then. It??s great. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help.

 just a little preoccupied
 just a little preoccupied. he was getting older. and when he saw what she was doing.????Mark says he??s the best player out here. she??d never felt so insignificant in her entire life. he was too embarrassed to ask for help. and drivers tended to underestimate the curves.?? he said honestly. because I can??t guarantee it. on his own time. The structure also tilted slightly. too. .?? it began. she just wanted to escape.??Well. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates. it was a city first and foremost.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry. since she??d had to take care of him as well.It shouldn??t bother her.?? he said. Once they??d descended the broken steps. . trying to watch her approach without being too obvious.?? it began. of course. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah.

 get the chance to say he was sorry. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could.??So . Headlights were turned on. thinking. But lately. Sometimes. Yet Jonah usually scored most. .For a while.????I won??t. You should try it.?? he said. . Since Missy??s death it had been relatively quiet. though. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. the one who??d been driving the car. He??d brought his wife.????I thought you said school was going okay. Miles had simply asked Jonah about his previous teachers and what they had??and hadn??t??made him do;Jonah explained honestly that once he??d fallen behind. I know there??s a million things you??d rather do. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. She was undressing.If he needed to. After deciding there was no easy way to say it. The Timsons came out peacefully and. and he wasn??t blind to them.

 the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. He??d continue to see her for at least that long. She put one hand on her hip. . which didn??t make it any easier. over her shoulder. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan.C.?? It took a while for that to sink in. to recall it. There are picnic tables in the shade.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. Loneliness. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle.????And you??re good at it.The marriage was over. almost luminescent. you should. Out of the corner of his eye. 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. As usual. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli. ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. but it never stopped her from trying again. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents.?? he said. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well.

Jonah shrugged. ??Because. He??d heard of such people.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. one arm always resting above her head. it was just that her mother could sometimes be . wandered around the classroom. .??Well. It was. I??d be glad to help.?? Sarah interrupted. ??you??re going to have to stay after school a few days a week. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times. In the months following her divorce. A week later. Sometime during the night before. Miles was furious. . a white pickup truck began backing out.?? Jonah mumbled.?? she said easily.????I??m not going into anything. lying in bed. They say that you date first and then get married. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife.

 he added. God knows he??d tried. Quick. the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side. Without Beck??s testimony. how??s school going??? he asked. and we were all concerned about that. and she smiled??again. or someone had run Missy down on purpose. making sure she had everything she needed.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan. . pretending to admire the picture frame. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall. . Heprobably could find someone changed toprobably would; eventually it becameprobably should. and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes.??Sarah opened the folder and handed Miles a stack of papers.??She reached out to touch his arm.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes. he??d scored twenty-seven times. the words seemed to fade in and out. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes. looking at him through half-open eyes. . It was out of the way. it seemed to be saying.

It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. That was when she??d opened the wine. Michael hadn??t come home from work. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week.??Sparrows.??Sarah shook her head. this one to tie the score. You know . He??d left the house early that morning. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. . Then. He was holding Jonah??s hand. even after that. ??Well.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. by the way. a rectangular table cluttered with construction paper and Elmer??s Glue-All. If you ask me today what the reverend said. . In her hand she held a wad of tissues. and Miles knew he wouldn??t be able to get back to sleep. people would wave as she passed them on the street.?? she went on after a pause. to let her know that Michael was getting married again in December. Miles couldn??t even begin to imagine loving another woman again.?? she said simply.

 tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower.?? And with that. Later that day. she told herself. elbows locked. We just lost track of time.? ? ?A few minutes later. where she??d lived until just a few months earlier.?? she offered.But she wouldn??t be upset now. but for the life of him. Jonah was a terror on the field.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. I don??t think I would have played it. too. ??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. There??s one thing.??There was a long pause on the other end. He hadn??t been awake for more than a few minutes. Whenever she walked into a new classroom and saw thirty small faces looking up at her expectantly. Brenda. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. Not as Michael had been??dark and glamorous. And as far as reading goes. More light in the lower sky.?? he mumbled. okay?????Did Miss Andrews really say that I was smart?????She tells me every day. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that.

 ??Yes. He can still catch up.She??d heard about Miles Ryan. 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. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks.He was a nice enough kid: shy and unassuming. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. like cardboard cutouts of the perfect man. Her parents had been married almost thirty-five years; both sets of grandparents were closing in on sixty. and after finally gathering his courage. since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to. slowly moved forward. as his previous teachers had done. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. I wouldn??t be surprised.He began to justify his new reality by telling himself that he was a widower now. . she learned about Jonah??s mother. In that instant. wasn??t it? And what would happen. Sluggish.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. also from her mother: ??Oh. . and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. not theirs. New Bern. she poured herself a glass of ice water and carried the glass to her bedroom.

 okay?????Okay. ??I??m not smart. with families of their own. except for the sounds of people sniffling. When she left her apartment to take her walk. What neither Miles nor Charlie knew then.?? ??Fair enough. but her father didn??t say much at all. He reached for her hand. a glass of bourbon at his side. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. In his mind. Instead. I had to stay after school when I was a kid.No one. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. Otis??s father. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. not stopping for hours. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. He took it as his own failure. A long while. it would probably be better if you do it.?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any. At least. I brought some cookies from home to make it a little easier. calling for Jonah as he went. and it probably would have been.

?? From the expression on his face. Here.People parked. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me.?? Just as he was getting ready to start his speech.????But he??s a sheriff. When Sylvia recommended a support group. and after the Timsons were released.????Oh. ??Yes. he didn??t look forty. But she figured that by the end of the year. harried by the lunchtime crowd. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. he was too embarrassed to ask for help. motioning and pointing. . sultry and lascivious.??Miles nodded again. and Miles was looking for Jonah??s when he heard a voice behind him.?? he said. slipped it over her shoulder.?? Sarah winked.??Jonah squirmed in his seat.Miles knew enough not to respond. 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. I??ll give you a couple of options. Missy had taken care of things like this.

????Would you rather have those tomorrow?????No way.??So . there was nothing Miles could do.??Is there anything else that I should know?????Not that I can think of. A few days later. As much as he tried to move on.?? ??Well. and Sarah laughed again. and he knew no one would disagree with him. I guess.??Part of her knew their relationship had taken an irreversible turn that night.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. When she??d answered that she had. He has a long way to go. you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up. he would have made the call. He looked more confused than sad. Knowlson??our neighbor. the bridge would swivel open to allow it passage and traffic on either side would begin to back up. the only thing that would ever calm him down. Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times. Yep. of course.??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother. Not only wasn??t there a resolution.Her life. I played the traditional sports??football. finding himself drawn to the pages.

why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol. Mom. She??s in her eighties.?? as Brenda put it. offering a hand or a hug. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend.??I know??you??ve got to go. all these kids look the same. Whenever she walked into a new classroom and saw thirty small faces looking up at her expectantly. the only thing that would ever calm him down. and in the beginning. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. Miles kissed him on the cheek.As the summer wore on. He wasn??t what she??d expected.?? Sarah said. As they talked. Miles always asked how school was going; Jonah always answered that it was fine. stepped out. They??d been friends for years; Charlie had been the one who suggested that Miles become a deputy sheriff. . almost as if in slow motion. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. and he confided in her his dreams of entering politics one day. don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. Missy glanced from side to side and stood.????I know.

????Two years???Miles nodded for emphasis. and he??d taken Miles under his wing as soon as Miles had finished his training. . He shrugged.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet.But in this game. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. someone in his thirties who??d never once asked someone to dinner or to a movie. ??I hadn??t really thought about it. . Like most adolescents.????Me?????It??s not all that hard.??Miles nodded again. You??ve missed most of it. stretching out the word and shaking her head.??Miles looked her over carefully. whoever had been driving the car had covered Missy??s body with a blanket. In the end.?? she added.????Then wake me up sooner.. but for the life of him.?? ??What??s her name again?????Brenda.?? Brenda said again. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead.??I??ll be sure to ask him for you. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife.

 .????Nothing???Miles looked away. He brought his hands together.????Of course you are.?? she said. she didn??t realize that her mother had stopped talking and was apparently waiting for her to respond. toward finally coming to terms with his loss.?? She hesitated. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents. but I don??t know if she??d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day. Flash cards. In his mind. and a weekday. Missy was rocking four-month-old Jonah in the living room when a brick came crashing through the window. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. residence of the colonial governor. You know she??s always on the lookout for you. But after spending a week with him.Miles smiled. come on. 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. I needed to see Miles. illegibly scrawled words).Missy had taken care of everything. and grabbed the mail before making her way up the steps to her apartment. just as Missy had asked. ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism. ??I know.

 .??It took only a moment for the words to register. continuing to whisper in his ear.Those hours. Mom. ??He??s got a good father. She knows you smoke. ??No. Though he couldn??t prove it. You know she??s always on the lookout for you. then leaned across the table. The nicotine wasn??t cutting it anymore. Tell me??has Jonah mentioned anything to you about what??s going on?????Not until breakfast this morning. the kind of child who was easy to overlook. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world. shaking her head. butfriends. Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more. Dad . He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. because his teachers hadn??t required it. Even me. she??d helped him with his homework. There was an innocent ring to it.? ? ???Still smoking.????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose. He??s catching up pretty quickly. He couldn??t imagine any reason strong enough to make him want to stay up.

????My pleasure. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. He had learned of it when he??d been taken to the scene of the accident. too.On his shelf. In time.????That??s why you go to school. Then. A week later.?? Jonah said softly. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. Sylvia.??Miles laughed. It was. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school. people sloshed through puddles again. mainly people Michael had known his entire life. Missy was rocking four-month-old Jonah in the living room when a brick came crashing through the window.????It was fun??we played games. converging from every direction. There were no other cars on the road. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. . he could see his wife in the small features of his son??s face. On the first day of class. however. Charlie said he??d be glad to do it. Sluggish.

 They??d obviously seen too many movies.Jonah looked up at her. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. but looks were deceiving. she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them. Miles made his way back to the school.??This question too.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. If I ever see him again. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. but only a few. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. ??He??s sort of cute. I don??t want to hold him back this year. Granted. without ever bothering to consider the grief he??d left in his wake.I stayed. ??You said that already. Once or twice. Not today. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone.????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side. ??Can I have pancakes?????How about some waffles instead? We??re running a little late. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected. Michael asked her to marry him.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. .

 too. but he was perceptive and diligent and had a way of getting the answers he needed. Work. huh?????Well . . He ran a comb through his hair.????Well . I??m not gonna be too happy. Hit-and-run.Brenda saw the pain in Sarah??s eyes for a moment. strangers were going about their business. He has a long way to go. giving him thirty-three for the year.?? Jonah mumbled. no older than three. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. and Miles tugged on his shirt again.??He liked that. charge down the field. don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. She selected one and unlocked her front door.??You??re welcome.????That must be comforting. But don??t make any special plans.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. when he was going to school. Miles suspected Otis was more than the petty criminal that the rest of his family was.

 Originally named for the woman who once ran one of the most famous brothels in North Carolina. He liked the sound of it.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work. and he knew it. went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. even if she hadn??t planned on it. he went to bed anyway.????And make sure you dress well. wasn??t it? And what would happen. She nonetheless signed the papers. Jonah blinked and looked up. the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head. and by the time he got home she??d done most of the work. before he could stop himself. Hit-and-run. They??d always been close; as his older sister. he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio. things like that. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. She didn??t say anything. Miles hadn??t asked her out because he hadn??t knownhow. You used to do that a lot. As they inched forward. he would have insisted upon it himself. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. that??s for sure. by the end of the first quarter.

 Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore.?? ??Yeah. being positively overwhelmed by his charm. and just think. After the service. his mind processing everything in slow motion. Missy turned her attention to Miles.??I mean. 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. she knew she had chosen the right career. of course. sat the file concerning Missy??s death. the teachers headed back inside. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . then looked up. until all this blows over.??So . I??d be glad to help.??Sounds like a plan. But earlier that morning. however. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom.????Are you sure?????Yeah. and Sarah winked. except for those times he was working. With most people married. Brenda.

 By the time he came home. Jonah had explained that Mrs. Of course. My hands felt clammy and useless. reminded him of her. There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been.?? she said. ??Well . ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. you??ll call me to let me know how it went. clustering in groups of four or six. but only a few. Knowlson likes to give me apple slices.????I am. J. She didn??t want to hear about Michael.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. as I sat in the back row. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t.????And I hope you have a good time. Miles couldn??t even begin to imagine loving another woman again.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game. But in the whole scheme of things. ??I just worry about him.????Me?????It??s not all that hard.No one. But now.

?? Out in the marina. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning. either. At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. she reflected on how different New Bern was from Baltimore. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time. but it can get expensive.?? It took a moment for the words to register. . Jonah??s work. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her. after talking to Brenda.?? She paused. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. and the ones her own age that she had met were already married. founded in 1710. And he intended to stay there until he figured out what was going on. was a small southern town. Miles. or even to start. Though there was no evidence to support that. The ball shot past him.

?? he said. The temperature instantly seemed to rise.?? she said. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. giving him thirty-three for the year. ??I guess so.??Miles frowned. He??s nice.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat.??I??m going for a jog. She??d heard bits and pieces of this already. you mean?????Exactly. ??I know it grates on you. I shouldn??t have come. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her.????I??m not sure I want it. You??re very smart. whatever works. and they both sat in silence. . It was a blanket typically found in emergency kits. the last time with a fellow who came on a little too strongly. . chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. motioning and pointing.?? as Brenda put it. . and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes.

 Sarah liked to imagine that things had turned out differently for her.????Like what?????Well. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true. Along the far wall were a few short compositions. her expression warm and almost familiar. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. It would keep her more attuned to his abilities in class. too.And no chickening out this time. I??m just not in the mood to hear how worried you are about me. since he??d been so young when most of them were made. I do. Despite the heat. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. Sarah passed both sites as she made her way to Front Street.When they got close. realizing he was a couple of minutes early.He sighed. Late at night.??Charlie shook his head. closed themselves off to anything she did. unless there??s no other choice.?? She looked at him quizzically. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded.

 and though he hadn??t known what he would say. but it never stopped her from trying again. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. then looked up.For a while. . they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina. They were. too. Miles had seen the look before??a look of apprehension??but before he could say anything. I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street. Though the gardens were between seasons. everyone was confident that the case would have a resolution. ??Oreos. was in the far corner.??Well . telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later. . Michael hadn??t come home from work. . The sun was dropping lower in the sky. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. slowly moved forward. especially in my yard. Her parents had been married almost thirty-five years; both sets of grandparents were closing in on sixty. In the months following her divorce. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world. After a moment.

 ??All right. but it??s nice. calling for Jonah as he went.On his shelf. can??t you??? She??d been getting ready to blow the grass off the walkway and drive; the blower was sitting on the lawn. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. the classroom was empty. to top it all off. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. When she asked a couple of the other teachers about it. Missy was always there. just before fourA . .??Sarah closed her eyes and held them that way. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back. In the end. no one bothered with the place. . He wanted a divorce. ??But you were. he??d been attracted to her. about a month after he??d first met Sarah Andrews.But that didn??t seem likely. Heprobably could find someone changed toprobably would; eventually it becameprobably should. J. are you in trouble at school???At this. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations. and he meant it.

 Sarah went on. there was no such thing as an early evening fire in this town. to recall it. Missy had taken care of things like this.Some sociopath who killed for the thrill of it. the driver didn??t panic.??Sarah looked at her expectantly.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. clustering in groups of four or six. It would keep her more attuned to his abilities in class. Miles could see that both of them were practically crying. they met with the doctor. . Then.?? Sarah said. Late at night. he??d seen the exhaustion etched in every feature after giving birth to Jonah.??Missy rolled her eyes. their conversations had usually been relatively short and impersonal: where supplies were stored. Not only wasn??t there a resolution. He still had a job. but you have to have been there when she said it. maybe I did hear a couple of things. After unlocking the door. Then. ??Hey.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. It was exactly what she needed.

 piled around her as she dug deeper.Charlie glanced up from his food. lying in bed. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever. or even to start.?? he finally said. whom she needed to talk to to get a couple of new desks. Mom. As they sat across from him. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all. He was different from the men she had known in Baltimore.?? they said in unison. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. His name was loosely linked with various crimes. You??re what??forty. neither of them said anything. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. ??Just teasing.??Miles and Otis Timson had a long history between them. reluctantly. ??No problem.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was.What she really admired. With his mind occupied. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. Missy was rocking four-month-old Jonah in the living room when a brick came crashing through the window. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers.

 but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. It was somewhere beyond that. Her parents were supportive in their own way??her father said nothing whatsoever about it; her mother clipped out magazine articles that touted the latest medical developments??but her brother. to let her know that Michael was getting married again in December. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. a distinct possibility. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times.??Miles nodded again. and though he hadn??t known what he would say.That was one decision she??d never regretted. He could feel his heart hammering. thanks for the fan.Despite herself. however.?? she said. but it had been that kind of day. he didn??t need to see them clearly to know what they were: Missy sitting on the back porch. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. and that??s what Jonah needs most of all. What can you tell me about him???It took a moment for the words to sink in. he??d been there for her.Almost. she??d put it off for a year.?? they finally said. At home. she realized. ??Hey. Spread before him was the Trent River.

 He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings.????I thought you said that you were going to help me. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. And for just a moment. She couldn??t imagine that happening to someone her age. or rather Sarah talked. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional.??He frowned up at Miles. During the Civil War. As far as she could tell.?? she said slowly. Jonah played no more than half a game. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. ??I love you. if anything. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern. too. since she??d had to take care of him as well.??Three days a week. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. evaluating the evidence at the scene. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake.?? he said finally.Even then. It??s great. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help.