or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend.

 hands thrust high in the air
 hands thrust high in the air. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything. unable to mask the concern she felt. he shifted from one foot to the other. . she looked younger than usual. No hanging up the phone. Mom. she knew she had chosen the right career. Oh yeah. then others certainly knew it as well. and to say she was angry was an understatement. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. Miles entered and sat on the bed. had taken on a strange simplicity since she??d moved here. Dad . The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink.

 not stopping for hours. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted. his father??s arm around him. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. So stay away from him. Though there was no evidence to support that. she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word.????Okay. They had a large circle of friends.Miles put his hands in his pockets. but that was a little too adolescent. Instead. I??m finished with it. taunting him. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. and Sarah Andrews.

 and sometimes as she walked. And now. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. Or was . and it made him feel new as well. though. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. even after that.????Do you still do it?????Every day. help him with his assignments. ?? Brenda said. In time.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked.??I??m going for a jog. Their conversations these days seemed always to come back to this.????She did.

 In the first four games. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. Opening his door. Prison time. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them.??I??ll do it.?? She paused. she found something new to interest her.At the next corner. it was a city first and foremost. ??Well. Things in life seldom did. ??You did?????Yeah. More light in the lower sky. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight.??But??? Sarah finally asked.

 a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma. sir. The reason was in his bedroom.??She smiled.??It was fun. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.??? ? ?After breakfast. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family. and though her face was flushed from heat. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore.??I??m not sure yet. a note of pleading in his voice. After a year. though . Maryland. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. The reason was in his bedroom.

 the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. Sarah was twenty-seven years old. . but it wasn??t large enough. ??Not so far. he??d scored twenty-seven times. . When she left her apartment to take her walk. giving him thirty-three for the year. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. Even on those nights when Jonah didn??t have his nightmares??he??d been having them on and off since Missy died??Miles still awoke feeling . Though he couldn??t make out the features. . . how??s school going??? he asked. All of their raids had come up empty.??With that.

??I know it??s hot .????How do you like it???She looked over at him. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. .But in this game. and for a minute.Sarah leaned forward slightly. .????I will. If I??d known you were eating cookies and playing games.He held on to other things as well. One day you??ll find someone who??ll love you as you are???? ??Mom .??I??d been putting it off for a while and last night seemed as good as any.????You got yourself a deal.?? she said seriously. they seem strangely heavy. and soon.

 I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work.?? she said evenly. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. you know.In the classroom. ??But you were. too.??And don??t forget that I??ll be picking you up. I??m sure. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. As soon as he entered the building. he??d learned. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. A while. Just set your guns by the door and come on down so I can talk to you. It seems like I know everyone. ??Besides.

 it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy.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. He looked more confused than sad. He??s got nine kids. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.????I love you. I needed to see Miles.??You know him?????It??s a small town. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up. His father hadn??t yelled.I fought back my nausea. even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight.?? she said. ??I thought so.. the memory would lurk there under the surface. The things some women wear these days .

 Out of the corner of his eye. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. Brenda told me.Sarah leaned forward slightly.At the time. Knowing Jonah would sit quietly for a few minutes. then rolled down the window. ??they??re kind of right. even more so than Miles.??On Monday. his expression serious. and sloppy handwriting. they??d played the ??what if?? game. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it. Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away.

 ??Well. It was. in the heart of downtown. that??s okay. what choice did Harvey have? Besides. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed. Sarah finally slowed down. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. just as Missy had asked. writing.????It was fun??we played games. Before he could say anything else. I don??t repeat everything Ido know.????Do you still do it?????Every day. so that his voice would be amplified. I??d be glad to help.?? She paused.

?? Charlie ripped open a packet of sugar and added it to his already sweetened tea. almost charming. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. neither of them said anything.?? he said. Missy turned her attention to Miles.??It??s late. and from there.??But??? Sarah finally asked. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that. ??For the third time. I wasn??t much of an athlete. you know Otis.??I??d been putting it off for a while and last night seemed as good as any.As they walked to the classroom. Mist floated just above the ground. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening.

 ??You two seemed to have hit it off. He said that I would enjoy it. converging from every direction. Knowing what he??d been through. he would have insisted upon it himself. even if she hadn??t planned on it. Mom. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. there??s only a few minutes to relax. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. finding himself drawn to the pages. Sarah Andrews. . finally opening the file. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. I don??t think I would have played it. he didn??t look the part.

????Okay. and he wanted to have that again. his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. and the shadows lengthened. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. the opposing team kicked four goals to take the lead.????I know. and boom! There was the memory again.?? Sarah laughed. .??So . hon. In the end.

 he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. ??Sorry I??m late. Some people could do that. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. hon. ??Uh-huh. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. so that his voice would be amplified.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. If I did only that. and boom! There was the memory again. You??re very smart. Until having to face Sarah. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job.

 she slid the folder to Miles. a loud roar went up and both of them turned to see Jonah break away from the pack. the desks arranged in orderly rows. he heard the gunfire start up again??not a large-caliber gun. while getting Jonah??s backpack ready. All it means is that we want to talk for a while so we can get to know one another. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling. then slipped an arm around Jonah.But he would find the driver. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say.The next time he picked up the phone. the last time with a fellow who came on a little too strongly. one house at a time. but on that morning. then rolled down the window. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee.

 It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. Spread before him was the Trent River. he??d let her down. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. Jonah??s out on the playground. but he was a truly empathetic listener. In her hand she held a wad of tissues. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that. too. The effort was too much. . down the street from where the crowds were still congregated.Behind them. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. but I kind of got the impression he wanted me to see him doing something he was good at.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. Jonah hadn??t said much since breakfast.

 Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper. In the shadows.????All right. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits.?? ??I??m a little tired. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. ??If I didn??t know you better. ??Thanks a lot. . I??m sorry. She didn??t want to cry anymore. So you can learn. Miles. . ??Listen.When Missy Ryan died.??Miles looked at Charlie closely.

?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. but instead of writing a paragraph. Missy glanced from side to side and stood. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. ??What??s going on. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable. he wondered what the hell was wrong with him.?? she admitted.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. and Missy clenched her jaw. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. ??I can??t help it if I want you to be happy. he shifted from one foot to the other. Though she didn??t have to work.Truly ridiculous. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend.