“Whoa, Mom!” Caleb said. “What are you saying? They’re just gonna drop us off?”

“Hush, Caleb,” Victoria said.

McCrea said, “Mrs. Emerson, what you’re suggesting is difficult, at best. I’m not sure we have the time to drive that far.”

“Then let us go alone.”

“I’ve already told you I can’t do that.”

“I’m willing to give it a try, Major,” Copley said. “I’ve got no place to go, anyway. Could be a hell of an adventure.”

“Major McCrea, my son is in Mountain View. Adam is turning eighteen—in fact, today is his birthday. He refused to move to Virginia after my election. He’s at the Clinton M. Hedrick Military Academy there. Have you heard of it?”

Ten seconds passed with McCrea saying nothing.

“You okay, Major?” Copley asked.

“Are you being straight with me, ma’am? Is your son really at Hedrick?”

“Why would I make that up?”

“That’s where my brother went to high school. It was a little rough back then, but it set him straight.”

“Then you know the route,” Victoria said.

McCrea said, “We need to be reasonable. You know as well as I do that this might all turn out to be nothing. No war, just a very elaborate precaution.”

“And if that’s the case, your obligation to the Emerson family will end,” Victoria said. “Caleb, Luke and I can make our way out to Mountain View, and you can be on your own.”

“What about the major’s family?” Luke asked. “He probably wants to be home with them.”

Victoria placed her hand on Luke’s knee and gave it a squeeze. “Shh.”

“I hope they’ll be just fine,” McCrea said. “The Washington Metro Area is off-limits to us until this is over.”

“I don’t understand,” Luke said.

“He means that if the war comes, everything around Washington will be fried,” Caleb said. His voice caught in his throat as he spoke.

Luke’s fingers dug into Victoria’s hand. “Is that true, Mom? What about Hachim and Robbie?”

Hachim and Robbie were Luke’s best buds.

“Toast,” Caleb said.

“Caleb!” Victoria reached across the seat and smacked the back of his head. “Don’t. Not now. Luke, we don’t know what is going to happen to any of them.”

“But if—”

“We’ll handle if when if arrives,” Victoria snapped. To McCrea, she softened her tone. “We’re going to want to go west anyway, Major. Let’s just keep it at that.” She leaned forward and touched his shoulder. “And I’m sorry about your family.”

He bobbled his head, and Victoria thought she might be able to see his eyes glistening with tears.

“As you said, ma’am. We’ll let if make its choices.”