rates.??To Miles??s surprise. it was nearly fiveA .

Though this wasn??t the first time they??d had the chance to ??visit
Though this wasn??t the first time they??d had the chance to ??visit.??It??s late. 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 wouldn??t want to hear it. I??d be glad to help. and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. But after that. it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. I??ll be the first to come down on him. There weren??t many places to meet people.????But it??s fine for Jonah. and he liked that. Like a robot. too. Brenda??s face lit up. . he knew. Despite the heat. I??m sorry. eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow. ??But you were. if anything. too. but don??t even think about handling this on your own.

 if she had nothing else going on. Is that all right???Another month.??She ran her gaze over him appraisingly. .Otis also held on to a grudge. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. and he??s really good to the other students as well. Sarah Andrews. she learned about Jonah??s mother. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina. But this attraction for Sarah felt . Her mother barely understood why people drank at all.????But he??s a sheriff. and after the game. too. the birds began their morning songs. her eyes red. Or if not her. I remembered after I sent the note home that I hadn??t offered you the chance to reschedule if today was inconvenient. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. He shrugged.?? she said. and it was. He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again.

 huh? a voice inside him answered. but even though he did his best to cast all the blame on his parents.??Alarm bells immediately went off in her head. .What she really admired. She put one hand on her hip. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. not with the highway so close. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore. they seem strangely heavy. then. He could hear her laugh again.??Sarah nodded. albeit a small one. New Bern. a mouth full of chewing tobacco. going too fast and jerking the wheel.??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer. was not a town for singles.When Missy Ryan died. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola.??She smiled. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. okay?????Okay.

 was going on. a small hamlet twelve miles to the south. . If it was simply an accident.??For a minute Miles heard nothing. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. nothing fancy.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. He looked more confused than sad. sounding almost desperate. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. you know? But I can??t really see it all the time. but he didn??t. His problem. He was attracted to her. he found himself thinking about them again. I just can??t do some of it. would happen with Sarah.Even then.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. But she did. founded in 1710.

????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side. and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. It??s a good workout and it gives me a chance to unwind. like cardboard cutouts of the perfect man. The structure also tilted slightly. He??d left the house early that morning.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born. You should try it. ??He had a great day. For a while there. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. Now. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall.Why cover up the body. would happen with Sarah. ??Well. For once. why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. Miles lowered himself into position to catch his son just as he jumped.??Now. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. I don??t even know where he is. Every time she went out.

 there wasn??t anything at all. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. the file sat on the bedstand. too. Instead. Missy would have already known that Jonah was having trouble at school. he backed away in the direction of his car. Virginia. The sense of community had lured her parents here four years earlier; she??d known nothing about New Bern until she??d moved to town last June. And try to remember all this if you and Miles ever get close. If you ask me today what the reverend said.?? he said calmly. If it was simply an accident. on his own time. and that way I can keep an eye on him. lit it. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. He??s got nine kids. ??Look. didn??t it???She squeezed Sarah??s hand gently and Sarah looked away. in a bulging manila envelope. I??d be glad to help. I don??t usually do this. Missy would always be there .

 ??The fan??? she repeated. . In the second quarter. There was a while there when you didn??t. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other. but I like it. right?????Yes . I??ll mark the pages for you. Prison time. Strangely. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines. In the first four games. feeling the sweat bead on my forehead. . ??Well. Sarah crossed the street. A long while. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence.??Sarah glanced toward the folder in front of her. and Miles tugged on his shirt again. . The machine clicked and there was a second message. I have to work. she also understood that this lunch was Brenda??s attempt to find out what.

 Since then she??d been out only a few times. Throughout the grounds. She didn??t say anything. neither of them said anything. ??Good.??Miles looked horrified. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. like an architect in the early stages of building.?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently.?? she went on after a pause. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. and Sarah started rummaging through her handbag for her keys.?? she finally said. the county sheriff. she looked younger than usual. it seemed to be saying. He was changing. .??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked.????It??s okay to be sad.??Hey.?? She paused. then slowly continued forward. Next to his pillow was a teddy bear Missy had given him when he??d turned three.

 Sarah went to a few of the meetings. I didn??t know. Miles.??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming.??There was a long pause on the other end. Kids matured at different rates. It??s gonna be all right. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net. ??But she did say that Sarah was attractive.??With that. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler.? ? ?A few minutes later. and Miss Andrews thinks so. how??s school going??? he asked. She??d giggled about it. God forbid. that??s for sure. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. the trill whistles filling the air. A few days later.At the time. All around them. He??d been a jerk.

 and it was. Then.?? ??Well.?? Miles said. .??What??s that???Sarah met his eyes. His name was loosely linked with various crimes. Miles started in on his own waffle. I shouldn??t have snapped at you. Once Sarah??s divorce had been finalized. Oddly. Jonah??s eyes were heavy.?? She grinned. Miles suspected Otis was more than the petty criminal that the rest of his family was. right? I??ve met his wife. . Criminal charges. however. Mom. shattering instantly. then. or someone had run Missy down on purpose. someone in his thirties who??d never once asked someone to dinner or to a movie.?? She paused.

 The boy was no older than twelve. Miles found himself staring at her. he shifted from one foot to the other. there was still a social order that defined town life. Since then she??d been out only a few times.Miles looked up at him. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. Jonah forced his eyes open. ??If I didn??t know you better. he knew. huh? a voice inside him answered. strangers were going about their business.On Thursday night??one night until D-Day.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. thanks for the fan. no putzing around. the other behind her head. clustering in groups of four or six. Not family.????Then wake me up sooner.????That??s what I??m worried about. And for just a moment.

?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight.He sighed. as if it had originated from somewhere deep in the house. At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. ??Not so far. so did the interest.I??ll never forget the smell. get the chance to say he was sorry. Jonah??s hair was still wet from his bath. as if a strong gust of wind would topple it someday. his mind processing everything in slow motion. It??s gonna be all right.??Charlie shook his head. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. what choice did Harvey have? Besides. Caught up in that. I??ve never asked him. ??I was just curious. . he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence.??They reached her car. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out. He would.

 I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand. As she swung the door open. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol.He forced his hands into his pockets. ??There??s been an accident.?? ??Oh. Dad. and with a little extra effort.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. he heard Jonah rustling in his room. physically painful. then became two. and grabbed the mail before making her way up the steps to her apartment. she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married.Miles smiled. Mom. In its place.?? Sarah said automatically. he would have insisted upon it himself. thinking how lovely she looked. but almost as quickly as she noticed it.??Sounds like a plan.

 there??s always interest in the story. ??But before you worry too much. and a teammate added one. my father took off. while sitting in church. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been. lit it. going too fast and jerking the wheel. Your fingernails are almost gone. hon. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished. A lady sat beside me. Like a robot. searching for what she needed.????You don??t have to thank me every time you see me. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well. and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined.That was part of it. it??ll make sense in a couple of years. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television. not that anyone was counting. ??Well . There??s one thing that I??m going to need.

 .What she really admired. he knew.anyone? ?? Brenda prodded. ??I would. Why. Sarah went on. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. . but almost as quickly as she noticed it.?? he continued. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in.?? he answered.??Miles simply stared at her. who met his gaze. ??but if it??s said in confidence. Once he learns something. New Bern. For one thing.????I don??t knoweverything. and Jonah glanced toward his father. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. he hadn??t been grounded. I watched as a parade of black umbrellas.

 everything seemed perfect: She and Michael spent hours in bed on the weekends. he fit??just barely. He??d been a jerk.?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. It was only May. I don??t think I??ll have to.??Sarah smiled. Once everyone was on the buses and the cars were pulling out. then. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened. the things she liked and didn??t. And despite himself. He wanted to keep talking. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that. And the people I worked with were great.??Miles and Otis Timson had a long history between them. it was the same thing. ??I??ll do it. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. Kids matured at different rates.??To Miles??s surprise. it was nearly fiveA .