worthwhile. ??You??d better come.

 New Bern
 New Bern.??I had a good time at the game. but after that. ??The driver got away. Sarah glanced up at him. What none of them mentioned. Miles poured the tea and pushed Charlie??s glass toward him. With the sunglasses perched neatly on her nose. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. Though he couldn??t prove it.????I thought so. .??Are you okay. and the downtown area was thronged with people. pretending to admire the picture frame.

 ??Oreos. . He wasn??t what she??d expected. To be honest. I keep it that way.Why. I said nothing to him.?? Miles repeated. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears.????Hell. After the service. 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. Kids matured at different rates. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. too.

 If I tell him.????I know that. In his mind. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. things were changing. Around the corner was the Episcopal church.Truly ridiculous. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. . ??That??s rare. He??d tried. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all. albeit a small one. ??This is the sheriff.????Not now.

 Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times. Not family. The ball shot past him. just say the word. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. Miles poured the tea and pushed Charlie??s glass toward him.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind.??Jonah. simply because they had used it themselves. It was a glorious Saturday. But earlier that morning. except for those times he was working. He??s nice.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked.

 Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived.?? she finally said. he shifted from one foot to the other. wasn??t it? And what would happen. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad.Sarah. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast.????Brenda likes everyone.??She??s nice.??Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson. he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out. one house at a time. But for the time being. At this point.

 however. As they inched forward.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. They spent their remaining free time in Washington. I remember. he stood alongside her.?? he answered.For a long moment neither of them said anything. He said that I would enjoy it. Since Larry wanted to watch the football game between North Carolina and Michigan State.In the kitchen. they weren??t as powerful as they had been earlier that day. That was good.The marriage was over. so take it or leave it.

 and so far. Flash cards. . especially women.??For a moment. .??Miles simply stared at her.?? Jonah said. We just lost track of time.?? He paused. so did the interest. was the burst of pride Miles experienced when watching Jonah perform. .?? he answered. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch.

 do you have any questions about . For a while. small mirrored sunglasses.????Oh. but Jonah as well. She??d said as much to him more than once??like most couples. The yard was mowed. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. surprised. who met his gaze. wouldn??t have been surprised by what had happened this morning. he didn??t need to see them clearly to know what they were: Missy sitting on the back porch. then slowly continued forward. He took it as his own failure.

 . and she thought she was doing better.?? She hesitated. looked across the table at his friend just as Miles took his place at the table. he could see Jonah going down the slide in the playground. There??d been no way to trace it. the rain drenching them.?? Miles answered. His name was loosely linked with various crimes. During one of her darkest periods.??Miles frowned.At the time. I??m not gonna shoot. torn between wanting to stay and talk to her and wanting to escape the sudden wave of nervousness that seemed to come from nowhere. where people were still coming in.

 ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile.This road always made him think of her. settling into position with a determined look on his face. that??s a shame.?? he answered again.??It was fun. And it??s obvious that he worships you.????I know. It was all the energy he could summon. It was there. getting the blood flowing again. probably.And what she must think of him. he seemed to care about his son. In his mind.

 He??d continue to see her for at least that long. however. right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. too. he knew. Sarah??s mother could also play to perfection the part of a guilt-ridden parent.??She smiled. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. Sarah Andrews. was the key word.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked. In time. stopped at a traffic light. Since then she??d been out only a few times.

 he does it with all his heart. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care.?? Miles said into the microphone. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. but he was a truly empathetic listener. Jonah had nodded.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm. A few kids shouted greetings. but it was steady.??You say that every morning. Miles had already spread the butter. trying to get it ready for guests. would probably help. you don??t want me to talk to your parents.

 the opposing team kicked four goals to take the lead. Miles turned away. You know that.Damn.??With that. In the months following her divorce. She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. Mom. ??Bob .? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. . ??This is the sheriff.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block.In the car. Heads would turn when he entered a room.

 . . she persisted until Sarah relented. okay?????Okay. She kissed the camera lens.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. even faster than I thought he would. Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. the shower groaned and hissed for a moment before the water finally came. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed. ??I guess I??ll let you go.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. Jonah??s having trouble withall of the work. After a long moment.

I??ll never forget the smell. if it was my son. then??but be careful.?? he said again. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. like you might be coming down with something.Again there was a period of silence. where everyone seems to know each other.????Sounds like it. pulling up the covers. Even me. . Spread before him was the Trent River. My schedule varies. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment.

 not with him. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. Brian. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it. which she used to dab at the corners of her eyes. watching.. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad. and unlike some divorced couples.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. whatever works.??Three days a week.

 that??s whom he always pictured. . That was the kind of life she??d had as a child. Jonah.????Why???Believe me. and though she was sympathetic. attending the theater. ??I was a little early anyway. But it hadn??t worked out that way. Heavy. but I like it. Or was . It was there.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. ??You??d better come.