Fire, The

THE FIRE

A novel by

John A. Heldt

Copyright © 2013 by John A. Heldt

Edited by Aaron Yost

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author, except for brief quotes used in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

NOVELS BY JOHN A. HELDT

Northwest Passage Series

The Mine

The Journey

The Show

The Fire

Follow John A. Heldt online at:

johnheldt.blogspot.com

To Esther, Jim, Anna, David, and Tim

You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need
. – The Rolling Stones

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop
. – Anonymous

Every path hath a puddle
. – George Herbert

CHAPTER 1: KEVIN

Seattle, Washington – Friday, June 14, 2013

Kevin Johnson looked at the entrance and smiled. He had walked through the doors of the earth sciences building hundreds of times but knew that this time would likely be his last.

He was done with finals and, for all practical purposes, done with college. He had cleaned out his apartment, sold his textbooks, and said goodbye to most of his friends. In twenty-four hours, he would don a cap and gown, wave to relatives in the stands, and collect a piece of paper that would hopefully open the door to opportunity.

Kevin looked forward to joining a few buddies at the Mad Dog, an eclectic watering hole on The Ave that had sent college seniors into the world for more than eighty years. In the meantime, he had a grade to discover, a reference to collect, and one more friend to see: his favorite professor and one of the nicest people he had ever known.

Wearing a faded gym-club T-shirt and ratty cargo shorts, Kevin climbed the steps, opened the nearest of two glass doors, and entered the building. He scanned the typically crowded entry and found it devoid of life. Those who didn't have to be here on the last Friday of the school year had apparently already gone home or hit the bars.

Had he not wanted to see Professor Smith, his academic advisor, Kevin would have done the same. He wanted to enjoy a little more of Seattle before meeting his family and turning his time over to others. He had loved his four years in the city and looked forward to coming back as an alumnus.

Kevin walked up the stairs to the third floor and a hallway that led to the offices of the earth sciences faculty. Though he considered astronomy the more important of his two majors, he liked earth sciences – or what previous generations had called geology – the best.

Kevin found the third floor as lifeless as the lobby. No professors or students walked down the hallway. No custodians pushed mops near the restrooms. No one did anything. The place was as empty as the head of a homecoming queen.

It was only when he approached Room 315, about halfway down the corridor, that he finally saw signs of life. A sixtyish couple led a modern version of the Brady Bunch out of 315.

"Be sure to stick together, kids," the woman said.

The woman, who surely went by "Grandma," walked with a boy and a girl who appeared no older than four and six. "Grandpa" accompanied two boys, maybe eight and ten. Two older girls, probably twins, followed closely behind. Each of the boys had dark brown hair. All of the girls had manes of gold.

Kevin smiled as the menagerie approached. Could Joel Smith, the coolest man on campus, a professor who had once explained the geologic principle of lateral continuity on a tavern napkin, be the chief of this tribe? He would have to find out.

Kevin stepped aside to allow the party of eight to pass and then proceeded to Room 315. He stuck his head through an open doorway and saw the professor – a fit, handsome man of thirty-five with a disarming smile and permanent five-o'clock shadow – speak playfully to a strikingly attractive woman. The woman, undoubtedly his wife, had milky skin and thick platinum-blond hair that spilled over her shoulders.

Kevin shook his head and laughed to himself.

My teacher married Marilyn Monroe.

Kevin waited for an opening in their conversation to properly interrupt. When an opening didn't come, he knocked lightly on the thick wooden door. Two heads turned his way.

"Kevin!" Professor Smith said in a cheery voice. "Come on in."

The instructor got up and stepped away from his desk, shook Kevin's hand, and guided him with one hand toward the woman in the room. She had already risen from her seat.

"Kevin, I'd like you to meet my wife, Grace," Joel said. "Grace, this is Kevin Johnson, one of my brightest students."

Kevin shook Grace's delicate hand and noted her mesmerizing blue eyes and warm smile, which seemed even more engaging at close range. He knew now why he had rarely seen his professor in a foul mood. Joel Smith had married human sunshine.

"It's a pleasure, Kevin," Grace said.

"The pleasure's mine, ma'am," Kevin said.

The professor smiled at each of his visitors and put a hand on Kevin's shoulder. He then stepped back and extended the hand toward an empty chair near the side of his desk.

"Take a seat," Joel said, mostly to Kevin, as he returned to his own, leather-upholstered throne. When he finally settled in, he turned to his wife.

"Kevin will graduate tomorrow, fifteenth in his class and first in one of his two majors. He'll carry the earth sciences standard in the commencement ceremony."

"Congratulations," Grace said. "Your parents must be proud of you."

"They are."

"I assume they're coming for graduation."

"They are. They'll be here tonight, along with my sister."

"Do they live nearby?"

Kevin shook his head.

"They live in Unionville, Oregon. It's about a five-hour drive from here."

Grace turned to Joel.

"Isn't Unionville where your uncle taught?"

"It is," Joel said. "He taught social studies at the junior high there. He taught Kevin, in fact. Uncle Rick is one of many things this fine young man and I have in common."

"Your husband's a great instructor, Mrs. Smith, but I'm sure you know that," Kevin said.

"He is," she said with a playful smile, "and he's occasionally handy around the house."

Kevin laughed. He could picture Joel trying to fix a leaky pipe and swearing in French when something went wrong. He had done just that on more than one field trip with geology students.

"I have to ask something," Kevin said to Joel. "I saw six kids walk out of this office a minute ago. Are they yours?"

"That's the rumor on the street," Joel said.

Kevin chuckled.

"I can't imagine raising one kid, much less six. You're amazing. You both are," Kevin said. He smiled at Grace and then turned back to Joel. "Do you ever forget their names?"

"Of course not," Joel said. "Their names are as easy to remember as the alphabet. The older girls, the twins, are Ginny and Katie. Then there's Tom, Patrick, Cindy, and . . ."

Joel brought a hand to his chin, lifted his head, and snapped his fingers. He looked at his wife with a puzzled expression.

"Who's the last one again?"

"Joseph," Grace said softly as she raised the brows of scolding eyes.

"That's right. Little Joe. Like on
Bonanza
."

Joel turned to Kevin and smiled.

"Five out of six isn't bad. If you grade me on the curve, Kevin, I'll be sure to add a few points to your final exam. You got an A, by the way."

Kevin tried to contain his laughter by putting a hand on his stomach. When he caught his breath, he looked at Grace.

"Is he this way at home?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Grace said.

She smiled sweetly at Kevin and fired another scolding, slightly adoring glance at the father of her children before collecting her purse from the floor. She got up from her chair.

"Well, I should join the others and leave you two to discuss your business," Grace said. She looked at Kevin. "We're going to the zoo."

Kevin got up.

"Have a great time. You couldn't have picked a better day," he said. He extended his hand. "It was nice meeting you."

"It was nice meeting you too, Kevin," Grace said. "Are you planning to remain in Seattle?"

"No. I'm going home to work this summer and save money for graduate school in the fall. I've been accepted into a Masters program in New Mexico."

"Well, good luck to you. Please let us know the next time you're in town. I'd love to have you over for dinner."

"I'd like that. Thank you for the invitation."

Grace lifted a sweater off the back of her chair and stepped past Kevin. When she reached the doorway, she turned to face her husband.

"Dinner is at six at your folks' house."

"I'll be there," Joel said, returning Grace's gentle smile.

Kevin sat in his chair as Grace left the room. He returned his attention to Joel.

"I have to tell you, Professor, that I am seriously envious. Your wife is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. She's nice too," he said. "But six kids? That's freaking insane. It's almost biblical. People don't do that anymore."

Joel chuckled.

"They do if they have very persuasive wives."

Joel sighed and looked at Kevin more seriously.

"Grace was an only child who didn't have much in the way of cousins and other relatives growing up. She wanted a big family, so we had a big family."

Joel leaned back in his swivel chair and twirled a pen in his right hand.

"How are things with you? Are you still going out with that distance runner?"

Kevin lowered his eyes.

"No," he said. "Lisa dumped me in April, five minutes after I told her I loved her."

"Ouch! That's brutal," Joel said.

Joel stared at Kevin for a moment before speaking again.

"Don't let it ruin your summer. You'll find someone else, probably someone better. I know it. You're a nice-looking guy. You're a nice guy, period."

"That's the problem, Professor. I'm a nice guy. Lisa told me she needed someone with a little more edge. She wanted a wild man and apparently found one. She's dating some guy who's into extreme sports. So now I'm flying solo again."

"That's too bad. I'd like to help, Kevin, but my daughters are still in grade school and my sister's already married. She is looking for a pool boy, though."

Kevin laughed.
This
is why he came here, he thought. He needed to hear this guy's wit one more time. He would miss Joel Smith.

"Oh well, I'll get it right one of these days. Nice guys don't always finish last, right?"

Joel looked at Kevin thoughtfully.

"No. They don't. They usually finish first if they're patient. Now, I know you didn't return to the campus today just to talk about girls. What can I do for you?"

"I came to check my grade and ask for a letter of reference. I'd like to have one handy when I apply for internships next year."

"Consider it done," Joel said. "Where should I send it?"

"You can send it to my parents' address in Unionville. It's the address on this resume."

Kevin handed Joel a copy of a resume he had printed earlier in the week.

"I'll be in Oregon until the first week of September. I'll send you my new address when I get settled in Albuquerque."

Joel reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a business card. He grabbed a pen, scribbled something on the back of the card, and handed it to his student.

"Take this. My cell number is on the back. Call me if you need anything. I mean it."

"Thanks."

"So what's up next? I hope you're planning to do at least a little traveling this summer."

"I am. My vacation starts Sunday."

"Where are you headed? France? Australia? Moses Lake?"

Kevin laughed.

"My family and I are driving to Wallace, Idaho."

"Why there?"

"We have to clean up my grandfather's vacation house, so we can sell it. He died in March. That was the week I missed the midterm in geomorphology."

"I remember. Well, I hope you have fun. Be sure to bring your bike. I spent a weekend there once. If you like smooth trails, then that's the place to go."

"I know. We're riding the Hiawatha on Monday. I'm also planning to check out the museums and at least one of the silver mines. I figure I should see a real mine at least once before I teach others about the composition of the planet."