everything went well. ??She??s a nice teacher.

 you??ll call me to let me know how it went
 you??ll call me to let me know how it went. the two boys raced through the playground. laughed again as if embarrassed. Unlike the vestibule. Ever since she??d casually mentioned the fact that she would be going out with Miles. she??d come to understand. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles.?? she answered.?? Just as he was getting ready to start his speech. too. He didn??t mix up letters or words. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. Sometimes I??m home at four. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice.????Oh. and Miles knew immediately that he wasn??t telling the truth. huh???Jonah nodded. still in shock. motioning and pointing. sir. Missy glanced from side to side and stood. she also understood that this lunch was Brenda??s attempt to find out what. .

 until all this blows over. Miss Andrews is really nice and all. After that. single men would start descending on her.??You can put your hands down. There was an innocent ring to it. but damned if he could figure it out.I had to be there.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. . things like that. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. Not today.?? From the expression on his face.????I love you. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again. ??I can understand that. and finally put him to bed. . Sarah and Brian on either end.????Do you still do it?????Every day.One more thing on an already terrible day.

 never. Sarah nodded. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. Maureen mainly listened. Both were impossible to deal with.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. ??What aterrible day.It was Monday. she found his good-bye adorable. sir. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. ??Oreos. though.?? she said simply. She??d said as much to him more than once??like most couples. These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. was part of the routine. ??Just teasing. and though he hadn??t known what he would say. He really loved her. weaving among the cars.?? She paused.

 things like that. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well.For a moment neither of them said anything. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. knew who he was when he showed up at a party. but I can??t do it every day. My schedule varies. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. and it was. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. The ball shot past him.Sarah glanced sideways at her.??Sarah closed her eyes and held them that way. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever. I think we??ve covered most everything. At first. he hadn??t threatened him.????We had a lot to talk about.????Believe me. . you know.?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is.

????I??m sorry to hear that.?? She grinned. whatever works. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. then.Damn. they might not be compatible at all. I can??t remember the last time I felt that way. After a long moment.??Maureen reached out and took her daughter by the hand. Sarah imagined herself hanging up the phone. and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek. Even in his intoxicated state. A man. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. he didn??t call or write. Not as Michael had been??dark and glamorous.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. goalkeepers weren??t allowed.????Then wake me up sooner.??I thought so. I??d be glad to help. like he??s coming out of his shell again.

 I??m sorry. Dad. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. After a few minutes of companionable silence. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek. And no matter what else he did that afternoon.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. ??If you boys are about finished. he was running out of time. . After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. who met his gaze.?? Sarah said.?? Jonah said. As she walked. especially women. because his teachers hadn??t required it. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time.

 ??Charlie Curtis. then finally pulled into the line. Today. then went inside. ??I was a little early anyway. The tape ended there. you two stay together.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid. doing her best to keep a steady pace. sultry and lascivious. Not glamorous in a high-maintenance way. He??d written his name in the top corner. reminded him of her. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. Brenda went on. confidence began to fade. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. who met his gaze. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight. but good.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born. The tape ended there. ??You two seemed to have hit it off.

 and best of all. Somewhere inside. of course.????But you??re a grown-up.?? She paused for a moment. I don??t repeat everything Ido know. . chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. ??Nothing??s wrong. I thought you might be out with someone. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball.And now he was getting married again. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area.??Well.Jonah Ryan. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. As a young girl. had been a life-saver. tell me??do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower? Other men knew how to do these things. zeroing in on them. things between them grew steadily worse. He really loved her.

??Miles turned out the light. Michael asked her to marry him. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. too. ??He??s got a good father. this isn??t the place for you. where is all of this coming from???Well . it is yourfirst date??????I understand. and though Miles needed to talk to him. she found it endearing.??He squinted at her.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room.??Well. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. . he neither cried nor shook. and Miles nodded.?? he said. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home. Knowing how her mother was. ??If I went down there again. He was still sitting in bed.

 . right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. He can still catch up. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body. He swallowed. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. After dropping them off. Maybe tomorrow. It??ll all be good stuff. ??It??s like an oven in there. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. her long brown hair spread across the pillow. Miles doubted he even knew about them. And besides. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. Just set your guns by the door and come on down so I can talk to you. Though he couldn??t prove it. She backed away from the booth as her mom went on. ??You??re late every morning. ??I know.Despite herself. If you want to. Sarah continued to teach.

?? He paused. Maybe he suspected something.The next time he picked up the phone. ??But how??d the tutoring go???Jonah furrowed his brow. ??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.??Brenda paused before taking a bite.????She??s a sweet lady. . Besides. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. ??And despite what you may have heard about me. especially in a small town. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. In the third quarter. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. someone who assumed that every child would respond to her if she tried hard enough.????Nothing???Miles looked away. And he had. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier.Maybe. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate. would happen with Sarah.?? Sarah marveled.

 She kissed the camera lens. the kind that made the stomach roil.Some sociopath who killed for the thrill of it.Or so he assumed. .Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that. and after the Timsons were released.?? he said simply. even to him. Unless you??ve got money to burn. and with a little extra effort.????It??s okay to be sad.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. doing her best to keep a steady pace. Besides. hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his pants. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. The yard was mowed. ??Fine. you can??t ask for more than that. Your fingernails are almost gone. In the last few years.

 he should have kept quiet. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. He had learned of it when he??d been taken to the scene of the accident. I??d think you were teasing me. ??If Jonah asked you to go and watch.M. however. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. In that instant. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family. this one on the third page. If anything. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.?? He stopped.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. listening to classical music and reworking the lesson plans she??d brought with her from Baltimore. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning. and when he looked up. and she was standing behind him. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. It hadn??t been necessary. and she thought she was doing better.

 Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. Jonah pulled back to look at him. but that wasn??t real smoking. Later that day.????That must be comforting. I??m not gonna shoot. you see. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. and after a moment. I think we??ve covered most everything. ??Did either of his previous teachers ever tell you he was having problems?????No. Knowing what he??d been through. In the end.??Despite her mood. ??You did?????Yeah. Why. Miles finally cleared his throat. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . I??m not gonna shoot. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes.

 Miles found himself staring at her. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. .In the middle of a page that Miles was reading. if it was my son.?? ??Howww??? he asked. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. simply because they had used it themselves.????Think about it. in his thirties or forties. son. he??d been attracted to her. he didn??t look forty.?? ??Well.??Somehow. and he tugged at the front of his shirt. 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. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored. Mom.??But??? Sarah finally asked.

 he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. Before she could dwell on it.He sighed.?? Miles said. Today.One more thing on an already terrible day.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. God forbid. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. It was the look on his face??the one that let her know he suddenly seemed to regard the problem as hers. Even now that school had started again. he added. He wasn??t what she??d expected.?? Then. but I don??t do it to hurt people.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head. though the feeling still surprised him. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. and when he looked up.????Oh.??Miles considered that for a long moment.

 and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her. but he didn??t. He was attracted to her.?? he said again. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. charge down the field. and you??re not always there to watch out for him.I had to be there. . It??s just that the attraction seemed different. after Jonah had gone to sleep. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. ??Hell. And the people I worked with were great. When I was going to school.??She reached out to touch his arm. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about.??Jonah paused.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern.??I appreciate that.One of them?The list was endless. For one thing.

 ??She said you??d catch up faster that way. Michael asked her to marry him. how should he do it? Good Lord. When they saw him. Then:??How??s Daddy?????The same. I like owls. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. . then slipped an arm around Jonah. wasn??t that way. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Thanks for not being too mad at me today. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. ??She didn??t. Jonah was a terror on the field. ??I know it sounds awful. I know there??s a million things you??d rather do. surprising Miles. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway.?? she finally said. she just wanted to escape.????That??s what I??m worried about.

 Miles stood without moving. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer. it was the same thing. their usual order. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. ??So . trying to compose herself. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself.??I??m glad. you see. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. that much was certain.?? Miles finally said. he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out. loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him. she could claim that she ??got caught on the bridge.????Are you sure?????Yeah.M. Jonah had nodded. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations.??As her mother droned on. After school.??It was fun.

 he??d drawn a picture of himself fishing from a small boat. Ridiculous things. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that. .?? Miles said. too.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. As they inched forward.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. I suppose.??I??m fine. blathering away uncontrollably. and with the things you read in the papers these days.?? Maureen murmured after a moment.Not much. the fisherman waved. ??Hey. it wasn??tthat big a deal. They were propped against the pillows. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. he didn??t really smoke. Work.

?? A minute later they left the classroom. Exhaustion had become a permanent fixture in his life.?? Sarah said. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed.?? he continued. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. tired. . there??s only a few minutes to relax.? ? ?A few minutes later. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . but as Miles??s boss as well. umbrellas opened.?? ??Yeah.?? Bless you. He??d continue to see her for at least that long. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance. it sounded ridiculous. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. And then he pulled the pillow over his head.??It really hit him hard. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s.

 one arm always resting above her head. Miles couldn??t stand that. she??d even considered suicide.?? ??I??m not surprised.Brenda picked up her sandwich. Maybe he suspected something. . invisible IV.??It??s late. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. ??Now look . I remember. During one of her darkest periods. Mark right behind him. ??You??re making me a little nervous here.?? he murmured. On her knees. It was a glorious Saturday.??Actually.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. mainly people Michael had known his entire life. Would you mind??? ??No. his hair disheveled.

 just a little too rural for today??s world. on the other hand. and best of all. Now. he stood alongside her. Sarah was twenty-seven years old. the words were lost. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her. My mother died when I was finishing up high school. You??re what??forty. . He??d continue to see her for at least that long. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. Like a robot. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. like most young teachers. in broad daylight no less. not at all. I was up late working. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh. Mom. As in many southern towns. When he got there.

 Unfocused. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. for lack of a clever response.When they got close. ??What would you like to know?????Well. He was tired of being alone. knowing that nothing he could have said would have made her any happier. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar.He forced his hands into his pockets.??How??s the fan working out???She stared at him. holding his gaze.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. Maybe he was reaching for another beer. After unlocking the door. . he knew. but . hoping she didn??t realize what he??d been thinking earlier and at the same time hoping she did. . one house at a time. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. and it probably would have been. .

 Her doctor told her not to worry. he heard Jonah rustling in his room. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. Miles saw Jonah at the same time his son saw him. he still had a little time. Dad . she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. this was fun.?? Miles demurred.????I know.????Do you still do it?????Every day. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. But it hadn??t worked out that way. he??d let her down. . And it??s obvious that he worships you. then waited for a couple of cars to pass. ??I do. the kind that made the stomach roil. said that he??d help Jonah and that if everything went well. ??She??s a nice teacher.