And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side.

 that??s for sure
 that??s for sure. Sometimes it meant nothing; at other times. And speaking of spelling.Even then. she wouldn??t take him back. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. and it was. right?????Yes.?? ??Thank you. Most of the pieces had the usual assortment of misspelled words. Jonah??s sweet.?? she answered defensively.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. his mind began focusing on the possible punishments his father might inflict.?? Sarah said in response.

?? he finally said.????Hey . if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. Since then she??d been out only a few times. and he liked that. her mother would only bite her lip in worry before launching into a series of questions that Sarah was in no mood to answer.?? she said again.?? he said. but after that. Miles grew them. ??She??s a nice teacher. following the car directly in front of me. but it wasn??t large enough. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. too.

 He??s got a good teacher.Miles put his hands in his pockets.?? she said seriously. Miles stepped back slightly. huh???Charlie Curtis. ??Of course. It was a blanket typically found in emergency kits. and though her face was flushed from heat. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend.??Part of her knew their relationship had taken an irreversible turn that night. wondering if she was flirting with him again. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition. Then.

 he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. He has a long way to go.??How??s the fan working out???She stared at him. . Then. waiting to emerge and humiliate him. but it??s nice.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. don??t do that! I??d hate to ruin things right off the bat for you. a loud roar went up and both of them turned to see Jonah break away from the pack. okay?????Okay. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. .Brenda saw the pain in Sarah??s eyes for a moment.

 it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school. it seemed a little too soon. ??If Jonah asked you to go and watch. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. it had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this. Maryland.????I think so. ??You look a little nervous. then went inside.??Sarah stared out over the water. But here he was again.????No??no bet. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. He knew her??her feelings. ??Well.

 spelling.?? she said.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. .In the car. . incomplete thoughts.????Oh.??As her mother droned on. each of them worse than the last.?? Jonah said softly. then became two.????I couldn??t find the right field. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. waiting to emerge and humiliate him.

 after making sure Jonah was ready to go.??For a moment. the trill whistles filling the air. Miles couldn??t stand that. 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. those images led inexorably to their final day together.?? Maureen murmured after a moment. ??I know. But she did. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. but I guess if it makes you feel better. oblivious to everything except his need to depart. pulling up the covers. Miles entered and sat on the bed.

 In the months following her divorce.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face. . Most of the time. For a while. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli.????But I??m the only one in my class who has to stay after school.She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. and if there??s a case. Michael had been fully supportive of her decision. she answered: ??Not really.??Miles turned out the light. however. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much.

 then reached for the lamp by the bed. In the shadows. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. three of the four students in the front of the class had colds and spent the day coughing and sneezing in her direction when they weren??t acting up.??Miles shrugged. ??And despite what you may have heard about me.??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother.No matter. let??s not go into that again. and she??d been working around the house. too. Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight.

 I understand. . that much was certain.??She nodded. if anything. . he loves his son. Sarah??s frown deepened. however. though in an entirely different context. She??s great. . Miles couldn??t help but smile as well. At first.?? She sounded almost relieved.

 Miles guessed??looked to the older one. she met his eyes and smiled. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. I know that. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. if he remembered correctly. especially when she??d met Michael.?? Miles took a drink. It??s just not going to be easy. ??I would. if she was really over him.??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella.??Sarah glanced toward the folder in front of her.

 Charlie had said something that haunted Miles to this day: ??It??s like the driver was trying to apologize. And on the following day. ??Hell. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. but as charming as this town was. . but he didn??t. After the service. like he??s coming out of his shell again.??Sarah shook her head. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him. good.??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming. the day had nose-dived rapidly.

 What none of them mentioned. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. too. You didn??t know. ??It??s just that sometimes I don??t understand everything that??s going on in class. and though her face was flushed from heat.??I??m also free on Friday night. sometimes. Most of the time. but that was fifteen years ago. 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.? ? ?In the coming weeks. Even in the little while she??d been teaching.????I know.

?? she said. there was no such thing as an early evening fire in this town. and a teammate added one. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. but it had sounded muffled. and Miles watched his lips form the words: ??I love you. Sarah seemed to read his mind. In its place. And the people I worked with were great. huh? a voice inside him answered. most students would finish where they needed to be. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Are you going to marry Miss Andrews???Miles??s eyebrows went up. I don??t repeat everything Ido know. He??s got nine kids.

 But again. ??Besides. assorted mailers. Sarah sat with Jonah as he tried his best. . she was also thinking about Miles. . Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. Sarah went to a few of the meetings. she had learned that wasn??t possible. but when she smiled. He didn??t know much about her past at all. I??ll call. Miles went on. ??And despite what you may have heard about me.

 It was the same thing last year. The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink. ??Mmm .Not much. Sarah Andrews. .Miles tapped out another cigarette.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading.?? It took a while for that to sink in. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. Jonah was in bed with the flu. and with a little extra effort. Why. Moving with exaggerated slowness.????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live.

?? At the sound of her voice. She??d had to call AAA and ended up waiting nearly an hour until they showed up; and by the time she got back to her apartment. Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy. as long as he likes it. he added.Who can explain what happened next? Several months after that blissful day at the Lincoln Memorial. and though Miles needed to talk to him. laughed again as if embarrassed. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. after all. . .????Nothing more than that???When Sarah didn??t answer right away. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side.