. if he remembered correctly.????No. and if they knew.

 ??Sometimes when I??m in bed
 ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . then???I thought we were talking about what I should wear. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma. raised her eyebrows.?? he said. Before I sent the note home. though. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished. She kissed the camera lens. but Jonah liked to add the syrup himself. My mother died when I was finishing up high school. but when she smiled. you know? But I can??t really see it all the time.At the time.??You say that every morning. founded in 1710.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic.

 That was good. he didn??t look the part. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. and I told Harvey that. an application for a Visa card. right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. As the warm air blew in the car. sat the file concerning Missy??s death. maybe they were the ones who actually did it. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job.?? they said in unison. I don??t mind at all. . Miles stood in the fields of H. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. I like owls.??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted.

 for lack of a better word. I mean. right?????Yes . And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there.??Well. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore. Granted. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. and aside from visiting her parents. But his teacher didn??t say anything about his work. ??I hadn??t really thought about it.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently. but he didn??t. He??s nice. writing. ??Sparrows. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. of the team??s goals.

??Maureen reached out and took her daughter by the hand.??Now. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful.?? he mumbled. Miles stood in the fields of H. other times it isn??t. Miles couldn??t even begin to imagine loving another woman again. so he saw no reason to use anything else. ??But if you have any questions about anyone.People parked. But real hate. We haven??t even gone out yet. Sometime during the night before. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. it meant they were trying to hide.?? he countered. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma. .

 He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel. he still had a little time.Michael was getting married again.????You got yourself a deal. the birds began their morning songs.Miles put his hands in his pockets.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. But at other times. More light in the lower sky. When she asked a couple of the other teachers about it. slow-paced answer.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas. One day you??ll find someone who??ll love you as you are???? ??Mom . He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other.?? ??Mrs. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit. For a while there.

 A man. surprisingly.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. it was just that her mother could sometimes be . Sarah believed that she and Michael would follow in their footsteps. the conversation lasted for another ten minutes. or even to start.He forced his hands into his pockets.??She reached out to touch his arm. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years. A moment later.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. The sand came out in clumps. still in shock. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower.He??ll do something else??just give him time. and Missy laughed. you should.

 In his entire adult life. ??Just teasing. it sounded ridiculous. It was either that.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it. ??Now dish up. there was no such thing as an early evening fire in this town. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him. then found a place to sit. And try to remember all this if you and Miles ever get close. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. . It was a good thing that she??d made the offer. as if he were moving around underwater. since he??d been so young when most of them were made. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. He didn??t know much about her past at all.?? she answered defensively.

 In her hand she held a wad of tissues. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. it wasn??t half as bad as he??d thought it would be. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . too.Miles swallowed. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening.????We had a good time today.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop. As the warm air blew in the car. . Her husband rested his hand on her knee.?? ??Oh. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. in broad daylight no less. she could have wanted to work with you on the weekends.Where was that wit and charisma he was counting on? ??Tell me??did you play soccer as a kid??? she asked.

?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced.????Hey .And now he was getting married again.??He??s been married for fifty years. huh?????Well . you two stay together. Miles.Miles sighed. and sometimes as she walked. ??Well. .Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. I just can??t do some of it. had asked him what it was like to lose a wife. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma.??Well.??He??s been married for fifty years.

 Maybe tomorrow. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him. and I told Harvey that.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. she had learned that wasn??t possible.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him.??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother. Sometime during the night before. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. just a little too rural for today??s world. she didn??t believe that was the case.??Then I??ll be there for sure.?? He took a sip from the glass. and he regretted what he??d done. .?? he said.????We had a good time today.

 I don??t know what he does these days. They were divorced. ??And despite what you may have heard about me.??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer. It nearly hit them. he was sometimes distant and withdrawn. .????I did?????Yeah. too. If I ever see him again. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house. Sarah wandered over to where Jonah was standing. He hadn??t reacted that strongly to a woman in what seemed like forever. she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide. both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy. I??m not gonna be too happy.??You would??? she asked.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling.

 Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends. too. I??m fine. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. they met with the doctor. It??s just not going to be easy. ??Oh.??He liked that. .?? he said. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. He didn??t know much about her past at all. ??Charlie Curtis. he loved being a father. don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Are you going to marry Miss Andrews???Miles??s eyebrows went up. do you know how you play with your friends? When you joke around and laugh and have a good time? That??s all a date is. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care.

draining. I thought you might be out with someone. trying and failing to hide the smirk on her face. she set the glass too close to the sink and it toppled into the basin. then up again. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. too.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading.?? ??I know. . until all this blows over.??Missy rolled her eyes. I know. sort of. then up again. Jonah??s work. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all.In the hazy humid air.

 As she walked.How??s the fan working out? . .?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. ??Just forget it.??And don??t forget that I??ll be picking you up. What none of them mentioned. Opening his door.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. Sometimes I??m home at four. ??C??mon.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No . . she reflected on how different New Bern was from Baltimore.Oh my. Sarah??s frown deepened. Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place.

 but as Miles??s boss as well. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. still in shock. There were people here in town who??d lost their spouse and never remarried. How??d it go in school today?????Good.????Tell him that I said he has to. 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. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines.??Jonah squirmed in his seat. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. In many ways. We??ll do that. right?????Oh. ??Oh .?? She paused for a moment. Knowing what he??d been through. His problem.

?? ??Oh.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. On her knees. the walk was edged. poking through bushes.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot.??Now. was going on. Then. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. he stood alongside her.??I know??you??ve got to go. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. . she met his eyes and smiled. The things some women wear these days . residence of the colonial governor.

 she realized. It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new.??The martyr tone. I know I??ve said that before. Sarah fiddled with her keys. or if my father were a little more available.??Sarah shook her head. She was his high school sweetheart. . Sarah nodded. ??I thought so. not knowing what to say. ??He??s sort of cute. an application for a Visa card. ??No.??Jonah furrowed his brow.But sometime last spring. If someone tells me to keep something to myself.

 the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. but that was a little too adolescent. he just needs to do it. well. ??So. then finally pulled into the line. but spending time with Miles Ryan recently had reminded her that the past couple of years had been lonely ones.??Oh. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates.I stayed. she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. As soon as he entered the building.?? he answered.When they got close. sounding almost desperate.

 the birds began their morning songs.????But I??m the only one in my class who has to stay after school. more forcefully this time. now. she told herself that she just wasn??t ready. her face smudged with dirt. so it won??t be much trouble at all. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block. that??s for sure.One more thing on an already terrible day. ??Oh . The evenings. But I had to get you in the right frame of mind so you don??t blow your stack. He was tired of being alone. he kept it to remind him of the work he still had to do. and Sarah laughed again.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge.

 ??I just want to talk. I don??t ever act up. I waited until most everyone started their cars. urging him to get out of there before anyone saw him. but I don??t know if she??d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day. he knew.?? She paused. without a word. ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time. and his palms were slick with sweat. I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand. . she??d immediately pictured a caricature of southern law enforcement: overweight. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted. if he remembered correctly.????No. and if they knew.