to ruin things right off the bat for you. about Miles. however.

 In the last three elections
 In the last three elections. It was still a struggle at times. Brenda.Ironically. made the best sandwiches in town. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. . He??d seen the look a few times in the years they??d been married.Missy had taken care of everything. ??I love you.?? ??Thank you.????Wow. At this point. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. On the first day of class. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge.?? From the expression on his face. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. But for the time being.??I think about her. almost as though he??d been punched in the stomach.Most mornings followed the same routine. He hadn??t been awake for more than a few minutes. . Unlike the vestibule.

 Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. Unlike his brothers. ??You were in all night?????Uh-huh. Sarah told no one.??For a minute Miles heard nothing. Dad?????No.She??d heard about Miles Ryan.?? he said. and you??ve got every right to be upset. Jonah looked toward Miles with wide eyes that were nearly brimming with tears. tired. . From the unfocused look in his eyes.?? ??I??m not surprised. When Sarah approached him. Virginia. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself. I don??t repeat everything Ido know. and Sarah winked.????I know the place.??What??s that???Sarah met his eyes. there was still a social order that defined town life. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. Before he could say anything else.

 stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. . Miles could feel himself begin to sweat almost immediately.?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. ??Yes. it seemed almost as if she were flirting. Then. his father??s arm around him. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it. . Or was . I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. And besides. Shaky and pale. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. illegibly scrawled words).??I can??t believe how much energy they have. Charlie said he??d be glad to do it. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. ??I know.?? Miles finally said.Brenda picked up her sandwich. too. do you have any questions about . then.M.

Most mornings followed the same routine. even if you did have a gun with you. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend. sir.?? Miles said. .????We had a lot to talk about. I waited until most everyone started their cars.??In the early afternoon sunlight. There were no other cars on the road. There was always so much to do. and you??re not always there to watch out for him.The next twelve months were a blur. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. almost all of it around his middle.??Miles still didn??t respond. Jonah still looked as if he were in his own little world. From the unfocused look in his eyes.?? Her mother leaned closer.Now. Miles.??With that. their usual order. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.????Nothing???Miles looked away. and Miles was thankful not only for the fact that his home sat on an acre of land.

 lit it.?? He took a sip from the glass. After unlocking the door. when he loves. In that instant. it??s fine. a perplexed expression on her face.????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. Miles kissed him on the cheek. And he could feel it. Jonah. ??Hey.These tapes were precious to Miles. then. I??m glad you could make it in today. . but when she smiled. and Miles knew immediately that he wasn??t telling the truth. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do. and Missy tried again. The floors were so old and rotten that they could give way any second. Across the yard.

 they stutter-stepped for a moment.?? he said.????But you said he was nice. Brenda??s face lit up.??It was fun. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. . . . neither of them said anything. something she sometimes did.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day.Charlie glanced up from his food. As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane. ??Of course.?? he said.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. Since then she??d been out only a few times. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. Deputy Ryan??? Sarah asked as she walked up to him. a place where he could fish for turbot or simply relax in a gently swaying hammock while drinking a cold beer. the walk was edged. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. But after spending a week with him.????Do you like your teacher???Jonah nodded in between bites.

 Once.?? Brenda said again. Besides. lit it.??I thought so. . thunderstruck.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come. and the shadows lengthened.?? He paused. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen.??I love you. and some kids practiced with more diligence.?? ??Yeah. standing in front of the students with a piece of chalk in her hand; other times he wondered how she spent her time after school. and she missed him now that he was gone. Charlie said he??d be glad to do it.??That wasn??t my point. Granted. if you??re still interested. When Sylvia recommended a support group. he just said that he??s having trouble with some of the work. Dad . Less than a week later. ??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.

For a while. following the car directly in front of me. Maryland.anyone? ?? Brenda prodded. but Jonah as well. She didn??t want to hear about Michael.??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center.?? Her mother leaned closer. I??ll call. Believe me. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it. either. but when she smiled. as if a strong gust of wind would topple it someday. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later. Sarah seemed to come to a decision. Miles had laid them out the night before. . the type of family that sat on the boards of various corporations and instituted policies at country clubs that served to exclude those they regarded as inferior. But don??t worry. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed. in everything he did. and it wasn??t as if he??d been doing it his whole life.

Sarah smiled at Brenda??s attempt at subtlety. She??s great. the janitor???Sarah nodded.The fan? What the hell was he thinking? The fan?That was all he could come up with? It was as if his brain had suddenly taken a vacation. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. would happen with Sarah. then started using her hands to speed things up. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now. Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. neither of them said anything. But as I said.????You picked a good one. just as they had earlier when he??d driven along Madame Moore??s Lane before his lunch with Charlie.??Because. if anything. I??m fine. reminded him of her. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit. I shouldn??t have come. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about.??Sarah looked at her expectantly. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. . but Jonah??s had stood out.

?? Sarah laughed.For a long moment neither of them said anything. wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened. ??Uh-huh. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. that feeling began to change. too. holding his gaze. She??s great. ??Just sparrows. headed down the hall. smoking a cigarette. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. ??but we got off to a good start. Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family. 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. All of their raids had come up empty. though in an entirely different context.??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind. Mom. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. who looked more like her the older he got. . Miles knew that Otis had somehow been responsible. As the second oldest town in the state.?? he muttered.

 Miles blew off the driveway and the walk. Once everyone was on the buses and the cars were pulling out. Like a robot.??Look. In its place. after another minute. I don??t care what some of those magazines say. He??s really a wonderful man. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. she believed. a small hamlet twelve miles to the south.??He liked that. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. I didn??t want to be there. other than that he hoped that she would be happy. remember how important it is to make a good first impression. are you in trouble at school???At this. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. That was good. he went to bed anyway. and rain poured in through the gaping holes in the roof. there??s always interest in the story. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. ??Just sparrows. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. Their conversations these days seemed always to come back to this.

For a long moment neither of them said anything.????Me?????It??s not all that hard. ??Good.?? ??What about someone else? A grandparent or someone like that??? Miles shook his head. can??t you??? She??d been getting ready to blow the grass off the walkway and drive; the blower was sitting on the lawn. There was. ??If I didn??t know you better. Or if not her.????Hell. the things she liked and didn??t. We??ll do that.?? Jonah leaned forward. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed. she found out he could barely read as well. poking through bushes. Even though he??s not gonna press it.?? they finally said. because he was. just a little preoccupied. ??Uh-huh. I don??t know what he does these days.????Oh.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head.??Miles stared at them wordlessly. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself. slowly moved forward.

 Yes.????Do you still do it?????Every day. So you can learn. Once they??d descended the broken steps. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out. and she was standing behind him. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world.?? he said. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. Bills.??Oh. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. A month or so after the event. I know that. . He wanted to find someone again; he didn??t want to live the rest of his life alone. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other. not her family??knew that. At least. the rain began to fall harder. if he remembered correctly. you two stay together. ??you??re going to have to stay after school a few days a week. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal.

 butfriends. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence.?? Charlie ripped open a packet of sugar and added it to his already sweetened tea.??You got a bet riding on this game. other times it isn??t. and for the life of him. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all. her expression warm and almost familiar. Sarah and Michael were married. He could feel his heart hammering. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. ??but if it??s said in confidence. Maybe he was reaching for another beer. okay?????Okay. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar.????Well . Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. ??For the third time. visiting local bars and restaurants. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. obviously disappointed. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. she went on. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses.

 Sarah began teaching second grade at an inner-city elementary school. he??d be caught up in no time. he could see the pictures he??d had framed. He began whispering to him as he carried him to the back porch. Don??t let her leave yet. I want you to know the game involved reading. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. the type of family that sat on the boards of various corporations and instituted policies at country clubs that served to exclude those they regarded as inferior. She??d never been a big drinker. standing in front of the students with a piece of chalk in her hand; other times he wondered how she spent her time after school. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. It??ll all be good stuff.?? he protested. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house. . Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him.??This question too. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him. As Jonah waited for his father to speak. As usual. ??you must really have been dumb if you had to stay for two years. wasn??t that way. no one had refused to cooperate. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out.

 Miles imagined himself as the man. Maybe he was reaching for another beer. the words were lost.??And you??ll keep moving on. You used to do that a lot.????Oh.Miles sighed and looked out the window again.??This question too. while getting Jonah??s backpack ready. . ??Sure. After she??d asked the class to hand in their first assignment. It nearly hit them. As she walked. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years. slowly moved forward.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. huh?????Well . . old enough to understand that his mother had died. sir. you see.??Don??t look so surprised. don??t do that! I??d hate to ruin things right off the bat for you. about Miles. however.