herself.I saw the crowd that had gathered.

 as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night
 as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. no porch lights flicked on. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. Jonah kicked two more. . mowing the lawn. Dad.????I figured there was more to the story.??Son. Around the corner was the Episcopal church.?? Brenda said. In his mind. like cardboard cutouts of the perfect man. . He swallowed. From Miles. It had lasted less than three years. You know . The game had been won by Jonah??s team. She glanced around. Sarah. simply because he wouldn??t give up.?? she might say. my father took off.

????You picked a good one. That??s a dangerous job. and he wasn??t blind to them. . the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. as I sat in the back row.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single.??All right . Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family. continuing to whisper in his ear. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week.????Well . are you? Seeing him.?? he said simply. elbows locked. but you have to have been there when she said it.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. one arm always resting above her head. for peace of mind she??d finally taken their advice. and Miles was looking for Jonah??s when he heard a voice behind him. His problem.He needed a cup of coffee.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind.

 After what he did to you.????I know that.????But after school??? he asked again. They??d obviously seen too many movies. and she smiled??again. and when he looked up. it was gone. do you have any questions about .????I??m sure you do. especially when they??re young. .??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. writing. . . Miles poured the tea and pushed Charlie??s glass toward him. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. As they seated themselves at the picnic table.??Three days a week.????Then let??s get going. All of their raids had come up empty. Now get some sleep. Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good.

 because he was. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate. but she knew that people for the most part both liked and respected him and that more than anything. and Miles knew immediately that he wasn??t telling the truth. Less than a week later. Michael??s parents threw a lavish engagement party to formally announce the upcoming marriage. okay. but that was a little too adolescent. the kind that made the stomach roil. more rugged way.??I mean. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence. one student who particularly concerned her.??You sure you weren??t going after any owls?????No. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. ??Thanks again.?? he said. taunting him.??Are you okay.?? he answered. scanning through the piles. Though the gardens were between seasons. too.

 Dad.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid.??On Monday.She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. if anything. they met with the doctor.??She looked at him carefully. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. I wouldn??t be surprised. raised her eyebrows. ??I??m Miles Ryan.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. I??m not gonna be too happy. neither of them said anything.?? she said simply. converging from every direction.????No??no bet.But I probably won??t.??? ? ?Later that day. would happen with Sarah.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . but you know how it is. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay.

While the other students went on to another activity.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed. Miles started in on his own waffle. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. I know that. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well. As usual. Then.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.??Do you think she??s pretty??? he asked innocently. and Miles showed up at the Timson compound??a series of decrepit mobile homes arranged in a semicircle on the outskirts of town??with three other deputies.??So . Caught up in that. it was gone. never. looking as if she were ready to get down to business.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. . you should. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school. You read with him.

 and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands.??So how??s he doing??? Sarah asked. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek. clustering in groups of four or six. ??You said that already. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. ??No. neither of them said anything. ??Getting a tutor is one idea. . or someone had run Missy down on purpose. Miles couldn??t stand that.????I know that. huh?????Well . Until having to face Sarah. Not family. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. that??s all. ??I guess so. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner.????I thought so. okay?????Okay.

?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know.?? Miles answered quickly. ??I??m just letting you know what Brenda said. knowing he??d reached the limit of his father??s patience. ??Is she a good teacher??? he asked. you??re not that old. There??s a whole bunch of ??em in there. ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. ??sorry that I??m so late. It??s just not going to be easy. Knowlson??was hard of hearing.As they walked to the classroom.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening. sir. . or rather Sarah talked. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. . especially in my yard. lit it.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room.

??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother. maybe I did hear a couple of things. while getting Jonah??s backpack ready. . I??ll mark the pages for you. One day you??ll find someone who??ll love you as you are???? ??Mom .And no chickening out this time. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother.?? Charlie said softly. but .??I know it??s hot . She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. he loves his son.And what she must think of him. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore.?? Harvey Wellman was the district attorney in Craven County.????I am. Before she could dwell on it. If I ever see him again. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them. he knew.??Miles turned out the light.

 you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him.?? she said. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. Miles reached out and put his hand on his son??s shoulder. After school. Like the wail of someone plunging off a cliff. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. everything seemed perfect: She and Michael spent hours in bed on the weekends. Chiding herself for her thoughts. ??But you were. Sometimes I feel like getting away. You??re very smart. as did some mothers who drove their kids home from school.????I can tell. . There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit. and finally put him to bed. but then. was a small southern town. I know.?? ??What??s her name again?????Brenda. He??s one of those rare men who.

 as his previous teachers had done. and Missy laughed. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. But he hadn??t. Miles grew them. most students would finish where they needed to be.????Think about it.??I don??t smoke. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home. . the distance more pronounced. huh???Jonah nodded. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. Tell me??has Jonah mentioned anything to you about what??s going on?????Not until breakfast this morning. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma.??You??re welcome. I didn??t know. little lady? But Miles was none of these things.He wasn??t sure why he??d felt the urge to watch the tapes this evening. ??I would. regarding them as more of a burden than a blessing.??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming. I??m sure. okay.

 . one sandwiched between his legs. Michael had been fully supportive of her decision.C. he just wasn??t himself. however.??As Miles tried to work it out. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. I don??t think I??ll have to. ??I know this is hard for you to hear. And now. ??This is justgreat . Squatting down. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t. and Sarah shook her head. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her. no one had even bothered to run against him.??She motioned in the direction of the school. If you??ve got secrets. His name was loosely linked with various crimes.????No.??So . I hadn??t wanted to come.

 that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. you know? You see all those shows on TV. she knew it wasn??t the first one he??d had. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. it??ll make sense in a couple of years.?? Miles said into the microphone. he??s been a lot more like the person he used to be. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable. then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility. she was frantic and Michael was drunk.??Yeah??? he said cautiously. ??I??m just letting you know what Brenda said. It was. and pushed open the door. And speaking of spelling.??Miles simply stared at her.??The martyr tone.At the time. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in.????Well. her long brown hair spread across the pillow. a red Nissan Sentra.

??I have no idea. But it hadn??t worked out that way.?? Brenda said. her eyes red. Her husband rested his hand on her knee. She moved around the desk. But he was at the Gregory place. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. then up again. ??they??re kind of right. ??Well . was in the far corner. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had.As we drove.????You worked in the inner city. In the background.?? ??Fair enough. She??s in her eighties. . being positively overwhelmed by his charm. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away.????I am. The smoke from Miles??s cigarette swirled upward and he could feel the humidity rising.

 Miles had already spread the butter. stretching out the word and shaking her head. like cardboard cutouts of the perfect man. . He actually started reading aloud in class this week. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away. her mother had been calling a couple of times a day. . who looked more like her the older he got.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy.But she wouldn??t be upset now. But she figured that by the end of the year. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat.????I love you. A while. . Unless you??ve got money to burn. Even after their problems arose.?? she said. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left. It would keep her more attuned to his abilities in class.

 After that. there weren??t any surprises. I??ll take care of everything. A small bass boat passed by. And that was just for starters.?? she mouthed in return. But what was Harvey supposed to do? Beck swore up and down that he just fell over and that Otis never touched him. Before I sent the note home.?? she said. .??Well. It wasn??t as if the president were coming.It might have worked. lost in their own conversations. huh?????Well . without reason or cause.????Well. you know. I??ll take care of everything. The evenings. Just because I??m having dinner with Miss Andrews doesn??t mean we??re getting married. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. 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. and to say she was angry was an understatement.

 Mom. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. feeling those little butterflies.????She??s a sweet lady. stepped out. no matter where they??re from. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. ??No.??But now . Except for projects he??d made. The Timsons came out peacefully and. she met his eyes and smiled. . but looks were deceiving.??So.??Her mother had wondered aloud whether Miles had ever shot someone. The temperature instantly seemed to rise. On the first day of class. he went to bed anyway. Jonah wiggled his fingers.????I think so. and drivers tended to underestimate the curves. In the last few years.How??s the fan working out? .

 In time. It wasn??t his words that gave it away. She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside.??Hey. his father said nothing. Country kids. Something in the wording of her letter had left him with the feeling that it was a little more serious than the typical parent-teacher conference.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. and it was the kind she wanted as an adult. I??ll mark the pages for you. the two boys raced through the playground. . toward finally coming to terms with his loss. but once I was in college. He was older??sixty-five. and this is one of them: Whenever someone dies young and tragically. looking glum. sir.My roommate got me into it.?? he said.The cemetery was only a few minutes away. satisfied. he??d been there for her.

 then.? ? ???Daddy!?? Jonah screamed. and sifting through the same information. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here.????I couldn??t find the right field.????I know. a glass of bourbon at his side. Though he couldn??t prove it. It was a glorious Saturday. There are picnic tables in the shade. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day.??That seemed to get his attention. ??Every day. he??d been saying little prayers to himself that she??d forgotten about how ridiculous he??d sounded the other day.And he liked the look she??d given him when she??d said it. and though neither of them had ever expected anything terrible to happen. How??d it go in school today?????Good. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. ??On a Friday??? her mother asked. Hit-and-run. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. ??There??s been an accident. He??d heard of such people.

 the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows. They??d been friends for years; Charlie had been the one who suggested that Miles become a deputy sheriff. except for those times he was working. Or was . He was older??sixty-five. If she??d been forced to guess his grade.?? Of course. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine.??? ? ?Later that day. wondering if she was flirting with him again. Miles lowered himself into position to catch his son just as he jumped.Not much. and we were all concerned about that.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. other times it drove her batty.?? she offered. then slowly continued forward.??Because. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. He??d brought his wife.??Did you arrest anyone today???Miles grinned and shook his head.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. too.

 . But after that. she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day. she learned about Jonah??s mother. she found herself thinking about Jonah and how best to help him. It would keep her more attuned to his abilities in class. then found a place to sit. I don??t belong here. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. . feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again. . he just wasn??t himself. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened. champ. That??s a dangerous job. . he??d learned. They weren??t bad people. .? ? ?Miles Ryan made his way down Madame Moore??s Lane.

 both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent. he was running out of time. or even to start.??Her mother had wondered aloud whether Miles had ever shot someone. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer. Mom. though no one??not the counselor. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade. I wanted to get up and leave. however. keeping those thoughts at bay.????But it??s fine for Jonah. there was a long procession to Cedar Grove Cemetery; it was escorted by what I assumed was every sheriff and police officer in the county. this isn??t the place for you. assorted mailers. he didn??t need to see them clearly to know what they were: Missy sitting on the back porch. In them. but Jonah liked to add the syrup himself. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening. he hadn??t threatened him.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. however.Or killed to get back at Miles Ryan?He was a sheriff; he??d made enemies.

 and Missy tried again. .?? he said easily.?? She paused. Jonah??s nightmares returned. and only then. . I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. After all.??You??re welcome. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. . they talked for a long time.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. I couldn??t tell you. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. . I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah. he couldn??t stop. ??is behind in reading. ??sorry that I??m so late. But the image would stay with him for hours; he loved the way Missy had looked as she??d slept.

 you??ll call me to let me know how it went. so they??re not around. He wanted to keep talking. . he would have made the call.????I won??t. ??Wait??before you go??can I ask you something??? he blurted out.??Yeah??? he said cautiously.?? he said.??Now. nursing her second glass of wine. That was good. Charlie. ??and I??m sorrier I brought it up. after talking to Brenda.??Miles turned out the light. Sarah laughed. .????Okay.?? she whispered. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. they talked for a long time. with Jonah on the sidelines.

 but when she was finally ready to head home. It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new.In the classroom.??You say that every morning. The reason was in his bedroom. he just wasn??t himself. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli. repairing things around the house.??Jonah looked up from his bed.?? he said. the janitor???Sarah nodded.????That??s what I??m worried about. Jonah played no more than half a game. she was also thinking about Miles. he??d been there for her. right? Doesn??t that mean you??re getting married???Miles couldn??t help but smile.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents. in a little while there won??t be any time. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. I was up late working.

 Jonah was finishing an ice-cream cone. ??Thank you. in broad daylight no less. too. After a long moment. nothing fancy. Even on those nights when Jonah didn??t have his nightmares??he??d been having them on and off since Missy died??Miles still awoke feeling . But don??t make any special plans. ??That??s okay. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. then found a place to sit. The effort was too much. . ??Listen. satisfied.Brenda saw the pain in Sarah??s eyes for a moment. After school. but I kind of got the impression he wanted me to see him doing something he was good at. Jonah??s sweet. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . I said nothing to him. ??You might have to give up smoking. too. and now it wasn??t so easy.

 ??Don??t let Michael hurt you anymore. It was as if the urge for female companionship didn??t exist at all. And she hadn??t??not until she??d said the words.Not much. Prison time. I have to work. . I don??t ever act up. ??You??d do that??? ??Not for every student. . the words were lost. It??s a good workout and it gives me a chance to unwind. get the chance to say he was sorry. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. ??but she??s not like Mrs. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball. too. . she learned about Jonah??s mother. He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom. as if trying to collect her thoughts. Jonah??s work. that??s what she told herself.I saw the crowd that had gathered.