Every Storm (31 page)

"If I did, you would have known it a long time ago."

Lorri nodded. Rigg might be nervous around Dean Archer, but there was no reason. It looked as though it might be something Rigg would have to work through on his own.

"My brother and sister-in-law want to know whether you can join them for lunch on Sunday," Rigg told Lorri when he picked up Violet on Friday afternoon.

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"Will you be there?" she asked, teasing him a little.

"No," he teased right back. "They want to give you the third degree and don't want me around."

"Oh, I don't know if I can agree to that. I might end up as nervous around them as you are around Grandpa."

"I thought I was hiding that better."

Lorri looked sympathetic. "Does he still scare you?"

"A little. It's probably his rank more than anything else."

"Are you coming to our house?" Violet suddenly asked.

"I believe I am. Won't we have fun?"

"I have a brother. He's little."

"What's his name?"

"William. We call him Billy sometimes."

"Nicknames are fun."

"What's a nickname?"\

"Well, like when you call William, Billy, or when your uncle calls you Vi. It's not your full name, but it's still part of your name, or sometimes it's a fun, silly name. My name is Lorraine, but most everyone calls me Lorri."

"I call you Miss Archer."

"Yes, you do, because you're a very good girl."

Violet managed to look shy and pleased all at the same time. Lorri invited her to help with the classrooms, and they were done in record time.

Rigg stood back and let them talk, staying quiet in the car when Violet continued to question Lorri. It was not how Rigg wanted to spend the few minutes he had with her on Friday afternoons but felt he had no choice. He dropped Lorri off and comforted himself with the fact that he would see her Sunday, and not just

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for church. They could spend the afternoon together at Jim and Dorothy's.

Max could hardly believe her eyes. They still had five minutes until the service started, so she walked to the back pew, her eyes on the serious face of Johnny King.

"Hello, Johnny."

"Hello, Max," he returned, all swagger and bravado gone.

"Are you all right?"

Johnny looked ahead for a moment, his eyes pained. Max hesitated in indecision, but went ahead and spoke.

"Do you mind if I pray for you, Johnny?"

"No," his voice had grown hoarse.
*l
don't mind at all."

Max gave him an understanding smile and moved to sit with her family. Each one of them, Rigg included, saw the tears in her eyes, but the music was starting and questions would have to wait.

Lorri felt her heart pound. She didn't know why. She had already met most of Rigg's family, and they had been wonderful. But for some reason Rigg's brother and wife, Violet's family, seemed like the last hurdle. If they liked her, that meant she had passed.

Lorri told herself to quit being silly, but when Rigg stopped the car in front of a small bungalow, her heart continued to pound.

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"That was Johnny King from your class, wasn't it?" Ruth asked when the family sat down to lunch.

"Yes."

"I haven't seen him in ages."

"I think he stopped coming about two years ago."

"Do you know why?"

"No, and I don't know why he was there today, but he looked so upset." Tears had come to Max's voice again, but she continued. "I told him I would pray for him, but he didn't want to talk. He's never not wanted to talk to me."

"Is this the boy who has been interested in you all year?" Dean wished to know.

Max nodded, not sure what to think.

"Did any of the men speak to him, Dean?" Ruth asked.

"I don't know, but I can find out tonight."

Max didn't know why, but she prayed that Johnny would be there. If he needed help, he needed to come back as often as he could.

"That was delicious," Jim told his wife, sitting back, full and satisfied.

"Thank you. Shall we wait on dessert?"

"I think that's a good idea. Besides, if Violet can't give Lorri a tour of the house soon, she's going to expire in her seat."

All adults laughed and looked to the little girl with compassion. She had been so excited to show Lorri around, but her mother had put the meal on as soon as Rigg and his guest arrived. As it

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was, Violet ate very little of her food, over-the-moon with excitement to have one of her teachers visiting her house.

Just as soon as Lorri thought it time, she told Violet she was ready for a tour. They naturally started in the little girl's bedroom. Dorothy trailed, loving the commentary from her daughter, and when Violet got distracted, the women visited.

"Your home is wonderful," Lorri told her sincerely.

"Thank you. We are really enjoying it."

"It's so warm and cozy."

"That's just what we were going for. Jim's folks' place is warm and cozy, and that's what I wanted,"

"Yes, it is. I enjoyed their house very much."

"Virginia wrote and said that Mitch could talk about no one but your sister."

Lorri laughed, and Rigg chose that moment to seek the women out.

"I was telling Lorri that Mitch is a bit taken with Max."

Rigg smiled. "I told you," he said to Lorri.

Violet arrived back at their feet just then, William in her arms. Lorri asked if she could hold him, and for the rest of the afternoon, they were inseparable. Violet stayed close as well, but William had clearly fallen in love.

"Your family is so nice," Lorri told Rigg in the car. "They're all just like me," he told her, his voice making it seem like a simple matter.

"Are they as modest as you are?"

Rigg managed a very pious look. "No one is that modest."

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Lorri told herself not to laugh; it would only encourage him.

"I almost forgot. There's something I need to ask you. Do you suppose you could take a long lunch sometime this week and come to the base? Before I'm done I'd like for you to see some of the men. They ask about you."

"I would enjoy that," Lorri said in complete sincerity, thinking the timing was perfect. Next week she took over full-time for Mrs. Carter. "What day should I come?"

"Any day would work. Do you want to give me a definite answer now or check with your grandfather?"

Lorri shook her head. "I don't need to ask him. Most sailors have a thankless job. If I want to see my rescuers again, he won't object."

"So you'll let me know the day?"

"Yes."

They fell silent for a moment, and then Lorri said, "I had a good time today. I enjoy your family."

Rigg smiled. "William was certainly taken with you." He paused. "Not that I blame him."

Lorri smiled but didn't look his way. Rigg's eyes were over the steering wheel, not looking at her either, but the awareness was there. It had been there almost from the first moment they'd seen each other at the school.

Your letter made my day,
Ruth's father wrote the last week in May.
You and Dean come anytime you can. I don't get out as much these days, and there isn't anything on my calendar that can't be

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changed. You haven't seen the fall colors in many years, and that's sure to be a treat.

Ruth didn't know why, but the words made her cry. She missed her father, missed him more with the passage of time. He was a great communicator, writing faithfully over the years, but not seeing him, not being close enough to hug him, was taking a toll on her heart. She also pined for her hometown, the precious people there, and the house where she grew up.

Ruth turned to the kitchen calendar and studied the weeks. Late September should work. That would put them in Minnesota in early October. Ruth took a pencil and wrote in the date. The colors would be beautiful.

Lorri Archer had been on U.S. naval bases since before she could walk, but not in recent years. She had been a young teen the last time she visited. And she was learning something in a hurry: Coming onto the base as a woman in her midtwenties was a completely different affair.

Jeeps slowed to a crawl. Sailors in a hurry suddenly had no place to go. Lorri didn't make eye contact with anyone but kept moving toward the building where she was supposed to find Rigg's office. She could feel eyes on her from every direction, and it was a tremendous relief to gain the building and slip inside.

A sailor stood when she stepped up to his desk, his look respectful as he offered to help her.

"Would you please tell Lieutenant Riggs that Miss Archer is here."

"Certainly, ma'am. Feel free to take a seat while you wait."

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Lorri thanked him and did sit down but the wait was far from taxing. The sailor returned, Rigg on his heels. He smiled at the sight of Lorri.

"Come on back to my office" he invited as he led the way.

"Did you get stared at?"

"Yes," Lorri said, looking down at herself with a frown.

"You look too good in that dress."

"I was going for severe."

Rigg shook his head in pity. Navy was her color, and her figure was too shapely to be ignored. Lorri looked up to find his eyes full of amusement.

"It didn't work, did it?" she asked.

"No, and since my men saw you looking distinctly different than you do right now, the staring is going to continue."

Lorri nodded, sure she knew what he meant but not prepared for the real thing. She walked into the mess hall and found the men all waiting for her at a table. They were astounded. Hugh Westland needed a few moments to find his voice, as did most of the others. Lionel was the only man who greeted her as though nothing had changed.

"It's good to see you, Miss Lorri."

"It's good to see you, Lionel," Lorri warmly returned, shaking his hand in the process. "I'm so glad you're home safe. I don't know if I ever thanked you for everything."

"You did, Miss Lorri, many times."

Lorri moved to speak to the others, but Hugh was catching Rigg'sear.

"You could have warned us," he accused.

Rigg smiled. "It's more fun this way."

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Hugh shook his head a little. "I don't think I realized just how starved she was. I assumed she was a very thin woman to begin with."

For a moment Rigg was swept back. He could see how easily that would be to imagine. The pathetic little person they rescued- pale and skinny-was difficult to conjure up while in the presence of the current Lorri Archer, who exuded good health and well being.

The time went by fast. Lorri listened to stories of how the war had ended for the
Every Storm
as well as to the men's future plans. She also answered questions about her own life and her teaching. Most of the men were not afraid to tell her they were sorry for her loss, and Lorri wondered how many details of their personal lives they were omitting. Hugh had recent information about Harlan Ellis, and Lorri was glad to hear that he was home and recovering well.

She found it a little hard to leave them, but Rigg rescued her with the reminder that they all had to get back to work. Click had given her an envelope of pictures, which she tucked into her purse before Rigg saw her to the car.

"Would it be all right if I stop by tonight?" Rigg asked after he opened Lorri's door.

"Certainly. Would you like to come for dinner?"

"It will probably be afterward if that's all right."

"It's fine. Any time is fine."

Rigg thanked her for coming and smiled his warm, kind smile at her, but Lorri left with a feeling of unease. She didn't think tonight's visit was for pleasure. She tried not to worry about it the rest of the afternoon.

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1

Ruth came from upstairs to find Lorri at the kitchen table, surprised that she hadn't heard her come in. It was on the tip of Ruth's tongue to ask about her trip to the base, but something in her daughter's posture stopped her.

Ruth came forward to see pictures set out on the table. About ten photos in all, they were the focus of Lord's gaze. Her face was dosed and very pale. Ruth sat down slowly, picking up a photo that showed the remains of the plane.

"Oh, my," she whispered. "Where did these come from?"

"A man I only know as Click. He always had a camera with him, but I have no memory of his taking most of these photos."

Ruth looked at Lorri lined up with the men, so thin and emaciated that Ruth's hand shook. She looked like a prisoner of war.