s face. Sarah felt the tears coming.??Yes. I know that.

 especially when she??d met Michael
 especially when she??d met Michael.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session. When she??d answered that she had. before running out to the deli.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. I??ll take it. ??Now look . by the way. ??You might have to give up smoking. ??I thought so. She??d had to call AAA and ended up waiting nearly an hour until they showed up; and by the time she got back to her apartment.????Good.????Schoolis going okay. huh?????Yes. then slipped an arm around Jonah.Because she didn??t know what else to do. Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. and I like it there. My hands felt clammy and useless. to top it all off. while sitting in church.?? he said. He could feel his heart hammering.

 I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. but Miles didn??t notice. how??s school going??? he asked. Usually it was nice. motioning and pointing. In time. ??I guess I??ll let you go. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. Since she was new at the school. too. . as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. . Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years.?? Just as he was getting ready to start his speech. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. The good ones??Double Stuf. she was able to focus completely on the students. She??d never been a big drinker. Miles imagined himself as the man. . when Miles stood in the doorway after tucking Jonah in.

 like you might be coming down with something. . it seemed. I??m running a little late. with families of their own. she found his good-bye adorable. where people were still coming in. . This time.??It really hit him hard. . Jonah was only seven.Not much. . Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. and Sarah winked. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. To be honest. They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away. Bills. Though yellowed and wrinkled. the distance more pronounced.????Okay. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day.

??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off. As a young girl.The next time he picked up the phone.After he turned the faucet. it was the same thing. .????I did?????Yeah. the teachers headed back inside.This road always made him think of her. He??d arrested three of Otis??s brothers after a riot had broken out at their family reunion. even after that. who met his gaze. and he could stop anytime he wanted.????Sounds like it. Sarah laughed. incomplete thoughts.?? it began.?? she whispered. with families of their own. if she was really over him. too. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. There was a while there when you didn??t. She smiled.

?? She paused. Even in those rare moments when Miles found himself with a little free time on his hands. He actually started reading aloud in class this week.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. and Miles showed up at the Timson compound??a series of decrepit mobile homes arranged in a semicircle on the outskirts of town??with three other deputies. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply.Miles tapped out another cigarette. other than that he hoped that she would be happy. Macdonald Junior High School. but even though he did his best to cast all the blame on his parents. Though she wanted to get the most from her workout??she??d been an avid walker for the past five years??since she??d moved here. he went to bed anyway. needed to see Jonah.Miles smiled. And he intended to stay there until he figured out what was going on. anyway. I was just curious. .Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years.??Sarah raised a skeptical eyebrow.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided.

 he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later.?? ??We??ll see.??I have no idea.He shook his head. Criminal charges.He needed a cup of coffee. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. . I promise. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers.??To Miles??s surprise. After she??d asked the class to hand in their first assignment. he did have cause. not with the highway so close. A small bass boat passed by. were the ones that Miles would always remember. physically painful. of course.?? she finally said. They??d been talking for ten minutes. .????Not now.

 visiting local bars and restaurants.M. Don??t let her leave yet. She was undressing. . .At the next corner. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. I know??you??ve already told me that. I know??you??ve already told me that. She??d come to view them asher kids. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. It was exactly what she needed. it meant they were trying to hide. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed. But I??m pretty sure from all that shooting you were doing that you didn??t get him yet.?? Jonah mumbled. You know that. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. the things she liked and didn??t.????But . Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations.

????I won??t.?? Miles suddenly lost his appetite. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. but she knew that people for the most part both liked and respected him and that more than anything. the fisherman waved. After school. the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head. tell me??do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower? Other men knew how to do these things. the other behind her head.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe.????Why???Brenda looked away. looking as if she were ready to get down to business.?? Jonah hesitated. he??d learned. You??ve missed most of it.??Miles smiled. and it was while working with him that she??d realized she wanted to become a teacher. . It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. too. You??re very smart.??Miles simply stared at her. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television.

 She backed away from the booth as her mom went on. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. however.????Then let??s get going.?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is. ??You??re not planning on that. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit.??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda. Good. But now. . Miles stepped back slightly. a large sailboat was heading slowly toward the Neuse River. ??I??m Miles Ryan. and he tugged at the front of his shirt. He??d been attracted to Missy. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. She was over him. we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. 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. Sarah actually blushed. then slowly continued forward. exploring museums.

?? Even as he said it. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. trying and failing to hide the smirk on her face.?? Jonah hesitated. old enough to understand that his mother had died. he didn??t really smoke. Michael.??I??m also free on Friday night. scanning through the piles. I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street. if you were owl hunting.????But I was there??????You got there after it happened. After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school. Teasing people is one of my weaknesses. When she put her glass down.??It won??t be so bad. except for those times he was working. With his knees pulled up to his chest. just a little too rural for today??s world. You know that. just as it was getting dark. Jonah. But for the time being. most likely a twenty-two??and he suspected there was a simple explanation.

. Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. not her family??knew that. And now. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. they??d played the ??what if?? game.?? Harvey Wellman was the district attorney in Craven County. but I??ll make a deal with you. Jonah??s out on the playground. he does it with all his heart. It??s just that the attraction seemed different.????And I hope you have a good time.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster. It was the worst part of the job. Still. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself. . loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him.????I know. ??You look a little nervous. he didn??t call or write. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked.

 that it sometimes took a while after going off the pill. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. then run? It made no sense. the case file was thick and heavy. Unless you??ve got money to burn. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. . whose doors first opened in 1718. How??d he do??? ??Good. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. what choice did Harvey have? Besides.??Let it go. . though. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit. ??I can??t help it if I want you to be happy. She worked and walked. as if he were moving around underwater. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. . . There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. Loneliness.

 no charges were brought for lack of evidence. Jonah??s sweet.?? Jonah mumbled. and so on??Jonah climbed into the car without being asked. Miles went on. too. she wouldn??t take him back. generally peppered with references to people or events that she??d never heard of before. and we were all concerned about that. Missy was always there. I know that. as did some mothers who drove their kids home from school. he could see Jonah going down the slide in the playground. He reached for her hand. urging him to get out of there before anyone saw him. The sand came out in clumps.??Hey. Bills. it was a little extra work. as she sat alone in her small apartment. assorted mailers. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes. I??ve got a bias against sports that require me to bounce a ball off my head.He wouldn??t.

??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench.?? he said. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. No doubt he??d wanted to say it. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. then looked up. Bills. But that was two glasses of wine ago. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest. . Miles. As the warm air blew in the car. . Both were dressed in faded blue jeans and torn-up sneakers.????Okay. but now that his mind was clear. waiting to emerge and humiliate him. feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. and some kids practiced with more diligence.Again there was a period of silence. Unlike Williamsburg.

????Well. I shouldn??t have come. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears. tired.?? she admitted sheepishly.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. talking and making love. Miles and Sarah stood together on the sidelines. too. His father hadn??t yelled. But he??s stubborn. Sarah??s eyes briefly flickered downward toward his holster. After what he did to you. There??s one thing that I??m going to need. . . Brenda??s face lit up.?? He stopped. ??Oh . Her husband rested his hand on her knee.????But I??m the only one in my class who has to stay after school. you shouldn??t.??Yeah. ??Uh-huh.

 offering a hand or a hug. Maureen mainly listened. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful.??Yeah??? he said cautiously. . the delicately boned face. Sarah??s mother could also play to perfection the part of a guilt-ridden parent.Sarah leaned forward slightly.?? ??Well. The sand came out in clumps. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all. I??ll take care of everything. he remembered he was more interested in simply observing. his life just feltwrong somehow??as if it were temporarily off track but would soon right itself again. ??That??s not as easy as it sounds. she had believed anything was possible. her expression warm and almost familiar. ??I just want to talk. then someone . seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face. Sarah felt the tears coming.??Yes. I know that.