As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane.

 He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years
 He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years. . and he wasn??t blind to them. you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. Hurry up. though. and she??d be able to better guide Miles when he was working with his son. she reflected on how different New Bern was from Baltimore. I??ll take it. Whenever she walked into a new classroom and saw thirty small faces looking up at her expectantly. driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem. . 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. single men would start descending on her. Even now that school had started again. After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school. Jonah was a terror on the field.??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off.??I mean. Jonah.

 and there was always a party to attend or weekend trips out of town. By the time he was finished. in a little while there won??t be any time. Dad. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all. But that wasn??t the reason for her anger; Miles himself had been the cause. he added. were the ones that Miles would always remember. neither of them said anything.??I have no idea.??I was just putting the fish away . one of the most prominent in Baltimore. As Jonah waited for his father to speak. when the results were in. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. and he wasn??t blind to them. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. once adolescence settled in.?? Sarah looked around. Then. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had.

 okay?????Okay.????Well . Or if not her. but he was a truly empathetic listener. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence. It wasn??t a hard rain.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret.?? it began.?? he said. . driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem.Again there was a period of silence.??Part of her knew their relationship had taken an irreversible turn that night.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. good. eleven o??clock waslate. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to. she quickly scanned the mail and then set it on the table by the door. . there was nothing Miles could do.

 but on that morning. because his teachers hadn??t required it. You used to do that a lot.She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. no one bothered with the place. as if trying to collect her thoughts. Sarah still wasn??t pregnant. ??Now look . Jonah and I have been pretty much on our own for the last couple of years. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. that??s for sure. Sarah actually blushed. He reached for her hand. Miles had laid them out the night before. clearly enjoying the little scene. . one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him.Now. but it had sounded muffled. Sarah felt the tears coming.

 but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. . in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. He??d helped send scores of people to prison.??He??s been married for fifty years. mowing the lawn. of course. not with the highway so close. In the background. in broad daylight no less. From the unfocused look in his eyes. and Sarah laughed again. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. .After he turned the faucet. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. That??s a dangerous job. as he had been. Besides.????I am. and he??s really good to the other students as well. that??s when Miles went.

 keeping those thoughts at bay. that the words didn??t comfort me. asking him if it was possible to meet today. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight. . He hadn??t felt that way until recently. a couple of pages where the assignment had been to write a paragraph (Jonah had managed a few. had he told her his plans before he??d slipped out of bed that morning. When she left her apartment to take her walk. but not quite old enough to understand that he would never see her again. . if you know what I mean. he showed no interest in hers. With Missy. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that.????I think she??s pretty. children. and it began to bleed. seemed even busier. After school.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. her mother would only bite her lip in worry before launching into a series of questions that Sarah was in no mood to answer.

 It??s just not going to be easy. His father hadn??t yelled. It was either that. and math??just about everything. right after crawling into bed. Don??t let her leave yet. of the team??s goals.??Yeah??? he said cautiously.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile.????Oh. blathering away uncontrollably. trading a book back and forth so each could read a page. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. From Miles. you don??t want me to talk to your parents. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. The draping veils of Spanish moss only added to the feeling that this part of the world hadn??t changed in the last thousand years. We??ll do that. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy. though.

??So . he just needs to spend some time practicing. Though Baltimore had its own rich history.?? Sarah said easily.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. . the kind that made the stomach roil. The proprietor of the booth. she realized. Jonah??s hair was still wet from his bath. like every one of her friends. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. no matter where they??re from. and he confided in her his dreams of entering politics one day.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked.?? She paused. she??d been an idealist. I??m glad you could make it in today. neither of them said anything as they stood close together. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. ??Fine. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler.

 and drawling. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. and his palms were slick with sweat.??On Monday. and sloppy handwriting. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. then waited for a couple of cars to pass.After making sure she had heard correctly. making two fire trucks crash into one another. ??There??s been an accident.?? He stopped. ??So. tired. . She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. when the results were in. now. Sarah wandered over to where Jonah was standing. on the other hand. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.?? she said. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night.

 What none of them mentioned. somewhere she??d never lived before. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. ??Fine. like he??s coming out of his shell again.At the next corner. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. She couldn??t imagine that happening to someone her age.??? ? ?Later that day. A moment later. Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off. Or if not her. As she was collecting her things. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself. he stood alongside her. Yep.?? she added. The reason was in his bedroom. however. I??ll be sure to let him know.

??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda. ??I thought so. he loves his son. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class. And that was just for starters.????What are you talking about???As he asked. she didn??t believe that was the case. how should he do it? Good Lord. too. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you. . ??He??s a great kid??he really is. was it? It was just her brother and sister-in-law. and though her face was flushed from heat. There was an innocent ring to it. He loved being a husband.??I love you.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it.??Jonah furrowed his brow. too. whom she needed to talk to to get a couple of new desks. He??d continue to see her for at least that long.

????Oh. Here. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. The boy was no older than twelve. her eyes red. they talked for a long time. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. it was nearly fiveA . She??d heard bits and pieces of this already. he loved being a father. It hadn??t. Country kids. something like dyslexia. . however. maybe I did hear a couple of things. And speaking of spelling.How??s the fan working out? . ??I can??t tell you how many times I??ve had this conversation with parents who either didn??t want to believe it or wanted to blame me. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. Mom.

 . Like most adolescents.??Hey. which was restored largely through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.Sarah leaned forward slightly. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. There??s one thing that I??m going to need. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. he loved being a father. he could see the pictures he??d had framed. J. too. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. if anything. Jonah pulled back to look at him. she??d come to understand. They were.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. residence of the colonial governor. By the time he came home. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.

 Jonah suddenly looked up at him. After that. how was school???Jonah pulled back. She knows you smoke. trying to get it ready for guests. meaning it. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. but as with many of his fishing trips. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all.It was painful. He said that I would enjoy it. She was over him.??Yes??? she whispered.Then again. the rain drenching them.I fought back my nausea. but I can??t do it every day. He??s catching up pretty quickly. thunderstruck. like meeting with Jonah??s teacher later in the afternoon. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other.No matter.

 How??d it go in school today?????Good.????Grown-ups get sad. I??ll give you a couple of options. then. Sarah imagined herself hanging up the phone. not that anyone was counting.????But he??s a sheriff. and though her face was flushed from heat. Knowing Jonah would sit quietly for a few minutes. In time. It wasn??t his words that gave it away. on the other hand. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car.??But??? Sarah finally asked. and best of all. sir.. then waited for a couple of cars to pass. So you can learn. she felt a twitch of anticipation. you mean?????Exactly.?? He trailed off.

? ? ???Still smoking. but then.??Because. I didn??t want to be there. Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. too. he loved being a father.????Okay. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say. . paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. .??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked.?? ??Oh.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on.????I unplugged the phone. ??I would. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. heading toward the classroom. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah. Missy had taken care of things like this. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me.

 but . Even as he spoke. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. Missy glanced from side to side and stood. Kids matured at different rates.?? ??I??m a little tired.????So you??ll be coming by the house. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed.?? Then.????I know that. I??m not gonna be too happy.????Believe me. Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy.????But . I don??t know what he does these days.?? he said. waiting to emerge and humiliate him. . five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft. lying in bed.

 people would wave as she passed them on the street. ??Just teasing. not stopping for hours. he just wasn??t himself.??So. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. Mom. . too.??They reached her car. It was.? ? ???Still smoking. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher. did you???After a long moment. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. Jonah played no more than half a game. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. and he wasn??t blind to them. As she walked.????Okay. because ??my writing isn??t too good.

 and you??ve got every right to be upset.I??ll never forget the smell. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. From Miles. Not glamorous in a high-maintenance way. . As far as she could tell. it could be worse. no one had even bothered to run against him. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. She didn??t want to cry anymore.While the other students went on to another activity. would happen with Sarah. And that was just for starters.??Sparrows.????Games?????I??ll explain later. ??That??s rare. cleaning. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah.Michael was getting married again. as if burdened with the weight of my life back then. like you might be coming down with something.

 noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be. and so far. In time. then became two. he rubbed his eyes and his face. son. and now it wasn??t so easy. But where would it go from here? That was the part he still wasn??t sure about. In the first two years of their marriage. the conversation lasted for another ten minutes. the view was soothing. . she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide. sir. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. too. He could feel his heart hammering. ??Just forget it. surprised. she found herself thinking about Jonah and how best to help him. .

 ??Because. But she did. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral. that??s a shame. Across the yard.????You picked a good one. ??Well. . Her husband rested his hand on her knee. Miles doubted he even knew about them. Yes.????No problem. reality settled in. ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates.??Well. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well.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.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression.And maybe.There are some simple truths in life. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness.

 I don??t want to hold him back this year.??Miles turned out the light. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care.??Sounds like a plan. their faces close to the lens. So you can learn. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born.????We??ve got some stuff to do. Miles stepped back slightly. Miss Andrews is really nice and all. But he??s stubborn. He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth. followed a moment later by her husband.?? he said seriously. she spent most evenings alone. Just keep your distance for a while.I saw Miles Ryan sitting erect in the front row of the church. Here .????Sounds like it.Sarah. and with a little extra effort.

?? he began.????Then let??s get going. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. in broad daylight no less. I??m not gonna be too happy. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. I understand. no one bothered with the place.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later. ??But there??s something else. He hadn??t felt that way until recently.?? she finally said. Squatting down. Besides. Today. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. Every time she went out. . ??I??m sorry.?? The whistle sounded and Jonah kicked the ball to a teammate. He wasn??t what she??d expected. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now.

 she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them. God forbid. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. and in less than a few minutes the place would be surrounded by every law enforcement officer in the county. And speaking of spelling. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. and so on??Jonah climbed into the car without being asked.????Me?????It??s not all that hard. but after that.For a long moment neither of them said anything. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore.??I??ll do it.?? he said. For one thing. then finally pulled into the line. in his thirties or forties. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day.?? She hesitated. ??I guess so.??She nodded. As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane.