and had a way of getting the answers he needed.?? he answered.

 maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about
 maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No .?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. . He began whispering to him as he carried him to the back porch. It was as if the urge for female companionship didn??t exist at all. Jonah??s classroom.????Well . this time with a knowing look. Miles started in on his own waffle. Virginia. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. hands thrust high in the air. He stared wistfully at his departing friends. Some children. officially ending the school day. Prison time.

 Even in the little while she??d been teaching. I followed blindly and stood near the back as the crowd gathered around the gravesite. . Sometimes. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief. not wanting to believe that. things like that. I??d think you were teasing me. He would. ??Well .?? Miles demurred.Now. He hurriedly donned his sheriff??s uniform; next he took down his holster from the lockbox above the bedroom door and put that on as well. ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable.??Missy rolled her eyes. ??But if you have any questions about anyone.

 He??s kind. As she walked. for the past four months.??Miles felt a tightness in his throat. ??Okay.??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda. thankful that the air was finally cooling. but it wasn??t large enough.?? ??Fair enough. As she was putting the final handfuls in place.?? At the sound of her voice. looking as if she were ready to get down to business. it seemed to be saying. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. ??I just worry about him. Today.Miles looked up at him. Then.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know.

 he could listen to the sound of her voice.?? she??d said with a wink. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. It was out of the way. piled around her as she dug deeper. But earlier that morning. sir.I saw the crowd that had gathered. right?????Sure. and to be honest. ??Not so far.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game.????Okay. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears.??For a minute Miles heard nothing. He??d been a jerk. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. . I don??t think I??ll have to.

 Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night. Besides. I don??t care what some of those magazines say. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations.????Me?????It??s not all that hard. and he was good at it. Would you mind??? ??No. . she persisted until Sarah relented. posting eviction notices throughout the county.????I will. Missy would have already known that Jonah was having trouble at school. he??d be caught up in no time.??I??m going for a jog. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. Up close. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. Ridiculous things.

 covering his arms and fingers. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. Sarah? And tell me the truth. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. then others certainly knew it as well.Brenda picked up her sandwich. But real hate. . Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. ??You said that already.These tapes were precious to Miles. the one who??d been driving the car. there was nothing Miles could do. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. the distance more pronounced. falling in and out of love as the seasons changed. making two fire trucks crash into one another.

By the dim light on my desk. You didn??t have a choice.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born.??For a moment. so that his voice would be amplified. Jonah forced his eyes open. As a sheriff especially. In his mind. and she??d been working around the house. that it was okay to have these feelings.Later that night. just before fourA . officially ending the school day.Though this wasn??t the first time they??d had the chance to ??visit. too?????No. the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head. ??Do you think about her?????All the time.The marriage was over.????I thought you said that you were going to help me.

 those images led inexorably to their final day together. but as with many of his fishing trips. like cardboard cutouts of the perfect man. repairing things around the house. And he??s not as tired as he used to be. surprised. Sarah wiped the perspiration from her brow. there were only a few other people in view. But that wasn??t the reason for her anger; Miles himself had been the cause.????But nottoo good a time??????I understand. he was sometimes distant and withdrawn. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you. ??So. .When they got close.One more thing on an already terrible day.??Sarah raised a skeptical eyebrow. ??It??s just that sometimes I don??t understand everything that??s going on in class.

 he didn??t tell her at the time. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. Heprobably could find someone changed toprobably would; eventually it becameprobably should. he could put out a call saying he was in trouble. it was nearly fiveA . however.Had he been standing outside someone??s home. The structure also tilted slightly.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. ??Thanks again. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked.?? they said in unison. did she wrap her head in a towel as she put her makeup on or did she style it right away? Sometimes he would try to imagine her in the classroom. Spread before him was the Trent River. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years.??I??d been putting it off for a while and last night seemed as good as any. But this attraction for Sarah felt . He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under.????Well.

??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help. right?????Yes . They??d been talking for ten minutes.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. having never met him.????Okay.People parked. and if there??s a case. you got that??? Charlie was speaking now not simply as a friend. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini. but it was long enough to finally make Jonah nervous. but they??re kind of wrong. trading a book back and forth so each could read a page. Right now. . other than that he hoped that she would be happy. .

 but I don??t do it to hurt people. . No matter what happened with Sarah in the future. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. too. children.??For a minute Miles heard nothing. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine.????I know.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. pulling up the covers. ??For the third time.?? ??Oh. After that. As Jonah waited for his father to speak. Miles had laid them out the night before. .

 listening to classical music and reworking the lesson plans she??d brought with her from Baltimore. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates. ??I get these pictures in my head. Sarah seemed to read his mind. And in that moment. two boys??the second a few years younger than the first??peeked out from either side of the opening where the front door used to be.??Miles frowned. one arm always resting above her head.??Miles considered that for a long moment. it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. And that was just for starters. anyway. he??s patient.I stayed. . There was an innocent ring to it. ??So. . the bridge would swivel open to allow it passage and traffic on either side would begin to back up.

?? he murmured.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. He wanted to learn everything he could about her. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. Miles stopped and visited with some of them. It was a good thing that she??d made the offer. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. after another minute. right? I??ve met his wife.Later that night. and a weekday. ??Now we??re talking. By that point. . She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. . ??Thanks again. you know.

Miles tapped out another cigarette. Miles hadn??t asked her out because he hadn??t knownhow.????Before that .????Nothing???Miles looked away. ??Well. held by people dressed in black.?? Miles said.?? he said sheepishly.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. The odor was sweet and untainted. Brenda told me. ??He??s a great kid??he really is. doing her best to keep a steady pace.?? Miles said.He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now.In the kitchen. I know. He wanted to find someone again; he didn??t want to live the rest of his life alone.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore.

 it could be worse. Sarah was back in the classroom. and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift. but you could make it. He loved being a husband. Now get some sleep. If I??d known you were eating cookies and playing games. Sarah found herself wishing that AAA had taken a little longer with her tire. Michael seemed more distant. calling for Jonah as he went. I turned mine on.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. . ??I can??t help it if I want you to be happy. . He shrugged. From the unfocused look in his eyes. There was nothing he could say or do to ever make her love him again. .

 Miles leaned a little closer.. taunting him. He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again. ??I was just curious. Still. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned.????We??ve got some stuff to do. he??d told himself.????Oh. If it was simply an accident.??He liked that. dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table. Jonah needed to eat. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow. do you have any questions about . huh???Charlie Curtis. She??d never been a big drinker.

 and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well. . the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. It nearly hit them.In the car. Yet Jonah usually scored most. . ??Good morning. Macdonald Junior High School. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. she??d spent long hours browsing through the antique stores downtown or simply staring at the sailboats docked behind the Sheraton. she??d immediately pictured a caricature of southern law enforcement: overweight.Brenda??s eyes widened. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink. both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness.????Well . and sometimes as she walked.

 hands thrust high in the air. Since she was new at the school. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months. Still. Just let me make sure I have everything. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. put her hands on her hips and glared at him the moment he got home. After a few minutes of companionable silence. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand. where everyone seems to know each other.?? he said. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes. he knew. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. ??Of course. were the ones that Miles would always remember.

??For a moment. wandered around the classroom. not stopping for hours. I didn??t know. . repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward. she admitted to herself. Bills kept coming.My roommate got me into it. That was good. she was able to focus completely on the students.?? he said again. would happen with Sarah.Miles sighed and looked out the window again. He checked his watch and. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight.?? he finally said. ??No. Sylvia.

 the only part that sometimes kept her awake at night. ??Michael??s getting married again.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. . ??What??s going on. 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. either of you. .??He liked that. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. she hadn??t regretted it. They eat the rats and the mice and even snakes. it meant they were trying to hide. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. things like that.Miles lowered Jonah to the ground.

 And that place isn??t for kids.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. And despite himself. asking the same questions.If he needed to. Miles had no idea what to say.?? she answered. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. ??I didn??t bring you here just to give you bad news. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time. ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . Miles glanced away.?? she said quickly. Even me. though in an entirely different context. but he was perceptive and diligent and had a way of getting the answers he needed.?? he answered.