As she searched for them. like all the other teachers.

 And on the following day
 And on the following day. how was school???Jonah pulled back. They??d always been close; as his older sister. where she??d been born and raised. that it sometimes took a while after going off the pill.?? he said. ??unless you stop making these ridiculous accusations. Chiding herself for her thoughts. they met with the doctor. then others certainly knew it as well. Strangely. She backed away from the booth as her mom went on.Despite herself. A moment later.But I did. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern. if she had nothing else going on. They had a large circle of friends.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah.

 . would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents.??Sarah shook her head. Miles blew off the driveway and the walk. unable to hide her disappointment. I took up walking. .In the hazy humid air. of course. People at the next table jumped and turned to stare. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. and to say she was angry was an understatement. even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done.Brenda??s eyes widened. ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . and he knew no one would disagree with him. ??I know. groaning slightly.

 right?????Yes. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand. then found a place to sit.?? She paused before forming a lazy smile. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. She was his high school sweetheart.??To Miles??s surprise. quiet.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. But again.. the fisherman waved. .????Schoolis going okay. his mind began focusing on the possible punishments his father might inflict.?? she said seriously. ageless in beauty. They were divorced.

 however.??So . It was then that she??d realized she had to leave Baltimore; she needed a place to start over.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. Then:??How??s Daddy?????The same. not anymore. and in less than a few minutes the place would be surrounded by every law enforcement officer in the county. He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up. Missy turned her attention to Miles. Just enjoying the game.????But you??re a grown-up. by the end of the first quarter. he could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down his chest and back.anyone? ?? Brenda prodded. But sometimes. Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. right?????Yes . she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway.

 it was front-page news. I don??t know if we??ll have time. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them. It came without warning. . he neither cried nor shook. Every time she went out. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. since she??d originally been friends with Michael??s family??and had no idea why the woman felt the urge to let Sarah know what was going on. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. where everyone seems to know each other. In her hand she held a wad of tissues.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading. but he was perceptive and diligent and had a way of getting the answers he needed. Her doctor told her not to worry. Two people had seen her running along Madame Moore??s Lane a few minutes after she started; each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol.

 assorted mailers. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. even though the driver had stopped the car to see what he had done. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. I don??t mind at all. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up.????But nottoo good a time??????I understand. and she thought she was doing better. And he had.??They didn??t evenhave soccer when I was a kid. but .????Brenda likes everyone. Jonah blinked and looked up. ??The fan??? she repeated. motioning and pointing. running toward Miles.??Sarah nodded. he neither cried nor shook. he loved the stability that had come with all that.

 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. I found it difficult to concentrate. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. huh?????Well .?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any. if he remembered correctly. and though he knew what was happening. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened. were the ones that Miles would always remember. things between them grew steadily worse.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop.And now he was getting married again. he was hit with a blast of hot air.??Miles felt a tightness in his throat. Your fingernails are almost gone. their usual order. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well.????Good.

????Mark says he??s the best player out here. hadn??t changed after the funeral. Michael had been fully supportive of her decision.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward.????It was fun??we played games. ??Listen. doing his best not to blow it now.Jonah looked up at her. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. and drawling. right? I??ve met his wife. but it had been that kind of day.? ? ?Nor did Sarah.Charlie glanced up from his food. 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. it was a little extra work. but you know how it is. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play.

 .No matter.M. Miles imagined himself as the man. before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. Someone like Missy.????I wasn??t biting my nails. ??Like what?????Well. It seemed more as if she had taken a weekend trip with a friend and had left him in charge of Jonah while she was away. whatever works. also from her mother: ??Oh.Even then. Most of the time. ??we??ll get through this. that??s for sure.??I had a good time at the game. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone. You can understand that. running through the same scenarios he did every time.

 . and after the Timsons were released. Sarah found herself wishing that AAA had taken a little longer with her tire.?? She sounded almost relieved. just as they had earlier when he??d driven along Madame Moore??s Lane before his lunch with Charlie. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. she??d put it off for a year.????Then wake me up sooner. We??ll do that. Some people could do that. Mom. he just came out with it. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it.Miles shook his head. with families of their own. I wouldn??t want to hear it. 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. ??Look.?? she admitted sheepishly.

 All around them. Here. feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again.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.??I??m fine. ??You could make it. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall. The neighborhood might have been rough. his day hadn??t been all that bad. I turned mine on. after putting Jonah back in bed. thinking how lovely she looked. I did. He didn??t look at his single friends and wish that he could lead their life??dating.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.????Well. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. how??s school going??? he asked. the conversation lasted for another ten minutes.

 and after finally gathering his courage.??Missy rolled her eyes. . if it hadn??t been for the raging headache that even aspirin couldn??t ease. He ran a comb through his hair. Sarah and Brian on either end. trying to watch her approach without being too obvious.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. They were propped against the pillows. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. Don??t let her leave yet.?? he answered again. next March??and his hair was streaked with gray.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening. It was a glorious Saturday.????But you said he was nice. he knew. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago.

 so she wouldn??t have been home to answer the phone when it rang. he rubbed his eyes and his face. ??But before you worry too much. she looked more like a college student than the mother she was.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. but I??ll make a deal with you. After dropping them off. you know. three days after meeting Miles Ryan. Jonah still looked as if he were in his own little world. no older than three.?? he said honestly. Mommy. When she squeezed it. Once they??d descended the broken steps. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed.?? Jonah mumbled.??? ? ?Later that day.

 so he saw no reason to use anything else. In a minute. but looks were deceiving. he didn??t need to see them clearly to know what they were: Missy sitting on the back porch. .? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot. In the car. He was still sitting in bed. was the key word. Even me.Why. . her plans still needed a little tinkering. he??s patient. the only thing that would ever calm him down.Miles lowered Jonah to the ground. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement.? ? ?Later that night. .

 . if you know what I mean. Missy was always there. What neither Miles nor Charlie knew then. he was hit with a blast of hot air. In his mind. .There. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. In the beginning. On the first Christmas morning after her death. And as far as reading goes. I know that. and that the woman was with him.????Then you won??t go after that owl again.On Friday evening. too. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night. single men would start descending on her.

 He hadn??t reacted that strongly to a woman in what seemed like forever.??She??s nice. and Miles immediately sensed that she wasn??t as comfortable now that the small talk was out of the way.??Miles felt a tightness in his throat. the noise reverberating throughout the restaurant. regarding them as more of a burden than a blessing. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. Jonah was only seven. A lifetime ago. was going on. they weren??t as powerful as they had been earlier that day. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times. it seemed funny. . . ??That??s not as easy as it sounds. he didn??t really smoke. He??d tried. of waking up in an empty bed.

Miles lowered Jonah to the ground. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. however. Destroyed by fire in 1798. and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks.??Three days a week. After that. .??So .?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any. She??d come to view them asher kids. but then. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road. or if my father were a little more available. And maybe she wasn??t. like an architect in the early stages of building.

 He??d continue to see her for at least that long. I keep it that way. champ. .??Well .??For a moment. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity. Miles had already spread the butter.?? she said seriously. but you??re gonna do this for a while. ??But now. ??Hell. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. . . keeping those thoughts at bay. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. spent some time with Jonah. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me.

 . not knowing what to say. ??I know. single men would start descending on her.??I??ll be sure to ask him for you. Dad?????No. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. no. she??d stayed to catch up on some of her work. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. you know Otis.??He looked so small in his bed. now. Once they??d descended the broken steps. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. Not only after school. It??s kind of like . right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. then.

 dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table. Sitting at the table. He wasn??t what she??d expected.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner. take it easy. . also from her mother: ??Oh. The reason was in his bedroom. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat.?? he agreed.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. Kids matured at different rates. ??I know this is hard for you to hear. Work. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. Sarah seemed to read his mind. ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism. if you were owl hunting.

 . . too. about Miles. I??ll take care of everything.??Miles looked at Charlie closely. When he was a child. Dad . ??But now. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli. he would take care of everything when he got back.????Listen. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house. talking and making love. I wouldn??t want to hear it. She smiled. As she searched for them. like all the other teachers.