Every Storm

by Lori Wick

  The four gathered around the table and bowed their heads. Dean took a moment, weighing his words, and began to pray.

  "Father in heaven, we thank You for the food that Ruth prepared tonight. We thank You for all of her hard work. Thank You for the roof over our heads and the clothes on our backs. Help us not to fall into discontent. Help us not to forget all of Your goodness and to see our blessings. In the name of Your Son Jesus, we pray. Amen."

  Bowls were passed and filled with stew. Biscuits and butter made the rounds. The silence went unbroken. Ruth was opening her mouth to ask Lorri to tell everyone about her afternoon when Max spoke.

  "I'm sorry I was so selfish about the clothes." She glanced at her grandfather. "I fell into discontent."

  Dean smiled at her, thanking God for her tender, sensitive heart.

  "Why do you suppose we do that?" he asked her.

  "I think it's just what you said, Grandpa. We forget all of God's goodness."

  "I think you're right, Max."

  Get a hold of yourself, Ruth Archer! wasthe silent conversation at the other end of the table.You're still thinking about Lorri and the lieutenant, and you didn't even notice your other daughter's attitude.

  "How was your day, Raine?" Max suddenly asked.

  "Interesting," Lorri said with a smile.

  "Tell us!"

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  "Well, a certain lieutenant came to get his niece again. They gave me a ride home."

  Max's open mouth and huge eyes were hysterical.

  "I don't think he proposed, Max," Dean said mildly, laughter in his voice.

  "It doesn't matter. Raine wanted to see him again, and she did."

  Both Ruth and Dean looked to the oldest.

  "Is that true, Lorri?" Dean questioned. "Did you hope to see Lieutenant Riggs again?"

  "Yes, I did," she stated simply, not angry at Max for sharing. "I'm not sure why, but I did."

  "I think I know why," her grandfather surprised them by saying.

  Lorri looked at him and waited.

  "Well, for starters, he very recently played a pretty important role in your life, plus he's a believer. He's also a gentleman, and I don't think anyone would call him ugly."

  Lorri was quiet as she tried to process these words. Yes, she knew he was a believer, and that was the most important fact, but her grandfather had really put his finger on it. The lieutenant was on the island with her. He was the only person in her life right now who could remotely understand what it had been like.

  For some reason Lorri desperately wanted to talk to him about that time, but she pictured herself asking and knew it would never work. Not to mention the fact that even if he was willing to speak with her about it, she was sure to cry. She didn't want that at all.

  "I think we lost her," Lorri heard Max say. She snapped back to attention.

  "Sorry," she said, going back to her stew.

  "Did I upset you?" Dean asked.

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  "No, but you're right. He did play a big part in my life, and I realized that I would love to talk to him about that."

  "Maybe you can."

  "No," Lorri shook her head with complete certainty. "Asking him would be nothing short of humiliating, and I'm sure to lose my composure."

  Dean let it drop. Ruth looked at him and saw that the wheels were turning, but she knew Lorri missed this.

  The four finished dinner and then worked together on the dishes. Dean settled himself next to the radio, and the women all joined him. They stayed up way too late but were also up early on Saturday morning. Dean thought a drive to the coast would be fun. The women were all game.

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  Rigg almost hadn't come. He felt guilty for liking a church for the wrong reasons and then realized that if the admiral went to this church, it must have something going for it. All of that, however, slipped from his mind as he watched Lorraine Archer walk to the front and stand behind the pulpit. The pianist played the opening chords for the song, and Lorri began to sing.

  In an instant Rigg was swept back to the island and then aboard theEvery Storm,where his men would stop in their tracks upon hearing her voice. The words of the song were somewhat lost on him as he remembered those times.

  A rather tall gentleman occupied the pew in front of him, so Rigg didn't think Lorri saw him, and for some reason this was a relief. He remembered Friday when she seemed at a loss in his presence, and he certainly didn't want to do anything to interrupt her song.

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  She finished-Rigg having barely caught the words-and returned to her seat. Pastor Higgins thanked her for sharing and then asked the congregation to open their Bibles to the book of Matthew. Rigg forced his mind to the verses at hand.

  Rigg looked around the canteen and spotted Hugh Westland. He headed toward his table and took a seat, knowing he'd be welcome.

  The men spoke of Hugh's recent assignment and Rigg's plans to be done with the Navy at the end of June. The men from the boat came up, and Hugh had some new information on Ellis and his cancer surgery.

  "I saw Lorraine Archer recently," Rigg stated calmly after some minutes of concentrating on their lunches, effectively bringing Hugh's head up from his soup.

  "Where was this?"

  "She works at my niece's school," he answered, not in a hurry to mention the way she sang in church.

  "How was she?"

  "She seemed to be doing fine."

  Hugh watched him. The lieutenant was one of the most respectable men he'd met in all of the navy. Hugh had never seen him looking at pin-up magazines, nor had he allowed such pictures in their cabin of theEvery Storm.Nevertheless, there had been something in the lieutenant's voice that caught his attention.

  "How did she look?" Hugh asked.

  Rigg couldn't quite contain his smile. "She looks good."

  Hugh had a smile of his own. He didn't know why he knew this, butshe looks goodwas a vast understatement. The lieutenant

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  had this woman on his mind. He'd be willing to put money on that.

  "What are you smiling at?" Rigg asked him.

  "You."

  "Why?"

  "You've got Miss Archer, granddaughter of Admiral Dean Archer, on your mind. Don't bother to tell me you don't."

  Rigg opened his mouth and closed it again.

  Hugh's smile only grew wider.

  "How are you, Lieutenant?" Dean asked after the man had saluted him and Dean had answered.

  "I'm well, sir."

  "Lorri tells me yo,u gave her a ride home last week."

  "I did, sir. I hope you didn't have any objections."

  "No, it's fine."

  Dean stood quietly for a moment. Thinking about this and doing it was proving harder than he expected. Nevertheless, he plunged in.

  "Do you ever think much about the island and Lorri's rescue?"

  "I do sometimes. It wasn't a very good time for her."

  "No, it wasn't. She's told us quite a bit, but her mother and sister and I can't really picture it all."

  Rigg nodded, not certain what to say to this.

  "If the chance presented itself, would you ever be willing to talk to Lorri about the island and such?"

  "Certainly, sir," Rigg agreed without hesitation. "Anytime you wish."

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  "Well, that's just it. I can't think that Lorri would appreciate my setting it up, but there might come a time when it would work itself out."

  Rigg didn't pretend to know what he was talking about. He nodded slowly, but his face was confused.

  "I have the strong impression that if my daughter-in-law saw you at church, she would invite you to dinner."

  Understanding dawned.

  "I would enjoy that, sir," Rigg said simply, thinking about the short but kind note he had received from Mrs. Ruth Archer.

  "Well, then," the admiral said, clearly d
one. "Maybe we'll see you Sunday."

  "Yes, sir."

  Rigg saluted and was dismissed to go on his way. He didn't have anything pressing, but he found himself walking rather fast. His brain, however, was moving faster, still trying to make complete sense of the conversation he'd just had.

  "How about this, Max?" Ruth held up a short-sleeved blouse in a check pattern, but her daughter didn't look too thrilled.

  The Archer women were in Brennan's Department Store. Max needed some lightweight clothing for spring and summer, but her tastes had changed of late, and nothing much appealed to her. Lorri had the only solution.

  "Try this," she said, not asking, but telling.

  "I don't know, Raine."

  Lorri pushed it at her, and Max went reluctantly into the changing room. Lorri stood right outside the door and waited for hermto emerge.

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  "Is it on?"

  By way of an answer, Max emerged in a spring dress that was beautiful on her. It was made in pastel gingham, and the ruffles and rickrack had not been spared.

  Lorri smiled in satisfaction, and Max made a face at her.

  "Oh, Max," her mother said. "That's so cute on you."

  "I found another one," Lorri offered. This one was a darker gingham with a pinafore styling that Max liked on sight.

  And so it went. Lorri and Ruth each found a new blouse, but it was Max's wardrobe that was helped the most. Lorri spotted some shoes just as they were leaving, and she bought them because they were a perfect size and fit.

  Somewhat laden down with boxes and bags, the women headed for home. Ruth looked at her girls' satisfied faces and had only one comment.

  "Wait until your grandfather sees what we spent."

  "I don't know if you should have worn that dress," Arlene said the moment she saw Max at school Friday morning.

  "What's wrong? Do I have a tear?" Max bent her head to examine herself.

  "No, there's nothing wrong, if you get my meaning." But Max didn't get her meaning. She stared at Arlene until she heard the voice she heard every day at school.

  "Well, now, Maxine. A new dress, and looking better than ever." Max and Arlene exchanged looks before Max turned to Johnny King.

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  "I hope you were thinking of me when you bought it," Johnny said, smiling down at Max, mustering all the charm he could manage.

  "I don't think I was, Johnny."

  "Well, no matter. You don't have to do anything to get my attention. You already have it."

  "I have to get to class," Max said, starting that way.

  "I'll walk you," Johnny offered.

  Max didn't try to persuade him one way or the other, but she thought back to the first month of school when Johnny had done this very thing. Never in her wildest dreams did she think he would still be pursuing her.

  For the third Friday in a row, Lorri watched Rigg come toward her. It was much like the week before when Violet spotted him. Rigg lifted her for a hug and a kiss, but neither one seemed in any hurry to leave. The children were all seen off, and Lorri turned to find the twosome waiting for her.

  "How are you?" she was the first to ask, telling herself she was not going to talk too much or get flustered.

  Tm fine. And yourself?"

  "I'm doing fine."

  "I got your mother's letter. It was very nice of her."

  "Somehow I think she would say that of you."

  It was happening again. They were running out of words and ended up staring at each other.

  "Do you have to close up today?" Rigg asked at last.

  "Yes."

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  "Well, we'll go with you, won't we, Vi?"

  Lorri smiled down at the little girl so she wouldn't have to look at Rigg and once again found the child by her side.

  "I got this wrong on my paper." Violet showed Lorri the lesson when she was back in the first room closing windows and cupboard doors.

  "Let me see," Lorri said, hunkering down to look.

  "It got marked in red," Violet explained.

  "I see that. What letter is this, Violet?" Lorri asked, having guessed the problem in an instant.

  "It's an E."

  "What letter does it look like?"

  Violet studied it. "An F."

  "I think so too. I think that might be the reason it's marked."

  "I needed to give him bigger shoes."

  "That's right. And next time you'll know."

  Rigg, standing again near the door, felt his heart swell in his chest. Something was happening to him. He did not fall in and out of love with the dawning of each new day. Being attracted to a woman enough to want to see her again was new to him. Watching Lorri Archer, seeing her kind ways and sweet temperament, made him wish he could see her each and every day.

  Waiting in silence for Lorri and Violet to finish, Rigg remembered the words of the admiral. He knew that now was not the time to ask her about the island, but he wished he could. She had suffered a terrible loss. Was she doing all right? Or was this job just to help take her mind from the matter?

  Rigg's mind stopped. He had questions certainly, but no guarantees that she Would welcome such inquiries from him. In fact, she tended to blush a bit in his presence.

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  "We're all done." Lorri was suddenly at his side. "Thank you, Violet, for helping me."

  "You're welcome."

  "It was good to see you, Lieutenant," Lorri began, already moving away from them.

  "Do you have a car today?" he asked.

  Lorri stopped, not wanting to admit that she didn't.

  "It's a nice day for walking, don't you think?" Lorri asked.

  "It is a nice day, but it's a nice day for a ride too."

  Lorri hesitated, not wanting to take advantage or have expectations.

  She didn't know it, but he'd already heard from her grandfather that the ride had not been a problem. For that reason, he pressed her, not worrying about the consequences.

  "I certainly don't know firsthand, but I would imagine that you get plenty of exercise on the job."

  Lorri didn't comment.

  "It is Friday, and your feet might be ready for a bit of a rest."

  "If you're sure it's no trouble."

  "It's trouble free."

  Lorri still didn't look overly convinced, but Violet suddenly took her hand.

  "You can come with us," she said simply.

  Rigg had to hide the pleasure he felt inside. In the face of the little girl's simple statement, Lorri said nothing more.

  Again the ride was very quiet. Violet had a question, but Lorri said next to nothing. Rigg, however, was faster once they reached the Archers' driveway. He was at Lord's door before she could even move, opening it, and standing aside to let her pass.

  "Thank you, Lieutenant." She was on the pavement. "I really do appreciate it."

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  "You're very welcome."

  Something in his tone made Lorri look at him. Their eyes held just long enough to make Lorri blush.

  "I hope you have a good weekend," Rigg said gently, trying to rescue her.

  "Thank you."

  Lorri went to the door. She forgot to say goodbye to Violet or even to wave.

  Her mother met her inside. She took one look at her daughter's face and knew exactly whose car she had heard in the driveway.

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  Saturday found Lorri and Ruth working in the garden. Muffin thought it was all for her benefit and was continually in Lord's way, but Lorri was patient and moved her gently aside, drawing rapturous purrs from her each and every time.

  "You didn't say much about your ride home last night," Ruth commented at one point, having wanted to ask for hours.

  "There wasn't much to say. It was like last week."

  "He asked and you accepted?"

  "Well, I guess he had to sort of talk me into it this time."

  "Why was that?"

>   "I don't know. I don't have a thought in my head when he's around, and I just think he must feel a little sorry for me. I don't want him to offer because he finds me rather pathetic."

  Lorri weeded around a group of snapdragons, and Ruth worked on the border of the lawn. The conversation, however, was far from over.

  "Lorri?" Ruth called her daughter's name, having taken a moment to think it out. "Is that really how it seems to you? I mean,

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  I haven't met this man, but I've never gotten the impression that he would be kind to you out of pity."

  Lorri had to think about that. Where all this insecurity had come from she didn't know, but it plagued her. "I guess that doesn't really fit who he is, but I will say this much: Talking to Violet is ten times easier than talking to the lieutenant."

  "I would imagine so."

  "Why is that, Mother?" Lorri's voice held a hint of frustration.

  "Children are so easy, Lorri. They're humble and guileless. We can learn so much from children."

  "Like just being who you really are?"

  "Yes, that among many other things."

  Lorri thought about her mother's words for a long time. She didn't know when she would see the lieutenant again, but she was going to stop worrying about what he thought and just be the person she was.

  "I feel like it's all my fault," a tearful Cora told Ruth. "I wasn't all that excited about becoming a grandmother, and now Janice has had a miscarriage. They wanted this baby so much."

  "That was just in the beginning, Cora. You haven't felt that way for a while now."

  "But I was still so selfish."

  Cora broke down then, and Ruth stayed close. She was in her friend's living room, hoping to find some way to offer comfort and support. But in the middle of Cora's words, Ruth thought about the different faces of grief. An unmet child, still taking form in its mother's body, was just as loved as the full-grown daughter she had lost.

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  Leonard came in from the garage just then. He had not heard the news. Ruth slipped away to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. She stood next to the stove, watching it brew up into the lid, and began to pray, tears unheeded on her cheeks.

  If I didn't believe that You were in control of all, I don't know what I would do. I love You, Father. I love that You love us so completely and that You always know what's best. Cora needed to be more thankful-she knows that-but please comfort her, Lord. Help her in this grief. Help her to trust You for another day and another child.