Page 34 of Smoke Season

Sam took heart, knowing that Claude knew his daughter so well. Their dentist threatened that the habit would lead to problems down the line, but today, much like the Bishops’ finances, Sam and Mel had to triage that shit. Inability to breathe now, or cavities later? No parent would pick the former. Besides, the sad truth was, Annie only had so many comfort mechanisms at her disposal, and so many times she needed comfort.

“Whatever it takes to keep her calm,” Sam told Claude now.

“She’s a trooper,” Claude said.

She had to be.

When she’d been born, Annie had been so small. Five pounds, eight ounces, even though she’d been full term. Common for tet babies, the NICU staff had said. The image of Annie’s newborn self, her skin the dusty gray-blue of smoke, of the churning, angry water in True’s favorite rapids after a hard rain, of the nurse’s faded scrubs run too many times through the washer, had been seared into Sam’s memory forever. Fear always flooded Sam when that image surfaced in his brain.

Yet another manifestation of PTSD, he’d been told.

Eager to change the subject, he filled Claude in on the briefing Hernandez had given, and then asked, “How’s the smoke up there?”

“’Bout the same, although ...” He hesitated.

“What?”

“I don’t know if I like the way the wind’s picking up.”

Was it? Sam turned to the window, but he couldn’t see far enough through the haze to notice if the trees outside were bending one way or the other. He and Astor should head back up with the Goal Zero, help Claude pack up Annie.

“I’ll get an update from the chief,” Sam promised, “and be on the road in ten.”

Mel patrolled the roads with Janet as day turned to dusk, the bloodred sun sinking over the horizon like a fiery crimson coin, flat and thin as pressed copper against the ugly gray of the sky. The measure of a full day away from her kids, knowing her daughter struggled in the haze. The rookies and volunteers had all gone home for the night, White and even Lewis had clocked out hours ago, but it was full black by the time she could do the same, the stars and moon scrubbed out by the smoke. She headed directly for the River Eddy, the closest place to get answers; Hernandez had told her she’d find Sam there. In her haste, she crossed right over the outdoor patio overlooking the river, normally her favorite spot to grab a beer.You want to sit inside and catch the game or watch the fish jump?Sam usually asked patrons.

Pushing open the door to a sea of locals, she caught sight of Astor, en route from the office, immediately.

“Mom!” They collided with an “Oof” that sent Mel staggering a step backward, the crown of Astor’s head hitting Mel’s stomach.

“Hey, honey. Hey, you’re okay.”

Because much to Mel’s surprise—and probably Astor’s—her stalwart older daughter had burst into tears upon contact with her. Shesqueezed her tight as Astor held on, crying softly, the stiff uniform jacket of Mel’s yellows rough against her face, a brass snap pressed to her cheek. The jacket had to reek of smoke. “You’re good, kiddo. It’s all good.”

And itwas, at least for this one instant, when she could cradle her firstborn close.

“You’re here,” she heard, and raised her head to see Sam, who had already crossed from behind the bar. He enfolded her wordlessly in an embrace. Consoling one another was still embedded in their relationship, like muscle memory. Sometimes Mel almost forgot they weren’t together anymore; in each other’s presence they always seemed to pick up right where they’d left off, like Sam had just been on a short deployment, or Mel had simply been in the field. Sometimes, like right now, she wondered what they were even doing apart. But then her thoughts swung to their daughter’s health, and the instant pressure that wrapped around her made Sam’s arms feel more like a vise. She pulled back.

“How’s Annie?” she asked immediately. “Have you talked to Claude?”

“Just a few minutes ago. They’re hunkered down.”

Mel frowned. “Shouldn’t you be there?”

He bristled. “I was just trying to figure out how to cut out when you showed up. I only came down here for the Goal Zero, but all these people ...”

He trailed off as Mel felt that pressure cinch tighter. She didn’t want to argue with Sam, certainly not tonight. But still: “Annie’s more important than anyone here at the Eddy,” she reminded him.

“I know that,” he shot back. “Can you just trust me?” He didn’t addFor once, but Mel heard it. She held up both hands in surrender.

“How was the press conference?” she said. “Did Hernandez say anything about road closures?”

Sam frowned. “No, why?”

It didn’t hurt to be honest. “I’m worried about True.”

“Did you raise her on the sat phone?”

Mel nodded. “Last I heard, she hoped to shelter with her clients at Wonderland Lodge.” She bit her lip. “That was before the wind picked up, though.”

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