She wants to reconcile with her father but carries shame, guilt, and the DNA of her past, unsure she is ready or welcome. Set in Southern Oregon, this is a character driven novel about estrangement, truth, and the slow work of forgiveness. A regional wildfire sits in the background as a mirror rather than the plot. Sky has spent years running from the ache of unfinished conversations. Chief Murphy Wilson knows how to handle a crisis, yet struggles with the one person who matters most. This is a tender, unflinching look at repair, second chances, and what survives when the smoke clears.