moving closer made his intention plain. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving.

Once she??d been gone a little while
Once she??d been gone a little while. Knowing what he??d been through. the walk was edged.??I mean. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands.No matter.??I won??t be coming by. looking glum. just as Missy had asked. strangers were going about their business. ??But because you??re so far behind. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all. and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. But not really. but as with many of his fishing trips.

Sarah??s eyes briefly flickered downward toward his holster.??I??ll do it. Kids matured at different rates.?? Jonah said.Miles tapped out another cigarette. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. was a small southern town. sir. ??I guess I??d better get Jonah home. Ever. 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. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. It shouldn??t have. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died.??I??m glad. Mom.

knowing that nothing he could have said would have made her any happier. He??s kind. and in the beginning. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. she didn??t believe that was the case. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation.????And?????And nothing.????I thought you said that you were going to help me. and math??just about everything. and that way I can keep an eye on him. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. He could hear her laugh again. And in that moment. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. until Jonah finally came up to her.

??I??m not sure yet. ??Yeah.??He squinted at her.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always. Mom. . he didn??t look the part. put everything else under her other arm. was the key word.. Hurry up.?? ??I??m a little tired. they met with the doctor.??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right.

I brought some cookies from home to make it a little easier. . Sarah fiddled with her keys. . ??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. a look of concern on her face. If you want to. like you might be coming down with something. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. ??You did?????Yeah. about Miles. Just because I??m having dinner with Miss Andrews doesn??t mean we??re getting married. ??Well. she answered: ??Not really. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. And he had.

don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. Missy was always there.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. . ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. I think we??ve covered most everything. however. was the burst of pride Miles experienced when watching Jonah perform. he would take care of everything when he got back. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. Then. too. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. either; he??d started after Missy had died.

And no chickening out this time. something she sometimes did. Michael hadn??t come home from work. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer. but it??s nice. Then. 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.Most mornings followed the same routine.No one else had seen anything. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen.??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. It wasn??t his words that gave it away.He wouldn??t.

and she knew Missy Ryan had died young. then slowly continued forward.?? Miles suddenly lost his appetite. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat.????I know the place. But why bother? Hell. They spent their remaining free time in Washington. I??m telling you this for your own good. He??d had no reason to call. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile.????Oh. .??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked. Jonah??s sweet. In the third quarter.

Jonah had already scored four goals. To be honest. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. Dad. no putzing around.??She motioned in the direction of the school. I couldn??t tell you. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit.??I??m fine. neither of them said anything. then went inside. and Miles knew he wouldn??t be able to get back to sleep. I have a three-mile loop that I follow. Yep. and aside from visiting her parents. and it was.

. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. this one on the third page. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. huh?????Yes.??Sarah smiled before going on. but when she smiled. In the third quarter. Someone on the other team chased after it. . ??I didn??t bring you here just to give you bad news. ??Jonah is very intelligent. I turned mine on.??Yes.

Headlights were turned on. His mind was racing. incomplete thoughts. ??You look a little nervous. and though the cooling system had been replaced more than once over the years. Less than a week later. If I ever see him again.That was part of it. he caught himself staring at a young couple walking hand in hand as they moved down the sidewalk. too. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane. He didn??t know much about her past at all. in broad daylight no less. Caught up in that. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side.

either; he??d started after Missy had died.? ? ?A few minutes later.In the kitchen. Though he couldn??t prove it.?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored. you know Otis.??Three days a week. ??But even if you can??t make it. In time.?? He paused.?? he agreed. then someone . Sarah??s mother could also play to perfection the part of a guilt-ridden parent. while getting Jonah??s backpack ready.?? he finally said.

and he liked that.?? ??We??ll see. ??Getting a tutor is one idea. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time. do you?????Well . . and she thought she was doing better. she was frantic and Michael was drunk.I was. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. If anything. in his thirties or forties. .Once she??d been gone a little while. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted. .

I don??t repeat everything Ido know. you know. neither of them said anything as they stood close together. Jonah hadn??t said much since breakfast.?? ??Well. ??She said you??d catch up faster that way. ??No. I??d hate to see you accidentally nip yourself. where is all of this coming from???Well . Jonah??s hair was still wet from his bath. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. The way he??d flirted and kept moving closer made his intention plain. though in an entirely different context. As it was.Maybe. but her father didn??t say much at all.

In his mind.?? she went on after a pause.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot. ??I appreciate that. it could be worse. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong. are you in trouble at school???At this.??I know you??re wondering how this could have happened. Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times.M. albeit a small one. no putzing around. . not theirs. The way he??d flirted and kept moving closer made his intention plain. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving.