Blue Smoke Read Free

knock on her parents’ bedroom door.
    Her father had washed his hair, and it was still wet. He’d changed into clean jeans and a shirt. His face looked the way it did when he got sick with the flu.
    â€œYour sisters hogging the bathroom?” He smiled a little, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You can use ours this time.”
    â€œWhere’s your brother, Reena?” her mother asked.
    â€œHe fell asleep on the floor.”
    â€œOh.” She pulled her damp hair back into a band. “That’s all right. Go, have your shower. I’ll get you clean clothes.”
    â€œWhy did the fireman go in when the others went away?”
    â€œHe’s an inspector,” her father told her. “He’ll try to find out why it happened. They got here faster than they would have if you hadn’t seen it. Pete and his family are safe, and that’s most important. What were you doing up so late, Reena?”
    â€œI—” She felt the flush heat up the back of her neck as she remembered her period. “I need to just tell Mama.”
    â€œI won’t be mad.”
    She stared down at her toes. “Please. It’s private.”
    â€œCan you go start some sausage, Gib?” Bianca said casually. “I’ll be down soon.”
    â€œFine. Fine.” He pressed his hands to his eyes. Then he dropped them, looked at Reena again. “I won’t be mad,” he repeated, and left them alone.
    â€œWhat is it you can’t tell your father? Why would you hurt his feelings at a time like this?”
    â€œI didn’t mean . . . I woke up because I—My stomach hurt.”
    â€œAre you sick?” Bianca turned, laid a hand on Reena’s forehead.
    â€œI started my period.”
    â€œOh. Oh, baby girl.” Bianca drew her in, held her hard. Then began to weep.
    â€œDon’t cry, Mama.”
    â€œJust for a minute. So much, all at once. My little Catarina. So much loss, so much change. My bambina. ” She eased back. “You changed tonight, and because you did, you saved lives. We’ll be grateful for what was saved, and we’ll deal with what was lost. I’m very proud of you.”
    She kissed Reena on both cheeks. “Does your tummy still hurt?” When Reena nodded, Bianca kissed her again. “You’ll take a shower, then a nice warm bath in my tub. It’ll make you feel better. Do you need to ask me anything?”
    â€œI knew what to do.”
    Her mother smiled, but there was something sad in her eyes. “Then you take your shower, and I’ll help you.”
    â€œMama, I couldn’t say it in front of Dad.”
    â€œOf course not. That’s all right. This is women’s business.”
    Women’s business. The phrase made her feel special, and the warm bath eased the achiness. By the time she got downstairs, the family was in the kitchen, and she could tell by the gentle way her father touched her hair he’d been told the news.
    There was a somberness around the table, a kind of exhausted quiet. But at least Bella seemed to have used up all her tears—for the moment.
    She saw her father reach over, lay his hand over Mama’s, squeeze it before he began to speak. “We have to wait until we’re told it’s safe. Then we’ll start cleaning up. We don’t know yet how bad the damage is, or how much time it’s going to be before we can open again.”
    â€œWe’re going to be poor now.” Bella’s lip trembled. “Everything’s ruined, and we won’t have any money.”
    â€œHave you ever not had a roof over your head, food on your table, clothes on your back?” Bianca asked sharply. “Is this how you behave when there’s trouble? Crying and complaining?”
    â€œShe cried the whole time,” Xander pointed out as he played with a piece of toast.
    â€œI didn’t ask you what I can see for myself. Your