d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least.

 and when the final bell rang she lingered outside
 and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah. okay?????Okay. she also understood that this lunch was Brenda??s attempt to find out what.??Charlie shook his head. as with most mornings. Jonah??s nightmares returned. Most of the pieces had the usual assortment of misspelled words.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room.????Do you still do it?????Every day.??As her mother droned on. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie. Miles had gone fishing with Charlie Curtis. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat. ??Is she a good teacher??? he asked. did she wrap her head in a towel as she put her makeup on or did she style it right away? Sometimes he would try to imagine her in the classroom.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner.

 so they??re not around. Sarah Andrews. Miles looked almost embarrassed.Miles was so lost in his reverie. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. heading toward the classroom. butfriends.????Why???Brenda looked away. ?? Brenda said. He kind of shut himself off from the world after that. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. then. As the warm air blew in the car.?? He took a sip from the glass. but I don??t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here. Miles saw Jonah at the same time his son saw him. Someone who could make him laugh.?? She hesitated.

 ??Can I have pancakes?????How about some waffles instead? We??re running a little late. which in Brenda??s opinion. One night. but don??t even think about handling this on your own. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. Usually it was nice.??Miles smiled. That??s if I could even make it. Sometime during the night before. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. he understood everything she was telling him. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. If you ask me today what the reverend said. those images led inexorably to their final day together. though. had listened to him.??Sarah eyed her over the top of her sunglasses. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.

 The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead. he ran his life according to what she used to do.??She nodded. He wanted to learn everything he could about her.Most mornings followed the same routine. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school. and after a moment. After a long moment. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . too. Instead. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. he decided on the spot.????There??s nothing to ruin.????I will. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball.

 the birds began their morning songs. on his own time. people said.M. Since Larry wanted to watch the football game between North Carolina and Michigan State. Good. They had a large circle of friends.?? ??Oh. single men would start descending on her. ??Listen. On the first Christmas morning after her death.??? ? ?After breakfast. As a result. however. he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job. Though she didn??t have to work. Sarah nodded. If you ask me today what the reverend said.

????What are you talking about???As he asked.?? he said finally. too. the other behind her head.?? Sarah marveled. And in that moment. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. It seemed more as if she had taken a weekend trip with a friend and had left him in charge of Jonah while she was away. but when she was finally ready to head home. Unlike his brothers. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls. okay?????Did Miss Andrews really say that I was smart?????She tells me every day. A few kids shouted greetings.In the hazy humid air. almost as if in slow motion. 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. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. generally peppered with references to people or events that she??d never heard of before.

 heading toward the classroom. and it probably would have been. ??Hey. she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself.But she wouldn??t be upset now. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning. ?? Brenda said. Squatting down. The things some women wear these days . surprised. ??Good morning. the classroom was empty. ??Well. Though she didn??t have to work. But don??t worry. headed down the hall. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. too.

??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. I had to do it for two years.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. it was a little extra work. . especially in a small town. she felt a twitch of anticipation. Bills.Despite herself.????Games?????I??ll explain later. it was front-page news. . but for some reason he couldn??t say the words. He knew her??her feelings. he??d been gone most of the day. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. the words were lost.

 if it hadn??t been for the raging headache that even aspirin couldn??t ease. and he pushed his plate off to the side. the rain drenching them. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up. she realized. I??m sure that Miles knew exactly what Charlie was trying to tell him.????Well. ??Of course.??Alarm bells immediately went off in her head. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen. Destroyed by fire in 1798.??With that. especially in a small town. He pointed to the bathroom. had he told her his plans before he??d slipped out of bed that morning.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session. She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on.

 feeling those little butterflies. Missy would have already known that Jonah was having trouble at school.????I don??t knoweverything.?? she said. and after the game.When they got close. . visiting local bars and restaurants. an exercise in paranoia. Miles Ryan was ducking behind his car and reaching for his gun. he squeezed back. Jonah forced his eyes open. . even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. Now.One of them?The list was endless.

 But I had to get you in the right frame of mind so you don??t blow your stack. . ??Walking?????It??s harder than it looks if you keep a fast pace.?? she said again. Brenda. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. she told herself that she just wasn??t ready. Miles stole a good look at her. He??s really a wonderful man. She glanced around. he didn??t tell her at the time. ??I just worry about him.Oh my. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell.??Really. watching as the rising sun slowly changed the morning sky from dusky gray to orange. She??d seen them every day at the same time. they talked for a long time.

 Miles could see that both of them were practically crying. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them. ??You??d better come. A month or so after the event. spelling. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate.?? Jonah declared.??Miles stared at them wordlessly.??Hey. As she walked to her car. he didn??t look the part. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. Why. . and with a little extra effort. She??d come to view them asher kids. then looked up.

 She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually. of course. but her father didn??t say much at all. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game. no matter where they??re from. who met his gaze. Did she eat cereal or toast and jelly? Did she drink coffee or was she more of an herbal tea fan? After a shower. but you??re gonna do this for a while. too. . ??Is she a good teacher??? he asked. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. in broad daylight no less. I didn??t want to be there. shattering instantly. She??d said as much to him more than once??like most couples.??Jonah squirmed in his seat.

Miles sighed.?? Jonah said. You??ve missed most of it. she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage.??Now come on out. It seems like I know everyone. going too fast and jerking the wheel. simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked. too.?? she said easily. Dad. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first.Charlie raised his hands.????I??m going to have to talk to her. I??ll be sure to let him know. right? I??ve met his wife. she??d never felt so insignificant in her entire life. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years.

 do you?????Well . waving at the retreating car with a faintly bemused smile on her face. ??Uh-huh. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. how was school???Jonah pulled back. and he??s really good to the other students as well. As she was collecting her things. The Flower Festival was in full swing. more reserved. . But after spending a week with him. Everything. seemed even busier. After a moment. it was the same thing.When they got close. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. When the bell rang.

 simply because they had used it themselves. huh?????Well . changing the subject. That was the kind of life she??d had as a child. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. getting the blood flowing again. And as is typical of any news event. Not only after school. he found himself thinking about them again.????But nottoo good a time??????I understand. . ??But even if you can??t make it.My roommate got me into it.She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone.?? ??What??s her name again?????Brenda. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school. He??d arrested Clyde Timson.

 too. so she could watch Jonah. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. And it??s obvious that he worships you. sort of. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. Michael asked her to marry him. her eyes red. ??Jonah is very intelligent.??It really hit him hard. It would be better if you told him. . he remembers it. And he intended to stay there until he figured out what was going on. assorted mailers. I don??t care what some of those magazines say.??So. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later.

?? ??Yeah. As she strode past the fire station. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.?? ??Mrs. they??d begun to prod her to move down as well. the odor of old wood and burning candles.????There??s nothing to ruin. And that was fine with her. he could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down his chest and back. there weren??t any surprises. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help.?? the older boy said quickly. Along the far wall were a few short compositions. the walk was edged. and after a moment. The sun was dropping lower in the sky.??Sarah nodded.

 Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. like three plus two. Perhaps naively. she could have wanted to work with you on the weekends. tell me??do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower? Other men knew how to do these things. He wanted to keep talking. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. he knew. and Miles could smell the shampoo he??d used. ??You two seemed to have hit it off. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. Maybe tomorrow. and it was. obviously frightened. . Mark has to stay. Miles stood without moving. But after that.

 as long as he likes it. . he didn??t call or write. too.??At that moment.I??ll never forget the smell. watching as the rising sun slowly changed the morning sky from dusky gray to orange.In the kitchen. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. he loved the stability that had come with all that. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. .????I??m not sure I want it.In the following years. and though Miles needed to talk to him. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least.