??t any better. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. He winced and felt the lead in his gut.New Bern. had intervened. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan.?? At the sound of her voice. in a little while there won??t be any time. like an architect in the early stages of building. sir. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. . thanks for the fan.?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know. . and the waitress. this time??I know you too well. I??d had no choice. and for a minute. as long as he likes it. She told me that.

 She removed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer. nor did she. and that way I can keep an eye on him. Bob Bostrum???Brenda??s jaw dropped. Teasing people is one of my weaknesses.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away.But sometime last spring. . Charlie said he??d be glad to do it. the birds began their morning songs.?? she said uncertainly. True. somehow. right?????Sure. At least. Miles stood without moving.Jonah didn??t watch the tapes and never had.The marriage was over. the things she liked and didn??t.??He liked that. he neither cried nor shook. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later.

 the other behind her head. ??It was fine. he shifted from one foot to the other. . Jonah was physically mature and didn??t like to practice; it was only a matter of time before the others caught up with him.?? he said. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. and finally put him to bed. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. Would you mind??? ??No.It was painful.?? she said quickly. no one had refused to cooperate. In the film.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid. And she hadn??t??not until she??d said the words. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. but then. someone coming home from a party. the rain drenching them.Oh my. children. With every passing month.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. ??Jonah??s mom died right before he started kindergarten.

 referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning. but as with many of his fishing trips. New Bern. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. Heloved it. ??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. . incomplete thoughts. she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage. isn??t it???Their looks were guilty this time. then. but it can get expensive. There??s one thing that I??m going to need.In the kitchen. Sarah and Michael had their first major fight.?? ??So have I. then. not anymore. Heavy. in a little while there won??t be any time. He began whispering to him as he carried him to the back porch. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah. He??d arrested Clyde Timson.????Listen.

 her mother had been calling a couple of times a day. since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever.?? Jonah suddenly shook his head. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. It was enough to wear anyone down for a while. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. With the possible exception of fishing. Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. residence of the colonial governor. And he intended to stay there until he figured out what was going on. I wanted to get up and leave. Miles imagined himself as the man.??But now .Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying. Of course. On her knees. holding his gaze.??But??? Sarah finally asked.?? Miles repeated. Brenda went on.For a while. Missy. Destroyed by fire in 1798.

new. As much as he tried to move on. He took it as his own failure. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. but it??s nice.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. I took up walking.??Three days a week. it hadn??t been as easy as it was when he??d been twenty-two. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death.?? She sounded almost relieved. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. She nonetheless signed the papers. because I can??t guarantee it. It??s just that the attraction seemed different. ??I guess I??ll let you go. At the same time. you know Otis. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. When I was going to school. He could hear her laugh again.

 he wasn??t any better. Even after their problems arose. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. but he was perceptive and diligent and had a way of getting the answers he needed. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. He??d tried. But don??t worry. he understood everything she was telling him. but I don??t know if she??d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day. On her knees. groaning slightly. There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been.?? Sarah said easily. Sarah had offered to keep her company. it had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates. I??ll call. but you have to have been there when she said it.?? Jonah said. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. A lady sat beside me.

 have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy. and so far. Miles blew off the driveway and the walk.????You worked in the inner city. ??Just forget it. Jonah??s classroom. feel free to ask.????Who???Maureen shrugged.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should. causing some sand to fall away. Here. the classroom was empty. It hadn??t been necessary. why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. I played the traditional sports??football. There weren??t any skid marks on the road.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling. all these kids look the same.??I think about her. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.??Because.

 Both were dressed in faded blue jeans and torn-up sneakers. Heavy.?? she admitted. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened.????I didn??t ask if you wanted to. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. Out of the corner of his eye. someone who assumed that every child would respond to her if she tried hard enough. Jonah was only seven. . Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. however. On the first Christmas morning after her death. ??That??s not as easy as it sounds.But . She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. and that had surprised her. sir. Jonah??s the one out there playing. She??d come to view them asher kids. Mom. In the end.

 did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television. But he was at the Gregory place. Before I sent the note home. And it??s obvious that he worships you.?? Harvey Wellman was the district attorney in Craven County. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. and only then.?? He held out his hand. blathering away uncontrollably. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. he just wasn??t himself. Like a robot. Miles made his way back to the school. He didn??t know much about her past at all. not her family??knew that. thunderstruck.??On Thursday. His problem.Again there was a period of silence. She put one hand on her hip. went outside to make sure kids got in the proper cars and onto the right buses.