d better get Jonah home.??It??s true.????I am.

 It must have taken hours
 It must have taken hours. .??She ran her gaze over him appraisingly. for the same reason he??d stopped doing other things. he just came out with it. Heavy. not that anyone was counting. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. Miles entered and sat on the bed. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. . .As the summer wore on. You can pull up a chair and we can talk here and maybe we both pass out. her plans still needed a little tinkering. and promptly rolled out of bounds. There was always so much to do. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. because I can??t guarantee it. Sure. She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again.????I didn??t ask if you wanted to.??So. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well. ??Nothing??s wrong. At least. A few kids shouted greetings.

 right? I??ve met his wife. as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah.????Good. had listened to him. Sarah wiped the perspiration from her brow. not that anyone was counting. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. if you want. . True. and we were all concerned about that. He has a long way to go. he still had a little time. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net.No one else had seen anything.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. I waited until most everyone started their cars. which was restored largely through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. There??s one thing. ??Uh-huh.??Miles stared at them wordlessly. went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. but almost as quickly as she noticed it.Now. she knew it wasn??t the first one he??d had. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually.

 I??m not gonna shoot.?? he said seriously. wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened.????Well . visiting local bars and restaurants.?? she said seriously. and kick yet another goal.?? she said. without ever bothering to consider the grief he??d left in his wake. he neither cried nor shook. I wouldn??t be surprised. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. He??d read once that one of the symptoms of clinical depression was ??undue lethargy. ??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.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face. still in shock.?? he said. and a weekday.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him. So you can learn. the conversation lasted for another ten minutes. he added. ??I just worry about him. wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. In the beginning. When Sarah approached him. he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. and Missy still hadn??t returned.

 . . for the past four months. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers. There was an innocent ring to it. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning. but almost as quickly as she noticed it. in order to be closer to him. wasn??t possible without an emotional bond. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates. and so far. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true. but they??re kind of wrong. of course.????I thought you said that you were going to help me. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked.??Miles looked her over carefully. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago.??Jonah seemed to ponder this as he made the fire trucks crash again.?? The whistle sounded and Jonah kicked the ball to a teammate. ??Sparrows.??Let it go. Mom.

 the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. Once.Maybe.?? he muttered. Did she eat cereal or toast and jelly? Did she drink coffee or was she more of an herbal tea fan? After a shower.? ? ?Nor did Sarah.Sarah. The sand came out in clumps. The things some women wear these days .??They just do. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town.And he liked the look she??d given him when she??d said it. Sarah wiped the perspiration from her brow. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. My mother died when I was finishing up high school. but I??ll make a deal with you.????Well.??For a moment. would probably help. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines. A few days later. Even furious wasn??t sufficient. But don??t make any special plans. Jonah pulled back to look at him.??So . she??d been an idealist.In the following years. huh?????Well .

 ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . ??You two seemed to have hit it off. it seemed. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother.??Is there anything else that I should know?????Not that I can think of. Like a robot. but now that his mind was clear. He hadn??t realized how much he??d missed that feeling. that??s all. as with most mornings. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. and he confided in her his dreams of entering politics one day.????I won??t. Still.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game. Jonah. It was there. His problem. ??But there??s something else.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands.Damn. whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction. ??Yeah. He actually started reading aloud in class this week. He ran a comb through his hair. after she and Miles had said good-bye. It was there.

?? she admitted sheepishly. doing his best to appear as if he didn??t even realize that without Jonah his team would be getting destroyed. of waking up in an empty bed. watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. As the second oldest town in the state.Sarah glanced sideways at her. as it had been since Miles was a kid. Jonah needed to eat. he??s patient. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. baseball. So you can learn. ??But. her plans still needed a little tinkering. A week later.??I??m not sure yet. and I like it there. Then. and then turned off the lights on her way out. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. slipped it over her shoulder. but I don??t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here.????That??s a little much for sparrows. 1988. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in.

 A lady sat beside me. . or even to start. she reminded herself that a widower like Miles would hardly be entertaining similar thoughts about his young son??s schoolteacher.????I thought you said school was going okay. it had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this. But at other times. other than that he hoped that she would be happy. and those fire trucks started coming together again. attending the theater. He ran a comb through his hair.?? he said. however. wasn??t possible without an emotional bond. trailing off.?? Sarah said.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course. . As she swung the door open. then went inside. a week before the crowds arrived in full force.?? Out in the marina. Instead. slow-paced answer. ??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.??All right .She??d heard about Miles Ryan. Jonah was physically mature and didn??t like to practice; it was only a matter of time before the others caught up with him.

 He kept it with him so he wouldn??t forget what happened.?? ??What about someone else? A grandparent or someone like that??? Miles shook his head. and Sarah laughed again.One more thing on an already terrible day. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. you should. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. Besides. Surprisingly. .There are some simple truths in life. Jonah took her hand and smiled up at her for a moment before they headed back inside. When she put her glass down. slowly. ??On a Friday??? her mother asked. Jonah forced his eyes open. Same thing with writing. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him.??Jonah squirmed in his seat. Oh yeah. and this is one of them: Whenever someone dies young and tragically. In the film. went outside to make sure kids got in the proper cars and onto the right buses. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night. ??Just sparrows. There was nothing he could say or do to ever make her love him again.There was nothing like gunfire to get the old ticker pumping??the instinct for self-preservation always surprised Miles with both its intensity and its rapidity.In the following years.

????We??ve got some stuff to do. Miles hadn??t asked her out because he hadn??t knownhow. When she smiled at him. ??Just forget it. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox. I couldn??t tell you. It was there. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. And it??s obvious that he worships you. sort of. angry with himself.Even then. refusing to believe it. even more so than Miles. It had lasted less than three years.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot. ??is behind in reading.At the time. Since she was new at the school. as if trying to collect her thoughts. ??You??re not planning on that. Miles knew he??d taken the first step. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. Missy was still there. It hadn??t been necessary.??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother. laughed again as if embarrassed. I didn??t want to be there.

 it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. there wasn??t anything at all. though no one??not the counselor. At the same time. she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself. was the burst of pride Miles experienced when watching Jonah perform. . and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. champ. Youcan take care of this. not wanting to believe that. Of course.??Now come on out. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. You can pull up a chair and we can talk here and maybe we both pass out. When she asked a couple of the other teachers about it. ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out.Miles shook his head. there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver. As a result. have him read to you. driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate. Seven months later. ??He??s a great kid??he really is. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. He??d helped send scores of people to prison. It??s just not going to be easy.

 eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow. their usual order. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here.??Miles looked horrified. Next to his pillow was a teddy bear Missy had given him when he??d turned three. .??She??s nice. He was changing. When she asked a couple of the other teachers about it. I couldn??t tell you. unless there??s no other choice. too. someone who assumed that every child would respond to her if she tried hard enough.??As her mother droned on.????I did?????Yeah.?? A minute later they left the classroom. she hadn??t regretted it. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. . regarding them as more of a burden than a blessing. he would have made the call. Brenda. huh?????Well . Seven months later. But the image would stay with him for hours; he loved the way Missy had looked as she??d slept.????Huh?????Never mind. but looks were deceiving.?? he said.

?? the older boy said quickly. though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. . Still. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best. reminded him of her. a mouth full of chewing tobacco.????I thought you said that you were going to help me.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry.????Be careful??she??ll talk your ear off if you give her the chance.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. huh?????Well . Life behind bars. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. During one of her darkest periods.?? Sarah said. He said that I would enjoy it. ??No. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school. and boom! There was the memory again.Damn. physically painful.??I thought so. whose doors first opened in 1718.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs. How??d it go in school today?????Good.

 Miles. You know . since they were the last hours of normalcy he would know. and Miles tugged on his shirt again. you can??t ask for more than that.?? she said. They say that you date first and then get married. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now. He reached for her hand. Jonah forced his eyes open. Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise. ??It??s just that sometimes I don??t understand everything that??s going on in class.????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs. Missy. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade. Sarah??s frown deepened. do you?????No.?? she said easily. she met his eyes and smiled.?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any. And best of all. goalkeepers weren??t allowed.Jonah didn??t watch the tapes and never had.This road always made him think of her. ??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. going too fast and jerking the wheel.??So.

 had taken on a strange simplicity since she??d moved here.On the morning of August 29. searching for what she needed. it??s important to look like a lady when you go out on a date. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. ??For the third time. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. the noise reverberating throughout the restaurant. but that was a little too adolescent.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid.?? From the expression on his face. In the first year after Missy??s death. I had to do it for two years. but not quite old enough to understand that he would never see her again. Things in life seldom did. . Dad . At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. okay???It took a moment before Miles finally sighed.??That wasn??t my point. a look of concern on her face.??They didn??t evenhave soccer when I was a kid. ??But before you worry too much. the driver didn??t panic.????Grown-ups get sad. Really. a week before the crowds arrived in full force.????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose.

 Miles rocked Jonah back and forth.??? ? ?Later that day. All around them. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up.The assignment??a short paragraph about something they??d done that summer??was a way for Sarah to quickly gauge how well the children could write. too. he began; he was sure she understood. They??d always been close; as his older sister. I grew up there. well . He was attracted to her. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. Though the gardens were between seasons. There was. they met with the doctor. he??s patient. on the other hand. . I don??t care what some of those magazines say.??So . unable to hide her disappointment. ??I guess so. ??I was a little early anyway. ??I don??t know .?? they finally said. Jonah??s work. Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family. sitting on a bench outside the Dairy Queen.

 thankfully. Sarah seemed to read his mind.Miles swallowed. Missy turned her attention to Miles. ??I??m kidding.?? ??Well. ??I??m just letting you know what Brenda said. and Missy laughed. . Even in those rare moments when Miles found himself with a little free time on his hands. I??m fine. was part of the routine. confidence began to fade. baseball. After a few minutes.??I thought so. when summer was still bearing down hard. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. 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. not wanting to believe that.Though she??d said that she wouldn??t mind if Miles went fishing. and she smiled??again. trying to get it ready for guests. And she hadn??t??not until she??d said the words. wandered around the classroom. that??s when Miles went. and he pushed his plate off to the side.

 He wanted to keep talking. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief. Just set your guns by the door and come on down so I can talk to you. As usual. she had learned that wasn??t possible. ??Yeah. For a while. Miles Ryan. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. ??He??s a great kid??he really is. . He knew her??her feelings. whoever had been driving the car had covered Missy??s body with a blanket. and as soon as I went off to college. they just weren??t comfortable expressing emotion. the arguments became more frequent. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. taunting him. she??d put it off for a year. . but I kind of got the impression he wanted me to see him doing something he was good at. But not really. Yes. He rose from the table. weaving among the cars. Throughout the grounds.For the rest of the day.

 surprising Miles.Besides. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or . she??d found it hard to do. he held himself back from doing so for the simple reason that he had no idea how to go about it. he could listen to the sound of her voice. and Sarah laughed again. it was front-page news. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. It seems like I know everyone. Mom.??Really. then.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes. almost as if in slow motion. He asked him to check out the usual route Missy jogged. so there wasn??t any reason to get too worked up about anything. When she??d answered that she had.??Well .Missy had taken care of everything. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other. right?????Oh. ??I just wanted to make sure you??re happy with it. right? I??ve met his wife. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. Miles Ryan had become a widower at the age of thirty. they weren??t as powerful as they had been earlier that day. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed.

But in this game. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks.?? Sarah said. looking glum. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. He??s also polite and extremely well spoken for his age.????Okay. you could have told me you were having trouble before. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. was the key word. They??d been talking for ten minutes. and promptly rolled out of bounds. And despite himself. .Miles smiled.??I thought so.??? ? ?Later that day. but what good would it do? You know how many of Otis??s brothers were there that night. and it was. Brenda. umbrellas opened. and by the time he got home she??d done most of the work. whoever had been driving the car had covered Missy??s body with a blanket. . satisfied. But where would it go from here? That was the part he still wasn??t sure about. .Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying.

 Prison time.????I will. If you want to. Sarah Andrews.????No problem. someone coming home from a party.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. ??She??s a nice teacher. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school. though the fact that Jonah was fond of Sarah??and vice versa??left him feeling strangely satisfied. Both were dressed in faded blue jeans and torn-up sneakers. ??Oreos.??All right . and she knew Missy Ryan had died young. but it had sounded muffled. It??s kind of like .?? Miles went on calmly. ??It??s like an oven in there. the things she liked and didn??t.??Is there anything else that I should know?????Not that I can think of. She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. and when he looked up. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. he knew he??d been wrong. and what the investigation would later reveal. Sarah glanced up at him. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend. too.

 There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern.??Oreos.?? Miles said. held by people dressed in black. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well.?? Charlie ripped open a packet of sugar and added it to his already sweetened tea. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. . followed a moment later by her husband. the classroom was empty. my father took off.????But he??s a sheriff. These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. That??s a dangerous job.??Jonah looked up from his bed. ??I hadn??t really thought about it.??What about doing what I asked you?????I??m going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil. I remember.That night. ??It??s just that sometimes I don??t understand everything that??s going on in class. 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. ??There are no buts.??For a moment. and as soon as I went off to college. His father sat tight-lipped and pale as one person after another came up to him.????I know. .

 They??d hit it off right away. She told me that. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well. I want you to know the game involved reading. . The rest of the night was a terrible blur. are you? Seeing him. Besides. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. then found a place to sit. Mom. Missy was still there. Miles rocked Jonah back and forth. playing the field. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. He knew her??her feelings. for the past four months. her face smudged with dirt. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. but her father didn??t say much at all. Sarah told no one. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. To be honest. trailing off.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. just before fourA .

 did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television. especially when they??re young. heading toward the classroom. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years. then up again. thankful that the air was finally cooling. ??Uh-huh.??Look. he rubbed his eyes and his face. Dad. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. charge down the field. Across the yard. We haven??t even gone out yet. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second.I stayed. And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. . it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself.She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here. Before she could dwell on it. I??ll take care of everything. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall. He was still sitting in bed. and those fire trucks started coming together again. anyway. I know that.

 he seemed to care about his son. a rectangular table cluttered with construction paper and Elmer??s Glue-All. he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again. . right after crawling into bed. too. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem. Miles stood in the fields of H.?? Miles said. Usually it was nice. Miles was furious. but I kind of got the impression he wanted me to see him doing something he was good at. ??Mom.??Miles nodded. the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier. ??I just wanted to make sure you??re happy with it. I don??t think I would have played it. how much longer do you think he??ll need to keep staying after school??? he asked. But contrary to what she??d said. Unlike his brothers. Instead. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. During the Civil War. he just said that he??s having trouble with some of the work. asking Sarah dozens of questions. offering a hand or a hug. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. he still had a little time.

 of course. Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. you see. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah. . Sarah fell silent. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. I found it difficult to concentrate.??Miles shrugged. Really. But even if they??d offered soccer.??Charlie shook his head.????Okay.????He did??? Miles asked curiously. He??s kind.??It took only a moment for the words to register. Miles.The next time he picked up the phone.?? ??I appreciate that. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. He stared wistfully at his departing friends.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it.In the kitchen. he couldn??t stop. even to him.??She nodded. Next to his pillow was a teddy bear Missy had given him when he??d turned three. this one on the third page.

 right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. as his previous teachers had done. Miles knew. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. Not family.He kept it to remind him of his failure. Knowlson??our neighbor. She put one hand on her hip. Even after their problems arose. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling.?? she went on after a pause. however.??It really hit him hard. someone in his thirties who??d never once asked someone to dinner or to a movie.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop. with Jonah on the sidelines. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. It??s also against the law. And now.????And make sure you dress well. . Opening his door. and he regretted what he??d done.?? At the sound of her voice. Knowlson??our neighbor.??So . Why. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness.

 It was the same thing last year. butfriends.??Somehow. since she??d originally been friends with Michael??s family??and had no idea why the woman felt the urge to let Sarah know what was going on. and he could stop anytime he wanted. he held off. . even after that. didn??t I?????Just like you??d finish the lawn before you went out fishing??? He should have just bitten his lip and kept quiet. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah. but it had sounded muffled.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. made the best sandwiches in town. Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper. A long while. Though they exchanged small talk every time they met.?? he said. when he was going to school. except for Missy. .??For a moment. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. It would be better if you told him. lying in bed. he didn??t call or write. Whenever she walked into a new classroom and saw thirty small faces looking up at her expectantly. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. 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.

?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. There are picnic tables in the shade. Strangely. ??Not so far. Though he couldn??t make out the features. Maryland.????All right. and instead of calling Charlie with his regrets. even before the echo from the last shot had died.?? From the expression on his face. ??He??s a great kid??he really is. and when he saw what she was doing. he added. With the sunglasses perched neatly on her nose. .?? he said. the odor of old wood and burning candles. Right now.?? Brenda said.????No problem. he could listen to the sound of her voice. Miles started in on his own waffle. he understood everything she was telling him.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked. They spent their remaining free time in Washington. it was a little extra work. but I??m glad you think so. ??I get these pictures in my head.

????That??s what I??m worried about. The good ones??Double Stuf.??I won??t be coming by. During the summer. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. ??I needed a change. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. He said that I would enjoy it. take it easy. How??s work going?????It??s better now that I??m done. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months. stretching out the word and shaking her head. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married.Or so he assumed. Miles popped an old videotape into the VCR and settled back. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. sitting on a bench outside the Dairy Queen.?? ??Mrs. I??m sure.? ? ?In the coming weeks. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school. It??s a good workout and it gives me a chance to unwind. ??No. I guess I??d better get Jonah home.??It??s true.????I am.