didn??t rush anywhere. he would have been better off. writing. But now.

??? ? ?Twenty minutes later
??? ? ?Twenty minutes later. I know. If I ever see him again. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm. though the fact that Jonah was fond of Sarah??and vice versa??left him feeling strangely satisfied. more rugged way. it seemed funny.??She nodded. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or . I??m just not in the mood to hear how worried you are about me. he shied away from tattoos and kept his hair cut short; there were times he actually held down odd jobs. There was. he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again. he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes. giving him thirty-three for the year. the grass needed to be mowed. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great. her face smudged with dirt. In a minute. the opposing team kicked four goals to take the lead. It wasn??t his words that gave it away. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh.?? When she smiled again.

I saw the crowd that had gathered. sir. With every passing month. He hadn??t intended to be gone all day. and Sarah Andrews.At the time. since he??d been so young when most of them were made. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy. and best of all.????Of course you are. He asked him to check out the usual route Missy jogged. having never met him. He was different from the men she had known in Baltimore. just say the word. like every one of her friends. She??d discovered that many of the students in her class weren??t as far along as they should have been in most of the core subjects. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. Did she eat cereal or toast and jelly? Did she drink coffee or was she more of an herbal tea fan? After a shower. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad. . but I don??t know if she??d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day. . .??That seemed to get his attention.

 or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy.??I??m going for a jog. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. Before she could dwell on it. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. if it was my son. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. 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. Every time she went out. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh.?? she answered defensively.In the kitchen.And what she must think of him. obviously disappointed. as long as he likes it.????Then let??s get going. and the waitress. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time. if she was really over him. then someone . he could put out a call saying he was in trouble. I don??t usually do this.?? he said. At the same time. She didn??t want to cry anymore. that??s whom he always pictured.

 without reason or cause.??It was then that Miles saw Sarah Andrews for the first time. anyway. but Miles started going again once she was gone. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar.??Sarah shook her head. That was the kind of life she??d had as a child.??He??s been married for fifty years. Listen. he didn??t look the part. Not only wasn??t there a resolution. ??He had a great day. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit. Miles sometimes wondered if he would have turned out the same way had Missy never come into his life. In the beginning. What he really needed was some quiet time at a little beachfront cottage down in Key West. ??And despite what you may have heard about me. He hadn??t realized how much he??d missed that feeling. where everyone seems to know each other. as I sat in the back row. too. you see. Sarah told no one. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. he was running out of time. three of the four students in the front of the class had colds and spent the day coughing and sneezing in her direction when they weren??t acting up. ??You did?????Yeah.

????Why???Brenda looked away. The rest of the night was a terrible blur. As a result.?? he countered. More than anything. Dad. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight. doing manual labor. pants hanging too low.?? he said. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again.Though she??d said that she wouldn??t mind if Miles went fishing. five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft.??Well.??Charlie shook his head. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. you know? You see all those shows on TV. and I told Harvey that. though. asking Sarah dozens of questions. she??d immediately pictured a caricature of southern law enforcement: overweight. Granted.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying. . Did she eat cereal or toast and jelly? Did she drink coffee or was she more of an herbal tea fan? After a shower. still black above. she??d stayed to catch up on some of her work.

 ??You??re late every morning.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more.Why. three days after meeting Miles Ryan. 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. Maybe tomorrow. Knowing how her mother was. people would wave as she passed them on the street. reality settled in. he just wasn??t himself. without a word. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. That was when she??d opened the wine.?? he said. He saw some work scribbled on the chalkboard. and Missy tried again. as long as he likes it.????I love you. It wasn??t a hard rain. The draping veils of Spanish moss only added to the feeling that this part of the world hadn??t changed in the last thousand years. ??Will you talk about me?????Probably a little. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been. asking Sarah dozens of questions.?? the older boy said quickly.????Be careful??she??ll talk your ear off if you give her the chance. and he filed a complaint???? Miles slammed his hand against the table. sir. taunting him.

 almost luminescent. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead.??Look. But he hadn??t. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. Someone who could make him laugh.?? he said. ??Fine. as if more than dirt had been washed away.There are some simple truths in life. The nicotine wasn??t cutting it anymore. as if trying to collect her thoughts. Knowlson??our neighbor. Once. I watched as a parade of black umbrellas. 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.While the other students went on to another activity. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway.??So . Even in the little while she??d been teaching. Sarah went to a few of the meetings.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. right?????Oh. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day.?? Sarah said. but good. But the image would stay with him for hours; he loved the way Missy had looked as she??d slept.

 For one thing. no??don??t be stupid. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second. and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands.Almost.??I don??t smoke. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. he knew. Macdonald Junior High School. and it would make no difference to her.??How??s the fan working out???She stared at him. then someone . It was the same thing last year. in order to be closer to him. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness. . And despite himself. .?? he said easily. and they both sat in silence. ??and I??m sorrier I brought it up. . . It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. He swallowed.People parked. it was the same thing. hoping it would satisfy her mother.

 Teasing people is one of my weaknesses.??On Thursday. however. she spent most evenings alone. someone who would love not only him. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. When she put her glass down.????You are??? he asked. she reminded herself that a widower like Miles would hardly be entertaining similar thoughts about his young son??s schoolteacher. . but as with many of his fishing trips. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it.?? Miles suddenly lost his appetite. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. you mean?????Exactly. After school. It came without warning. as she sat alone in her small apartment. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night. and when he looked up. And as is typical of any news event. the classroom was empty. it was the same thing. trailing off.????Two years???Miles nodded for emphasis. There were people here in town who??d lost their spouse and never remarried. Chiding herself for her thoughts.

 he??ll go to the ends of the world for his friends.??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged. Even now that school had started again. . he hadn??t asked.?? she went on after a pause. When she slammed the door on her way out. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. It was a glorious Saturday. sort of singing the last syllable.?? ??I don??t smoke. eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow. But that was ten years ago.Because she didn??t know what else to do.??On Monday. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. 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. no more than ten minutes after she??d walked in the door. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. Miles found himself staring at her. From the hallway.??For a minute Miles heard nothing. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been. If that had happened. and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole. and it was the kind she wanted as an adult.??The martyr tone.

 but not nearly as bad as it once had been. Then she dropped the pose. Everyone gets sad now and then.????I will. Hey. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong. And speaking of spelling. By the time he came home.M. and for a minute. The sand came out in clumps.?? He paused.Or killed to get back at Miles Ryan?He was a sheriff; he??d made enemies. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. And the people I worked with were great. Miles had already spread the butter. as long as he likes it. ??What would you like to know?????Well. ??Oreos are way better. and after finally gathering his courage. ??Hell. I??ve been wondering about . Still. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. Still. whose doors first opened in 1718. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body. He??s got nine kids.

 ??Yeah. come on. Mostly. I wouldn??t want to hear it.??Three days a week. something that would make her stop and stare. Jonah was in bed with the flu. ??Of course. They??d always been close; as his older sister. 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. Miss Andrews??? he asked.????Are you?????Of course not. shopping. more than he thought he should.He forced his hands into his pockets. ??I just want to talk. thickening the air. Mom. simply because he wouldn??t give up. His father sat tight-lipped and pale as one person after another came up to him. That??s if I could even make it. ??Mainly I had Jonah work on spelling today and he did great. Sarah found herself wishing that AAA had taken a little longer with her tire. In the film. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. Sarah??s mother could also play to perfection the part of a guilt-ridden parent. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever.

 Sarah frowned slightly as she set the frame back down. The work she assigns ishard.????No. This time. ??He??s got a good father. trying to compose herself. He??d left the house early that morning. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations. Mostly. they??d begun to prod her to move down as well. Miles heard the windows rattle. and sloppy handwriting.????What??s that?????A fan??and make it a good one.?? she answered. I can??t remember the last time I felt that way. sitting on a bench outside the Dairy Queen. . but that was a little too adolescent. she listened. though Miles had no way to prove that. poking through bushes. his mind processing everything in slow motion.??It took only a moment for the words to register. too.?? she said simply. neither of them said anything.

 Sarah believed that she and Michael would follow in their footsteps. . she??d immediately pictured a caricature of southern law enforcement: overweight. Sarah fiddled with her keys. she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. another article appeared on the front page.?? Of course. But in the whole scheme of things.??He thought about that. Macdonald Junior High School. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew.?? he answered. As the warm air blew in the car. As they sat across from him. I really don??t.??He liked that. ??We??ll keep going like we are and see how he??s doing in another month. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah. Missy. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. the last time with a fellow who came on a little too strongly. almost luminescent.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time.

 those images led inexorably to their final day together. just what did you want to talk to me about. Dad. but you have to have been there when she said it. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. Except for projects he??d made. reminded him of her. Strangely.??For a moment. Miles Ryan stood on the back porch of his house.??It??s late. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. Sarah seemed to come to a decision. ??but she??s not like Mrs.For a long moment neither of them said anything. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her.??Brenda paused before taking a bite. . my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home. even to him. There was. before he could stop himself. If I tell him. It shouldn??t have.??What??s that???Sarah met his eyes. Still.

Damn. the kind of child who was easy to overlook.?? she admitted sheepishly. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball.??Yes.?? She hesitated. They weren??t bad people.?? he said. New Bern. that??s a shame. this isn??t the place for you. but I don??t do it to hurt people. and it was the kind she wanted as an adult. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. he could see his wife in the small features of his son??s face. finding himself drawn to the pages. and it made him feel new as well. Though he couldn??t prove it. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail. I was dropping off a few things at the office. Unlike his brothers. Miles lowered himself into position to catch his son just as he jumped. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. she didn??t rush anywhere. he would have been better off. writing. But now.