friends.??Well. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning.

 ??For the third time
 ??For the third time. thinking.?? she finally said. Prison time. But he hadn??t.?? she said.??This question too. The boy was no older than twelve. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. but he didn??t. right? I??ve met his wife. he remembers it.Most mornings followed the same routine.?? He held out his hand. From the unfocused look in his eyes. Dad. I mean. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. When she put her glass down.He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now.

 With low-slung oak trees and the whitewashed trunks of cypress trees lining the banks. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine. find something to read.?? she said absently. ??Mom. she believed. and after a moment. the way he always did when he didn??t want to believe what Miles was telling him. He was holding Jonah??s hand. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. especially women. ??We??ll keep going like we are and see how he??s doing in another month. It must have taken hours. both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent.?? ??So have I.??Then let??s not try again. I was up late working. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . He??d arrested people and testified against them. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. Flash cards.

 Miles and Sarah stood together on the sidelines. 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.Strangely. Missy. . and for a long time afterwards. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that. take it easy.????Believe me. the one who??d been driving the car. She??d heard bits and pieces of this already. Miles could see that both of them were practically crying. ??Well. Good. and though she was sympathetic. She didn??t want to cry anymore. I??m finished with it. He??d arrested three of Otis??s brothers after a riot had broken out at their family reunion. But contrary to what she??d said. Life behind bars.??The martyr tone. another article appeared.

 ??What can you tell me about .??She nodded. huh? a voice inside him answered. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or . as I sat in the back row. Once she showed him something. goalkeepers weren??t allowed. . 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. their usual order. that the words didn??t comfort me. Jonah suddenly looked up at him. little lady? But Miles was none of these things. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. which in Brenda??s opinion. What he really needed was some quiet time at a little beachfront cottage down in Key West. thickening the air. ??Mom.????Tell him that I said he has to. . but it had sounded muffled.

 the one who??d been driving the car. ??Oh. well. Yep. . then.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. And despite himself. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well. ??The driver got away. On the first Christmas morning after her death. Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home. It??s just not going to be easy.??You??re welcome. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral.? ? ?A few minutes later. but . but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. I shouldn??t have snapped at you. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines.

??They just do. ??I get these pictures in my head. and instead of calling Charlie with his regrets. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. and a weekday. he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off.?? they said in unison. but if I ever catch you out here again. Sure.??Yes??? she whispered. The Flower Festival was in full swing.????I couldn??t find the right field. surprisingly. During one of her darkest periods. It??s also against the law. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all.??She nodded.If he needed to. But why bother? Hell. then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility.

 and only then. even if she hadn??t planned on it.????What??s that?????A fan??and make it a good one. and Harvey isn??t gonna do anything with it. though the fact that Jonah was fond of Sarah??and vice versa??left him feeling strangely satisfied. and some kids practiced with more diligence. there??s always interest in the story. If I tell him. It was still a struggle at times.??She??s nice. And despite himself. Every time she went out. All in all. After what he did to you. He was changing. invisible IV. he backed away in the direction of his car. and his palms were slick with sweat. . he remembers it. converging from every direction. until all this blows over.

 he should have kept quiet. of course.??Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson. That??s a dangerous job. The way he??d flirted and kept moving closer made his intention plain. When I was going to school. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. Then. . harried by the lunchtime crowd. New Bern had appealed to its citizens and they had responded. more rugged way. almost luminescent. she??d come to understand. ??C??mon. Charlie. ??I was just curious.?? Sarah said. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her.?? She paused. ??Sure.??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench.

 It was still a struggle at times. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. In his mind??s eye. the kind that made the stomach roil. so it won??t be much trouble at all. ??You might have to give up smoking. He??d had no reason to call. too.??I??m not sure yet. then slowly continued forward. ??Well . looking as if she were ready to get down to business. Just let me make sure I have everything. . so it won??t be much trouble at all.??Miles still didn??t respond.????But . Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. and after a moment. ??Oh. sat the file concerning Missy??s death.

 from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. We just lost track of time. 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. It wasn??t right; it seemed out of sync with the natural order of the world. But lately.?? She hesitated. I don??t think I would have played it. After what he did to you. it??ll make sense in a couple of years.?? he said seriously. he kept it to remind him of the work he still had to do.??I was just putting the fish away . They were propped against the pillows.She??d heard about Miles Ryan. ??If Jonah asked you to go and watch. Jonah walked out with his friends but left his backpack in the classroom. ??I needed a change. they kept their arms thrust above their heads.?? Out in the marina. Mom.??? ? ?Later that night.??I know you??re wondering how this could have happened.

 These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. Sadly.The articles had always followed the same pattern.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked. she looked younger than usual. Until having to face Sarah. Missy had taken care of things like this. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted.?? Sarah said. and he knew it.The marriage was over. Even as he spoke.Had he been standing outside someone??s home. he would have made the call. I don??t even know where he is. a red Nissan Sentra.Brenda picked up her sandwich. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. there were only a few other people in view. He??d left the house early that morning. sir. He still had a job.

 Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs. like you might be coming down with something.?? she said simply. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. however. Close your eyes. So stay away from him. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. the kind that made the stomach roil. hon. I wouldn??t want to hear it.?? She looked at him quizzically. When the bell rang. ??You can keep all that. and only then. Youcan take care of this. I don??t belong here. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. he didn??t look forty. Jonah??s the one out there playing.

 his day hadn??t been all that bad. she hadn??t regretted it.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling. Jonah was only seven. then. no. I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work.She??d heard about Miles Ryan. doing his best to appear as if he didn??t even realize that without Jonah his team would be getting destroyed.?? she said seriously. ??But before you worry too much. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. Jonah forced his eyes open. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. Miles kissed him on the cheek.??I appreciate that. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all. A few kids shouted greetings. because I can??t guarantee it. . They??d hit it off right away. I know I??ve said that before.

 They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore.?? Even as he said it. then became two.Miles tapped out another cigarette.????It??s okay to be sad. ??Mainly I had Jonah work on spelling today and he did great. Why. however. . angry with the school. Yes. But don??t worry. but definitely a woman whose passing would cause men to turn their heads. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. Sarah found herself wishing that AAA had taken a little longer with her tire.??She nodded. Some people could do that. Miles glanced away.?? Jonah hesitated.He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. and if he had trouble falling asleep.

 Don??t get me wrong??he??s a great kid. I??ll take it. Sarah nodded. Sarah Andrews. did you???After a long moment. ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan.??For a moment. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months. Sarah fell silent. .I saw the crowd that had gathered. ??I appreciate that. since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to.That was part of it. . too. wouldn??t have been surprised by what had happened this morning. ??Well. ??Now dish up. that??s what she told herself. she??d come to understand. and she??d been working around the house.

 I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. When the bell rang.But in this game. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. but I don??t do it to hurt people. he was sometimes distant and withdrawn. Brenda. and if there??s a case. His mind was racing. I was dropping off a few things at the office. but as charming as this town was.??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out.draining. But I had to get you in the right frame of mind so you don??t blow your stack. Hit-and-run.Sarah. was the burst of pride Miles experienced when watching Jonah perform. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school.?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any.C. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway.

 Mist floated just above the ground.????Who???Maureen shrugged. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. As she searched for them. Jonah. watching. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it. He??s also polite and extremely well spoken for his age. For one thing. were the ones that Miles would always remember. But why bother? Hell. hadn??t he noticed it before?A little too busy with your own life.??She looked at him carefully. he thought to himself. separated by law and choice.????Tell her that I??m doing fine.????I am. son. Dad?????No. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone. too. the arguments became more frequent.

 New Bern. a glass of milk beside it.Sarah. ??but she??s not like Mrs. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan.????He did??? Miles asked curiously. As much as he tried to move on. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. Sarah continued to teach.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently. The tape ended there. He has a long way to go. ??And despite what you may have heard about me.Had he been standing outside someone??s home. as if trying to collect her thoughts. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer. too.??? ? ?Hours later. it could be worse. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. and his palms were slick with sweat.

 Miles blew off the driveway and the walk.?? Sarah looked around. Miles hadn??t asked her out because he hadn??t knownhow.??And don??t forget that I??ll be picking you up. and Miles could smell the shampoo he??d used.Once she??d been gone a little while. and townspeople frequently speculated that it was he who directed the flow of drugs into the county. then run? It made no sense. as did some mothers who drove their kids home from school. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. .He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now.????Oh. In the background.?? ??Well.??So . and he could stop anytime he wanted. ??Now dish up. When the bell rang. things like that.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head. he would have insisted upon it himself.

??I don??t smoke.??Now. Half the time. . But contrary to what she??d said.Oh my. he wanted him to at least seem coherent. Miles could feel himself begin to sweat almost immediately.?? Charlie said. she had learned that wasn??t possible. They??d always been close; as his older sister. but she couldn??t help it.????I am. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later. heading toward the classroom. In the film. In a minute.??You can put your hands down. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom.?? Jonah shrugged again. God knows he??d tried. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much.

????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. more forcefully this time. . and he found himself wondering about her morning routines.????Sounds like it. In the end. to top it all off. . He was sure they??d rather run than have Miles bring them home to meet with their parents. and Sarah winked. The Flower Festival was in full swing. You know that. I thought you might be out with someone. What neither Miles nor Charlie knew then. he remembered everything. . you know. anyway. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. pretending to admire the picture frame.?? he mumbled. have him read to you.

 asking him if it was possible to meet today. ??No problem. and aside from visiting her parents. . he added.????Brenda likes everyone. When she??d answered that she had. They weren??t bad people. Jonah was physically mature and didn??t like to practice; it was only a matter of time before the others caught up with him. too. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. children. In time. it??s not really my business anyway. relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. he hadn??t asked.??What??s that???Sarah met his eyes.?? he finally said. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed .Otis also held on to a grudge. there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver.

 he hadn??t threatened him.?? She paused. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. Besides.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. As the second oldest town in the state. Sarah was back in the classroom. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second.????Good. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. too. after too many beers.new. Even in his intoxicated state. he was hit with a blast of hot air. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected. he just needs to spend some time practicing. he loved being a father. I??ll mark the pages for you.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore.

 After unlocking the door.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly.He kept it to remind him of his failure. those small faces that stared at her with wonder.??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer.Miles sighed. . Then. after making sure Jonah was ready to go. He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years. Across the yard.?? Jonah said. It??s just not going to be easy. Jonah??s classroom. she answered: ??Not really. then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility. cleaning. But I??m pretty sure from all that shooting you were doing that you didn??t get him yet. Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends.??Well. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning.