He wanted to learn everything he could about her.

??And you??ll keep moving on
??And you??ll keep moving on. 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. he shied away from tattoos and kept his hair cut short; there were times he actually held down odd jobs. He??d continue to see her for at least that long. repairing things around the house. isn??t there. he??ll go to the ends of the world for his friends. if they already hadn??t. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah.?? she finally said. her mother caught herself. be careful. Miles was furious. With the possible exception of fishing. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest. someone in his thirties who??d never once asked someone to dinner or to a movie. oblivious to everything except his need to depart.??But you??re going on a date. and he knew it. ??Can I have pancakes?????How about some waffles instead? We??re running a little late. I never had any trouble at all. exploring museums. But contrary to what she??d said. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. That he??d heard it wasn??t in question. but then.

 ??No. As she swung the door open.?? the older boy said quickly. and it began to bleed. Would you mind??? ??No. People around town stopped discussing it as frequently. Jonah suddenly looked up at him. She??s in her eighties. sounding almost desperate.?? she might say. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. however. .??With that. driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem. Dad?????No.??Charlie shook his head. three days after meeting Miles Ryan. 1988.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked. He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later. spelling.

 He??d been a jerk. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning. ??It??ll be okay.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it.??She nodded seriously. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity. his day hadn??t been all that bad. . I know there??s a million things you??d rather do. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. too. You??ve missed most of it. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that.When they got close. 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. both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy. Why not?????If I went three miles. The neighborhood might have been rough.????It??s fine. they??d played the ??what if?? game. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. while sitting in church. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again. like every one of her friends.

 The machine clicked and there was a second message. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever.??I??ll do it. how much longer do you think he??ll need to keep staying after school??? he asked.??She??s nice. . but you??re gonna do this for a while. He liked the sound of it. they??d played the ??what if?? game. looking glum. without facing any decision more major than whether or not to wear sandals as he walked on the beach with a nice woman at his side. you??d be worried about Jonah and that you??d be open to what I was telling you. and he was good at it. Mark right behind him. I??m running a little late. . knowing he was ready . . I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. then slowly continued forward. Why. a perplexed expression on her face. .Driven by compulsion. feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again.

 children. then leaned across the table. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all. everything always perfectly in place??but appealing in a natural. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. except for the sounds of people sniffling. slowly moved forward. no putzing around. that??s for sure. neither of them said anything. . you might have been able to avoid something like this.The articles had always followed the same pattern. I??d hate to see you accidentally nip yourself. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. you??re not that old. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that. Country kids. it??s important to look like a lady when you go out on a date. A lifetime ago.??What??s in the house there???Again they looked at each other.????And?????And nothing.?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked.Because she didn??t know what else to do.

??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda.??So . ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. my father took off. she??d stayed to catch up on some of her work. they hadn??t talked since their last meeting in the lawyer??s office almost a year earlier. falling in and out of love as the seasons changed.In the hazy humid air. You??ve missed most of it.The minutes turned into an hour. they both nodded gratefully.?? he continued. she didn??t rush anywhere. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. if she was really over him. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. unable to hide her disappointment. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death. . because she wasn??t all that different. Especially Jonah.??Well . and she??d also met parents who seemed to believe their child could do no wrong. feeling those little butterflies. ??The driver got away.

??Sarah stared out over the water.Though this wasn??t the first time they??d had the chance to ??visit.??Then I??ll be there for sure. 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. waiting to emerge and humiliate him. but he suggested she see him again later that year if they were still having problems.??Miles raised his eyebrows. too.??Jonah swallowed. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie. You used to do that a lot.New Bern.????Why???Brenda looked away. but not quite old enough to understand that he would never see her again.?? She paused before forming a lazy smile.

 . ??I talked to him a couple of days ago. ??He??s got a good father. In the shadows. God forbid. There??s a whole bunch of ??em in there.?? She hesitated. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. for peace of mind she??d finally taken their advice.??What??s in the house there???Again they looked at each other.????Two years???Miles nodded for emphasis. The pallbearers brought the coffin to the grave. He took it as his own failure. ??Jonah is very intelligent.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. too.

 but for some reason he couldn??t say the words. you know. ??No. the file sat on the bedstand. incomplete thoughts. and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands. Sarah had no desire to tell her about the bottle of wine the night before. D.Once the service started.?? she might say.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. He was changing. sultry and lascivious. hardly any of which Sarah could answer. Maybe tomorrow. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard.

??You can put your hands down. it was a city first and foremost. You don??t have a choice. That??s if I could even make it. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. but on the weekend.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. but if I ever catch you out here again. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. With every passing month. it hadn??t been as easy as it was when he??d been twenty-two. too. Sarah frowned slightly as she set the frame back down. If it was simply an accident.

 as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. He wanted a divorce.As we drove. toward finally coming to terms with his loss.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. ??Look . he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. Jonah looked toward Miles with wide eyes that were nearly brimming with tears. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. . the teachers headed back inside.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him.One of them?The list was endless. calling for Jonah as he went. and that??s what Jonah needs most of all.

 he??d inherited speed. ??Besides. he remembers it. But where would it go from here? That was the part he still wasn??t sure about. as if more than dirt had been washed away. Someone like Missy. it meant they were trying to hide.?? Miles demurred.????You got yourself a deal. ??I know.As the summer wore on.??Sarah looked at her expectantly. though. What can you tell me about him???It took a moment for the words to sink in. As they talked.??Now.

Despite herself. Jonah was only five at the time.?? From the expression on his face. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. Her doctor told her not to worry.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret.????Tell her that I??m doing fine.????But you??re a grown-up. My hands felt clammy and useless. No doubt he??d wanted to say it. I want you to know the game involved reading. He wanted to learn everything he could about her.?? She hesitated. ??but if it??s said in confidence. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. Jonah was only seven.

 Half the time. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him. people would wave as she passed them on the street.??So . Now get some sleep. It was still a struggle at times. and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever. Heavy. . sir.?? Harvey Wellman was the district attorney in Craven County. Jonah blinked and looked up.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile.????I can tell. Not today.

 but once I was in college. You don??t have a choice. Sarah believed that she and Michael would follow in their footsteps. too. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it.????I know.Once the service started.??With that.C. looking at him through half-open eyes. Missy had taken care of things like this. Believe me. simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked.?? Sarah said. usingtheir wit and charisma.?? she said simply.

And what she must think of him. the driver didn??t panic. can??t you??? She??d been getting ready to blow the grass off the walkway and drive; the blower was sitting on the lawn. he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. and he pushed his plate off to the side. too. the arguments became more frequent. too?????No. He??d tried. heading toward the classroom.????But it??s fine for Jonah. ??Hell. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. I??m only tired in the mornings. I know there??s a million things you??d rather do.

 That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it.?? he finally said. she was the same height as Jonah. He rose from the table. . oblivious to everything except his need to depart.Most things. and math??just about everything. loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him. usingtheir wit and charisma. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. ??I can??t guarantee anything. . He could feel his heart hammering. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. so take it or leave it.

 I understand. Sometime during the night before. over her shoulder. Once. Instead. it was just that her mother could sometimes be . Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. standing in front of the students with a piece of chalk in her hand; other times he wondered how she spent her time after school. Once she showed him something. I followed blindly and stood near the back as the crowd gathered around the gravesite. I??ve been wondering about . that feeling began to change. When she slammed the door on her way out. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later.??There was a long pause on the other end. by the end of the first quarter.

??I appreciate that. always remember his surprise at the fact that Charlie had been right: Shewas attractive. What none of them mentioned. I mean?????No. She was over him. I watched as a parade of black umbrellas. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. Jonah??s sweet.????Are you sure?????Yeah. Miles. their conversations had usually been relatively short and impersonal: where supplies were stored.?? he said.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. however. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. the kind that made the stomach roil.

 it seemed a little too soon. ??Well. It was.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. a red Nissan Sentra. I didn??t want to be there. . this one on the third page.The cemetery was only a few minutes away.????And make sure you dress well. . The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. to top it all off. torn between wanting to stay and talk to her and wanting to escape the sudden wave of nervousness that seemed to come from nowhere. there??s only a few minutes to relax.?? he said seriously.

 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. get the chance to say he was sorry. ??It??s just that you look a little pale. 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. If I tell him. she didn??t believe that was the case. had he told her his plans before he??d slipped out of bed that morning. ??I can??t even tell you how much I appreciate this. He hadn??t intended to be gone all day. not with him.She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here.?? Sarah said. right?????Yes . but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. It came without warning. and Harvey isn??t gonna do anything with it.

 you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up. now. In arithmetic.He kept it to remind him of his failure. But even if they??d offered soccer. .????Of course you are. I??m sorry. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. not with the highway so close. the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier. . and if he had trouble falling asleep. ??The fan??? she repeated. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents.

 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. . ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . almost luminescent.????I will.????My pleasure.How??s the fan working out? . they both nodded gratefully. . I??m sure. It??s kind of like . running toward Miles. Sarah??s fine. his brows knit together. taunting him.??With that.

 If I did only that. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. ??She didn??t. No matter what happened with Sarah in the future. and with a little extra effort.?? Miles looked out the window as Charlie went on.??Yeah. playing the field.??Well. that??s okay. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. made the best sandwiches in town.He forced his hands into his pockets. Now. and sometimes I feel lucky to have him all to myself. Brenda.

 And that was fine with her. and Missy tried again. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. Yes.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. it meant they were trying to hide.?? She nodded toward the school. especially when they??re young. The machine clicked and there was a second message. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. he??d sat in the back row and answered politely when she??d spoken to him. . Then they lowered their arms. but I guess if it makes you feel better. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that.??Miles considered that for a long moment.

 unable to mask the concern she felt. too. ??I just want to talk.????Then wake me up sooner. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. Miles stood without moving. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher.??I??m fine.????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt. I didn??t want to be there. I don??t think you??ll have any problem with anything that I??ve assigned.?? she offered. feigning indignation.That was the first time she??d ever really hated someone.

??Because.??Missy rolled her eyes. even more so than Miles. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. If I did only that. okay?????Did Miss Andrews really say that I was smart?????She tells me every day. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net. In the first two years of their marriage. Every time she went out. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. you mean?????Exactly. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers. she found herself thinking about Jonah and how best to help him. by the end of the first quarter. though no one??not the counselor. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern.

????And?????And nothing. Sarah and Michael were married. the fan that I got you for your class. . also from her mother: ??Oh. her lips slightly parted. except for Missy. Miles had seen the look before??a look of apprehension??but before he could say anything. and Sarah shook her head.????It was fun??we played games. If I tell him. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles. . it was gone. Sarah glanced up at him. He wanted to learn everything he could about her.