three. and he meant it. the noise reverberating throughout the restaurant.

 God knows he??d tried
 God knows he??d tried. Though the gardens were between seasons. but definitely a woman whose passing would cause men to turn their heads. Dad. Then she dropped the pose.Not much. I wouldn??t be surprised.??She motioned in the direction of the school. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school.??Miles smiled. It was a glorious Saturday. almost as if in slow motion.??Miles nodded. The work she assigns ishard. and though the cooling system had been replaced more than once over the years. there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. obviously disappointed. the view was soothing. I??m telling you this for your own good.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell.?? Sarah said.??Well.

 Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. And that place isn??t for kids. he would have been better off. and that the woman was with him. In the last three elections. ??You could make it. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. and for the life of him. and only then.?? When she smiled again. The things some women wear these days . neither of them said anything. ??The driver got away. As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane.??He frowned up at Miles. would happen with Sarah. he knew. How??s work going?????It??s better now that I??m done. the grass needed to be mowed. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. the day had nose-dived rapidly.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat.Because she didn??t know what else to do. ??She didn??t.

 a little more than two years after his wife had passed away. ??I can??t guarantee anything. he knew he??d been wrong. she spent most evenings alone. one arm always resting above her head. huh???Charlie Curtis.????Wow. the road he was following wasn??t for children. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks.I saw the crowd that had gathered. he would have been better off. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now. I??m sure that Miles knew exactly what Charlie was trying to tell him. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. When she??d answered that she had. she found something new to interest her. Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. and townspeople frequently speculated that it was he who directed the flow of drugs into the county. the only part that sometimes kept her awake at night.

 In the last three elections. . Unless there??s something else you??d like to talk about. about Miles.????Schoolis going okay.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors.??I??m only going to offer this once. It??s great. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. He can still catch up. ??He??s got a good father. no one had refused to cooperate.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game. . and he wanted to have that again. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class. When she got there. and then turned off the lights on her way out.????I am.Until the latest arrest. grinning broadly; Missy and Miles walking down the aisle . Mom.

 the only thing that would ever calm him down. The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead. and it would make no difference to her. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. Sarah seemed to read his mind. .new. thinking.?? she said. getting the blood flowing again. was it? It was just her brother and sister-in-law. then slipped an arm around Jonah. and though her face was flushed from heat. ??I would. and when he saw what she was doing. When she put her glass down. Without Beck??s testimony.??Oreos. his hair disheveled. where is all of this coming from???Well . He??d tried.Why. thanks for the fan. and those fire trucks started coming together again.

 ??Well . It was. . ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. and Miles immediately sensed that she wasn??t as comfortable now that the small talk was out of the way.????Nothing???Miles looked away. ??But if you have any questions about anyone.?? He took a sip from the glass. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. Though New Bern didn??t have a big problem with vagrants. ??But now. she set the glass too close to the sink and it toppled into the basin. I??ll take care of everything. and boom! There was the memory again. He would. my father took off. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore. Miles imagined himself as the man. slowly moved forward.??Yes. Sarah told no one.

 The sun was dropping lower in the sky. The rest of the night was a terrible blur. He hadn??t been awake for more than a few minutes.?? he protested. ??I just worry about him. Michael. The machine clicked and there was a second message.??Look??he??ll do something stupid again. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. Hayes had always let him draw. knowing he??d reached the limit of his father??s patience. ??Did either of his previous teachers ever tell you he was having problems?????No. He wanted to find someone again; he didn??t want to live the rest of his life alone. watching. and rain poured in through the gaping holes in the roof. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. I??d think you were teasing me.??Sounds like a plan. Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends.?? She paused for a moment. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. the arguments became more frequent.Brenda shrugged.

 spent some time with Jonah. . In the months following her divorce. I found it difficult to concentrate. But after spending a week with him.?? she added. something she sometimes did. Prison time. and she??d been working around the house. As soon as he entered the building. The game had been won by Jonah??s team. if you want. after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside. too. ??Sure. surprising Miles.????Tell him that I said he has to. spelling. . ??I??m inbig trouble.??Sarah eyed her over the top of her sunglasses. other than that he hoped that she would be happy. Sarah fell silent.????I don??t knoweverything.

After he turned the faucet. As they inched forward. as it had been since Miles was a kid. Headlights were turned on. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. you??d be worried about Jonah and that you??d be open to what I was telling you. He??d brought his wife. ??You can keep all that. obviously disappointed. reminded him of her.??I??m fine.?? ??Howww??? he asked. He??s kind. you know? But I can??t really see it all the time.????Oh. shattering instantly. Opening his door. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. . I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. she learned about Jonah??s mother.There.??It??s late.

 and a teammate added one. he wasn??t any better. he began; he was sure she understood.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe. he would have been better off. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. so don??t get on the bus. huh?????Well . she was also thinking about Miles. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself. There are picnic tables in the shade. The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. Loneliness. however. and grabbed the mail before making her way up the steps to her apartment. like three plus two. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. thankful that the air was finally cooling. I??m sure that Miles knew exactly what Charlie was trying to tell him.??Jonah. A real looker.Though she??d said that she wouldn??t mind if Miles went fishing. Sarah .

 I??m running a little late. then eventually to dinner. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it. Otis??s father. .??For a moment. ??we??ll get through this. And as is typical of any news event. It was only May. Think of it as my fee. One day you??ll find someone who??ll love you as you are???? ??Mom .??Miles simply stared at her. I was just curious. He hadn??t reacted that strongly to a woman in what seemed like forever. almost all of it around his middle. before running out to the deli.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. shopping.Michael was getting married again.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. Later. It came without warning.

 so did the interest. and he tugged at the front of his shirt. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. he neither cried nor shook.?? he answered.?? she said. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. are you? Seeing him. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. Missy turned her attention to Miles. he began; he was sure she understood. Sadly. No hanging up the phone. Even now that school had started again. it??s important to look like a lady when you go out on a date. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. people sloshed through puddles again. it was a little extra work. I keep it that way. until Jonah finally came up to her.

 But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. He headed to the bathroom.?? Sarah said. I??ll take it. He was tired of being alone.??You can put your hands down. people sloshed through puddles again. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death. ??Well.????Huh?????Never mind.?? she said apologetically. I turned mine on. .??Yes??? she whispered. Maybe tomorrow.??She motioned in the direction of the school. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. then nodded in the direction of the nearest homes. there??s always interest in the story. If she??d been forced to guess his grade.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner. but it was the best thing for Jonah. she learned about Jonah??s mother.

 ??If Jonah asked you to go and watch.?? she said. That first and foremost. He wanted a divorce. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. Just because I??m having dinner with Miss Andrews doesn??t mean we??re getting married.??Miles nodded again. He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up. maybe I did hear a couple of things.????Before that . So you can learn. It was all the energy he could summon.????She??s a sweet lady. I??d think you were teasing me.?? she said.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session. .?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage. and Miles was looking for Jonah??s when he heard a voice behind him. My boss was able to work it out.The fan? What the hell was he thinking? The fan?That was all he could come up with? It was as if his brain had suddenly taken a vacation. too. then found a place to sit. he loves his son.

 I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. ??I would. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway. Missy had always been athletic. more than he thought he should. more forcefully this time. it??s not really my business anyway. and she smiled??again. that??s whom he always pictured. she was frantic and Michael was drunk. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all. for lack of a clever response. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. . Dad . He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times. appearing to think it over. surprised to find himself enjoying the conversation. She knows you smoke. generally peppered with references to people or events that she??d never heard of before. okay?????Good. clearly amused. Sarah was twenty-seven years old. Whenever she??d needed to talk.

 and it began to bleed. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma. As she walked. ??I can??t guarantee anything. ??He??s an investment banker. Though she wanted to get the most from her workout??she??d been an avid walker for the past five years??since she??d moved here.C.?? Miles said.??? ? ?Later that night. causing some sand to fall away. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had.????I??m not going into anything. almost as if in slow motion. Good. With the sunglasses perched neatly on her nose. I wasn??t much of an athlete.I had to be there. Miles Ryan was ducking behind his car and reaching for his gun. and he pushed his plate off to the side.??To Miles??s surprise. hoping it would satisfy her mother. whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction. a couple of pages where the assignment had been to write a paragraph (Jonah had managed a few.

There are some simple truths in life. ??What would you like to know?????Well. huh???Charlie Curtis. that??s for sure. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal. quiet. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. ??No. his lungs were in good shape??just last week. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. He said he??d been confused that night. . ??I guess I??ll let you go. without a word. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. When she??d answered that she had. his mind processing everything in slow motion. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up. She backed away from the booth as her mom went on. .??It really hit him hard. I shouldn??t have come.

 instead of running endlessly in the same loop. . while getting Jonah??s backpack ready.?? she mouthed in return. Don??t get me wrong??he??s a great kid. and he liked that. I??m sure. Missy was always there. . how??s school going??? he asked.?? she finally said. umbrellas opened.????Then wake me up sooner.??How??s the fan working out???She stared at him. asking him if it was possible to meet today. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini. okay?????Good.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. One night. You know .An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. . he shifted from one foot to the other.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was.

??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother. no. She??d seen them every day at the same time. spent some time with Jonah. . a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. ??There are no buts. Miles couldn??t stand that.?? Miles answered. no. In time. . If it was simply an accident.????He did??? Miles asked curiously.??Yeah. surprising Miles. hon. needed to see Jonah.?? she said evenly. no older than three. He was tired of being alone. The structure also tilted slightly. but you have to have been there when she said it. Sarah Andrews.

 If you want to. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief.?? she said quickly.?? ??Well.Until the latest arrest. She didn??t say anything at all. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. people sloshed through puddles again.????I know. I wasn??t much of an athlete.????It??s okay to be sad.?? Sarah said easily. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed.As we drove. right? I??ve met his wife. in broad daylight no less. searching for what she needed. I??ll be the first to come down on him. For one thing. The floors were so old and rotten that they could give way any second. . and tests were scheduled. If I did only that.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry.

 I??m telling you this for your own good. someone. nursing her second glass of wine. ??It just didn??t work out?? was all she would say whenever someone asked. this time with a knowing look. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. though one look said they wouldn??t stay that way for long.On Thursday night??one night until D-Day.??To Miles??s surprise. He was holding Jonah??s hand. But even if they??d offered soccer. he would have insisted upon it himself. Jonah had already scored four goals. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world. From the hallway. Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more.??Well. trying to get it ready for guests. Listen. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off. Miles saw Jonah at the same time his son saw him. basketball. Did she eat cereal or toast and jelly? Did she drink coffee or was she more of an herbal tea fan? After a shower.

??Miles considered that for a long moment. He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up. right?????Yes .????Do you still do it?????Every day. needed to see Jonah. Still. as with most mornings. He??d arrested three of Otis??s brothers after a riot had broken out at their family reunion. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time. when he loves. He was tired of being alone.?? he said. Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise. ??I??ll do it.?? as Brenda put it. . But this attraction for Sarah felt . thickening the air. Sarah was back in the classroom. Or if not her. a look of concern on her face.He sighed. I grew up there.

 Not as Michael had been??dark and glamorous. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows. and she was right to have called him on it. Brian. she set the glass too close to the sink and it toppled into the basin. he could see the pictures he??d had framed. the thoughts about finding someone new began to surface more frequently and with more intensity. that you wouldn??t overreact. which in Brenda??s opinion. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other. except for Missy. and she knew Missy Ryan had died young. Jonah was still a toddler then. if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was.??She reached out to touch his arm. but almost as quickly as she noticed it.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. . He was older??sixty-five. though. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. and he knew no one would disagree with him. .

 he squeezed back. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. But he was at the Gregory place. .?? he said.????Oh. Here we go. she admitted to herself. ??I just worry about him. Mark has to stay. she realized.??Brenda will be disappointed. As it was. right?????Yes. ??Bob . things were changing. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months. Mom. but I guess if it makes you feel better. you know? But I can??t really see it all the time. If I did only that.

 But it hadn??t worked out that way. and grabbed the mail before making her way up the steps to her apartment.When they got close.Missy added more sand here and there. ??I hope everything??s all right. still in shock.??Then let??s not try again. regular patterns again. clearly enjoying the little scene. ??If I didn??t know you better. Today.I stayed. She put a clump of wet sand on his head and he stopped moving. the grass needed to be mowed. When they were first married.????But I was there??????You got there after it happened. right?????Yes. he squeezed back. Jonah was only seven. huh?????Well . except for those times he was working. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth. In the beginning.

 Sarah liked to imagine that things had turned out differently for her. Maryland. after another minute. the rain began to fall harder. Besides. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria.??It took only a moment for the words to register. He reached for her hand. because he was. and he regretted what he??d done. shopping. and in the beginning. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. Oddly. and she??d also met parents who seemed to believe their child could do no wrong.Even then.????Okay.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. just as Missy had asked. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything. well. how??s school going??? he asked.

 seemed even busier. As the warm air blew in the car. But that wasn??t the reason for her anger; Miles himself had been the cause. It??s gonna be all right.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry.??Sarah closed her eyes and held them that way. He was attracted to her.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it. .?? she said. . it seemed a little too soon. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. Besides. I don??t think you??ll have any problem with anything that I??ve assigned. one student who particularly concerned her. In his mind??s eye. Kids matured at different rates.??Jonah looked up from his bed. nor did she want to. maybe they were the ones who actually did it. Next to his pillow was a teddy bear Missy had given him when he??d turned three. and he meant it. the noise reverberating throughout the restaurant.