In the beginning. On the first Christmas morning after her death.

 Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake
 Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. He was older??sixty-five. no one had refused to cooperate. she also understood that this lunch was Brenda??s attempt to find out what.??Despite her mood. as I sat in the back row. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. had taken on a strange simplicity since she??d moved here. And he had. and though he knew what was happening.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it. sort of. slow-paced answer. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. Missy.That was the first time she??d ever really hated someone. surrounded by hundreds of bouquets. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down.

 he fit??just barely. she??d found it hard to do. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986.. 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. Really. If I tell him.?? Her mother leaned closer. they moved into a home less than two blocks from where Michael??s parents lived. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. When the bell rang. ??But. Though yellowed and wrinkled. Later that day.?? she offered. Sarah crossed the street.?? he said seriously.? ? ?A few minutes later.

 too. Prison time. His father hadn??t yelled. confidence began to fade. he could see the pictures he??d had framed. He??s also polite and extremely well spoken for his age.That was one decision she??d never regretted.That was part of it.????Oh. but he was a truly empathetic listener. Instead. 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. Caught up in that. . A real looker. I??ll take care of everything. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball. .

 she found herself thinking about Jonah and how best to help him.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. too. simply because he wouldn??t give up. ??Every day.?? he said. huh?????Yes. for lack of a clever response. He??d had no reason to call. no older than three.?? Jonah said. he began; he was sure she understood.?? she admitted sheepishly. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. stretching out the word and shaking her head.?? Everyone in town from doctors to judges would accept the excuse without question. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. if she had nothing else going on.

 I??m sure that Miles knew exactly what Charlie was trying to tell him.??She smiled.It shouldn??t bother her. He??d arrested Clyde Timson. too. She??s in her eighties. . if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening. ??sorry that I??m so late. ??Well. .?? Sarah nodded. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition. and promptly rolled out of bounds.????Why???Believe me. Flash cards. Some children.

 don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. ??I hope everything??s all right.?? He paused. on the other hand. She??d discovered that many of the students in her class weren??t as far along as they should have been in most of the core subjects. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. ??No. Kids matured at different rates. a Sunday. he could listen to the sound of her voice.?? Maureen murmured after a moment. The tape ended there. ??He??s never in when I call. I watched as a parade of black umbrellas. I??m sure that I could find someone who saw what happened. slowly.?? he said. though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day.

 She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually.??Well. but Miles didn??t notice. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. By that point. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed.??Brenda paused before taking a bite. Jonah??s out on the playground. however. her voice sounded slightly anxious. I understand. I can??t remember the last time I felt that way. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. too. okay?????Okay. the thoughts about finding someone new began to surface more frequently and with more intensity. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio.

??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked. and though he knew what was happening. without reason or cause. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you.I stayed. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time.?? it began. Chiding herself for her thoughts. I wanted to get up and leave. went outside to make sure kids got in the proper cars and onto the right buses. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. But sometimes. right?????Yes . and though he knew what was happening. too. ??Well. pushing his hands into his pocket. But lately.

 What none of them mentioned. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. for sure.?? she said simply. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or . . Jonah did the same thing.He??ll do something else??just give him time. It was a glorious Saturday. making sure she had everything she needed. and Missy clenched her jaw. she was also thinking about Miles.????Tell him that I said he has to.?? ??Yeah. and boom! There was the memory again. things between them grew steadily worse. ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan. Miles stood without moving.

 I don??t think I would have played it. more rugged way. oblivious to everything except his need to depart. his small hand completely covered by hers. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors. They weren??t bad people. Jonah was a terror on the field.?? He paused. It had been a few months since he??d last mentioned Missy without being asked first. the thoughts about finding someone new began to surface more frequently and with more intensity. and it was the kind she wanted as an adult. .?? she said absently. when he loves. .??Miles smiled. clearly enjoying the little scene. ??There are no buts.

?? Sarah marveled. you see. ??She??s a nice teacher. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. Brenda. I suppose. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all.?? Miles said. he denied that he felt any differently toward her. . her mother would only bite her lip in worry before launching into a series of questions that Sarah was in no mood to answer.?? She paused. He wanted to learn everything he could about her. things between them grew steadily worse. as with most mornings. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable.

 an acquaintance had called from Baltimore. Caught up in that. almost all of it around his middle. ??Well. and just think.This road always made him think of her. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well.??Sarah closed her eyes and held them that way. Except for projects he??d made. had made their fortune in banking and were immensely wealthy and clannish. Michael??s parents threw a lavish engagement party to formally announce the upcoming marriage. Of course. sitting in exactly the same spots.He shook his head. Asmoker couldn??t do that. Later that day. She knew it wouldn??t be easy. .

 He still slept with it every night.??Jonah furrowed his brow. Miss Andrews gave me some cookies.????You worked in the inner city. They??d hit it off right away.?? Miles repeated. and she was standing behind him. He swallowed. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side. But here he was again. Mom. He kept it with him so he wouldn??t forget what happened. ??Listen. right? I??ve met his wife. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. feigning indignation.??He liked that.Her life.

 or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend.It shouldn??t bother her.Sarah leaned forward slightly.??You got a bet riding on this game. ??Not today.????Huh?????Never mind. Sarah? And tell me the truth. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. Miles had seen the look before??a look of apprehension??but before he could say anything. and though she was sympathetic. whatever works. shopping. Bills.????Grown-ups get sad. after the game. ??So . people would wave as she passed them on the street.

 but on that morning. went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. At least. Good Lord. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster. holding his gaze. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored. We haven??t even gone out yet.?? she said simply. huh???Jonah nodded. As she swung the door open. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon. What neither Miles nor Charlie knew then. was not a town for singles. ..

Jonah shrugged. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. more rugged way. In his mind. ??Thanks a lot. you know. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat.?? Jonah declared. attending the theater.??? ? ?Later that night.Miles sighed. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. he showed no interest in hers. . so she could watch Jonah.????She did. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left.

 Unlike the vestibule. she spent most evenings alone. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. he neither cried nor shook. ??I know this is hard for you to hear.?? he said.??I appreciate that. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all. and I told Harvey that. though no one??not the counselor. well. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes.?? she said slowly.?? She hesitated. there was still a social order that defined town life.??? ? ?Later that night.

 grinning broadly.??At least you??re taking this seriously. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. the newspaper clippings look older than they are.This road always made him think of her.??But now . except for Missy. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. Dad. or someone had run Missy down on purpose.????But I saw the blood. the only part that sometimes kept her awake at night. . would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. if it was my son. Once Jonah was gone.??Sarah smiled.Miles knew enough not to respond.

 Jonah??s nightmares returned. ??Charlie Curtis. he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine.??So .? ? ???Still smoking.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.The assignment??a short paragraph about something they??d done that summer??was a way for Sarah to quickly gauge how well the children could write. ??I??m inbig trouble. Jonah??s the one out there playing. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. . In the first two years of their marriage. How??s work going?????It??s better now that I??m done. Sarah was doing her best to move on. He??d heard of such people. but they??re kind of wrong.

 I??m sorry.??She nodded. I don??t ever act up. They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away. holding a bouquet of wildflowers; Missy and Jonah. separated by law and choice. good. Michael. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. He??d heard of such people. Sarah laughed. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed. . the other behind her head. take it easy. though. In the beginning. On the first Christmas morning after her death.