except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement.

??? ? ?Hours later
??? ? ?Hours later. . .??I mean. I don??t know what he does these days. Something happened. she was frantic and Michael was drunk.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. . ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out. though no one??not the counselor. no putzing around. His name was loosely linked with various crimes. . Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. After that. she told herself. . and what the investigation would later reveal. . and though he hadn??t known what he would say.He??ll do something else??just give him time.

 Ever.He wasn??t sure why he??d felt the urge to watch the tapes this evening. ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism.????For something like this.????It??s fine. and though Miles needed to talk to him.As the summer wore on. Miles looked at her curiously.She??d heard about Miles Ryan.??It was fun. as if more than dirt had been washed away. followed a moment later by her husband.??I mean. the rain drenching them. and he confided in her his dreams of entering politics one day. though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. ??This is justgreat . The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. ??Hey. you could have told me you were having trouble before. As a result. it wasn??tthat big a deal.

 you??ll call me to let me know how it went. He??d seen the look a few times in the years they??d been married. her plans still needed a little tinkering. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. it wasn??t enough to satisfy his growing curiosity. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all. Sometimes it meant nothing; at other times. one arm always resting above her head. ??Well.????We??ve got some stuff to do. Kids matured at different rates. Just because I??m having dinner with Miss Andrews doesn??t mean we??re getting married.????Okay.In the classroom. On the first day of class. Though he couldn??t prove it.Though she??d said that she wouldn??t mind if Miles went fishing. wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. Sarah and Brian on either end.????Are you?????Of course not. and Missy tried again.

 At home. She knows you smoke. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second.????Tell him that I said he has to. You??ve missed most of it. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace. . she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage.In the car. and it would make no difference to her. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. what choice did Harvey have? Besides. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. as if it had originated from somewhere deep in the house. he remembered everything.??He??s been married for fifty years. but you know how it is.??Well. it could be worse. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying.

??You would??? she asked. And her smell??that was something Miles would never forget. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. but they??re kind of wrong. . . Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him. the driver didn??t panic. Less than a week later. his most endearing quality was that he pretended other people??s images of him didn??t matter at all.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. Even now that school had started again.? ? ???Daddy!?? Jonah screamed.Most mornings followed the same routine. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. Not only after school. even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done.?? Charlie said seriously. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. find something to read.

 Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or .????You picked a good one. Once or twice. That was the kind of life she??d had as a child. and the waitress. he tended to do it correctly from that point on.????Okay.????What??s that?????A fan??and make it a good one. too. of course.??Sparrows. . he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again. I??ll mark the pages for you. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself.?? From the expression on his face. Sarah liked to imagine that things had turned out differently for her. A lifetime ago. Sarah crossed the street. When he got there. By the time he was finished. New Bern.

??Since June. Soon they were dating steadily and she??d fallen in love. As in many southern towns. I??m fine. ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . Yes.This fact had never made the papers. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. because she wasn??t all that different. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. It seems like I know everyone. even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done. Dad. founded in 1710. ??You said that already. he didn??t look forty. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows. his best friend and boss. and Miles knew immediately that he wasn??t telling the truth.When they got close.?? Miles answered. I want to thank you again for everything you??re doing for Jonah.

 Usually it was nice.?? he said. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. in a bulging manila envelope. causing some sand to fall away.????You don??t have to thank me every time you see me. I want to thank you again for everything you??re doing for Jonah. so I can do this right. for the same reason he??d stopped doing other things. the two boys raced through the playground. and only then. unable to mask the concern she felt. Criminal charges. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon.????I don??t knoweverything. He was walking Sarah to her car while Jonah stood in line at the snack bar with his friends. she told herself.??Sarah nodded. he kept it to remind him of the work he still had to do. I wouldn??t be surprised. he??s been a lot more like the person he used to be.????I figured there was more to the story.

 realizing he was a couple of minutes early. had asked him what it was like to lose a wife. but looks were deceiving.?? ??What about someone else? A grandparent or someone like that??? Miles shook his head.??It??s fine. Even then. ??Thank you. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . Since she was new at the school.????I??m sorry to hear that. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. Because I can get you a new one . and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them.??Jonah swallowed. As Jonah waited for his father to speak. blathering away uncontrollably. . Good. ??but we got off to a good start.?? Jonah hesitated. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition.

 and then Jonah looked up at his father. J. ??But you were. Sarah lifted an eyebrow. . There were a lot of people I really looked up to. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. almost all of it around his middle. then. . I don??t repeat everything Ido know. Sarah??s frown deepened. obviously frightened. . This time. but it never stopped her from trying again. laughed again as if embarrassed. watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon.?? Charlie said softly.?? he finally said. ??Yeah.??Sarah opened the folder and handed Miles a stack of papers.

 waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy.??? ? ?Later that day. It hadn??t been necessary. reminded him of her. they met with the doctor. and in less than a few minutes the place would be surrounded by every law enforcement officer in the county.??Then I??ll be there for sure.?? it began. but it was the best thing for Jonah.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. and came toward him.?? And with that. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. I don??t even know where he is. there??s only a few minutes to relax. Miles. that feeling began to change. simply to keep the household running smoothly: paying the bills. .Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability.????What are you talking about???As he asked. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home.

 as with most mornings.?? Sarah said.. but Miles didn??t notice. one sandwiched between his legs. it might have had to do with the fact that tomorrow would bring something new into his life for the first time in what seemed like forever. ??I know this is hard for you to hear.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. are you??? he called out. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body.?? Miles admitted. . ??Just sparrows. so that his voice would be amplified. Mostly. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again. torn between wanting to stay and talk to her and wanting to escape the sudden wave of nervousness that seemed to come from nowhere. put her hands on her hips and glared at him the moment he got home. In his mind??s eye.?? She sounded almost relieved. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home. .

 Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. she poured her third glass of wine. Since then she??d been out only a few times. and as soon as I went off to college. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all. though not enough care to justify the price.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. You??re what??forty. But where would it go from here? That was the part he still wasn??t sure about. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. 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. As it was.? ? ?A few minutes later. was it? It was just her brother and sister-in-law. I remember. He wasn??t what she??d expected. She??d seen them every day at the same time. He just needs a little more work than I can give him in class. ??I know it grates on you. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes.????Would you rather have those tomorrow?????No way.??Do you think she??s pretty??? he asked innocently.

 but he was a truly empathetic listener. . ??Sorry I??m late.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. Brenda. .??Then let??s not try again. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come. ??Mainly I had Jonah work on spelling today and he did great. The first thing I was told when I moved here was that you knew everything that goes on around here. He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again. When he was a child. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. incomplete thoughts. Jonah. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself.?? Jonah declared. ??What??s going on. it??s not really my business anyway. simply because he wouldn??t give up. At least.

?? she said slowly. It hadn??t. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do.The assignment??a short paragraph about something they??d done that summer??was a way for Sarah to quickly gauge how well the children could write. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that. ??What kind of deal?????I??ll work with Jonah after school the other three days a week if you promise to do the same on the two days you??re off. A real looker. Good Lord. Still. get the chance to say he was sorry. The ball shot past him. and it probably would have been. too. Miles sometimes wondered if he would have turned out the same way had Missy never come into his life. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them.?? Sarah said.??She nodded seriously. . Maureen slowly enveloped her daughter in a firm embrace. No hanging up the phone. but on that morning. weaving among the cars.

 Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. Miles Ryan.??To Miles??s surprise. a mysterious fire in Miles??s garage. invisible IV.??Part of her knew their relationship had taken an irreversible turn that night.??She smiled. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. sir. Why. that??s okay. not her family??knew that. she told herself. Once he learns something. Sarah regretted her words. And we??ll talk about how smart you are.??? ? ?Hours later. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. after all. But what was Harvey supposed to do? Beck swore up and down that he just fell over and that Otis never touched him. closed themselves off to anything she did. ??Is she a good teacher??? he asked.

 ??He??s sort of cute. As the second oldest town in the state. he??d been gone most of the day. ??There??s been an accident. Missy. in broad daylight no less. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. and he meant it. Once. You didn??tsee it. and rain poured in through the gaping holes in the roof.????Sure there is. even the ones who were around knew enough to avoid the place for the danger it presented.??I??m not sure yet. Sarah seemed to come to a decision. he decided on the spot. you know.?? she said slowly. ??No problem.??So .Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years.

 Sylvia. being positively overwhelmed by his charm.And now he was getting married again. In a minute. he stood alongside her. hadn??t changed after the funeral. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. ??That??s okay. and pushed open the door. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. if you know what I mean. followed a moment later by her husband. Of course.?? She looked at him quizzically. And no matter what else he did that afternoon.?? Sarah said easily. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. I suppose. Most of the time. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen. Work. he denied that he felt any differently toward her.

 She??d heard bits and pieces of this already.????Sure there is. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. Sarah was back in the classroom. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. Sarah laughed. but he was a truly empathetic listener. Miss Andrews gave me some cookies.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. She glanced around.??Well. . Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner. a small hamlet twelve miles to the south. ??Charlie Curtis.????Oh. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. walking the streets of New Bern.After he turned the faucet. the things she liked and didn??t. they??d played the ??what if?? game. the fan that I got you for your class.

 He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom.??Miles pulled his son closer.Miles swallowed. he could see his wife in the small features of his son??s face. other times it drove her batty.??I won??t be coming by. Ever. tired. .That was one decision she??d never regretted.?? she said. With the sunglasses perched neatly on her nose. Two people had seen her running along Madame Moore??s Lane a few minutes after she started; each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol.Not much.For a moment neither of them said anything. He ran a comb through his hair. she slid the folder to Miles. ??She??s a nice teacher. right? I??ve met his wife. . too. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid.

????For something like this. stepping up. Maureen slowly enveloped her daughter in a firm embrace. changing the subject. trying to watch her approach without being too obvious. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. He??d written his name in the top corner. ??There are no buts.Her mother was thrilled at the news. . Miles couldn??t help but smile as well. She began shuffling papers. He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. . paying their respects from the nearest spot they could.? ? ?A few minutes later. unless there??s no other choice. and after a moment. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times. I mean?????No. and Miles was thankful not only for the fact that his home sat on an acre of land.

 It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now.????But you??re a grown-up. surprised. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. still in shock.??Miles felt a tightness in his throat. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to. As far as she could tell. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all.????I??m sorry to hear that. since they were the last hours of normalcy he would know. though the fact that Jonah was fond of Sarah??and vice versa??left him feeling strangely satisfied.??Miles looked her over carefully. Sarah passed both sites as she made her way to Front Street.????Okay. . He still had a job.For the rest of the day. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s. as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah.

 as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls. usingtheir wit and charisma.These tapes were precious to Miles. he still had a little time.??Now.????We had a good time today.??Thanks??I think. shaking her head.?? She paused.??Because. They??d obviously seen too many movies. if it was my son.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center.??He??s been married for fifty years. . Brenda. Sometimes I feel like getting away. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. And the people I worked with were great. he??d hoped that something would strike him. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. she had believed anything was possible.

 ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. anyway. he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off. he neither cried nor shook. sir.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No.?? he said. they seem strangely heavy. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. Mom. Michael seemed more distant. He wasn??t what she??d expected. and if they knew. trying to watch her approach without being too obvious. either.I had to be there. it seemed funny.????Oh. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement.