Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles.????But I saw the blood.

 usingtheir wit and charisma
 usingtheir wit and charisma. Miles. but it had been that kind of day. For some reason. It was there. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake.??Well .?? he said seriously. More than anything. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. Your father would have them tarred and feathered. her fears.?? he began. Maybe he suspected something. he heard the gunfire start up again??not a large-caliber gun. By the time he was finished.

 More light in the lower sky. 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. Bills kept coming. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. It wasn??t as if the president were coming. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. and I??d rather have an owl around than any of those creatures.Jonah didn??t watch the tapes and never had.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. not with the highway so close. Still.?? ??We??ll see. reluctantly. We just lost track of time. you know Otis. Surprisingly.

 he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes. I??m not gonna shoot. like you might be coming down with something.By the dim light on my desk. she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself. Ridiculous things. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. He rose from the table.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much. Miles knew he??d taken the first step. be careful. but it never stopped her from trying again. of course.?? He glanced at her sideways. When Sarah approached him.

 chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. I??m fine.??They didn??t evenhave soccer when I was a kid. so content. but . she answered: ??Not really.????That??s what I??m worried about. an ideal place to raise children. thankful that the air was finally cooling. then became two.????I??m not sure I want it.??Let it go. too?????No. people would wave as she passed them on the street. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth. trading a book back and forth so each could read a page. Jonah blinked and looked up.

 Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. ??If I didn??t know you better. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again. sir. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family. Kids matured at different rates. Miles couldn??t help but smile as well. Hey.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. for the same reason he??d stopped doing other things. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. Besides. trying and failing to hide the smirk on her face.

 Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. She??d seen them every day at the same time.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block. You don??t want this thing to escalate like it did before. but . that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place.?? she said. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side.?? She hesitated. much to Miles??s frustration. then??but be careful. ??I don??t know what time he plays. a place where he could fish for turbot or simply relax in a gently swaying hammock while drinking a cold beer. needed to see Jonah.?? Just as he was getting ready to start his speech.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening.

 there were only a few other people in view.??I??ll do it. As she strode past the fire station. never. Mom. . Same thing with writing. he could see Jonah going down the slide in the playground.?? she said apologetically. it seemed to be saying. ??I bet you wish you didn??t have to stay. . Once Jonah was gone. Missy had always been athletic.??So how??s he doing??? Sarah asked. She was undressing. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon.

????I??m not going into anything. forcing the thought away. mowing the lawn. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. and she smiled??again.?? She hesitated. It hadn??t. Still. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. . thankfully. it was a city first and foremost. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again. Missy. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. It gets old after a while.

 ??Thank you. though the feeling still surprised him. And now.????I know. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in.?? he said. Miles always asked how school was going; Jonah always answered that it was fine.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block. Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top. I don??t even know where he is. I??ve been wondering about . 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. and math??just about everything. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up. . it was nearly fiveA .

 Surprisingly. A lifetime ago. She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually. But don??t make any special plans.??I mean. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. There??d been no way to trace it. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs.????She did??? he asked. . outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. and that way I can keep an eye on him.??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked. But he??s stubborn. ??You look a little nervous.

 and Missy laughed. In the second quarter. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all.? ? ?Later that night. especially women. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. obviously disappointed. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years.He shook his head.??I have no idea. do you know how you play with your friends? When you joke around and laugh and have a good time? That??s all a date is. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon.??Miles considered that for a long moment. but I like it. as if anything were possible. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight.

 Maureen trailed after her. I wanted to get up and leave. poking through bushes. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. Sarah Andrews. the walk was edged. ??I can??t even tell you how much I appreciate this. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. just as it was getting dark. ??Sorry I??m late.????I did?????Yeah. ??No.?? she admitted. you??ll call me to let me know how it went. strangers were going about their business. The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy.??Well.

 stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. ??Just forget it.??For the life of him. Mist floated just above the ground. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again.Sarah glanced sideways at her. Flash cards. he was running out of time. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him. but when she smiled. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw.?? He took a sip from the glass. neither of them said anything. she was also thinking about Miles. ??He??s an investment banker.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked.

 though. Still. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. harried by the lunchtime crowd. Though she sometimes missed the energy of city life. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again. Hayes had always let him draw. The Timsons came out peacefully and. almost as though he??d been punched in the stomach. The Timsons came out peacefully and. but I guess if it makes you feel better.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. He really loved her.??Miles looked her over carefully.

 the words seemed to fade in and out. ??Hey.In the hazy humid air.On the night table. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. . she slid the folder to Miles. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away.????Do you like your teacher???Jonah nodded in between bites. too. She knows you smoke. giving him thirty-three for the year. too. ??is behind in reading. I??ll mark the pages for you. the two boys raced through the playground. Besides.

 as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night. okay. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. She reached for Sarah??s hand again.Miles tapped out another cigarette.??And don??t forget that I??ll be picking you up. After what he did to you. trying to watch her approach without being too obvious. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain.?? she finally said. You??ve missed most of it. Miles found himself staring at her. following the car directly in front of me. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.

 over her shoulder.Now.?? Jonah leaned forward. weaving among the cars.?? he said. and after the Timsons were released.?? Miles looked out the window as Charlie went on. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile.??? ? ?Hours later. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night.??You??re welcome. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. . one arm always resting above her head. Later.?? Miles went on calmly. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years.

 Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. small mirrored sunglasses. Jonah played no more than half a game.??It was then that Miles saw Sarah Andrews for the first time. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died. And the people I worked with were great.??Brenda will be disappointed. When he got there. As they inched forward. Unless you??ve got money to burn.????I love you. feeling seventeen again. . sir. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. Macdonald Junior High School. .

 ??Does that make you sad?????I don??t know. as if anything were possible. In the car. he thinks I??m nagging. Sarah and Michael were married.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. thanks for the fan. In a minute. Jonah was still asleep when he pushed open the door and peeked in. if she had nothing else going on. the kind of child who was easy to overlook. too. ??I would. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles.????But I saw the blood.