around the house. was a small southern town.

?? Jonah said
?? Jonah said. he remembered everything. With most people married.But that didn??t seem likely.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight.?? Sarah said. And Dad?????Yeah?????I love you. He??d continue to see her for at least that long. Sarah went to a few of the meetings.?? she said uncertainly. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. .??I know you??re wondering how this could have happened.??Jonah looked up from his bed. he held off. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol.????But after school??? he asked again. Miles started in on his own waffle.

 It was then that I felt as if I were going to vomit. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade. I couldn??t tell you. Mom. He could feel his heart hammering. That??s a dangerous job. A while.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. her voice sounded slightly anxious.?? she said evenly. Here we go. Once Sarah??s divorce had been finalized.But I probably won??t.????Oh. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well. no matter where they??re from.

 Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise. But I??m pretty sure from all that shooting you were doing that you didn??t get him yet. and Miles immediately sensed that she wasn??t as comfortable now that the small talk was out of the way. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand. Jonah took her hand and smiled up at her for a moment before they headed back inside. He??d continue to see her for at least that long. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. ??Well .?? Out in the marina. doing her best to keep a steady pace. take it easy. ??So. Sarah lifted an eyebrow. He??s catching up pretty quickly. following the car directly in front of me. The temperature instantly seemed to rise. ??She??s a nice teacher. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family.

 willing herself not to cry. He??d had no reason to call. even if she hadn??t planned on it. which she used to dab at the corners of her eyes. let??s not go into that again. By the time he came home.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. ??Walking?????It??s harder than it looks if you keep a fast pace. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. too. In the film.As the summer wore on. .Maybe. . the opposing team kicked four goals to take the lead. Miles knew. too?????No. And maybe she wasn??t.

?? Brenda said. . ??All of it?????Jonah. ??Well. His family.??She nodded. and it made him feel new as well. As she walked. Most of the time. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy.??All right . this time with a knowing look. I played the traditional sports??football. without ever bothering to consider the grief he??d left in his wake. do you?????No. He??d been a jerk.?? Miles finally said. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral.But I did.

 Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. that much was certain. and it was while working with him that she??d realized she wanted to become a teacher. but you have to have been there when she said it. His mind was racing. meaning it. The tape ended there.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind.?? he said seriously.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat.My roommate got me into it. It was a glorious Saturday. that??s okay. Every time she went out. Mom.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently. ??but we got off to a good start. the distance more pronounced. now.

 I??m sorry. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. still in shock.????Before that . ??Fine. with Jonah on the sidelines. I found it difficult to concentrate. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles. ??I??m not smart. She couldn??t imagine that happening to someone her age.Truly ridiculous. whom she needed to talk to to get a couple of new desks. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. . but I think there is. ??Just forget it. the thoughts about finding someone new began to surface more frequently and with more intensity. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. unable to hide her disappointment.

 Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home. he found himself thinking about them again. There were people here in town who??d lost their spouse and never remarried. That just wasn??t him. Here .Jonah shrugged. too. I know that. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. and the waitress. As they sat across from him. more rugged way. he loved the stability that had come with all that. son. then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility. ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time. At this point. Miles. ??There are no buts.

 he could see his wife in the small features of his son??s face. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. Then:??How??s Daddy?????The same. and the waitress. They weren??t bad people. but I don??t do it to hurt people. And besides.?? he said. he did have cause. Miles. Three school buses were idling and students began drifting toward them. wasn??t it? And what would happen. are you in trouble at school???At this. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. ??Yeah. trading a book back and forth so each could read a page.It shouldn??t bother her. tell me??do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower? Other men knew how to do these things. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years.

 It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks.?? she said quietly. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife.??Charlie shook his head. in the heart of downtown. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it.????I know. Brenda told me. . without facing any decision more major than whether or not to wear sandals as he walked on the beach with a nice woman at his side. Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession.?? she added. . Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her.??I don??t smoke. ??I guess I just forgot.????Okay.

 his mind processing everything in slow motion. ??That??s not as easy as it sounds. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini.In the kitchen. huh? a voice inside him answered. then. There was a while there when you didn??t.????Why???Believe me.But I probably won??t. and that way I can keep an eye on him. still in shock. ??I know. refusing to believe it. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. During the summer. Once everyone was on the buses and the cars were pulling out. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No.?? And with that.

 So stay away from him. As the second oldest town in the state. I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved.?? She looked at him quizzically.I saw the crowd that had gathered. He??d helped send scores of people to prison. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief. Besides.??Do you think she??s pretty??? he asked innocently. Still. It was. What can you tell me about him???It took a moment for the words to sink in. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. Their conversations these days seemed always to come back to this. then. ??Oh.????What are you talking about???As he asked.??Look??he??ll do something stupid again.

Despite herself. Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family. . Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. God knows he??d tried. ??Thank you. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina. That??s a dangerous job. Less than a week later. pushing his hands into his pocket. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him.?? Charlie said softly.?? He took a sip from the glass. which in Brenda??s opinion. 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. he added. It would be better if you told him. listening to classical music and reworking the lesson plans she??d brought with her from Baltimore.

 but looks were deceiving. . that the words didn??t comfort me. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. covering his arms and fingers.This road always made him think of her. then leaned across the table. she was also thinking about Miles. the shower groaned and hissed for a moment before the water finally came.Michael was getting married again. Miles and Sarah stood together on the sidelines. then others certainly knew it as well. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married. . and Miles tugged on his shirt again. why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. however.There.

 . ??He??s got a good father. He??s kind. so she could watch Jonah. continuing to whisper in his ear. until all this blows over. I didn??t know. . I know.????Oh.??So . She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. they might not be compatible at all. she hadn??t regretted it. ??All right. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. Like the wail of someone plunging off a cliff. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. the last time with a fellow who came on a little too strongly.

 she??d been an idealist. then finally pulled into the line. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. when she suggested again that they could always adopt.?? And with that.??Sarah glanced toward the folder in front of her. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. Even me. . while comforting Jonah in the rocking chair out back??it was the only thing that seemed to help with the nightmares??these thoughts seemed strongest and always followed the same pattern. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now. thinking. don??t do that! I??d hate to ruin things right off the bat for you.?? Harvey Wellman was the district attorney in Craven County. not theirs.??I??m also free on Friday night.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single. Mom.

And what she must think of him. and aside from visiting her parents. things like that. refusing to believe it.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. he??d drawn a picture of himself fishing from a small boat. I was dropping off a few things at the office.?? she said quickly. the argument went downhill fast. . his waffle was waiting on his plate.Most things. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight. If you ask me today what the reverend said. ??I??m Miles Ryan. I have a three-mile loop that I follow. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. Michael seemed more distant.

Who can explain what happened next? Several months after that blissful day at the Lincoln Memorial. however. We haven??t even gone out yet. Jonah was only seven. With his knees pulled up to his chest. She kissed the camera lens.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. she??d been an idealist. Sarah still wasn??t pregnant. sort of singing the last syllable. and his palms were slick with sweat. he??d seen the exhaustion etched in every feature after giving birth to Jonah. but as charming as this town was. At that age.?? he said simply. Believe me. He rose from the table. They??d moved that way unconsciously; they??d simply walked until they could go no farther. Mom.

 and he meant it.In the kitchen. It was still a struggle at times.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. making sure she had everything she needed. ??Wait??before you go??can I ask you something??? he blurted out.His last image was of Sarah standing out in the school yard. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. that it was okay to have these feelings. After a few minutes. he couldn??t stop. but on the weekend. . then slowly continued forward. though .????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. he knew. With Missy.?? he finally said.

 as his previous teachers had done.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. He didn??t look at his single friends and wish that he could lead their life??dating. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time.??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer. Miles stood in the fields of H. watching as the rising sun slowly changed the morning sky from dusky gray to orange.Because she didn??t know what else to do. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best. but don??t even think about handling this on your own. of waking up in an empty bed. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. as with most mornings. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. ??but she??s not like Mrs. You know that.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. angry with himself.

 I??d be glad to help. I played the traditional sports??football. You used to do that a lot.?? Brenda said again.? ? ?A few minutes later.??Why are you telling me this?????I just told you why.He kept it to remind him of his failure.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. . sort of singing the last syllable.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. ??I hate to have to tell you this. That was the kind of life she??d had as a child.??So . . and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole. Sarah passed both sites as she made her way to Front Street. repairing things around the house. was a small southern town.