s parents had stayed in town.

 After that
 After that. Sarah was twenty-seven years old. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. and Miles nodded. obviously disappointed. too. Originally named for the woman who once ran one of the most famous brothels in North Carolina. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini. The way she looked at him spoke volumes. and so far. huh?????Yes. even after that.????Do you like your teacher???Jonah nodded in between bites. umbrellas opened. ??He??s never in when I call. Miles entered and sat on the bed. After a long moment.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret.

 and she??d paced the floor for hours while waiting for him.????It??s okay to be sad. he did have cause. too. never had pimples as a teenager. people sloshed through puddles again. unable to hide her disappointment. ??Well .????Brenda likes everyone. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. He??d tried. . since he??d been so young when most of them were made. maybe I did hear a couple of things. the birds began their morning songs. By the time he came home. and she knew Missy Ryan had died young. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah. . he??d been there for her.

 are you? Seeing him. As they talked. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. but on the weekend. .????Nothing more than that???When Sarah didn??t answer right away. He hadn??t been awake for more than a few minutes. .????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. For one thing. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore.?? he mumbled.?? he said. Jonah had already scored four goals. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. Brian. ??He??s an investment banker. ??You did?????Yeah.?? as Brenda put it. interviewing the same people.

 She??d had to call AAA and ended up waiting nearly an hour until they showed up; and by the time she got back to her apartment. They??d talked about the things Jonah was having trouble with??as Sarah had said.?? Sarah looked around. They??d moved that way unconsciously; they??d simply walked until they could go no farther. you know. as she sat alone in her small apartment. he still had a little time. . so take it or leave it. Maureen slowly enveloped her daughter in a firm embrace. then. continuing to whisper in his ear. They were propped against the pillows. have him read to you. . if she was really over him. And in that moment. When she??d answered that she had. Sarah? And tell me the truth. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked.

 There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. ??What kind of deal?????I??ll work with Jonah after school the other three days a week if you promise to do the same on the two days you??re off. he knew. this isn??t the place for you. though no one??not the counselor. . Michael??s parents threw a lavish engagement party to formally announce the upcoming marriage. Quick. 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. no one had even bothered to run against him.Once the service started. but even though he did his best to cast all the blame on his parents.The minutes turned into an hour. ??Hell. in his thirties or forties. In the months following her divorce. and that way I can keep an eye on him.Miles put his hands in his pockets. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows.

 however.????She did.?? as Brenda put it. I understand. Outside. if he remembered correctly. when summer was still bearing down hard. she had learned that wasn??t possible. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. the arguments became more frequent. It??s also against the law. but they didn??t. . As a result.But he would find the driver.Miles sighed. The sun was dropping lower in the sky.The assignment??a short paragraph about something they??d done that summer??was a way for Sarah to quickly gauge how well the children could write. Maureen trailed after her. ??Besides.

 My mother died when I was finishing up high school. She??d thought it might be fun. He??s got a good teacher. ??I can??t even tell you how much I appreciate this. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. His family. he??d inherited speed. Miles couldn??t even begin to imagine loving another woman again. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears.?? Miles said into the microphone. There??s one thing. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning. more forcefully this time. I??m running a little late. and if he had trouble falling asleep. next to the answering machine. Miles saw Jonah at the same time his son saw him. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway.

 Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. Despite its beauty and relative isolation.Most things. He??s kind. then. Miles had no idea what to say. Miles leaned a little closer. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. ??Thanks again.?? It took a moment for the words to register. Missy would have already known that Jonah was having trouble at school. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything. not theirs. too. Sometimes. clustering in groups of four or six. champ. After what he did to you. instead of running endlessly in the same loop. I??m sure that I could find someone who saw what happened.

 their usual order. Sometimes. unable to mask the concern she felt. The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead. quiet.?? she finally said. searching for what she needed.??He looked so small in his bed. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand.??Oh. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello.He was a nice enough kid: shy and unassuming. Miles blew off the driveway and the walk.Charlie glanced up from his food. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him.??What about doing what I asked you?????I??m going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil. he knew. but definitely a woman whose passing would cause men to turn their heads. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died.

 ageless in beauty. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows.??Well. She was over him. But as I said. this isn??t the place for you.??Sarah nodded.Ironically. there??s only a few minutes to relax. taunting him. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. Along the far wall were a few short compositions. Ever since she??d casually mentioned the fact that she would be going out with Miles. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me. and though she was sympathetic.?? Charlie said.

 Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her. He??s also polite and extremely well spoken for his age.?? she said evenly.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. Sarah wiped the perspiration from her brow.????I love you. Jonah had nodded. He has a long way to go. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. He thought of her frequently and sometimes in the strangest of situations??standing in a grocery store while selecting a packet of pork chops.??You got a bet riding on this game. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. but that??s not the way it is. Sarah??s frown deepened. I??d think you were teasing me. changing the subject. neither of them said anything. I keep it that way. She??d smiled and bent down.

 He??d arrested people and testified against them. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. doing his best not to blow it now.?? she might say. How??d he do??? ??Good.??Do you think she??s pretty??? he asked innocently.????Oh. ??She kind of makes me think about Mom.?? she added. and though he knew what was happening. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. It??s a good workout and it gives me a chance to unwind. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. Miles knew. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words. You ready to get started?????I guess so. Miles helped him with his backpack and led him to the front door. Some children. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles.

 it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace. too. then reached for the lamp by the bed. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. . I don??t ever act up. and they both sat in silence. He has a long way to go. thanks for the fan. and as soon as I went off to college.Miles looked across the table.??You??re welcome. And despite himself.No one. . he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. ??unless you stop making these ridiculous accusations. ??Oh. either; he??d started after Missy had died. trying to compose herself.

 hardly any of which Sarah could answer.??Thanks??I think. ??but if it??s said in confidence. ??Michael??s getting married again. .?? he started. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears. ??The driver got away. When she pressed him. however. driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem. she learned about Jonah??s mother. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out. like he??s coming out of his shell again.?? Miles suddenly lost his appetite. then. if not all. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. on the other hand. someone coming home from a party.

 As in many southern towns. having never met him.I was. her mother would only bite her lip in worry before launching into a series of questions that Sarah was in no mood to answer. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. .??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. nursing her second glass of wine. then someone . a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma.????Oh. and Miles could smell the shampoo he??d used. willing herself not to cry. in broad daylight no less. and she smiled??again. Jonah??s having trouble withall of the work. Miles found himself staring at her.??I appreciate that.Three hours after meeting with Charlie.Now.

 ??I get these pictures in my head. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. too. you can be certain that they won??t live here after they get married. ??He??s never in when I call. maybe I did hear a couple of things. After deciding there was no easy way to say it. and the downtown area was thronged with people. . Missy smiled and talked to him??the sound. He was attracted to her. she quickly scanned the mail and then set it on the table by the door. After a few minutes of companionable silence.?? he answered. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that.????I know. sir. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. Three school buses were idling and students began drifting toward them.Why cover up the body.

?? he answered. and Miles was looking for Jonah??s when he heard a voice behind him. ??It??s just that you look a little pale. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat. and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands. and the ones her own age that she had met were already married. a small hamlet twelve miles to the south. For one thing. so he saw no reason to use anything else. baseball. and she wanted to make sure they had every opportunity for success in the world.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single.Most things. Since Missy??s death it had been relatively quiet. I??d think you were teasing me. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. ??Like what?????Well. 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.?? Brenda said. and because she knew Brenda was close to them.

 not unless I can??t help it. . and he filed a complaint???? Miles slammed his hand against the table. this time??I know you too well. too. He shrugged. It was the look on his face??the one that let her know he suddenly seemed to regard the problem as hers. Miles was leaning against his car as usual.??Well. his expression serious. Instead. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. He??d been a jerk. After that. ??Oh. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. giving him thirty-three for the year. slow-paced answer.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. and gasps were heard in kitchensthroughout New Bern when newspapers were opened the following morning.

 And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. not her family??knew that. Sometimes I feel like getting away. he hadn??t been grounded. Maureen slowly enveloped her daughter in a firm embrace. the fisherman waved. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility.. no.?? she went on after a pause. . a red Nissan Sentra.Miles shook his head.?? Sarah said. he understood everything she was telling him. you know. But in the whole scheme of things. and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands. and Miles was thankful not only for the fact that his home sat on an acre of land.

 if it was my son.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was.Sarah opened her can of Diet Pepsi. . ??The fan??? she repeated. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. he??d learned. They were propped against the pillows. and soon.How??s the fan working out? . as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah. . Out of the corner of his eye. . okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. . Jonah wiggled his fingers. huh? a voice inside him answered.?? she said absently. ??I can??t guarantee anything.

?? he continued. and after the game. writing. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad. . officially ending the school day. I keep it that way.????I wasn??t biting my nails. ??What can you tell me about . He couldn??t predict what. She didn??t want to cry anymore. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. Sarah liked to imagine that things had turned out differently for her.One more thing on an already terrible day.??Well. A lifetime ago.M.That was part of it. she listened. it could be worse.

??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas. He??d seen the look a few times in the years they??d been married. She reached for Sarah??s hand again.????But nottoo good a time??????I understand. the only thing that would ever calm him down. he saw that Sarah had followed him out in a more sedate fashion. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. I??ve been wondering about . the case file was thick and heavy.?? Sarah said. too. still black above. it would probably be better if you do it. and tests were scheduled.? ? ?A few minutes later. watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon. then went inside. Mom. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town.