“The best thing we can do,” Alisha said, her expression kind and gentle, “is just keep on with our regular routine. Sarah will be in constant contact with the DEC and keep us informed. The kids only have four days left, and they’re busy ones. If they have questions, we’ll answer them as needed.”

Lily nodded. She would do her job just as Chase was doing hers. And she would trust in Chase to be every bit as good at hers as she knew her to be. She did trust her, or else she never would’ve given Chase her heart. Even if she hadn’t realized that’s what she had done until now.

* * *

Lily watched the smoke while circulating through the groups of teens, none of whom except Marty, who stared in the direction of the fire, seemed concerned by the distant black smudges hanging above the treetops.

“It’s quite a ways away,” Lily said as she leaned on the rail next to them.

“No rain in the forecast,” Marty said. “I checked it this morning.”

“I understand they drop fire retardant from the air.” Thank you, Alisha, for the brief lesson in fighting wildfires.

Marty nodded, their gaze still distant. “It’s a little bit like war, I guess. You’re trained to fight, right? So when you have to, you do.” They looked at Lily. “So Chase and the rest of them—they’ll be okay.”

Lily hugged them quickly. “Yes, they will.” She didn’t say and so will your dad, but the tension eased from Marty’s shoulders, so Lily knew they’d heard. “Come on—I think it’s time to head down to the vans.”

The moment they returned to the lodge, Lily sought out Sarah. “Do you have any word yet on the situation out there?”

Sarah shook her head, her eyes full of undisguised concern. “Nothing yet. Nat will get in touch when she has time, but until the teams are deployed and the aerial surveillance provides detailed information on the location, they won’t know the scope of the burn.” She sighed. “If we hear before tomorrow, I’ll be surprised.”

Lily let out a sigh. “That long. Waiting has never been my strong suit.”

“All the responders are veterans of this kind of thing,” Sarah said. “Wildfires are always unpredictable, but everyone out there knows that. The teams are very well trained, and there’s always the chance they’ll have it under control in a couple of days if not sooner.”

“Right. And we carry on.”

“We do. The next two days are kind of highlights of the summer season, and the campers usually love it.”

“I imagine for them playing accident victims and medics beats climbing rock faces or learning water rescue techniques.”

“For some of them,” Sarah said with a smile.

“Ha,” Lily said, “I’m willing to bet most of them volunteer to be accident victims.”