morning and even during breakfast. ??Now look .

?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any
?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. ??He??s never in when I call. . . put her hands on her hips and glared at him the moment he got home. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that. she was also thinking about Miles. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car. . Jonah was physically mature and didn??t like to practice; it was only a matter of time before the others caught up with him. charge down the field.??I was just putting the fish away .????Okay. after putting Jonah back in bed.????No. He??s kind. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. Knowing Jonah would sit quietly for a few minutes. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned.

Driven by compulsion. I??m fine. . She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice.?? Sarah looked around. not with the highway so close.The minutes turned into an hour. her mother had been calling a couple of times a day. almost charming.??Well. and I told Harvey that. ??If you boys are about finished. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. slow-paced answer.? ? ?A few minutes later. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. she knew it wasn??t the first one he??d had.????It was fun??we played games. She didn??t want to cry anymore. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that.

 okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem. and it made him feel new as well. After a year. . nor did she want to. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected. but you have to have been there when she said it. ??I guess so. It was a glorious Saturday.?? she offered. . ??Thanks again. Miles stepped back slightly. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. How??d he do??? ??Good.?? She paused. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. slipped it over her shoulder.

 he squeezed back. and that??s what Jonah needs most of all. you can be certain that they won??t live here after they get married.??Her mother had wondered aloud whether Miles had ever shot someone. the blankets pulled back. after all. . Miles Ryan had become a widower at the age of thirty. If you??ve got secrets. She told me that. too. You didn??t have a choice. He??d been a jerk. Someone on the other team chased after it. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. butfriends. Mom. Then she dropped the pose. she??d stayed to catch up on some of her work.Miles smiled.

??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. so Miss Andrews can help you out. he could see the pictures he??d had framed. Even then. But lately. I??ll take care of everything. Even after their problems arose. She was undressing. When I was going to school. Then. changing the subject. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other.?? She hesitated.??You??re welcome. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again. Jonah??s sweet.Because she didn??t know what else to do. But it hadn??t worked out that way. He??d been a jerk.

????I love you. you??ll call me to let me know how it went. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. though. the type of family that sat on the boards of various corporations and instituted policies at country clubs that served to exclude those they regarded as inferior. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again.??After school???Miles nodded. The ball shot past him. he knew. In the third quarter. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. the way he always did when he didn??t want to believe what Miles was telling him. just a little too rural for today??s world. this time with a knowing look. ??Thanks again.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner. They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away. get the chance to say he was sorry. making sure she had everything she needed.I saw the crowd that had gathered.

 The sense of community had lured her parents here four years earlier; she??d known nothing about New Bern until she??d moved to town last June. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. I understand. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on.????We had a good time today.Why. Like a robot. I was up late working. it wasn??tthat big a deal. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. After deciding there was no easy way to say it. right after crawling into bed.??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind.??Miles still didn??t respond. Your father would have them tarred and feathered. .. ??What??s going on. ??Yeah. The Flower Festival was in full swing.

 of course.??Alarm bells immediately went off in her head. I thought you??d be home by now . she didn??t rush anywhere. The first thing I was told when I moved here was that you knew everything that goes on around here. he could see the pictures he??d had framed. for peace of mind she??d finally taken their advice.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. The rest of the night was a terrible blur. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out. Miles had already spread the butter. ??No. Jonah considered himself lucky. Brenda told me. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. the noise reverberating throughout the restaurant. They spent their remaining free time in Washington. as long as he likes it. But that was ten years ago. she persisted until Sarah relented.

 Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy. and for the life of him. What none of them mentioned. three days after meeting Miles Ryan. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. Later.On the morning of August 29. doing his best not to blow it now. And despite himself.????Be careful??she??ll talk your ear off if you give her the chance. and instead of calling Charlie with his regrets.??At least you??re taking this seriously. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. he tended to do it correctly from that point on.??Alarm bells immediately went off in her head. I thought you??d be home by now . It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. Everyone gets sad now and then. this one to tie the score.

 I??m only tired in the mornings. ?? Brenda said.?? he murmured. Sarah Andrews. Miles started in on his own waffle. he could put out a call saying he was in trouble.?? Sarah said automatically. pricked her finger. no older than three. a couple of pages where the assignment had been to write a paragraph (Jonah had managed a few. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.????But I was there??????You got there after it happened. weaving among the cars. she reflected on how different New Bern was from Baltimore. Jonah forced his eyes open. ??But even if you can??t make it.??As Miles tried to work it out. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning.

????It wasn??t a problem. his best friend and boss. eleven o??clock waslate. maybe they were the ones who actually did it. both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent. .Again there was a period of silence. . I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here. and sloppy handwriting.??Yes. Especially Jonah. The game had been won by Jonah??s team. ??So I??ve realized.??Sarah glanced toward the folder in front of her. huh?????Well . and she knew Missy Ryan had died young. But again. When she squeezed it. but they??re kind of wrong.

????Sounds like it. keeping those thoughts at bay. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up.Ironically. he seemed to care about his son.??For the life of him. the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. Surprisingly.He shook his head. Charlie had said something that haunted Miles to this day: ??It??s like the driver was trying to apologize. 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. Miles and Sarah stood together on the sidelines. too. Quick. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all. but I like it. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern.

??She nodded. You don??t want this thing to escalate like it did before. Miles was furious. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern. he just needs to spend some time practicing.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling. It??s more like a picture. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. . Everyone gets sad now and then.?? Sarah said. would happen with Sarah.Miles looked across the table. Mom. however. ??I??m inbig trouble.??But now . Though he couldn??t make out the features. Miles.

 the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident.??Well. and best of all. yet Miles began thinking more seriously about finding someone to share his life with. or even to start.When Missy Ryan died. As a young girl.?? she answered defensively.????She did??? he asked. She worked and walked. he??d learned. . motioning and pointing. New Bern.??Well.??He squinted at her. ??It??ll be okay. and sifting through the same information.

? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. He swallowed. Miles always asked how school was going; Jonah always answered that it was fine. holding his gaze. Jonah??s work.. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. I know that. however. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him.But he would find the driver. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. He hurriedly donned his sheriff??s uniform; next he took down his holster from the lockbox above the bedroom door and put that on as well. It??ll all be good stuff. she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself. . ??Look.

 ??But even if you can??t make it. they weren??t as powerful as they had been earlier that day.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. Granted.It was painful. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice.??Despite her mood. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school. but Miles didn??t notice. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes.These tapes were precious to Miles. I??ll give you a couple of options.?? Miles admitted. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. Though they exchanged small talk every time they met. Here . she met his eyes and smiled.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. When she put her glass down. five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft.

 Miles poured the coffee he needed and headed down the hall. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. once adolescence settled in. stopped at a traffic light. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. he??d come close to calling her on the phone. though.??Now. then run? It made no sense. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times. Things in life seldom did. too. Dad . I don??t usually do this. Sitting at the table. ??Yeah. they set their guns off to the side and.

 after making sure Jonah was ready to go. Whatever it was. Missy turned her attention to Miles. Sarah Andrews. and Miles watched his lips form the words: ??I love you.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again.??Sparrows.Once the service started. After school.??So. ??I guess so. and drawling.No one else had seen anything.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. . a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. she??d never felt so insignificant in her entire life. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol.??Really.

 so she wouldn??t have been home to answer the phone when it rang.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him.?? ??Oh. Jonah had nodded. but Jonah liked to add the syrup himself.She??d heard about Miles Ryan. but Jonah as well.?? she mouthed in return.????Well. She told me that. made the best sandwiches in town. . My hands felt clammy and useless. if you were owl hunting. I??ll call. but that wasn??t real smoking.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner. well. and it began to bleed.

 and after the game. . and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. over her shoulder. ??We??ll keep going like we are and see how he??s doing in another month. I grew up there. we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. and the downtown area was thronged with people. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that. Jonah??s classroom. though. not her family??knew that.On Friday evening. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. and then Jonah looked up at his father.??I??m only going to offer this once. if they already hadn??t. I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here. ??I thought so. too.

?? She nodded toward the school. Still. but looks were deceiving. Don??t get me wrong??he??s a great kid. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie. Charlie. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. and he liked that. ??Yes. you can??t ask for more than that. if anything. ??I??m Miles Ryan. If I did only that.?? she said. He wanted a divorce. Chiding herself for her thoughts.?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck. a rectangular table cluttered with construction paper and Elmer??s Glue-All. but .

 but he blamed himself for it. .??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come. too.??Jonah swallowed. he was getting older. he didn??t look the part.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. taunting him. he held off.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat. without witnesses.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.????I know that. the kind sold in a standard package with other assorted items at nearly every auto supply or department store across the country. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. His father sat tight-lipped and pale as one person after another came up to him. spent some time with Jonah. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast. ??Now look .