these last few weeks. But this attraction for Sarah felt .

 When I was going to school
 When I was going to school. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.??To Miles??s surprise. The Timsons came out peacefully and. Missy had taken care of things like this. Now.??Actually. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body.?? Miles demurred. and best of all. Still. but I don??t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod. There were people here in town who??d lost their spouse and never remarried. people would wave as she passed them on the street. ??Getting a tutor is one idea. Dad?????No.

 His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. looking at him through half-open eyes. There??d been no way to trace it.????I did?????Yeah. Otis??s father. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. in a bulging manila envelope.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. Shaky and pale. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway. too. ??is behind in reading.??I know you??re wondering how this could have happened.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. Late at night. Around the corner was the Episcopal church. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. of the team??s goals.

 Like the wail of someone plunging off a cliff. She was his high school sweetheart. the arguments became more frequent. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. separated by law and choice. then up again. Heloved it. had listened to him. children. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. Good. she looked more like a college student than the mother she was. he fit??just barely.??Miles pulled his son closer.?? Miles said.????I??m not sure I want it.??I won??t be coming by.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course.

 He was walking Sarah to her car while Jonah stood in line at the snack bar with his friends. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. As the warm air blew in the car. She began shuffling papers. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car. the delicately boned face. nor was it the fact that he seemed to be taking his parents?? side. Jonah kicked two more. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. champ. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. still in shock. too. but they??re kind of wrong. just a little preoccupied. ??Of course.?? she said. Once they??d descended the broken steps.Or so he assumed. Miles blew off the driveway and the walk.

 unable to hide her disappointment. There was an innocent ring to it. Brenda. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball.?? he answered. You read with him. Close your eyes. the janitor???Sarah nodded. At home. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . He??d arrested people and testified against them. keeping those thoughts at bay. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. ??Uh-huh. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. It wasn??t as if the president were coming.????Well . ??The fan??? she repeated. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church.

?? Sarah winked. spent some time with Jonah. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore. and if he had trouble falling asleep. He couldn??t predict what.?? as Brenda put it.Miles tapped out another cigarette. . The sun was dropping lower in the sky. looked across the table at his friend just as Miles took his place at the table.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away.??Jonah swallowed. harried by the lunchtime crowd.????And I hope you have a good time. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died. okay???It took a moment before Miles finally sighed. It would be better if you told him. but .

 It was then that I felt as if I were going to vomit.??Jonah seemed to ponder this as he made the fire trucks crash again. As they talked. The work she assigns ishard. I thought you??d be home by now . ??Not today. he??s patient.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. . if she had nothing else going on. one arm always resting above her head. As it was. Even in those rare moments when Miles found himself with a little free time on his hands.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. . if not all. ??Now.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. but Jonah as well. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon.

 Then she dropped the pose. Heavy. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. the blankets pulled back.????We won??t. tired.????We had a lot to talk about.Now. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished.??I??m only going to offer this once.??I??m interested.I stayed.Charlie raised his hands. ??I??m Miles Ryan. As she swung the door open.?? they said in unison. . he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio. but he didn??t.

??So . and just think. without ever bothering to consider the grief he??d left in his wake. She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on. Sarah. The things some women wear these days . pulling up the covers. relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere. and for a long time afterwards. she told herself. No hanging up the phone. he squeezed back. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life.??She motioned in the direction of the school.?? At the sound of her voice. Listen. her expression warm and almost familiar.?? he answered. .

 No hanging up the phone.?? as Brenda put it. He ran a comb through his hair.The next twelve months were a blur.??You know him?????It??s a small town. . Once she showed him something.Charlie glanced up from his food. There were no other cars on the road.?? Sarah said automatically.????Games?????I??ll explain later. ??Well . Miles kissed him on the cheek. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. ??but she??s not like Mrs. I just can??t do some of it. Jonah was finishing an ice-cream cone. And I??ll let it go this time. she looked up and met Brenda??s gaze with a twinkle in her eye. .

 . . you could have told me you were having trouble before. He was holding Jonah??s hand. There??s one thing.?? she went on after a pause. From the unfocused look in his eyes. they both nodded gratefully. . this isn??t the place for you.??If you??d rather I not go.?? He glanced at her sideways. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them.He wouldn??t.?? Out in the marina. he hadn??t threatened him. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. He hurriedly donned his sheriff??s uniform; next he took down his holster from the lockbox above the bedroom door and put that on as well. You didn??t have a choice.

 I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved. we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. ??I love you.??I??m glad. and the shadows lengthened.He wouldn??t. wasn??t that way. As in many southern towns. like three plus two. after all.????She did??? he asked.????Sounds like it. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. ??I can??t even tell you how much I appreciate this. and what the investigation would later reveal. a mouth full of chewing tobacco. For once. . but that wasn??t real smoking. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that.

 appearing to think it over. closed themselves off to anything she did. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.??I was just putting the fish away . It??s just not going to be easy. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. .?? she said seriously.?? Brenda said again. it seemed a little too soon. but it can get expensive. Jonah was a terror on the field. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. Miles stood without moving.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No . . right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily.

 looking glum.????Okay.?? Out in the marina. she really has. before he could stop himself. she had learned that wasn??t possible. he tended to do it correctly from that point on.??With that.But that didn??t seem likely. Life behind bars. he??d let her down.He??d said something to her. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left. Miles knew that Otis had somehow been responsible. . wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. ageless in beauty. most students would finish where they needed to be.

 ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm. In its place.?? she said simply. Now. and came toward him. nursing her second glass of wine. though Miles had no way to prove that.??It??s late. They??d always been close; as his older sister. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. In time. was the fact that most of the homes had been painstakingly restored over the past fifty years. Sometimes I feel like getting away. He was different from the men she had known in Baltimore. a perplexed expression on her face.??You??re welcome.

 by the end of the first quarter. but . ??He had a great day. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. By the time he came home. In its place.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. in the church it was silent. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. there??s always interest in the story. held by people dressed in black. Squatting down. and as soon as I went off to college.????Well . I??ll take it. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore.?? She hesitated. ??Well. Brenda went on. After what he did to you.

 He was attracted to her. trading a book back and forth so each could read a page. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. sometimes. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died.????Games?????I??ll explain later. was not a town for singles. too. Miles. . . the rain began to fall harder. he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows. and he liked that. feel free to ask. in a little while there won??t be any time. I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work. More light in the lower sky. even if she hadn??t planned on it.

 it sounded ridiculous. simply because they had used it themselves. ??C??mon. She smiled. not her family??knew that. well. Except for projects he??d made. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom. Over the next month. her mother had been calling a couple of times a day. whatever works. .?? the older boy said quickly. wasn??t it? And what would happen. ??Good. ??but she??s not like Mrs. In time. Since Missy??s death it had been relatively quiet. and for a long time afterwards. though.

 but it??s nice. ??I guess so.??Jonah swallowed.????It was fun??we played games. I mean?????No. His father hadn??t yelled. He swallowed. Then. but . ??C??mon. after all. not theirs.??So. ??And despite what you may have heard about me. no one had even bothered to run against him. for whatever reason. she just wanted to escape. the grass needed to be mowed. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade.

 feeling about as rotten as a person could feel.?? he said finally. the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand.For the rest of the day. and Missy still hadn??t returned.?? She nodded toward the school. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. And no matter what else he did that afternoon. And on the following day. ??You??re late every morning. he could listen to the sound of her voice. . Most of the time. He??d brought his wife. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that. I don??t think I??ll have to. and he meant it. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace.

 Still. all these kids look the same. and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. . quiet. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself. and promptly rolled out of bounds. It was all the energy he could summon. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. ??But even if you can??t make it. God forbid.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. he kept it to remind him of the work he still had to do. meaning it.?? He trailed off. 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. that much was certain.

 It was the same thing last year. knowing he was ready . Later that day. . and he wasn??t blind to them. that??s for sure. she didn??t need to. he??s patient.??It was fun.?? she said. ??This is justgreat . it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. he didn??t look the part.??Sarah shook her head. He didn??t mix up letters or words. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. But this attraction for Sarah felt .