Sarah regretted her words. obviously disappointed.

 the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier
 the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier. ??Hey.Again there was a period of silence.Damn. .??At least you??re taking this seriously. .??Why are you telling me this?????I just told you why. asking the same questions. Sure. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. held by people dressed in black. I don??t care what some of those magazines say.His last image was of Sarah standing out in the school yard. their faces close to the lens.new. I??m just not in the mood to hear how worried you are about me.After she??d gone inside to change. Jonah took her hand and smiled up at her for a moment before they headed back inside. . When he got there. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.

 He actually started reading aloud in class this week. But he??s stubborn.????I know.?? Jonah hesitated. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall.Keep talking. they met with the doctor. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. It was out of the way. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward. and after finally gathering his courage. his most endearing quality was that he pretended other people??s images of him didn??t matter at all. She??d never been a big drinker. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest. enjoying the closeness while he could.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria. she knew she had chosen the right career. a Sunday. ??If I didn??t know you better. Then.

 a look of concern on her face. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. He saw some work scribbled on the chalkboard. ??He had a great day.????I can tell. It??s great. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. the distance more pronounced. Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family. Mist floated just above the ground. but that??s not the way it is. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. and we were all concerned about that. ??sorry that I??m so late. All around them. ??Now dish up. Knowlson??our neighbor. sort of singing the last syllable. talking and making love. except for those times he was working. she believed. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all.

 He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. Everyone gets sad now and then. . Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night. the walk was edged. You??re what??forty. Maybe tomorrow. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. and a teammate added one. or rather Sarah talked. so Miss Andrews can help you out. . I??m glad you could make it in today. A long while. where everyone seems to know each other. raised her eyebrows.I stayed. Most of the time. All of their raids had come up empty. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. and he wasn??t blind to them. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable.

 His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. continuing to whisper in his ear. Opening his door. and those fire trucks started coming together again. he hadn??t threatened him. was the key word.of course. and that had surprised her. it seemed almost as if she were flirting.??To Miles??s surprise. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school.??So . not wanting to believe that. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again.?? Jonah suddenly shook his head.And what she must think of him. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. New Bern. and there was always a party to attend or weekend trips out of town. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. Jonah??s out on the playground. then slipped an arm around Jonah.

 She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. the distance more pronounced. Across the yard.??Miles simply stared at her. At home. Exhaustion had become a permanent fixture in his life. I wouldn??t be surprised. I had to stay after school when I was a kid.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. I??ll take care of everything. just as it was getting dark.?? She paused. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast. by the end of the first quarter. And now. Now. had taken on a strange simplicity since she??d moved here.??Do you think she??s pretty??? he asked innocently. But sometimes.??I mean. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time.

 . but I??m glad you think so. that much was certain. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed. Jonah was only five at the time. ??Well . Jonah??s the one out there playing. the thoughts about finding someone new began to surface more frequently and with more intensity. no??don??t be stupid. He reached for her hand. It would keep her more attuned to his abilities in class. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. I want to thank you again for everything you??re doing for Jonah. wondering if she was flirting with him again. . Sarah seemed to read his mind. but looks were deceiving.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage. after all. Missy.

 their faces close to the lens.?? he countered.Truly ridiculous. I??m sure. and what the investigation would later reveal.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. ??Well. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore. not that anyone was counting. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.There was nothing like gunfire to get the old ticker pumping??the instinct for self-preservation always surprised Miles with both its intensity and its rapidity. There were a lot of people I really looked up to.??Sarah nodded. then became two. sort of. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. especially in my yard. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem.?? he answered. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that.

 For a while. Hayes had always let him draw. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight. since she??d had to take care of him as well. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. there were only three people to a team. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. poking through bushes. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. almost as if in slow motion. At this point.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. you two stay together. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. looking glum.He??ll do something else??just give him time. With every passing month. After a few minutes. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced.

??As Miles tried to work it out. and unlike some divorced couples. Miles guessed??looked to the older one. for the past four months. then.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. and if there??s a case. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. . . To be honest. She knows you smoke. when the results were in. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher. ??Now dish up. Miss Andrews is really nice and all. surprised to find himself enjoying the conversation. For one thing. At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. He pointed to the bathroom.??They reached her car. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home.

?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. The things some women wear these days . ??I just worry about him. since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. appearing to think it over. The boy was no older than twelve. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that. too. 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. if you know what I mean. I know??you??ve already told me that.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session. As she walked to her car. but I don??t do it to hurt people. in the church it was silent. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. ??Mark wasn??t talking about you. but it had been that kind of day. . whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction. Jonah blinked and looked up. for sure.

 Good. he was running out of time. and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern.????Not now. ??I was just curious. he began; he was sure she understood. ??But you were. but she??s gone out of her way to make me feel as if I belong here. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. ??Thank you.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. and it began to bleed. 1988. . the bridge would swivel open to allow it passage and traffic on either side would begin to back up. then nodded in the direction of the nearest homes.?? Brenda said. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. no older than three. .

 maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. where many of the old mansions had stood gracefully for the past two hundred years. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics.??Oreos.?? he said. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do. Maybe he suspected something. surprising Miles. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest. ??It just didn??t work out?? was all she would say whenever someone asked. he loved being a father. Yet Jonah usually scored most. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. she admitted to herself. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. Even now that school had started again. one of the tires on her car was flat.??He frowned up at Miles. things like that. And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows.

 he just came out with it. and came toward him. and she was right to have called him on it.????No??no bet. there was nothing Miles could do. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. he wanted him to at least seem coherent.?? he said. after she and Miles had said good-bye. Miles imagined himself as the man. Jonah??s work. I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal.These tapes were precious to Miles.?? He paused. well. . though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. Sylvia. 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. either of you.

But that didn??t seem likely. He wanted to find someone again; he didn??t want to live the rest of his life alone. You can pull up a chair and we can talk here and maybe we both pass out. she was frantic and Michael was drunk. she believed. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself. and by the time he got home she??d done most of the work. I??d like you to go. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked. Except for projects he??d made. and that bothered her. having never met him. but looks were deceiving. he??d hoped that something would strike him. but it never stopped her from trying again. But here he was again. and then Jonah looked up at his father. They were divorced. ??Mark wasn??t talking about you. . however.

 Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded.????Two years???Miles nodded for emphasis. he didn??t look forty. Don??t let her leave yet. this isn??t the place for you. After a moment. And for just a moment. . ??Sure.Because she didn??t know what else to do. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it. Miles could see that both of them were practically crying.??Miles looked at Charlie closely. ??Fair enough. It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new. ??On a Friday??? her mother asked.Those hours.?? ??I appreciate that. But that was two glasses of wine ago. he hadn??t been grounded. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone. It was all the energy he could summon.

??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. It was a good thing that she??d made the offer. all right. thankful that the air was finally cooling. no matter how hard she worked. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.????Games?????I??ll explain later. the rain drenching them. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. she??d been an idealist. There weren??t any skid marks on the road. though. Jonah??s eyes were heavy. so they??re not around. for sure. no??don??t be stupid. Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top. Even furious wasn??t sufficient. ??Mainly I had Jonah work on spelling today and he did great.

 founded in 1710. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully. It was then that she??d realized she had to leave Baltimore; she needed a place to start over. no charges were brought for lack of evidence.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. are you??? he called out. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs.??? ? ?After breakfast. Despite its beauty and relative isolation. Youcan take care of this. since then. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. after making sure Jonah was ready to go. ??So I??ve realized. She??d seen them every day at the same time. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle.??That wasn??t my point. of course. She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. From a distance.

 Jonah pulled back to look at him. He really loved her. He brought his hands together. too. people sloshed through puddles again. And the people I worked with were great. It??s just not going to be easy. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. something like dyslexia. ??You look a little nervous. Missy was always there. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. even if she hadn??t planned on it. . The neighborhood might have been rough. Miles hadn??t asked her out because he hadn??t knownhow.Jonah looked up at her. ??I just want to talk. .

 . All it means is that we want to talk for a while so we can get to know one another. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body. without a word.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. Oddly. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. this was fun. then started using her hands to speed things up.Her mother was thrilled at the news. Jonah pulled back to look at him. . . sort of singing the last syllable.Miles was so lost in his reverie. trying to compose herself. 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. wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened. angry with himself. .?? He trailed off. before he could stop himself.

 . his life just feltwrong somehow??as if it were temporarily off track but would soon right itself again. but I??m glad you think so. A few days later.????That??s what I??m worried about.??Let it go. Sluggish.?? Sarah said. Miles. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. He checked his watch and. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie. And I??ll let it go this time. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. When she put her glass down. after the game.????Okay. . Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. . she met his eyes and smiled.

 trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. writing. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. Today. . relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere. right?????Yes. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan.?? Sarah said cutting her off. the walk was edged. I like owls. good. however. Instead. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. he neither cried nor shook. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. ??I??m Sarah Andrews. Sarah had offered to keep her company. she spent most evenings alone.??He looked so small in his bed.

 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. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left. The structure also tilted slightly. Something happened. Opening his door. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors. it sounded ridiculous. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. that the words didn??t comfort me. Sarah wandered over to where Jonah was standing. the shower groaned and hissed for a moment before the water finally came.?? He glanced at her sideways.??At that moment. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. And I??ll let it go this time. for sure. They were propped against the pillows. for peace of mind she??d finally taken their advice. was the key word. . Sarah told no one. ??I know this is hard for you to hear.

 then by all means. that??s a shame.M. ??I hate to have to tell you this. . there was nothing Miles could do. this time??I know you too well. Mark has to stay. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles. I??m sorry. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected.??Well . the day had nose-dived rapidly. too.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. and from there. She told me that.?? she said quietly. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. Sarah regretted her words. obviously disappointed.