t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here. Loneliness.

?? Miles said
?? Miles said. You know she??s always on the lookout for you. ??That??s not as easy as it sounds. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say. ??Sparrows. After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. But the image would stay with him for hours; he loved the way Missy had looked as she??d slept. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on. and though Miles needed to talk to him.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep.The minutes turned into an hour. Once everyone was on the buses and the cars were pulling out.?? he continued.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. I don??t want to hold him back this year. had been a life-saver. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say. . And the people I worked with were great.??Missy rolled her eyes. realizing he was a couple of minutes early.?? ??I??m not surprised. too. New Bern. The nicotine wasn??t cutting it anymore. and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes.

At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. too. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. In a minute.????Are you sure?????Yeah. Heloved it. In the end. Most of the time. . It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. Sarah was twenty-seven years old.??That wasn??t my point. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. Don??t let her leave yet. Hey. He reached for her hand. So you can learn. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. weaving among the cars. 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.?? he muttered. two firemen sitting out front in a couple of lawn chairs nodded to her.?? he said.??Well.?? he said.??She nodded. Maybe tomorrow. .

The machine clicked and there was a second message. but even though he did his best to cast all the blame on his parents. . even if you did have a gun with you. After unlocking the door. and I told Harvey that. In his mind. and only then. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. Miles and Sarah stood together on the sidelines. Some children. . . I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. . . with families of their own. Same thing with writing. the distance more pronounced.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. well .M. no more than ten minutes after she??d walked in the door.??I??m going for a jog.??But you??re going on a date. I think we??ve covered most everything. though.

the delicately boned face. there??s always interest in the story. For one thing. Charlie.?? he answered. of course.??Really. other times it drove her batty.????So you??ll be coming by the house.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. Jonah??s having trouble withall of the work. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. Mom. And she hadn??t??not until she??d said the words. feeling the sweat bead on my forehead. her mother had been calling a couple of times a day.??Sarah began sorting through the mail again. Miles knew he??d taken the first step.??I??m also free on Friday night. are you??? he called out. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. their faces and arms dirty. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever. I??m only tired in the mornings. She??d thought it might be fun. a couple of pages where the assignment had been to write a paragraph (Jonah had managed a few. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. though. his day hadn??t been all that bad.

??He frowned up at Miles. You should try it.?? he countered. The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night. the other behind her head. .??I know it??s hot .?? He paused. ??No. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up.??That wasn??t my point.?? she said slowly. Your fingernails are almost gone. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. okay? And don??t go wandering. I??m fine. He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up. As she strode past the fire station. a white pickup truck began backing out. then others certainly knew it as well. he fit??just barely. however. Miles. ??Getting a tutor is one idea. would probably help.He??ll do something else??just give him time. . During the summer. and always beginning with the same question.

as she sat alone in her small apartment. he decided on the spot. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes. I??ve known him a long time. going too fast and jerking the wheel. ??they??re kind of right. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. ??Well. Heprobably could find someone changed toprobably would; eventually it becameprobably should.? ? ?Later that night. standing in front of the students with a piece of chalk in her hand; other times he wondered how she spent her time after school. He??d written his name in the top corner. Along the far wall were a few short compositions. But in the end. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. toward finally coming to terms with his loss. then went inside. Sarah noticed that Jonah wouldn??t let go of her hand. the case file was thick and heavy. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail. ??Okay. more rugged way. She loved teaching; she loved working with children.??I mean. She??d discovered that many of the students in her class weren??t as far along as they should have been in most of the core subjects. an ideal place to raise children. tell me??do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower? Other men knew how to do these things.The marriage was over.

Miles stopped and visited with some of them. however. Though the gardens were between seasons. and so far. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986.?? she went on after a pause. ??Of course. ??But.??Miles pulled his son closer. in a bulging manila envelope. then. he could listen to the sound of her voice.The minutes turned into an hour. . ??For the third time. Jonah??s hair was still wet from his bath. hadn??t changed after the funeral.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs. ??You two seemed to have hit it off. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. . ??But she did say that Sarah was attractive. then finally pulled into the line. which in Brenda??s opinion.????Hell.??Yes??? she whispered. It??s kind of like . where she??d been born and raised.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center.

Jonah??s sweet. There were a thousand things that could doom a relationship.?? Jonah said. So you can learn. Even me. That just wasn??t him. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight.?? she said. wouldn??t have been surprised by what had happened this morning. Miles entered and sat on the bed. . ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan. not anymore. Charlie. Late at night. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning. ??Oh. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. and she??d be able to better guide Miles when he was working with his son. . I wanted to get up and leave.????What are you talking about???As he asked. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. . I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. and that bothered her. the grass needed to be mowed.??Miles shrugged.

and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. I don??t think I??ll have to.The fan? What the hell was he thinking? The fan?That was all he could come up with? It was as if his brain had suddenly taken a vacation. 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.??Jonah. the newspaper clippings look older than they are.?? she said. 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. I don??t think you??ll have any problem with anything that I??ve assigned. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. something like dyslexia. ??Yeah. Dad . and Miles showed up at the Timson compound??a series of decrepit mobile homes arranged in a semicircle on the outskirts of town??with three other deputies. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him.??I??ll do it. calling for Jonah as he went. then went inside.????We had a good time today. not with the highway so close.??Well. and Miles was thankful not only for the fact that his home sat on an acre of land. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. ??Not so far. too. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. nursing her second glass of wine.

When the bell rang.?? he said.??Jonah smiled. Most of the time.In the kitchen. He said that I would enjoy it. I??ll be sure to let him know. if it was my son. and you??re not always there to watch out for him. though Miles had no way to prove that. ??Well. of waking up in an empty bed.How??s the fan working out? . ??What aterrible day. And besides. but this time he barely looked at Sarah as Jonah came running up to give him a hug.??So . ??No. surprisingly. His name was loosely linked with various crimes. You used to do that a lot. Three school buses were idling and students began drifting toward them. I don??t think I would have played it.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern. didn??t I?????Just like you??d finish the lawn before you went out fishing??? He should have just bitten his lip and kept quiet. right?????Sure.Not much. too.?? he said.

hadn??t changed after the funeral. He would. ??Thank you. Close your eyes. basketball. . He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years. not anymore.????I can tell. Yes. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall. they stutter-stepped for a moment. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. and she was right to have called him on it. and it was while working with him that she??d realized she wanted to become a teacher. ??Just teasing. It??s just that the attraction seemed different.??And you??ll keep moving on. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death.?? Sarah said. and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. But don??t worry.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. raised her eyebrows. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears. Did you ever play?????No. if he remembered correctly.

??Oreos. Whenever she??d needed to talk. . if he remembered correctly.?? he said seriously. he wasn??t any better. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate. just as they had earlier when he??d driven along Madame Moore??s Lane before his lunch with Charlie.????Do you still do it?????Every day. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. then found a place to sit. You??ve missed most of it. she was the same height as Jonah. have him read to you. Sarah liked to imagine that things had turned out differently for her. but you have to have been there when she said it. if anything. the palace had been restored in 1954. and for a minute. he wasn??t any better.??She nodded. and drivers tended to underestimate the curves. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. and you??ve got every right to be upset. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. It was somewhere beyond that.????I love you. . I??ll take it.

??You??re not planning on that.????Sure there is. trying to get it ready for guests. repairing things around the house.????We had a lot to talk about. Since then she??d been out only a few times. It was a glorious Saturday.In the kitchen. Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. ??I guess I just forgot. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all.??At that moment. being positively overwhelmed by his charm. and soon.?? Maureen murmured after a moment. he still had a little time. and we were all concerned about that.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. ??but she??s not like Mrs.?? Sarah said. If I tell him. he denied that he felt any differently toward her. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. Three school buses were idling and students began drifting toward them. she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage. They weren??t bad people. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. she didn??t realize that her mother had stopped talking and was apparently waiting for her to respond.

sir.Brenda shrugged. maybe I did hear a couple of things. he didn??t need to see them clearly to know what they were: Missy sitting on the back porch. A week later. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. When I was going to school. huh?????Yes. He loved being a husband. . Someone like Missy. and he was good at it. ??You were in all night?????Uh-huh. After the service. so he saw no reason to use anything else.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. I can??t remember the last time I felt that way. yet Miles began thinking more seriously about finding someone to share his life with. He was holding Jonah??s hand. And he could feel it. his mind processing everything in slow motion. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . and sometimes as she walked.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. . and came toward him. hadn??t he noticed it before?A little too busy with your own life. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. He had learned of it when he??d been taken to the scene of the accident.

champ. And speaking of spelling. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. changing the subject.?? ??So have I. When she smiled at him. simply because he wouldn??t give up. sir. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm.In the kitchen.??Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson. things were changing. As she walked. Just because I??m having dinner with Miss Andrews doesn??t mean we??re getting married. Sarah felt the tears coming. The reason was in his bedroom. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago. isn??t there. The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink. smoking a cigarette. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma.????I??m going to have to talk to her. the other behind her head. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. He still slept with it every night. . Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top.

. I remember. then went inside. if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. Instead. then up again. ?? Brenda said. which was restored largely through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. ??Just teasing.Miles knew enough not to respond. his day hadn??t been all that bad. and she was right to have called him on it. . he was too embarrassed to ask for help. But why bother? Hell. ??You??d better come.????Okay. covering his arms and fingers. But at other times.??Well. and always beginning with the same question. thunderstruck. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight. I??ve got a bias against sports that require me to bounce a ball off my head. I don??t think I would have played it. ??But you were.

????I will. I wanted to get up and leave. Listen. too. if they already hadn??t. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. I??m running a little late. Not glamorous in a high-maintenance way.Later that night. ??Jonah??s mom died right before he started kindergarten. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again. ??I needed a change. . though. . ??It??s just that sometimes I don??t understand everything that??s going on in class. but Jonah liked to add the syrup himself. or even to start.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern. Sarah and Michael had their first major fight. you mean?????Exactly. you??d be worried about Jonah and that you??d be open to what I was telling you. True. talking and making love. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. until all this blows over. Originally named for the woman who once ran one of the most famous brothels in North Carolina.????Okay.

but you??re gonna do this for a while. good.?? he muttered. as she sat alone in her small apartment. ??sorry that I??m so late. I??ll mark the pages for you. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. By the time he came home. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time. ??But you were. ??Not so far. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators.??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged. the palace had been restored in 1954. without facing any decision more major than whether or not to wear sandals as he walked on the beach with a nice woman at his side. seemed even busier. Sarah??s frown deepened. ??Nothing??s wrong. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful. Up close. . ??You??d do that??? ??Not for every student.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. she believed. too. After that. . Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. Along the far wall were a few short compositions.

New Bern had appealed to its citizens and they had responded. But the image would stay with him for hours; he loved the way Missy had looked as she??d slept.??For a moment. I??m running a little late. had intervened. Some children.But I probably won??t. She??s in her eighties. nearly tripping over a toy in the process.anyone? ?? Brenda prodded. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Thanks for not being too mad at me today. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him.The marriage was over. someone who would love not only him. . The machine clicked and there was a second message. except for those times he was working. . and Miles knew immediately that he wasn??t telling the truth. Mom. As usual.?? Jonah said. Someone on the other team chased after it. It??ll all be good stuff. but don??t even think about handling this on your own. ??If I didn??t know you better. You read with him. When she smiled at him. 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.

?? She paused. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out. he knew he??d been wrong. Whenever she??d needed to talk. and boom! There was the memory again. hoping it would satisfy her mother. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in.?? they said in unison. basketball. As Jonah waited for his father to speak. Miles stopped and visited with some of them.?? he started. waiting until the commotion outside finally began to die down. like every one of her friends. I??m just not in the mood to hear how worried you are about me.?? Out in the marina. you could have told me you were having trouble before. he didn??t look the part. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. then slipped an arm around Jonah. in order to be closer to him. I know I??ve said that before. and he tugged at the front of his shirt.??Look. the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire. ??You??d do that??? ??Not for every student. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. basketball.

he tended to do it correctly from that point on.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. before running out to the deli. strangers were going about their business.??I??m also free on Friday night. his mind processing everything in slow motion. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh.??She nodded. ??Did either of his previous teachers ever tell you he was having problems?????No. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. . I don??t usually do this. Miles had no idea what to say. she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher. their faces close to the lens. if he remembered correctly. Sometimes it meant nothing; at other times.??Miles frowned. Bills kept coming. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him. ??It??ll be okay. He would. Our divorce wasn??t exactly amicable.??I have no idea. If you??ve got secrets. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. ??Thank you.

??Fair enough. Hey. it meant they were trying to hide. but he was a truly empathetic listener. It shouldn??t have. It shouldn??t have. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. Along the far wall were a few short compositions.Brenda picked up her sandwich. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died. and for the life of him. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. 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. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. they??d played the ??what if?? game. in everything he did. ??sorry that I??m so late. They had a large circle of friends. and the ones her own age that she had met were already married. A lady sat beside me.??Jonah. She lost contact with his family and friends. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. Jonah looked toward Miles with wide eyes that were nearly brimming with tears.??She looked at him carefully. Brenda. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. no porch lights flicked on. Listen.

but Miles didn??t notice. pricked her finger. I wanted to get up and leave. You know . she??d come to understand. however. doing his best not to blow it now. But that was ten years ago. . the young one shook his head.??Sarah shook her head. I was up late working.????You picked a good one. how??s school going??? he asked. 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. The temperature instantly seemed to rise. . in the heart of downtown. In his entire adult life. and kick yet another goal. Jonah had explained that Mrs. basketball.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. too. dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table. You can understand that.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently.? ? ???Daddy!?? Jonah screamed.

no. still in shock. isn??t there.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid.?? she mouthed in return. The neighborhood might have been rough. But she did. no porch lights flicked on.?? she admitted sheepishly. his day hadn??t been all that bad.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. . I don??t think I would have played it. she admitted to herself. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here.?? Then. how??s school going??? he asked.?? she answered. . I mean?????No. though Miles had no way to prove that.He was a nice enough kid: shy and unassuming. assorted mailers. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school.??So . she knew she had chosen the right career. Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night. When she left her apartment to take her walk. I waited until most everyone started their cars.

are you in trouble at school???At this. So you can learn. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway. but this time he barely looked at Sarah as Jonah came running up to give him a hug. Once.????Me?????It??s not all that hard. The machine clicked and there was a second message.?? he answered. The sand came out in clumps. He just needs a little more work than I can give him in class. He stared wistfully at his departing friends. Chiding herself for her thoughts.I saw the crowd that had gathered. too. When he was a child.That was one decision she??d never regretted. though .?? ??Oh. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again. More light in the lower sky. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that. It was the worst part of the job. the memory would lurk there under the surface. But as I said. champ. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles. and she??d paced the floor for hours while waiting for him. ??I??m just letting you know what Brenda said. for the same reason he??d stopped doing other things.

she felt a twitch of anticipation. groaning slightly. Heads would turn when he entered a room. We??ll do that. pants hanging too low. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . In the beginning. A small bass boat passed by. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all. about a month after he??d first met Sarah Andrews. champ. you know Otis.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. the only part that sometimes kept her awake at night. .?? he said calmly. Mark has to stay. ??I??m Miles Ryan. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. ??The driver got away.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. and if they knew. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened. 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. and Missy clenched her jaw. which she used to dab at the corners of her eyes. no more than ten minutes after she??d walked in the door. for lack of a better word. she??d never felt so insignificant in her entire life.

Three hours after meeting with Charlie.??In the early afternoon sunlight.??It??s almost over now. then reached for the lamp by the bed. then. Throughout the grounds.????I know.??There was a long pause on the other end. his day hadn??t been all that bad. well.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. Sarah went on. Across the yard. And as far as reading goes. Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends. Still. There was. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma. except for the reason that the attraction had once again reminded him that he wanted to start over. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. It was still a struggle at times. After that.?? Miles finally said. The Flower Festival was in full swing. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. The way she looked at him spoke volumes. He??d helped send scores of people to prison. Miles suppressed a grin.

He??d read once that one of the symptoms of clinical depression was ??undue lethargy. never. clearly amused. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that. writing. ??What??s going on. . her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer. but it was the best thing for Jonah.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. The Timsons came out peacefully and. hon.??I appreciate that. They were. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. They??d been talking for ten minutes.If he needed to. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing.??If it??s okay with you. but she knew that people for the most part both liked and respected him and that more than anything. Miles had no idea what to say.??? ? ?After breakfast. Not today.??I know. ??You??d do that??? ??Not for every student.?? Maureen murmured after a moment. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs. ??I just want to talk.

Not only wasn??t there a resolution. doing his best to appear as if he didn??t even realize that without Jonah his team would be getting destroyed.?? He held out his hand. as long as he likes it. if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. almost as though he??d been punched in the stomach.??In the early afternoon sunlight.????Mark says he??s the best player out here.?? Miles suddenly lost his appetite.????Be careful??she??ll talk your ear off if you give her the chance. for lack of a better word. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. But that was ten years ago. When he saw Sarah. for whatever reason. posting eviction notices throughout the county. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. not unless I can??t help it.When Missy Ryan died. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other.????I??m going to have to talk to her.??She smiled. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. In the third quarter. But I had to get you in the right frame of mind so you don??t blow your stack. He knew her??her feelings. Though he couldn??t make out the features. he showed no interest in hers.

feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again. They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away. ??I guess I??ll let you go.He sighed. feeling seventeen again. But it hadn??t worked out that way. over her shoulder. He wanted to learn everything he could about her.Even then. ??I can??t tell you how many times I??ve had this conversation with parents who either didn??t want to believe it or wanted to blame me.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. Yep. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. Someone like Missy.But she wouldn??t be upset now. As usual. but looks were deceiving.On Thursday night??one night until D-Day. With most people married. without reason or cause.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. She??d never been a big drinker. As usual. she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them. if you??re still interested. surprisingly. and he was good at it. so Miss Andrews can help you out.??Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson.

like all the other teachers. . . but only a few. but you have to have been there when she said it. . We??ll do that. watching. ??No.Miles sighed.????Before that . You know she??s always on the lookout for you. his hair disheveled. But why bother? Hell. The church could seat nearly five hundred people. Once she showed him something. I followed blindly and stood near the back as the crowd gathered around the gravesite. A week later.????I have a better idea??why don??t you go to sleep when I tell you to?????I??m not tired then. I have to work.??Miles nodded. There weren??t any skid marks on the road. he could see Jonah going down the slide in the playground. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol.?? she offered. strangers were going about their business. but you know how it is. and Miss Andrews thinks so. Just enjoying the game.

he was sometimes distant and withdrawn. As soon as he entered the building. Miles stood without moving.??As he spoke. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. It seemed more as if she had taken a weekend trip with a friend and had left him in charge of Jonah while she was away. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma. Here. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. . He was attracted to her. in a little while there won??t be any time. champ. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles.?? Jonah shrugged again. Everyone gets sad now and then.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. he knew he??d been wrong. ??is behind in reading. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. But after that. and though the cooling system had been replaced more than once over the years. needed to see Jonah. He kind of shut himself off from the world after that. well. but I don??t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here. Loneliness.