Forty Days at Kamas by Preston Fleming

eyes. She looked over at Helen and saw that Helen had sensed it, too.
    "Don't mind these guys," Doug Chambers began without introducing himself. "They're sore losers for the moment but they'll get over it when they accept the fact that the Avalanche are going to win the Stanley Cup again this year."
    The other men paid no attention. Their eyes were on the next face–off.
    "Say, can I offer you something to drink," he asked. "Or did Martha already take care of that?"
    Doug flashed a charming smile lit up by sparkling blue eyes. He possessed a restless energy that made him appear boyish and impulsive.
    Something about him made Claire think of her former gym teacher, a father of teenage girls who had coached girls soccer. The physical resemblance between the two men was remarkable, both having wiry blond hair, a broad forehead, dimpled chin, and a fleshy bow–shaped mouth. She pondered the prediction Mr. Chambers had made about the Flyers and wondered if he was as fanatical about winning as her gym teacher had been.
    "Doug, could you tear yourself away from the game for a moment so we can have a talk with Claire? Helen brought her over to meet us because Dottie thought you might be out of town after the weekend."
    "Be right with you," he answered, and then took a last peek at the television screen before following the women into the living room.
    "Doug," Martha began when all were seated, "Helen has been kind enough to tell me a bit about Claire's background. From what she’s said, I can't think of a better match for us. But I know it's not easy for Helen to leave Claire with total strangers, or for Claire to decide to stay. I thought they might like to learn a little more about us."
    Martha turned to her visitors.
    "Do either of you have any questions about us?"
    "Perhaps you could tell us a few words about where each of you came from and how the two of you met," Helen suggested with a relaxed smile.
    Doug and Martha glanced at each other, each seeking a cue to begin. Martha spoke first.
    "Well, I grew up in a small town in New Jersey. I had just finished a degree in art history when the Events came along. When the riots spread, my parents decided it might be better for me to leave the country until things settled down. So I flew to Paris, rented a room, and started taking lessons in figure painting and color. I was in my fourth year and happy as a bird when I met Doug at a dinner party.
    "He was still in the Army then, posted to the Defense Attaché's office at the American Embassy. We were married six months later and had two more wonderful years in Paris before Doug was transferred back to the Pentagon. But I'll let Doug take up the story from there, because since we returned it's generally been a matter of where Doug's career has taken us."
    Claire felt the joy leave Martha’s voice the moment she mentioned the transfer from Paris. Claire wondered whether love at first sight lasted as long in real life as it did in love stories. She examined Doug’s face closely for clues.
    "Okay, my turn," Doug began with relaxed good humor. "First of all, I have to confess that I only got the assignment to Paris on a fluke. If I hadn’t still been on medical hold when the job opened up I’m sure they would have shipped me off to Vladivostok to fight the Chinese. So, for me, getting wounded by the Canucks turned out to be my lucky break."
    He gave an uneasy laugh.
    "So off to Paris I went. But as much as I enjoyed France, when it was time to come home, I couldn’t stand working in the Pentagon. When I heard State Security was looking for officers with combat experience, I quit the Army and joined on the spot. That was two years ago. We transferred to Heber last summer."
    Claire looked at Helen and saw that her expression had suddenly hardened. She seemed to regard Doug Chambers as if he were a poisonous snake.
    "And what sort of work are you doing now, Mr. Chambers, if you're at liberty to say?"
    "I'm deputy chief at the labor