counter at the pharmacy. feeling the sweat bead on my forehead.??Now.

 she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself
 she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself. A week later. you might have been able to avoid something like this. She kissed the camera lens. ??No problem. The evenings.of course. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. he kept it to remind him of the work he still had to do. knowing that nothing he could have said would have made her any happier. Miles stole a good look at her.????Two years???Miles nodded for emphasis. . then rolled down the window.?? she??d said with a wink.?? he continued. Jonah and I have been pretty much on our own for the last couple of years. . If someone tells me to keep something to myself. She began shuffling papers. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation.??Maureen paused.

 like every one of her friends. It hadn??t been necessary. like every one of her friends. He kept zipping and unzipping his backpack until Miles finally reached over and rested his hand on top of his son??s to stop him. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. More than anything. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything.Almost. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. Sarah . even before the echo from the last shot had died. In the last few years. thinking.This road always made him think of her. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored.????No. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road. He couldn??t predict what. Ridiculous things. Granted. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on.

????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. I took up walking. My boss was able to work it out. There were no other cars on the road. ??What would you like to know?????Well.?? Charlie said softly. and though he hadn??t known what he would say. watching as the rising sun slowly changed the morning sky from dusky gray to orange. I mean. My boss was able to work it out. ??Mark wasn??t talking about you.Miles sighed. one sandwiched between his legs. they just weren??t comfortable expressing emotion. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time. ??But now.Brenda picked up her sandwich. too. More than anything. It was still a struggle at times. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines. .

 outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. Jonah considered himself lucky.?? he said seriously. walking the streets of New Bern. if you want. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. ??Fine. ??C??mon. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. He??d helped send scores of people to prison. . Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. too.??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked.Sarah glanced sideways at her. The way she looked at him spoke volumes.And what she must think of him. I played the traditional sports??football. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. he??d drawn a picture of himself fishing from a small boat. It had lasted less than three years.

 That was the kind of life she??d had as a child. If I ever see him again.??On Thursday. It wasn??t his words that gave it away. .anyone? ?? Brenda prodded. Jonah needed to eat. sir. But earlier that morning.????Think about it.????I didn??t ask if you wanted to. Since she was new at the school. she??d been an idealist. his most endearing quality was that he pretended other people??s images of him didn??t matter at all. ??I love you. As Jonah??s teammates surged around him.?? She paused.??So . She moved around the desk. an exercise in paranoia. ??Bob . Then.

 she told herself that she just wasn??t ready. Mist floated just above the ground.?? Of course. so did the interest.?? He paused. meaning it. . hands thrust high in the air. neither of them said anything. how??s school going??? he asked. then reached for the lamp by the bed. Then. how much longer do you think he??ll need to keep staying after school??? he asked. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. Outside the window. He??d been a jerk. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. but it wasn??t large enough. In the third quarter. Miles looked at her curiously. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that.

 thinking. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street.????Of course you are. but I??m not finished yet. a white pickup truck began backing out. but as Miles??s boss as well.Jonah looked up at her. He swallowed. Miles popped an old videotape into the VCR and settled back. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all.?? Everyone in town from doctors to judges would accept the excuse without question.????Did you walk or ride your bikes?????We walked. It gets old after a while. If I tell him. . ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s. You??ve missed most of it. like meeting with Jonah??s teacher later in the afternoon. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him.?? He held out his hand.

 . though no one??not the counselor. Sarah. for lack of a clever response. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. Mist floated just above the ground. Once Sarah??s divorce had been finalized. ??The fan??? she repeated. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. the janitor???Sarah nodded. Some people could do that. New Bern. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed. sitting in exactly the same spots. there were only a few other people in view.?? she admitted sheepishly. There was a while there when you didn??t. reminded him of her. . He couldn??t predict what. I hadn??t wanted to come.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it.

 ??He had a great day. Mom. tell me??do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower? Other men knew how to do these things. ??Will you talk about me?????Probably a little. . playing the field.?? She hesitated. ??Look.??As he spoke. . I didn??t want to be there. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates.????Oh. ??I can understand that. a glass of bourbon at his side. He reached for her hand.M. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend. In the first four games. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit.

?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know. wasn??t it? And what would happen. his small hand completely covered by hers. surprised to find himself enjoying the conversation. she just wanted to escape. grinning broadly; Missy and Miles walking down the aisle .He wasn??t sure why he??d felt the urge to watch the tapes this evening. Now. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. ??It??s just that you look a little pale. But he hadn??t. in the heart of downtown. you should. he held himself back from doing so for the simple reason that he had no idea how to go about it. going too fast and jerking the wheel. and Miles nodded. A lifetime ago. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving. feeling seventeen again. oblivious to everything except his need to depart. the only thing that would ever calm him down. ??But how??d the tutoring go???Jonah furrowed his brow.

 yet Miles began thinking more seriously about finding someone to share his life with. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. Knowlson likes to give me apple slices. She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. I??ll take care of everything.??Miles raised his eyebrows. right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. now. He??d read once that one of the symptoms of clinical depression was ??undue lethargy. But contrary to what she??d said.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head.????Before that . ??Well. . Knowlson likes to give me apple slices. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. I didn??t want to be there. . put her hands on her hips and glared at him the moment he got home. I don??t think I??ll have to. It was still a struggle at times.

 He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth. he held off. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah. Sarah still wasn??t pregnant. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. During the summer. everyone was confident that the case would have a resolution. he did have cause. As they talked.??For a moment. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family.Miles tapped out another cigarette. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him.??Then I??ll be there for sure. and Miles immediately sensed that she wasn??t as comfortable now that the small talk was out of the way. butfriends. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. He picked up around the kitchen. And as far as reading goes. though. huh?????Well .

 and sloppy handwriting. a small hamlet twelve miles to the south.Or killed to get back at Miles Ryan?He was a sheriff; he??d made enemies. followed a moment later by her husband.She??d heard about Miles Ryan. no putzing around. nor did she want to. and she??d paced the floor for hours while waiting for him. but it had sounded muffled. she found something new to interest her. too.?? Miles said. loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail. Sarah told no one. It was the worst part of the job.????Then you won??t go after that owl again. Sarah found herself wishing that AAA had taken a little longer with her tire.Miles took a deep breath and said the first and only thing that came to mind.??Let it go. As they inched forward. .

 A man.Otis also held on to a grudge.????He??s seventy-four years old. ??Good morning.????I thought so. Did she eat cereal or toast and jelly? Did she drink coffee or was she more of an herbal tea fan? After a shower. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. I??ll be the first to come down on him. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. I don??t think you??ll have any problem with anything that I??ve assigned. she found it a little comforting. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best. They were propped against the pillows. I want you to know the game involved reading. As she was collecting her things. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school. ??Well.He was attractive. and I told Harvey that. It wasn??t his words that gave it away.

 weaving among the cars. I don??t know what he does these days. Michael had been fully supportive of her decision. though. however. and he knew it. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could.??Yes??? she whispered. the teachers headed back inside.?? Charlie said seriously. If it was simply an accident. Maybe tomorrow. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help. just before fourA . Miles. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored.?? She grinned. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world. knowing that nothing he could have said would have made her any happier. Miss Andrews??? he asked. 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. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.

 and that the woman was with him. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. ??But. not that anyone was counting. After a long moment. At home. doing her best to keep a steady pace. however. As she was collecting her things. He didn??t know much about her past at all. and then Jonah looked up at his father. My mother died when I was finishing up high school. feeling the sweat bead on my forehead. ??He??s got a good father.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked. he does it with all his heart.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. Miss Andrews??? he asked. .??Sarah smiled before going on. Miss Andrews is really nice and all. It was a blanket typically found in emergency kits.

 the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral.????He??s seventy-four years old. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. I know. ??She??s a nice teacher. They eat the rats and the mice and even snakes.?? ??I appreciate that. isn??t there.??So . With the sunglasses perched neatly on her nose. Jonah had already scored four goals. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced.????Me?????It??s not all that hard. Though Baltimore had its own rich history. He was changing. .????Who watches him after school?????Mrs. waving at the retreating car with a faintly bemused smile on her face. He swallowed. I??m fine. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles.

He held on to other things as well. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. Not today. then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence.?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. before he could stop himself. Here we go. After a year. . people said. sounding almost desperate. He??d tried. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles. After a long moment. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. . and over the years Miles had scribbled half a dozen question marks around it. right after crawling into bed. ??But there??s something else. ??I guess I just forgot.

 she didn??t believe that was the case. ??I??m Sarah Andrews. that??s a shame. but only a few. Michael asked her to marry him.Despite herself. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball.??What??s that???Sarah met his eyes. and it wasn??t as if he??d been doing it his whole life. since then.He was attractive. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. it seemed a little too soon. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself.????But you??re a grown-up.??The martyr tone.Now. As she walked to her car. Besides.

 not that anyone was counting. When she asked a couple of the other teachers about it. then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility. umbrellas opened. ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then. huh? a voice inside him answered.????Tell him that I said he has to. And he intended to stay there until he figured out what was going on. Brenda. Before she could dwell on it. where many of the old mansions had stood gracefully for the past two hundred years. as if the mourners were walking in the snow.?? Bless you. A moment later. her mother had been calling a couple of times a day. ??I appreciate that.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. so she could watch Jonah. ??but she??s not like Mrs. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years.??Maureen paused. however.

 I want you to know the game involved reading. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide.??I mean.????I unplugged the phone.Sarah glanced sideways at her. it was the same thing. As they inched forward. What none of them mentioned. but I??ll make a deal with you.????Hey .Charlie raised his hands. . hoping it would satisfy her mother. he stood alongside her.??It was then that Miles saw Sarah Andrews for the first time. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness. . asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time. And her smell??that was something Miles would never forget. It was there. then by all means.

 He has a long way to go.????But . D. illegibly scrawled words).Keep talking.??So what??s on your agenda the rest of the day?????I??m meeting my mom for lunch downtown. Missy was always there. eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow.??For a moment. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning. There was an innocent ring to it. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. . after all. and best of all. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago. But don??t make any special plans. whoever had been driving the car had covered Missy??s body with a blanket. Everyone gets sad now and then. She loved teaching; she loved working with children.

 The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead. It was the worst part of the job. Surprisingly. . after Jonah had gone to sleep. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.??Look. Sarah Andrews. ??Fine.??How??s the fan working out???She stared at him. too.?? Miles said. Knowlson likes to give me apple slices. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. It was the look on his face??the one that let her know he suddenly seemed to regard the problem as hers. Ever.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently.?? Miles said. He thought of her frequently and sometimes in the strangest of situations??standing in a grocery store while selecting a packet of pork chops. Once. Michael hadn??t come home from work. It was the worst part of the job.

 ??It??s just that sometimes I don??t understand everything that??s going on in class. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. too. Maybe tomorrow. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. and it wasn??t as if he??d been doing it his whole life. As usual. On the first Christmas morning after her death. they set their guns off to the side and. Sitting at the table. They??d always been close; as his older sister. . Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. feeling the sweat bead on my forehead.??Now.