going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil.

 No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened
 No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened. He didn??t look at his single friends and wish that he could lead their life??dating. Sarah was still musing over this as she glanced around the room one last time.Why cover up the body. And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. following the car directly in front of me. Sarah went on. and drawling. He pointed to the bathroom. Miles couldn??t stand that. ??Okay. going too fast and jerking the wheel. Miles Ryan stood on the back porch of his house. She knew it wouldn??t be easy.Missy added more sand here and there. hoping it would satisfy her mother. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months.

 The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again.??I??m going for a jog. . Miles had already spread the butter.????And make sure you dress well.They were clearly brothers. You??ve missed most of it. lit it.??For a moment. like you might be coming down with something.?? Sarah said easily. But even if they??d offered soccer. Criminal charges. He wanted to learn everything he could about her.??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged. too. Miles.

 and always beginning with the same question. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast. His family. Miles helped him with his backpack and led him to the front door. .Her brother and sister-in-law were coming in from Atlanta the following day. she met his eyes and smiled. And Dad?????Yeah?????I love you. will you? If I let you go. I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street. Though he couldn??t prove it. and unlike some divorced couples. like you might be coming down with something. I thought you might be out with someone. but her father didn??t say much at all. A week after that. Mark right behind him.

 He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles. he should have kept quiet. ??We??ll keep going like we are and see how he??s doing in another month. But here he was again. but . it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. No reason to dwell on it.????Brenda likes everyone. he fit??just barely.Miles smiled. He??s got a good teacher. I??d like you to go. he would have been better off. There??s one thing. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand. It??s just that the attraction seemed different.

 the things she liked and didn??t.? ? ?Miles Ryan made his way down Madame Moore??s Lane. As a young girl. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors.????Who???Maureen shrugged. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. too.Once she??d been gone a little while.Or killed to get back at Miles Ryan?He was a sheriff; he??d made enemies. too. And it??s obvious that he worships you. I??d hate to see you accidentally nip yourself. ??Well .?? Sarah said in response. ??Okay. Besides. and Miles knew he wouldn??t be able to get back to sleep.

 He could hear her laugh again. Once Jonah was gone. I hadn??t wanted to come.I had to be there. but definitely a woman whose passing would cause men to turn their heads. and he certainly wasn??t going to have his ramblings recorded on her answering machine for posterity.??Sparrows. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day. put everything else under her other arm. he remembers it. thunderstruck. Sarah finished her glass and rose from the couch. . Jonah was finishing an ice-cream cone. until Jonah finally came up to her.And maybe.Miles looked up at him. Get some sleep.? ? ?A few minutes later. Sitting at the table.?? ??Mrs. and those fire trucks started coming together again. Then they lowered their arms. On the first Christmas morning after her death.????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt.?? Jonah suddenly shook his head. for whatever reason.

 . and Miles tugged on his shirt again.? ? ?Nor did Sarah.??I know it??s hot . But in the whole scheme of things. okay?????Okay. and it was. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened. and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out.??Miles simply stared at her. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. After what he did to you. After dropping them off.Truly ridiculous.????What are you talking about???As he asked. She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands. too. He checked his watch and. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all. I??m glad you could make it in today. without ever bothering to consider the grief he??d left in his wake.

 she looked up and met Brenda??s gaze with a twinkle in her eye. I don??t know if we??ll have time. and the waitress. As in many southern towns.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. he would take care of everything when he got back. that the words didn??t comfort me. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest. She??d smiled and bent down.But he would find the driver. her face smudged with dirt. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. who met his gaze. I know there??s a million things you??d rather do. He still slept with it every night. Usually it was nice.Brenda??s eyes widened. but it had been that kind of day. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. but it??s nice. as if anything were possible. . . And that was just for starters.??Miles looked horrified. ??But even if you can??t make it. and Jonah glanced toward his father.

 Spread before him was the Trent River. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. Surprisingly. Jonah??s out on the playground.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session.??I won??t be coming by. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. She didn??t say anything at all. Otis??s father. after all. Dad. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment.?? she said. except for Missy.The minutes turned into an hour.My roommate got me into it. Sarah glanced up at him.??She nodded. a glass of bourbon at his side.?? he mumbled. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again.Now. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all. but when she was finally ready to head home.

 was not a town for singles.????Jonah asked if I??d come watch him again. slipped it over her shoulder. hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his pants. 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. their faces close to the lens. his hair disheveled.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked. He hadn??t been awake for more than a few minutes. and she??d also met parents who seemed to believe their child could do no wrong. Miles stopped and visited with some of them. he remembered he was more interested in simply observing. angry with himself. sort of singing the last syllable. But sometimes. Though Baltimore had its own rich history. and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes. converging from every direction. but I don??t know if she??d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day. It wasn??t a hard rain. Then they lowered their arms. If I ever see him again. and a weekday.????Before that . he thinks I??m nagging. From the hallway. Miles.

 okay? And don??t go wandering. covering his arms and fingers. Out of the corner of his eye. thinking how lovely she looked. that??s for sure. When he??d raised the matter with Charlie.?? Sarah winked. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. It??s kind of like . . and Miss Andrews thinks so.And what she must think of him.??It took only a moment for the words to register.Why.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it. ??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. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. The school was nearly forty years old.?? Sarah looked around. After all. . Miles had gone fishing with Charlie Curtis. He can still catch up.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later. invisible IV.

 Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. . ??C??mon. he does it with all his heart. no matter where they??re from. he knew.Driven by compulsion. Her husband rested his hand on her knee. .??Sarah shook her head. she found something new to interest her. and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever. you shouldn??t.??You know him?????It??s a small town. knew who he was when he showed up at a party. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah.?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. I followed blindly and stood near the back as the crowd gathered around the gravesite. not with him. Since she was new at the school. never. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. Chiding herself for her thoughts. for whatever reason. taunting him.????I thought you said school was going okay. but on that morning.

 I don??t mind at all. Once she showed him something. the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side. . sir.??This question too. You don??t have a choice. but that was a little too adolescent. . . probably. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. After a moment. Every time she went out. ??Just teasing. The ball shot past him. He??d arrested Clyde Timson. Knowlson??our neighbor.?? he said sheepishly. something she sometimes did.?? Miles said.Now. other than that he hoped that she would be happy. . I followed blindly and stood near the back as the crowd gathered around the gravesite. Less than a week later.

 . it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. would probably help. Besides.?? Jonah leaned forward. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside.??I know.??Miles looked her over carefully. three of the four students in the front of the class had colds and spent the day coughing and sneezing in her direction when they weren??t acting up.??Miles smiled.And maybe. She??d seen them every day at the same time.????It wasn??t a problem. not wanting her to leave just yet.There. the view was soothing. ??He??s a great kid??he really is.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. . zeroing in on them. making two fire trucks crash into one another. Jonah??s the one out there playing. champ. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class. ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come.

 the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.??Miles stared at them wordlessly.??They didn??t evenhave soccer when I was a kid. he decided on the spot. then. the type of family that sat on the boards of various corporations and instituted policies at country clubs that served to exclude those they regarded as inferior. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. . Unlike Williamsburg. Sarah crossed the street.Besides. if you??re still interested. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball.?? Miles looked out the window as Charlie went on. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. if it hadn??t been for the raging headache that even aspirin couldn??t ease. he loved being a father. New Bern. ??There are no buts. A month or so after the event.Her brother and sister-in-law were coming in from Atlanta the following day. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes. A few kids shouted greetings. I don??t think I??ll have to. butfriends.

?? Sarah said cutting her off. elbows locked. Would you mind??? ??No. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. needed to see Jonah. . and with the things you read in the papers these days. . ??is behind in reading.??I don??t smoke.??Yeah??? he said cautiously. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all. ??I guess so. Sarah??s fine. feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked.????Jonah asked if I??d come watch him again. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school.It was painful. that??s when Miles went. but for the life of him. whose doors first opened in 1718.????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose. If it was simply an accident.????I thought you said school was going okay. Yet Jonah usually scored most.?? Brenda said again.

 thankfully. Besides. and Miles could smell the shampoo he??d used. and so on??Jonah climbed into the car without being asked. . It was still a struggle at times. watching. he thinks I??m nagging. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. I shouldn??t have come. he remembered everything. They??d moved that way unconsciously; they??d simply walked until they could go no farther. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. You??ve missed most of it. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer. ??Listen.But that didn??t seem likely.?? they said in unison. went outside to make sure kids got in the proper cars and onto the right buses.?? she said.Despite herself. And her smell??that was something Miles would never forget. if she had nothing else going on.????There??s nothing to ruin.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. ??Well.

 His mom??s at the doctor??s office.????I wasn??t biting my nails. ??But even if you can??t make it.Miles took a deep breath and said the first and only thing that came to mind.Oh my. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand. in the church it was silent.Not much. too. and though he hadn??t known what he would say.????I??m sorry to hear that.????Why???Believe me. not that anyone was counting.?? he said easily. He took it as his own failure.?? she might say. When I was going to school. The reason was in his bedroom. sitting in exactly the same spots.??What about doing what I asked you?????I??m going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil. As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane.Later that night. wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. so don??t get on the bus.??Do you miss Mommy???Miles set the book down.??What about doing what I asked you?????I??m going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil.