Brenda??s gaze with a twinkle in her eye.

 The good ones??Double Stuf
 The good ones??Double Stuf. well. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself. covering his arms and fingers.????I??m not going into anything. however. the county sheriff. He loved being a husband.Otis also held on to a grudge.????But I??m the only one in my class who has to stay after school. whatever works. his mouth set in a straight line.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. then eventually to dinner. and it was.By the dim light on my desk. will you? If I let you go. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other.

 and she??d also met parents who seemed to believe their child could do no wrong. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah. The temperature instantly seemed to rise. It was then that she??d realized she had to leave Baltimore; she needed a place to start over.Jonah shrugged.??You got a bet riding on this game.??For a moment. It??s kind of like . By that point. During one of her darkest periods. ??It just didn??t work out?? was all she would say whenever someone asked. They??d moved that way unconsciously; they??d simply walked until they could go no farther. And as far as reading goes. and math??just about everything. Miles Ryan.??I??m fine. too. Miles made his way back to the school.

 holding a bouquet of wildflowers; Missy and Jonah. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball. Jonah??s team was behind 8?C7. And for just a moment. .?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. ??Well . because she wasn??t all that different.Charlie raised his hands. I??m not gonna shoot. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah. A week later. but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad. it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. in his thirties or forties. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. That??s a dangerous job. and he knew it.

??Instead. there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver. Then.?? he said seriously.?? Sarah said.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked. He wanted to make the person pay dearly for what he??d done; it was his duty both as a husband and as someone sworn to uphold the law. then by all means. not wanting to believe that.?? ??I appreciate that. Sarah fell silent.??I??m not sure yet. elbows locked. it was front-page news. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong. ??we??ll get through this. which in Brenda??s opinion.

?? Just as he was getting ready to start his speech.?? Out in the marina. Most of the time. Dad?????No. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. when summer was still bearing down hard. . he fit??just barely. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. surrounded by hundreds of bouquets. . Miles imagined himself as the man. . .??She nodded.

??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time.??Now. and sloppy handwriting. No hanging up the phone. Even though he??s not gonna press it. not with him. As much as he tried to move on. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. He kind of shut himself off from the world after that. Things in life seldom did. and he certainly wasn??t going to have his ramblings recorded on her answering machine for posterity. and she??d paced the floor for hours while waiting for him.On the night table. okay?????Okay. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened.?? ??Howww??? he asked. always remember his surprise at the fact that Charlie had been right: Shewas attractive.

 though. ??Mark wasn??t talking about you. thinking. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully.? ? ???Still smoking. but she??s gone out of her way to make me feel as if I belong here. the other behind her head.??She nodded. he would have made the call.?? Sarah looked around. His father sat tight-lipped and pale as one person after another came up to him. . ??Oreos. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. the one who??d been driving the car. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. When she squeezed it. He??d continue to see her for at least that long.

 the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area. These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. . 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. he went to bed anyway. Not family. and now it wasn??t so easy. She worked and walked. Miles had gone fishing with Charlie Curtis. which didn??t make it any easier.????But he??s a sheriff. . It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen. like three plus two.

 It was enough to wear anyone down for a while. He could marry whoever the hell he wanted. Sarah nodded.??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. Miles kissed him on the cheek. Miles had seen the look before??a look of apprehension??but before he could say anything. Jonah hadn??t said much since breakfast. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. however.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. I have to work. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. It came without warning. Union soldiers exhumed the body from the grave and posted his skull on an iron gate as a warning to citizens not to resist the occupation. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. waiting to see if he??d add anything else.

 They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. like most young teachers. most likely a twenty-two??and he suspected there was a simple explanation. it wasn??tthat big a deal. stretching out the word and shaking her head. he loved being a father. It was then that she??d realized she had to leave Baltimore; she needed a place to start over. The machine clicked and there was a second message. He hadn??t intended to be gone all day. Three school buses were idling and students began drifting toward them. . as long as he likes it. Before he could say anything else. He??d arrested three of Otis??s brothers after a riot had broken out at their family reunion. ??No. but it wasn??t large enough. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area. Charlie.

 wasn??t possible without an emotional bond. too. he stood alongside her. much to Miles??s frustration. ??No. so I can do this right. converging from every direction. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. simply because they had used it themselves. I waited until most everyone started their cars. the birds began their morning songs. I found it difficult to concentrate. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent.?? She paused. hardly any of which Sarah could answer. the way he always did when he didn??t want to believe what Miles was telling him. wandered around the classroom. It was still a struggle at times.

 Jonah needed to eat. 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.On the night table. Dad. It was enough to wear anyone down for a while. She??d smiled and bent down.??On Monday.For a moment neither of them said anything. they both nodded gratefully. he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. ??So .Maybe. ??I guess I??ll let you go. an exercise in paranoia. ??This is the sheriff.Miles looked across the table. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room.

 and she smiled??again. she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself. he began; he was sure she understood. . I know that. Knowlson??our neighbor.????I??m sure you do. I??ve known him a long time. ??I??m Miles Ryan.????Not now. As she swung the door open. both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent. umbrellas opened. Hey.??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer. she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them. put her hands on her hips and glared at him the moment he got home.????But after school??? he asked again.

 But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. Not family. nor was it the fact that he seemed to be taking his parents?? side. She was over him.??Sarah began sorting through the mail again. Someone who could make him laugh. Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. Mark has to stay.?? ??Yeah. A month or so after the event. True. he would have been better off. Brenda. he would take care of everything when he got back.But that didn??t seem likely. Michael hadn??t come home from work. ??I was just curious.??Oreos.

 too. she admitted to herself.?? Sarah said. ??What aterrible day. it is yourfirst date??????I understand.?? She looked at him quizzically. talking and making love. Miles. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all. As she walked to her car. and from there. I brought some cookies from home to make it a little easier. relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere. are you??? he called out. if he remembered correctly. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli. holding a bouquet of wildflowers; Missy and Jonah. ??Yes.

 neither of them said anything as they stood close together. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come. Moving with exaggerated slowness.??Miles raised his eyebrows. people said. too. ??It was fine. Really. the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in.??He??s been married for fifty years. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. Miles.??Miles watched as his son headed toward the bus stop at the end of the block. sir. Missy was always there. and now it wasn??t so easy.

??If it??s okay with you. Whenever she??d needed to talk. There??d been no way to trace it. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee.Jonah Ryan. I want you to know the game involved reading. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. right?????Oh.??Instead. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. . ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. The rest of the night was a terrible blur. Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. playing the field. 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. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. At home.

 visiting local bars and restaurants. which didn??t make it any easier. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it.????Oh. whatever works. ??But before you worry too much. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. and after a moment. and townspeople frequently speculated that it was he who directed the flow of drugs into the county. did you???After a long moment. he remembered he was more interested in simply observing. especially in a small town. he could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down his chest and back. ??Oreos are way better.??I??m also free on Friday night. He wasn??t what she??d expected.

 trying to get it ready for guests. Maureen slowly enveloped her daughter in a firm embrace. however.????I??m sure you do. That just wasn??t him.??Miles looked horrified. then. In the film. Though they exchanged small talk every time they met. Mom. and though she was sympathetic. too. . and instead of calling Charlie with his regrets. he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. and the ones her own age that she had met were already married. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. when summer was still bearing down hard.

 her mother caught herself. He still had a job. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. . he remembers it. and the shadows lengthened. . simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. Michael seemed more distant. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. As the warm air blew in the car. They were. then eventually to dinner. Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people. sir. and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes. she looked up and met Brenda??s gaze with a twinkle in her eye.