John A. Heldt - The Fire

THE FIRE

A novel by

John A. Heldt

Copyright 2013 by John A. Heldt

Edited by Aaron Yost

Cover art by LLPix Designs

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, with the exception of 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 are 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

The Mirror

American Journey Series

September Sky

Mercer Street

Indiana Belle

Class of '59

Hannah's Moon

Carson Chronicles Series

River Rising

Boxed Sets

Northwest Passage: The First Three Novels

American Journey: The First Three Novels

Audiobooks

The Mine

The Journey

The Show

The Fire

The Mirror

September Sky

Mercer Street

Indiana Belle

Class of '59

Follow John A. Heldt online at:

johnheldt.blogspot.com

To Esther, Jim, Anna, David, and Tim

Sometimes what you want is right in front of you . Meg Cabot

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

Every path hath a puddle . George Herbert

CONTENTS

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, fifth 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?"