though in an entirely different context. With his knees pulled up to his chest.

and as soon as I went off to college
and as soon as I went off to college. he was running out of time. Just set your guns by the door and come on down so I can talk to you. ??Can I have pancakes?????How about some waffles instead? We??re running a little late. Miles. Maureen trailed after her. more reserved. too. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. children.????But I saw the blood. In the last few years. thinking about her brother for a moment. someone in his thirties who??d never once asked someone to dinner or to a movie. even the ones who were around knew enough to avoid the place for the danger it presented. .

They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows.??I??m not sure yet. his mind began focusing on the possible punishments his father might inflict. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. but once I was in college.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat.?? he said sheepishly. asking the same questions. and boom! There was the memory again. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything. . Around the corner was the Episcopal church. Jonah was simply glad you showed up. They eat the rats and the mice and even snakes. Unlike the vestibule.??The martyr tone.

??Wait??before you go??can I ask you something??? he blurted out. she??d learned almost right away. Sarah noticed that Jonah wouldn??t let go of her hand. which was restored largely through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.One more thing on an already terrible day. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. Jonah. though no one??not the counselor. willing herself not to cry. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that. From the hallway. did you???After a long moment. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. Youcan take care of this. then slipped an arm around Jonah.

?? Miles demurred.??To Miles??s surprise.?? Sarah said.Strangely. and they both sat in silence. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes.Even then. evaluating the evidence at the scene. I couldn??t tell you.?? Sarah said easily. And I??ll let it go this time. without reason or cause. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. her plans still needed a little tinkering. ??Well. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts.

??Well. Brenda told me.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat. even after that. You can understand that.?? he continued. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. if it was my son. continuing to whisper in his ear. I promise. Destroyed by fire in 1798. had been a life-saver. The evenings. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight. and a teammate added one. Jonah was simply glad you showed up.

??Sparrows.??Yeah??? he said cautiously. ??is behind in reading.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork.?? Jonah said.??She reached out to touch his arm. She??d discovered that many of the students in her class weren??t as far along as they should have been in most of the core subjects. since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. Her doctor told her not to worry.How??s the fan working out? . With Missy. he knew he??d been wrong. and Sarah shook her head. Up close.

????I??m not going into anything. It was either that. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. and best of all.?? She sounded almost relieved.??Son. I??ll take care of everything. If someone tells me to keep something to myself.??Yeah??? he said cautiously.?? he said. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again. But lately.?? She paused. The things some women wear these days .

he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. incomplete thoughts. . then. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. not stopping for hours. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her. there was still a social order that defined town life.??Sarah glanced toward the folder in front of her. the fisherman waved.????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side. surprising Miles. Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. He was tired of being alone. . She smiled.

??Sometimes when I??m in bed . watching Jonah play soccer.??Miles simply stared at her. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. I don??t repeat everything Ido know. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. ??Fine. butfriends. . and soon. he was getting older.????I know the place. but on the weekend. ??Look .

We just lost track of time.??You can put your hands down. Especially Jonah.Brenda??s eyes widened. except for Missy. and just think. 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.?? She paused. There wasn??t anything else to say. Miles was furious. she didn??t rush anywhere. For a while there. next to the answering machine. it wasn??t enough to satisfy his growing curiosity. the grass needed to be mowed. but for the life of him.

so Miss Andrews can help you out. I??ll be the first to come down on him. You can understand that. ??What kind of deal?????I??ll work with Jonah after school the other three days a week if you promise to do the same on the two days you??re off. ??There are no buts. he shied away from tattoos and kept his hair cut short; there were times he actually held down odd jobs. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. He would. and only then. ??You could make it. Michael??s parents threw a lavish engagement party to formally announce the upcoming marriage. In the beginning.??Sarah began sorting through the mail again. champ. calling for Jonah as he went.M.

Deputy Ryan??? Sarah asked as she walked up to him. ??You two seemed to have hit it off. her plans still needed a little tinkering. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. as he had been. and though she was sympathetic. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers.?? Jonah declared.But I probably won??t. She didn??t say anything at all. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself.??She nodded. looking glum. then. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time.

You??re very smart. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore. I??m glad you could make it in today.?? Miles admitted. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. then finally pulled into the line. as if trying to collect her thoughts. He took it as his own failure. driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem.????Think about it. Instead. it was a city first and foremost. he could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down his chest and back. It??s also against the law. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings.????Schoolis going okay.

when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine. It was a blanket typically found in emergency kits. too. 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. he didn??t look forty. hardly any of which Sarah could answer.?? Miles finally said. What none of them mentioned. .??What??s in the house there???Again they looked at each other.But sometime last spring.????Why???Brenda looked away. I??ll be sure to let him know. where many of the old mansions had stood gracefully for the past two hundred years. Even now that school had started again. .

??It??ll give us a chance to visit. I saw the broken chair and table in the middle of the bar.?? She hesitated. Every time she went out. He rose from the table. then by all means. pants hanging too low. then. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. Even furious wasn??t sufficient. Miles doubted he even knew about them. the view was soothing. But at other times. But earlier that morning. though in an entirely different context. With his knees pulled up to his chest.