Page 35 of Smoke and Fire
I frowned. Inessa’s reliance on oxygen had been increasing more quickly than usual. The news left a welling dread in the pit of my stomach that had always been there. Inessa’s mortality was always a question mark on my landscape.
Bastian:Thanks Shayna. Can you text me the doctor’s update when you receive it? I’m working the Pinegulch fire closer to Pineville, and I should have reception in the evenings. I appreciate the help.
After I sent that, I navigated back to the main screen with Dad on my mind. He rarely had any changes anymore. Just worsening ones. Yesterday, he looked the same as he usually did. I dismissed the thoughts of Dad. Too distracting.
Too agonizing.
Under Shayna’s message waited Dahlia’s. After reading it, I realized I’d completely forgotten to brief her on what kinds of questions to expect from readers.
My short tour of the inbox had obviously been wanting. If she dove into my sent mail, she’d eventually see a few replies I’d done before. Those might help a little. She’d probably sent that first text hours ago, although I couldn’t be sure. I didn’t receive it until we came back to reception this evening.
I moved onto her video message.
Her bright smile trapped my attention right away, and I had to watch it three times before I understood everything she said. The way her eyes crinkled and words came quickly to her had me captivated. Maybe I spent too much time in the sooty air already, but it was damngood to hear from her.
From someone.
As much as I tried to tell myself the quiet nights and busy days didn’t bother me, it was a lie. What I really wanted more than anything was someone to end the day with. Someone I could talk to, could ask questions of. Someone that wanted to know what happened in my day. Like Hernandez and Dagny.
While I didn’t know if I needed a happily-ever-after-marry-you-until-I-die relationship, anything would be better than the silence of my father’s house.
That isn’t what happened here with Dahlia, though. Not really. In the video, she’d asked a question, then given an update. But I couldn’t help but wonder why she sent the video. Maybe she did videos for everybody.
I shook my head and sent a text reply. Videos just weren’t my thing.
Bastian:We have reception at the fire camp.
I held my breath as I wracked my brain to think of what to say next. First, I should answer her questions. But should I thank her for the video? It seemed . . . awkward to not mention that she’d gone out of her way—
A reply stole my thought.
Dahlia:GIF
I blinked three times before I burst out laughing.
She’d sent a GIF of a half-naked man wearing a lei, dancing half naked around a big fire. The words PARTY STARTED flashed in bright letters. It was over the top ridiculous and I couldn’t imagine anyone else sending it but her. Such a gutsy move deserved an equivalent response.
Butwhat?
My teeth worried my bottom lip as I obsessed over what to say next. Dahlia had such a natural ease about her. She struck me as the kind of person that could talk to anybody. How was I supposed to respond and keep up that kind of energy? I just wasn’t that guy.
Apparently, I was a classic overthinker.
Finally, I settled on the only response I could think of.
Bastian:My thoughts exactly.
Only moments passed before I had a return message. I straightened up.
Dahlia:How does the fire look up there?
Bastian:Not out of control yet.
Dahlia:I’ll translate that to “good” and pretend you didn’t say it like it will be out of control later. Or soon. #givemesomethinghere
I blinked. Was she scared of this fire? I hadn’t considered that.
Bastian:You’re still safe.
