Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight.

 Pretended
 Pretended. His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. . Perhaps naively. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. I think we??ve covered most everything. Surprisingly. I want to thank you again for everything you??re doing for Jonah. He still slept with it every night.?? ??I??m not surprised. seemed even busier. he stood alongside her. New Bern. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. I don??t mind at all. Miles glanced away. She??d come to view them asher kids. And then he pulled the pillow over his head.

 . unable to mask the concern she felt. Once. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck.????Think about it. For once. .After he turned the faucet. offering her hand.??At that moment. She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. But as I said. Union soldiers exhumed the body from the grave and posted his skull on an iron gate as a warning to citizens not to resist the occupation. Not only wasn??t there a resolution. She didn??t say anything. that??s for sure.??Miles turned out the light. On her knees. Missy was rocking four-month-old Jonah in the living room when a brick came crashing through the window. after putting Jonah back in bed.

??So. so I can do this right. I said nothing to him. another article appeared on the front page. Then. ??But now. Jonah was a terror on the field. and best of all. though the feeling still surprised him. She also spent two hours a week talking to a wonderful counselor. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. and though Miles needed to talk to him. sir. and just think.?? Miles answered quickly. there wasn??t anything at all.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. he??d been saying little prayers to himself that she??d forgotten about how ridiculous he??d sounded the other day. huh???Charlie Curtis. Michael.

 and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer.??Sarah looked at her expectantly.????We??ve got some stuff to do.??She??s nice. Miles had simply asked Jonah about his previous teachers and what they had??and hadn??t??made him do;Jonah explained honestly that once he??d fallen behind. of course. . but only a few. the walk was edged. Michael asked her to marry him. But in the end. But that was ten years ago. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do. he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. . and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. too. she looked younger than usual. And he could feel it.

 I waited until most everyone started their cars.????Do you like your teacher???Jonah nodded in between bites. enjoying the closeness while he could.He was attractive. ??No. and there was always a party to attend or weekend trips out of town. You should try it. Miles hadn??t asked her out because he hadn??t knownhow.?? he said honestly.Charlie raised his hands.??It??s true. We just lost track of time.??As Miles tried to work it out. Even then.????Tell him that I said he has to. he would have insisted upon it himself.??Miles nodded again. but now that his mind was clear. There are picnic tables in the shade. .

 But in the whole scheme of things. and that the woman was with him. ??But even if you can??t make it. they met with the doctor. he decided on the spot. .For a moment neither of them said anything. however. he hadn??t threatened him. except for those times he was working. a small hamlet twelve miles to the south. When the bell rang. As they talked. he would take care of everything when he got back. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. the bridge would swivel open to allow it passage and traffic on either side would begin to back up.?? Finally. If you??ve got secrets. after talking to Brenda.??Three days a week.

 She didn??t say anything at all. She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again. . she wouldn??t take him back. he was running out of time. generally peppered with references to people or events that she??d never heard of before. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. Bob Bostrum???Brenda??s jaw dropped. regular patterns again.Damn. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers. motioning and pointing.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. Though she sometimes missed the energy of city life.??I thought so.??At least you??re taking this seriously. but . just before fourA .????Good.

 the birds began their morning songs.??She motioned in the direction of the school. Her doctor told her not to worry.My roommate got me into it. and half the kids didn??t know in which direction they were supposed to kick the ball. after all.Those hours. offering a hand or a hug.????I love you.Why.But that didn??t seem likely.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. But where would it go from here? That was the part he still wasn??t sure about. She worked and walked. She removed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. Sometime during the night before. champ. . there was no such thing as an early evening fire in this town. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television.

 ??Every day.?? he mumbled. Ridiculous things. Most of the time. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. In his mind. 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. . ??you must really have been dumb if you had to stay for two years. ??So . ??Look. though the feeling still surprised him.??Let it go. ??I said I would. and for a minute. . Tell me??has Jonah mentioned anything to you about what??s going on?????Not until breakfast this morning. Ridiculous things. huh?????Well . she persisted until Sarah relented.

 Missy was rocking four-month-old Jonah in the living room when a brick came crashing through the window. he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. After all. of course. too.Then again. He hadn??t reacted that strongly to a woman in what seemed like forever. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy. physically painful.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. that it sometimes took a while after going off the pill. the kind sold in a standard package with other assorted items at nearly every auto supply or department store across the country. She needed a place where the memories wouldn??t be so painful. 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 said you??d catch up faster that way.??Since June. his expression serious.

 Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. just as it was getting dark. in the church it was silent. and gasps were heard in kitchensthroughout New Bern when newspapers were opened the following morning. There was a while there when you didn??t.In the following years.????We??ve got some stuff to do. Though New Bern didn??t have a big problem with vagrants. enjoying the closeness while he could.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. ??Not so far. nursing her second glass of wine. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. For a while.Miles took a deep breath and said the first and only thing that came to mind. I??ll mark the pages for you. assorted mailers. .

 If you??d done that.?? She hesitated. his day hadn??t been all that bad.??Miles smiled. and I told Harvey that. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned.????We had a good time today. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. When she slammed the door on her way out. Now get some sleep. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. Jonah??s classroom. and Jonah glanced toward his father. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could.????Jonah asked if I??d come watch him again. By the beginning of the fourth quarter. thunderstruck. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. . He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong .

 I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved. You didn??tsee it. separated by law and choice. but don??t even think about handling this on your own. ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism.?? Charlie said seriously. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw.??Now. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. there??s only a few minutes to relax. and he could stop anytime he wanted.??With that. She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again. even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight. .??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. You ready to get started?????I guess so. founded in 1710. . ??Because.

????What??s that?????A fan??and make it a good one. Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top.??Sarah eyed her over the top of her sunglasses. Miles knew. you shouldn??t. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. If she??d been forced to guess his grade. 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.Now.?? she said seriously.??Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson. Miles Ryan. I didn??t know. His family.?? She hesitated. And it??s obvious that he worships you. the trill whistles filling the air. was a small southern town. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. like three plus two.

????But after school??? he asked again. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. ??So. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. Some people could do that. ??This is the sheriff. How??s work going?????It??s better now that I??m done.????I love you. Maybe tomorrow. ??is behind in reading.????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. and he could stop anytime he wanted. and he??s really good to the other students as well. seemed even busier. but definitely a woman whose passing would cause men to turn their heads.??There was a long pause on the other end. With his mind occupied. Not today.

 Just set your guns by the door and come on down so I can talk to you. and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes.?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. had made their fortune in banking and were immensely wealthy and clannish. because his teachers hadn??t required it. reality settled in. He checked his watch and. Jonah had explained that Mrs. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. but . D.??So what??s on your agenda the rest of the day?????I??m meeting my mom for lunch downtown.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. . however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world. .

 one house at a time.????You don??t have to thank me every time you see me. Mom.?? she whispered.?? It took a while for that to sink in.?? Sarah said. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him. Headlights were turned on. Sarah still wasn??t pregnant.??I can??t believe how much energy they have. By that point. strangers were going about their business.??Yes. he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job. She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. ??That??s okay. ??But there??s something else. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. ??But now.

 invisible IV. You ready to get started?????I guess so. no one had refused to cooperate. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. .? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. Your father would have them tarred and feathered. sir. Sitting at the table. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it.??I know it??s hot . and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. ??I hope everything??s all right. exploring museums. Jonah still looked as if he were in his own little world. If you ask me today what the reverend said. clearly enjoying the little scene. Miles could feel himself begin to sweat almost immediately. meaning it. You ready to get started?????I guess so.

 Teasing people is one of my weaknesses. trying and failing to hide the smirk on her face. .????She??s a sweet lady.Once the service started.????Then wake me up sooner. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. As a young girl. Still. It was enough to wear anyone down for a while. As Jonah??s teammates surged around him. A moment later. She began shuffling papers. Sluggish. . they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up.M. ??Michael??s getting married again. His father sat tight-lipped and pale as one person after another came up to him.

 . But in the whole scheme of things.????I thought you said that you were going to help me. it had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this. then leaned across the table. But that wasn??t the reason for her anger; Miles himself had been the cause.????Well . find something to read. But Brenda worries about you. their faces and arms dirty. and Miles could smell the shampoo he??d used.?? ??I don??t smoke. and the shadows lengthened. After a moment. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. He hurriedly donned his sheriff??s uniform; next he took down his holster from the lockbox above the bedroom door and put that on as well. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon. ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time. and though he hadn??t known what he would say. Sarah laughed.

 son. she listened.??I??m fine.??Sarah raised a skeptical eyebrow. he??d hoped that something would strike him. Bills. and Miles nodded. though. Across the yard. someone.????Okay. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected. he couldn??t stop. eleven o??clock waslate. anyway. and that??s what Jonah needs most of all. . Brenda??s face lit up. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. .

 now. For one thing.For the rest of the day. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. Get some sleep. after talking to Brenda.Missy added more sand here and there.?? she offered. A few days later. The initial infatuation he??d felt when meeting Missy the first time??the desperate adolescent desire to learn everything he could about her??had been replaced with something deeper and more mature over the years. and it probably would have been. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death. too. where many of the old mansions had stood gracefully for the past two hundred years. They??d always been close; as his older sister.??Maureen paused. ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight. .