I shook my head, wiping my nose with the tissue Darby had given me. “Nothing. We arrived just after seven. Tyler drove like a maniac. He’s out there with the crews, looking for them.”

She hugged me. “I know they’re okay.”

“Because they have to be,” I said, holding her at arm’s length with a forced smile. “I heard … about the baby. First Maddox grandbaby. Jim’s ecstatic.” Falyn’s face fell, and my heart sank. “Oh God. Oh, no. Did you … are you not pregnant anymore?”

She stared at me, seeming equally confused and horrified.

“You’re right,” I said. “This isn’t the time. Let’s go sit. Trex is getting updates every half hour from his people.”

“His people?” Falyn asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. He just said his people.”

Falyn sat with me on the sofa in front of the television, surrounded by firefighters and hotshots. As the night wore on, the crowd thinned, but Falyn, Darby, and I remained, waiting for any word other than Trex’s updates that really weren’t updates at all. The only thing we knew is that no bodies had been found.

Falyn held my hand and squeezed, her body sinking further into the sofa. Darby brought us coffee and a plate of donuts, but no one touched the food.

Trex came over, sitting in the chair adjacent to the sofa.

“Any word?” I asked.

Trex shook his head, discouraged.

“What about the rescue team?” Falyn asked.

“Nothing,” Trex said. “I’m sorry. My guys only give visual confirmation, and they haven’t seen anyone in an hour. The helos are up with spotlights, but the smoke is making it difficult to see.” He glanced at Darby, wishing he had better news. “I’m going to call them in ten minutes. I’ll let you know the second I hear anything.”

I nodded, and then the lobby doors swept open.

Tyler walked in, his skin black with soot. He removed his hard hat, and Falyn stood and I jumped up, sprinting toward him and hitting him at full speed.

“Oh my God,” I cried softly into his ear. “Oh my God, you’re here. You’re back.” I leaned back, seeing the matching clean streaks striping his cheeks. I hugged him again, and he squeezed me tight.

“We didn’t find him. I can’t find him, Ellie,” he choked out.

“We had to drag him out,” Jubal said, wiping his dirty forehead with the back of his wrist. He looked exhausted, clean lines fanning out from around his eyes.

“No!” Falyn cried.

Tyler released me and walked over to Falyn, pulling her into his arms. He whispered in her ear as she shook her head, and then her knees gave way, her wails filling the lobby.

My eyes blinked open, hearing the middle of Tyler and Falyn’s conversation. She was going to work, unable to sit around and wait any longer.