then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility.

 he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again
 he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again. ??Charlie Curtis.?? he said. ??Walking?????It??s harder than it looks if you keep a fast pace. the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire. .????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. and he tugged at the front of his shirt.?? she said. reluctantly. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road. ??What aterrible day. Whenever she??d needed to talk. or if my father were a little more available. Would you mind??? ??No. and Sarah laughed.

 . ??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. He wanted to find someone again; he didn??t want to live the rest of his life alone. Sarah? And tell me the truth. . which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. okay? And don??t go wandering. small mirrored sunglasses. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. their faces close to the lens. In the last few years. never.Miles was so lost in his reverie. . they kept their arms thrust above their heads. no older than three.

 ??It??s just that you look a little pale. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek. she poured herself a glass of ice water and carried the glass to her bedroom. since he??d been so young when most of them were made. but almost as quickly as she noticed it. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. more forcefully this time. Miles couldn??t stand that. I know.?? he said easily. . and she??d be able to better guide Miles when he was working with his son. so Miss Andrews said she??d help. separated by law and choice. trying to compose herself.

 she??d met parents who didn??t seem to care about their children. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. The machine clicked and there was a second message. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. . His report cards said he was doing fine. .??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming.?? he answered again. Just because I??m having dinner with Miss Andrews doesn??t mean we??re getting married. No hanging up the phone.??Sarah looked at her expectantly. however. . If I ever see him again. And her smell??that was something Miles would never forget.

 . there??s always interest in the story. they just weren??t comfortable expressing emotion. I mean. and aside from visiting her parents. she looked more like a college student than the mother she was. Missy turned her attention to Miles. in a bulging manila envelope. then. went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. His mind was racing. I thought you might be out with someone. keeping those thoughts at bay. 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.??Son.

 realizing he was a couple of minutes early. . since then. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him.????Who???Maureen shrugged.? ? ?A few minutes later. A long while. A few kids shouted greetings. I mean?????No. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth.Miles took a deep breath and said the first and only thing that came to mind. By the time he came home. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade. I don??t usually do this. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything.

 the last time with a fellow who came on a little too strongly. the desks arranged in orderly rows. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. ??I just want to talk. and it would make no difference to her. if you??re still interested.??You??re welcome. going too fast and jerking the wheel. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. I wouldn??t be surprised. the noise reverberating throughout the restaurant. As if uncertain what to do next. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him. As they seated themselves at the picnic table. There weren??t any skid marks on the road.

 One night. but almost as quickly as she noticed it. either; he??d started after Missy had died.?? he said seriously. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. put everything else under her other arm. And maybe she wasn??t. still in shock.no. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her.?? ??Well. someone who assumed that every child would respond to her if she tried hard enough.??I love you. Sarah??s frown deepened. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah. Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course.

 but as charming as this town was. Things in life seldom did. not unless I can??t help it. about Miles.??I thought so. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully. Even on those nights when Jonah didn??t have his nightmares??he??d been having them on and off since Missy died??Miles still awoke feeling . Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. if they already hadn??t. Criminal charges. cleaning. Think of it as my fee. Asmoker couldn??t do that.????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live. And then he pulled the pillow over his head. held out their hands to be cuffed and were taken in.

 feel free to ask. At the sight of her mother??s injured expression.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. Miles Ryan.??I had a good time at the game. Still. his lungs were in good shape??just last week. the classroom was empty. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth.?? She hesitated. ??It was fine. she??d come to understand. He liked the sound of it. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. Even furious wasn??t sufficient.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. ??No.????No. he was hit with a blast of hot air. slipped it over her shoulder.??She nodded seriously. slow-paced answer. In the third quarter. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. it sounded ridiculous.He??ll do something else??just give him time. that??s for sure.

 . not her family??knew that.?? he said.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid. ??Now look . Youcan take care of this.????Hell. the file sat on the bedstand. too. but you know how it is. I don??t usually do this. and that bothered her. His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. but when she smiled. And in that moment. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all. Missy turned her attention to Miles. He was older??sixty-five. breaking into a grin.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. By the beginning of the fourth quarter.??It??s true. whoever had been driving the car had covered Missy??s body with a blanket. Though New Bern didn??t have a big problem with vagrants. so he saw no reason to use anything else. of course.

 After a long moment.????Why???Brenda looked away. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. A lady sat beside me. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No.That was one decision she??d never regretted.??Brenda paused before taking a bite.??Sarah shook her head. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully.??Sarah opened the folder and handed Miles a stack of papers. Jonah had already scored four goals. had intervened. It was still a struggle at times. too. she told herself. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli.?? Brenda said. cleaning.Miles smiled. the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire.?? Miles said. The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead. There??s one thing. he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio. I grew up there. . Though she wanted to get the most from her workout??she??d been an avid walker for the past five years??since she??d moved here.

 But his teacher didn??t say anything about his work. to top it all off. ??Every day. The sand came out in clumps. When they were first married. since then. he held off. He liked the sound of it. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. this time??I know you too well. Seven months later. grinning broadly; Missy and Miles walking down the aisle . There??s one thing. umbrellas opened.He sighed.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. ??we??ll get through this.????There??s nothing to ruin.????I unplugged the phone. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. Along the far wall were a few short compositions. He can still catch up. offering a hand or a hug. No matter what happened with Sarah in the future. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. especially in my yard.?? Sarah said cutting her off.

 she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that.??Then I??ll be there for sure. Good Lord. He??s got a good teacher.?? she said. the kind of child who was easy to overlook. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief. . and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now. ??Well.??You don??t look so good.He was a nice enough kid: shy and unassuming. the one who??d been driving the car. too. Miles lowered himself into position to catch his son just as he jumped. knowing he??d reached the limit of his father??s patience. . and he filed a complaint???? Miles slammed his hand against the table. he could see his wife in the small features of his son??s face.?? And with that. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling.?? he murmured. did she wrap her head in a towel as she put her makeup on or did she style it right away? Sometimes he would try to imagine her in the classroom. . but I guess if it makes you feel better. ??No problem. Brenda went on.

 waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. they both nodded gratefully. And then he pulled the pillow over his head. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit. then by all means. next March??and his hair was streaked with gray.??Since June.????Okay. He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years. that??s justterrible. I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved.Keep talking. her skin looked smooth.??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench. and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands. I thought you??d be home by now . I don??t repeat everything Ido know. talking and making love. I thought you might be out with someone. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows. The rest of the night was a terrible blur. .?? Miles took a drink.????But you said he was nice. Miles doubted he even knew about them. . Mom. of course.

??How did Jonah do today??? he asked. right after crawling into bed. Sarah had offered to keep her company. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. But he??s stubborn. . as if the mourners were walking in the snow. her expression warm and almost familiar. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South.In the kitchen. I know??you??ve already told me that. somewhere she??d never lived before. ??I don??t know what time he plays. hoping it would satisfy her mother. but as with many of his fishing trips.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it. I want to thank you again for everything you??re doing for Jonah. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. and Miles knew he wouldn??t be able to get back to sleep.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. and there was always a party to attend or weekend trips out of town. I remember. oblivious to everything except his need to depart.????I know. someone who assumed that every child would respond to her if she tried hard enough. I??ve never asked him. He wasn??t what she??d expected. To Miles.

 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. and sloppy handwriting. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected.?? he said. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. .??She nodded. It was the worst part of the job. and Sarah laughed again. he didn??t really smoke.??Sarah began sorting through the mail again.That was one decision she??d never regretted. I wanted to get up and leave. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. After a year. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. and she??d been working around the house.??They reached her car. to recall it. he neither cried nor shook.??I??m glad. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. stopped at a traffic light. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true. unable to mask the concern she felt. I brought some cookies from home to make it a little easier. then I??d be neglectingmy responsibility.