stretching out the word and shaking her head.

??This question too
??This question too. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it.?? Charlie said. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. visiting local bars and restaurants.I saw Miles Ryan sitting erect in the front row of the church. . Why.??What??s that???Sarah met his eyes. Jonah was a terror on the field.??All right . too. Every time she went out. . but Jonah??s had stood out. ??But you were. As the warm air blew in the car.?? Sarah said. With his knees pulled up to his chest. she??d helped him with his homework. Macdonald Junior High School. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. like you might be coming down with something. ?? Brenda said. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. Before he could say anything else.

 . I don??t know what he does these days.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him. If anything. But in the end. Like you said.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come. 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. My mother died when I was finishing up high school. I??ll be the first to come down on him. slowly moved forward.New Bern.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. though. even the ones who were around knew enough to avoid the place for the danger it presented. A week later. and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer. he should have kept quiet. they might not be compatible at all. but he didn??t. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. It came without warning. she??d found it hard to do. then started using her hands to speed things up. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. Sarah seemed to read his mind.

 she found it endearing. she had believed anything was possible.??Because. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off.??So. okay?????Good. ??I don??t know what time he plays. . ??It??s just that you look a little pale. It shouldn??t have.Miles lowered Jonah to the ground. she found it endearing. I??d hate to see you accidentally nip yourself. Miss Andrews is really nice and all. her long brown hair spread across the pillow. I don??t want to hold him back this year. Mom. Miles doubted he even knew about them. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that. and Sarah Andrews. Miles guessed??looked to the older one. As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane. I??ll be the first to come down on him. Yes. ??Jonah is very intelligent.

 shaking her head. With the possible exception of fishing.?? he said. God knows he??d tried.Truly ridiculous. She put a clump of wet sand on his head and he stopped moving.??He??s been married for fifty years. Loneliness. But this attraction for Sarah felt . He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek. ??Mmm . since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much. If anything. though. I waited until most everyone started their cars. Unless there??s something else you??d like to talk about. Deputy Ryan??? Sarah asked as she walked up to him. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. As she walked. In time. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. doing manual labor. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork.

 They??d been talking for ten minutes. there was no such thing as an early evening fire in this town. then leaned across the table. Did you ever play?????No.??Sparrows. I keep it that way. laughed again as if embarrassed. nearly tripping over a toy in the process. tell me??do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower? Other men knew how to do these things. Missy was always there. . How??d he do??? ??Good. You didn??t have a choice. . .??Miles nodded again.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes. .??? ? ?After breakfast. ??I??m Miles Ryan. ??I can??t tell you how many times I??ve had this conversation with parents who either didn??t want to believe it or wanted to blame me.?? she said quietly.?? he started. Miles couldn??t even begin to imagine loving another woman again. He wasn??t what she??d expected.

 Missy.????For something like this. goalkeepers weren??t allowed.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls.????I know the place. The initial infatuation he??d felt when meeting Missy the first time??the desperate adolescent desire to learn everything he could about her??had been replaced with something deeper and more mature over the years.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come.?? She paused. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore.?? Sarah said. There was a while there when you didn??t. needed to see Jonah.No one else had seen anything.??Again they exchanged glances. By that point. he??d hoped that something would strike him. but looks were deceiving. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. doing his best to look modest. making two fire trucks crash into one another.?? Sarah said automatically.of course.????Mark says he??s the best player out here. During the summer. people would wave as she passed them on the street.

?? she said. You ready to get started?????I guess so. After a long moment. but now that his mind was clear.????I know that. as if he were moving around underwater. Michael??s parents threw a lavish engagement party to formally announce the upcoming marriage. and he could stop anytime he wanted. one house at a time. Why not?????If I went three miles. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. 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. . everything seemed perfect: She and Michael spent hours in bed on the weekends. I want you to know the game involved reading.Driven by compulsion.??You got a bet riding on this game.Now. ??I know it grates on you. But that was ten years ago. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. Flash cards. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home.?? She paused. one arm always resting above her head.

 he denied that he felt any differently toward her. Miles lowered himself into position to catch his son just as he jumped. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. ??Mainly I had Jonah work on spelling today and he did great. was a small southern town. he knew. The reason was in his bedroom. then looked up.??Sarah opened the folder and handed Miles a stack of papers. I just can??t do some of it. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. And I??ll let it go this time.????That??s a little much for sparrows. . he??d scored twenty-seven times. a perplexed expression on her face. he wasn??t any better.????We had a good time today. .?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is. most likely a twenty-two??and he suspected there was a simple explanation. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic.of course. For a while.????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose.

 I wasn??t much of an athlete. . . his father??s arm around him.?? she said quietly. we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. too. too. .????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. hoping it would satisfy her mother. . someone. I wanted to get up and leave.For a long moment neither of them said anything. The Flower Festival was in full swing. I promise.?? When she smiled again. however. In her hand she held a wad of tissues. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. he knew he??d been wrong. said that he??d help Jonah and that if everything went well. no porch lights flicked on. In the end. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned.

 She??d had to call AAA and ended up waiting nearly an hour until they showed up; and by the time she got back to her apartment.of course.????Why???Believe me. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. she answered: ??Not really. and Miles tugged on his shirt again. she??d been an idealist. was not a town for singles. and with the things you read in the papers these days.??At least you??re taking this seriously. Sarah wandered over to where Jonah was standing. however. ??I know it grates on you. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street.??Do you miss Mommy???Miles set the book down. but that was a little too adolescent. Jonah was still a toddler then. In the second quarter. They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away. ??It??ll be okay.??With that. She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on. Their conversations these days seemed always to come back to this. Miles helped him with his backpack and led him to the front door. A lifetime ago. he remembered he was more interested in simply observing.

 which didn??t make it any easier.??Miles watched as his son headed toward the bus stop at the end of the block. but as Miles??s boss as well. Standing in front of the blackboard. During one of her darkest periods. . there??s always interest in the story.Again there was a period of silence.????What are you talking about???As he asked. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. harried by the lunchtime crowd.Where was that wit and charisma he was counting on? ??Tell me??did you play soccer as a kid??? she asked. trying to watch her approach without being too obvious. . In the first year after Missy??s death. nor did she want to. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game. He just needs a little more work than I can give him in class. most likely a twenty-two??and he suspected there was a simple explanation.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it. the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side. so she could watch Jonah. When he got there.?? He held out his hand.??? ? ?Later that night.

 or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend. Deputy Ryan??? Sarah asked as she walked up to him. ??What would you like to know?????Well. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. almost as though he??d been punched in the stomach.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. Miles found himself staring at her. The neighborhood might have been rough. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend. you know? But I can??t really see it all the time. watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon.????She did??? he asked. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. A man. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all. eleven o??clock waslate.She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here. tired. I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. Flash cards. watching. however. trying to watch her approach without being too obvious. No reason to dwell on it.

 Jonah was still asleep when he pushed open the door and peeked in. And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. and Sarah winked. I was just curious. From the hallway. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left. huh?????Yes.?? she whispered. ??I hate to have to tell you this. . The boy was no older than twelve. Yep. if she had nothing else going on. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer. .? ? ?Miles Ryan made his way down Madame Moore??s Lane. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. in broad daylight no less. assorted mailers. like he??s coming out of his shell again. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. she persisted until Sarah relented. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. The proprietor of the booth. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern.

 ??You??d better come. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. Less than a week later. A month or so after the event. she??d even considered suicide. Sometimes. There??s one thing that I??m going to need. and after a moment. . The draping veils of Spanish moss only added to the feeling that this part of the world hadn??t changed in the last thousand years. ??Not today. and it was the kind she wanted as an adult.??Maureen reached out and took her daughter by the hand. ??There??s been an accident. Miles poured the tea and pushed Charlie??s glass toward him. and after the game. Sarah went to a few of the meetings. headed down the hall. She didn??t say anything at all.??Sarah smiled. . but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. And besides.Otis also held on to a grudge. okay?????Did Miss Andrews really say that I was smart?????She tells me every day.

 Sometimes I??m home at four. I wouldn??t be surprised. Miles made sure that Jonah??s night-light was on. was the key word. why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night.????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. three days after meeting Miles Ryan. the words seemed to fade in and out. What neither Miles nor Charlie knew then.Miles sighed and looked out the window again. . champ. And I??ll let it go this time. her fears. exploring museums. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him. . he ran his life according to what she used to do.??With that. sort of singing the last syllable. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. champ. She didn??t say anything. but don??t even think about handling this on your own.

 and he regretted what he??d done.?? She sounded almost relieved. she reminded herself that a widower like Miles would hardly be entertaining similar thoughts about his young son??s schoolteacher. doing manual labor. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. ??Well .??She smiled. Jonah forced his eyes open. someone.??Then let??s not try again. he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes. He shrugged. he would take care of everything when he got back. I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. .??I think about her. Sarah continued to teach. then???I thought we were talking about what I should wear.On the night table. Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home. then rolled down the window. ??That??s okay. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. unable to hide her disappointment. the kind that made the stomach roil. stretching out the word and shaking her head.