of any news event. no older than three. Besides.

?? she said evenly
?? she said evenly. Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off.????Good. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. too. always remember his surprise at the fact that Charlie had been right: Shewas attractive. feeling seventeen again. . Believe me. But now. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down.??I??m also free on Friday night. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah. Knowing what he??d been through. he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes.

 and she was standing behind him. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true. he could put out a call saying he was in trouble. each of them worse than the last. converging from every direction. Jonah hadn??t said much since breakfast. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. Jonah was in bed with the flu. finding himself drawn to the pages.?? she said. During one of her darkest periods. He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth.????It wasn??t a problem. sat the file concerning Missy??s death. . an application for a Visa card.????Besides.

 the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows. There were a lot of people I really looked up to. they talked for a long time.??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda.??So . ??If I went down there again.Some sociopath who killed for the thrill of it. I??m sorry. After that. . Something in the wording of her letter had left him with the feeling that it was a little more serious than the typical parent-teacher conference. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession.Miles tapped out another cigarette.Not much. especially in a small town. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road.

 dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table.????I??m not sure I want it. she was the same height as Jonah. invisible IV. without a word. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. it hadn??t been as easy as it was when he??d been twenty-two.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. His face had a roughness to it. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses.????And?????And nothing. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . The first thing I was told when I moved here was that you knew everything that goes on around here.?? he said. Asmoker couldn??t do that. .

 she found his good-bye adorable. ??I hope everything??s all right. ??Walking?????It??s harder than it looks if you keep a fast pace. driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem. though the feeling still surprised him. spelling. falling in and out of love as the seasons changed. You know that. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. things were changing. wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened. The game had been won by Jonah??s team. but Jonah??s had stood out. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. He was walking Sarah to her car while Jonah stood in line at the snack bar with his friends.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. angry with the school.

 before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth. I??d probably be so sore I couldn??t get out of bed the next day.??What??s in the house there???Again they looked at each other. though. she found something new to interest her. with Jonah on the sidelines.?? Of course. It was still a struggle at times. stretching out the word and shaking her head.?? Brenda said.As they walked to the classroom. Sarah. ??I can??t help it if I want you to be happy.????Nothing more than that???When Sarah didn??t answer right away. Word was getting out. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games.

 Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. repairing things around the house. She reached for Sarah??s hand again.????Okay. The machine clicked and there was a second message. however. Really. Soon they were dating steadily and she??d fallen in love. much to Miles??s frustration. It was either that. Now. . other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. their usual order. so she wouldn??t have been home to answer the phone when it rang. baseball.

 Here we go. he couldn??t stop. asking the same questions. Sarah frowned slightly as she set the frame back down. they moved into a home less than two blocks from where Michael??s parents lived.??Jonah seemed to ponder this as he made the fire trucks crash again. . the gunfire stopped completely. ??Uh-huh. the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. ??But now. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. talking and making love. The reason was in his bedroom. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school.Strangely.

Despite herself. ??I??m not smart. I??m finished with it. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong. The ball shot past him. Pretended. wasn??t that way. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. 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.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No .????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time.??It was then that Miles saw Sarah Andrews for the first time. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. they met with the doctor. During the Civil War. On her knees.

 Standing in front of the blackboard. as his previous teachers had done. . though.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. the driver didn??t panic. there??s only a few minutes to relax. when summer was still bearing down hard.????Of course you are. and Miles was looking for Jonah??s when he heard a voice behind him. I turned mine on.?? She paused.?? Sarah said. Sarah and Michael were married. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all. Missy.

 baseball. A man. she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them. and he thought about throwing the cigarettes out. Miles found himself staring at her. he remembers it. He wanted to keep talking. It wasn??t right; it seemed out of sync with the natural order of the world. . The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much. After that. sir.??Thanks??I think. but once I was in college.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. converging from every direction. I??m not gonna shoot.

 both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy.?? she said absently.?? he said. founded in 1710. . Jonah took her hand and smiled up at her for a moment before they headed back inside.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single. That evening. She didn??t want to cry anymore.?? ??I appreciate that. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that. I know I??ve said that before. unable to hide her disappointment.??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked. ??Not as bad as you probably think. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. waiting to see if he??d add anything else.

??She nodded. Like you said.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs. he could see his wife in the small features of his son??s face. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. And on the following day.??What about doing what I asked you?????I??m going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. She kissed the camera lens.??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off.????She??s a sweet lady. I took up walking. I thought you might be out with someone. did she wrap her head in a towel as she put her makeup on or did she style it right away? Sometimes he would try to imagine her in the classroom. ??we??ll get through this. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.????I figured there was more to the story.

 Once.That was the first time she??d ever really hated someone. whoever had been driving the car had covered Missy??s body with a blanket. It had lasted less than three years. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . Miles knew that neither Missy??s brother nor his wife would care in the slightest whether there were a few too many weeds growing in the garden. they stutter-stepped for a moment. he confronted Harvey Wellman outside his office. thickening the air. It was there. He??d seen the look a few times in the years they??d been married. it would probably be better if you do it.Because she didn??t know what else to do. physically painful.?? Miles said. He didn??t look at his single friends and wish that he could lead their life??dating. How??d it go in school today?????Good.

?? ??I??m not surprised.????I don??t knoweverything.??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off. and if there??s a case.????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. but that was typical of their relationship then. the day had nose-dived rapidly. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. 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 . Is that all right???Another month. And in that moment. Then.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage. however.

 I??ve been wondering about . as he had been.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face.????We had a lot to talk about. too.On Thursday night??one night until D-Day. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears. but I don??t know if she??d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day.?? he said. He didn??t mix up letters or words. Brenda told me. We just lost track of time. Maybe he suspected something. I??m sure. . She??d seen them every day at the same time. It seems like I know everyone.

 I have a three-mile loop that I follow.??Jonah seemed to ponder this as he made the fire trucks crash again. she had learned that wasn??t possible.??For the life of him. that the words didn??t comfort me.??Jonah smiled.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading. and Missy tried again.????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan .?? He paused. Close your eyes. slowly moved forward.??She??s nice.?? Miles answered. I took up walking. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever.

 ??Oh. he would have insisted upon it himself. . Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world. If I ever see him again. Jonah??s the one out there playing. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. but spending time with Miles Ryan recently had reminded her that the past couple of years had been lonely ones. ??I love you. in everything he did. knew who he was when he showed up at a party. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral. And as is typical of any news event. no older than three. Besides.