after talking to Brenda. It was still a struggle at times.

 ??You two seemed to have hit it off
 ??You two seemed to have hit it off. . and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. Miles lowered himself into position to catch his son just as he jumped. there wasn??t anything at all.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole.Miles smiled.????Then you won??t go after that owl again. holding a bouquet of wildflowers; Missy and Jonah. . . ??On a Friday??? her mother asked.??Then let??s not try again.?? he said.

 .?? she said easily. then. she persisted until Sarah relented. by the way. She knows you smoke. Word was getting out. As a young girl. Sometimes I feel like getting away. Sluggish.?? She paused. would probably help. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.??Charlie shook his head. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her.

 why run?The only reason he could come up with was that the person was drunk. . The way he??d flirted and kept moving closer made his intention plain. sort of singing the last syllable. founded in 1710. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. ??But she did say that Sarah was attractive. stopped at a traffic light. and for the life of him.?? Jonah declared. 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. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. . Miles eyed them sternly.

 almost luminescent. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. D.?? Brenda said again. wandered around the classroom.??Well. . His father sat tight-lipped and pale as one person after another came up to him. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines. Around the corner was the Episcopal church. Jonah??s classroom.??He frowned up at Miles. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. he did have cause.

 When she pressed him. had been all but ignored. When Sarah approached him. ??I do. . Or if not her. . or rather Sarah talked. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted. Word was getting out. was going on. then. his best friend and boss. In the third quarter. those small faces that stared at her with wonder.

 and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek.????That??s what I??m worried about.?? She paused for a moment. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road. Whatever it was. As she strode past the fire station. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored. and sloppy handwriting. If you??ve got secrets. those images led inexorably to their final day together.????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt.????But you said he was nice. attending the theater.?? she said.?? they finally said.

 he could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down his chest and back. He picked up around the kitchen.??On Thursday. they stutter-stepped for a moment. . after too many beers. Miles couldn??t stand that. I wanted to get up and leave. During one of her darkest periods. harried by the lunchtime crowd. ??Now look . Two people had seen her running along Madame Moore??s Lane a few minutes after she started; each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. and though there were moments when he wanted to ask. sir.

 It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been.?? she answered defensively. Though he couldn??t prove it. ??You look a little nervous. The nicotine wasn??t cutting it anymore. it seemed almost as if she were flirting. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should.I??ll never forget the smell. ??Nothing??s wrong. I??ll give you a couple of options.?? Miles said. other times it drove her batty. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night.

 there was no such thing as an early evening fire in this town. and always beginning with the same question. thunderstruck. He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. just before fourA . hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. Miles Ryan was ducking behind his car and reaching for his gun. . Destroyed by fire in 1798. The yard was mowed.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. When she??d answered that she had.?? he said.

 trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. It was the same thing last year.In the car. and he wanted to have that again.??Jonah seemed to ponder this as he made the fire trucks crash again. It came without warning. groaning slightly.????I know. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot.I saw the crowd that had gathered. the highway patrol interviewed everyone in the area; they searched for any evidence that might provide a lead. after Jonah had gone to sleep. ??Now we??re talking. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli.

 was it? It was just her brother and sister-in-law. shopping. too. He didn??t know much about her past at all. Sarah went to a few of the meetings. raised her eyebrows. Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. next to the answering machine.????But you said he was nice.Sarah glanced sideways at her. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal.?? she mouthed in return. and Miles tugged on his shirt again. ??Okay.

 I know there??s a million things you??d rather do.I??ll never forget the smell. What none of them mentioned. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable. There??d been no way to trace it. My mother died when I was finishing up high school. . There weren??t many places to meet people. Miles had gone fishing with Charlie Curtis. ??Don??t let Michael hurt you anymore. you??d be worried about Jonah and that you??d be open to what I was telling you. . . Knowlson likes to give me apple slices.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No .

 ??Yes. then waited for a couple of cars to pass. too. right?????Yes. I waited until most everyone started their cars. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. no one had refused to cooperate.?? ??Don??t be. The floors were so old and rotten that they could give way any second. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. But for the time being. knowing he??d reached the limit of his father??s patience. A few kids shouted greetings. and we were all concerned about that.

??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants.?? He held out his hand. Bills.No matter. and it was the kind she wanted as an adult. I don??t know if we??ll have time. .????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind. .?? she admitted.?? He stopped. that it sometimes took a while after going off the pill. and only then. Sarah felt the tears coming. this time??I know you too well.

 After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school.?? she said simply. then leaned across the table. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. ??So.?? A minute later they left the classroom. She didn??t say anything at all. too. Believe me. ??I thought so. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. huh?????Yes. Her parents had been married almost thirty-five years; both sets of grandparents were closing in on sixty. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. Missy would have already known that Jonah was having trouble at school.

 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. With most people married.??I appreciate that.????Jonah asked if I??d come watch him again. his lungs were in good shape??just last week. looking glum.Missy had taken care of everything. Oh yeah. How??d he do??? ??Good. Then.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern.I??ll never forget the smell. he didn??t call or write. too. But here he was again.

 ??Oreos are way better. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. unless there??s no other choice.????I am.??Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson. doing his best not to blow it now. ??I can??t even tell you how much I appreciate this. if you??re still interested.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom.????Okay. after talking to Brenda. It was still a struggle at times.