Every Storm

by Lori Wick

  "You don't have to keep doing this," Lorri said, her voice not uncertain anymore. "I truly do not expect you to give me a ride home each Friday."

  Rigg smiled, wondering what that had cost her.

  "You're laughing at me, aren't you?"

  "I'm not." Rigg swiftly schooled his features. "I just don't think I've heard you be so firm before."'

  "I didn't mean to sound bossy, but I think you feel some sort of obligation. And I don't want you to."

  "So if I don't feel obligated, will you be all right with my giving you a ride?"

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  Lorri had to weigh that one and finally asked, "You think I still need to be rescued, don't you?"

  "No, I don't. I can see how capable and strong you are, but I can't see any reason to let you walk home if I'm free to drive you. If I don't pick Vi up or I don't have time to go your way, I won't be able to give you a lift. So far that hasn't been the case."

  "You don't feel sorry for me?" she asked the first thing that came to mind.

  Rigg laughed. "Why would I feel sorry for you?"

  Lorri frowned at him, trying to coyer her own smile.

  "I don't know," she stated, "but I'm done with this conversation now, and I'm going to close up the rooms."

  "All right," Rigg said with a huge sigh, falling in behind her. "I guess I'll come along and feel sorry for you that you still have work to do."

  Lorri's hand came to her mouth, but not before Rigg saw the smile. She was covering laughter, and they both knew it.

  "Miss Archer?" Violet called, running to catch up.

  Lorri turned to her in relief. She had to escape the lieutenant's probing eyes.

  "Yes, Violet."

  "Are you going to ride with us today?"

  "Yes, I am. Are you going to help me with the classrooms?"

  "Yes."

  "We're such a good team!" Lorri took the little girl's hand and ied her away.

  Rigg couldn't help but think of his mother. He knew if she could see Lorri Archer's way with her granddaughter, she would fall in love with this woman. Rigg knew something else: He was headed there himself.

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  "More potato salad, Lieutenant?"

  "Yes, please. Thank you, Mrs. Archer."

  The five of them were on the patio. It had been swept and cleaned, and the meal they enjoyed at the picnic table was delicious.

  A low, mournful howl sounded from the garage door that led to the backyard, and Max looked that way.

  "He'll survive," her grandfather reassured her dryly, not even taking his eyes from his plate.

  Max glanced at the lieutenant and smiled shyly when he smiled at her.

  "What's your dog's name?" he asked.

  "Buddy, and he's really Grandpa's dog."

  "But he knows you're a soft touch," Rigg guessed.

  "Oh, my," Ruth put in. "He certainly figured that out in a hurry."

  Max bent over her food, not wanting to admit to anything.

  "Did you grow up in California, Lieutenant?" Ruth asked.

  "In Santa Rosa, yes. My folks and my brother who still lives at home are there."

  "What brought you to southern California?"

  "The war. I enlisted after Pearl Harbor."

  Conversation moved around the table after that. Rigg had questions for the admiral, and Ruth and Max had questions for Rigg, but Lorri did not contribute. She was attentive but couldn't make any words come out of her mouth.

  Rigg was about to give up hope that she would ever be comfortable around him, but then the meal was finished and he found

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  himself alone with Lorri. They had taken comfortable seats on the patio, and for a moment it was quiet. Her family was inside getting coffee and dessert ready. For a moment she wished she'd gone with them, but then she began to think about his family and wondered about Violet's father.

  "How many brothers did you say you have?"

  "Two. One married-that's Vi's father-and the youngest is still in high school."

  "Are you the oldest?"

  "No, I'm the middle." Rigg had been looking at her, but her eyes had been on the yard. "How about you? Was Josephine older or younger?"

  "She was older. I'm the middle one too."

  This time Lorri glanced his way, but her eyes soon went back to the grass her grandfather would probably be cutting in the morning.

  Rigg watched her for a few minutes but didn't want to be caught staring. She was a little more relaxed with him today, and he didn't want to spoil that. He looked across the yard, and almost as if she'd been waiting for that very act, Lorri had another question.

  "Do you ever think about the island, Lieutenant?" she asked him.

  "Yes, I do. How about you?"

  "I do think about it, and I ask myself if there's something I need to apologize to you about."

  Rigg shook his head. "I can't think of anything."

  "Not even when you wanted to leave and I was nowhere to be found?"

  "I didn't know about your sister at the time. I realize now where you were."

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  "I couldn't tell you," Lorri turned to him. "I just couldn't talk about it right then. I'm sorry."

  "There's no reason to be sorry. I was too harsh on you."

  Lorri looked away, not certain she could cope with his compassion. She suddenly saw herself leaving the island in that small boat and looking back to gain a final glimpse.

  "I wasn't going to jump out of the boat," she said.

  "What's that now?"

  "When we were leaving the island, I think you were afraid I was going to try to return."

  Rigg nodded with understanding.

  "Just a last look, right?"

  Lorri turned to him, her eyes swimming.

  "I didn't want to leave her there. I didn't want to leave Clarence Fuller either, but I had to. There was nothing else I could do."

  "I saw the graves," Rigg told her. "You did a very honorable thing. A fine job."

  "You saw the graves?"

  "Yes."

  "But you didn't ask me about them. You didn't mention it at all."

  "I realize that," Rigg agreed. "Maybe I should have, but you weren't very strong right then, and I just wanted to get you safely away."

  "Why didn't you think I would be safe?"

  "If the enemy had spotted us, Miss Archer, we would have been in a lot of trouble. It was a very vulnerable predicament to be in."

  "And made worse by my presence." Lorri's voice was flat.

  "I don't regret a single moment," Rigg told her. "We were proud to rescue you and would do it again."

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  "You weren't always very happy with me."

  To her surprise, Rigg laughed. Lorri turned to look at him.

  "I'm sorry to laugh," Rigg apologized, "but you were a bit unpredictable."

  "Would you please tell me about it?" Lorri entreated sincerely, leaning a little from her chair. "Some of it is so blurry in my mind."

  "What would you like to know?"

  Lorri shrugged a little. Her reserve had melted away but now came back like a wall.

  Rigg saw it and jumped in. "I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll just start at the beginning, and if you have a question, you stop me."

  "All right."

  Her face had taken on that hopeful gleam again, and Rigg, anxious to please her, worked to recall thje events..

  "I think you knew thatEvery Stormwas having mechanical trouble."

  Lorri nodded.

  "We stopped at the island and ten of us went ashore. I was with Lionel and Quinn. They were a few steps ahead of me and the first to hear you singing."

  "I was singing?" Lorri asked, amazed that she didn't remember this.

  "Yes," Rigg had to answer with a smile.

  "What was I singing?"

  "'The Yellow Rose of Texas.'"

  A sudden laugh esc
aped Lorri, and Rigg thought she looked more beautiful than ever. He forced his mind back to the rescue and continued.

  "We didn't try to bring you aboard right away but fed you on the island. Do you remember that?"

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  "Lionel helped me."

  "That's right. I knew I could trust him to take care of you."

  "I was hungry," Lorri said, thinking about the food he gave her. She thought it might have been crackers. "When did you find the graves?" she suddenly asked.

  "The next morning. Hugh discovered them."

  A shiver ran over Lorri, but she still asked, "What did you think? What was that like?"

  Rigg debated how to answer and decided on the simple truth.

  "I was stunned when I realized what you'd been forced to do, and I just hoped that the other people on the plane had been strangers to you."

  Lorri's hand came to her mouth. The memory was tormenting. She could still see herself digging and then having to push her sister's body into that hole because she'd been too weary and weak to lift her.

  "I wish I'd left a marker or something," Lorri said, tears in her voice. "I wish I could have done more."

  "You did very well. Hugh and I were very impressed."

  "We had a service here," Lorri told him, wanting him to know.

  "I'm glad."

  "We even had a casket."

  "What did you put in it?"

  "Just little things that reminded us of Josie."

  The sound of her sister's name, even coming from her own lips, was too much for her. She broke down and cried. The lieutenant sat still, helpless in the midst of her pain.

  "I'm sorry," she managed at one point, working to find her breath.

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  "Here-" Rigg offered his handkerchief, and Lorri realized she had one of her own.

  She took his anyway.

  "Thank you," Lorri said, her voice still coming in gasps. "You're going to think that all we do is cry."

  "I don't think that, and I would wonder more if you didn't cry."

  "She had a fiance," Lorri suddenly said. "So often I wish it had been me so Josie could have gone on to marry Ken."

  I don't wish it had been you,Rigg thought but kept silent, not sure what to say next.

  "I think my family forgot that they were supposed to bring coffee and cake," Lorri said as she suddenly glanced behind her, wondering where everyone had gone.

  "Before they come with the cake, Miss Archer," Rigg spoke up. "I would like to suggest something to you."

  "All right."

  "If you have any more questions about the island, please ask me. You can write me at the base if that's easier, or catch me at church or even when I come to get Violet. Okay?"

  "Okay. Thank you."

  The silence rained down on them again. It was a little uncomfortable, but Lorri didn't try to find her family. She had one more thing to say.

  "Thank you for letting me talk to you."

  "You're welcome,"

  "You saw worse things, didn't you?"

  Rigg looked at her but didn't answer.

  "Oh, I knowj you don't want to tell me about it, but I know it was awful for you too."

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  "At times it was. That's very true." "I'm glad it's over."

  Rigg sighed, his heart relaxing. "So ami, Miss Archer-so am I."

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  "Where were you?" Lorri asked of Ruth the moment the lieutenant left. "I thought you were coming right out with cake and coffee. What took so long?"

  "Well, your grandfather hoped you would have a chance to talk so we stayed away." She smiled at her daughter. "I don't think the lieutenant minded."

  "No," Lorri had to agree. "He certainly liked the cake."

  Ruth laughed. "I think he wanted to say yes to the third piece I offered but forced himself not to."

  Lorri smiled. "We did talk. I learned a few things."

  "Maybe you can talk again."

  "That's what the lieutenant said."

  "What exactly?"

  "That he would answer any questions I have."

  And with that statement Lorri realized she was exhausted. It was only 9:00, but her whole body felt weighted with fatigue.

  "I'm going to bed, Mother."

  "All right, dear."

  They hugged and Lorri started up the stairs, thinking someone had added a few steps when she wasn't looking. She went through the motions of washing her face and brushing her teeth, but she was already half asleep. Once in bed, she turned out the light and remembered no more.

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  The girls had no compassion. They laughed hysterically over this, and Dean gave up with a laugh of his own. He changed into work clothes to tackle the lawn.

  "Hello, Rigg," said the admiral, wasting no time in greeting him Sunday morning.

  "Hello, sir."

  "How did things go on Friday night?"

  "I think fine, sir. We didn't cover a lot of ground, but we did speak of the rescue, and I encouraged her to check with me if she had any more questions."

  "Is that what she did, question you?"

  "Some. Sometimes she just talked."

  Dean nodded, his mind wandering a bit. Josie's birthday was coming up, and Dean knew it was going to hit all of them.

  "I'll hope you'll join us again," Dean invited, realizing he'd fallen silent.

  "Thank you, sir."

  "Why don't you come and sit with us?"

  "All right."

  With no further ado, Dean moved to join his family and Rigg followed.

  Lorri saw her grandfather talking to Rigg on Sunday morning, but even when they came toward the pew, she decided not to stare.

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  Rigg didn't appear to have anyone to sit with, and she thought her grandfather very gracious to include him, but Lorri was determined not to read anything into it.

  Had she but known it, Rigg was on the end-on the far side of the admiral-hoping Lorri was getting some type of message. He wasn't sure of anything just yet, but it certainly seemed that the admiral did not object to his presence. He didn't want to play games with Lorri's heart, but if getting close to her family was what it took to get close to her, he would do it.

  To his surprise he actually heard the sermon. It was easier not to have Lorri in his line of vision because she looked sensational in a green dress with lots of white trim. He was actually able to listen very well. It was also satisfying that Max wasted no time after the benediction. She scooted down the row to talk to him and even waved her friend, Arlene Andrews, over so they could meet.

  Lorri didn't join them until it was nearly time to leave, but Rigg was okay with that. Little by little, whatever it took, Rigg had a challenge and a question ahead of him: Was there room for him in Lorri Archer's heart, and was she supposed to occupy his?

  "Rumor has it that a certain good-looking sailor has been to visit you the last few weeks," Martha Beach teased Lorri when there was a lull in the day.

  "Don't believe all the rumors you hear."

  "So it's not true?"

  "Well," Lorri drew out the word, "it might be."

  The teacher laughed. "Too bad Violet is out sick. He won't have an excuse."

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  Lorri rolled her eyes at the teacher's tone and went back to putting vocabulary words on the board.

  Several times during the day she'd been caught up with guilt. Was she sorry that Violet was sick or that the lieutenant wouldn't be coming? Each time she tried to remember the sick child and pray for her.

  If the truth be told, she had grown very accustomed to seeing Lieutenant Riggs on Friday afternoons. It was the highlight of her day, and sometimes the highlight of her week. She wasn't exactly blue when it was time to see the children off, but it didn't hold the usual anticipation of most Fridays.

  "Hello."

  Lorri started when she heard the voice, not having seen him. The childre
n were all gone, and he was waiting back by the classroom. For a moment Lorri stared at him.

  "Violet was out sick today," she finally managed. "Did your brother not tell you?"

  "Actually I did know that," Rigg said, hoping she would still ride home with him. "I didn't want you to get wet if it rained."

  Lorri stepped out from under the overhang of the building, her head going back to inspect a perfect sky-clear and blue, not a cloud in sight. When she looked back at the lieutenant, she barely kept from laughing.

  "That was very thoughtful of you," Lorri just managed to say. "I didn't even bring my umbrella."

  Rigg's smile now matched her own. "Whenever you're ready" was all he said.

  This time they talked all the way home. Lorri learned of Rigg's duties at the base and that he would be done in late June.

  "What

  will you do?" Lorri asked.

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  "Hopefully find a job. I was with a small architectural firm before enlisting, and I'll probably go back to that."

  "To that line of work or to that firm?"

  "That firm is in Santa Rosa. I'd like to stay in southern California if I can."

  Lorri glanced over to find him watching her. Their eyes held. The light turned green, and the person in the car behind them tapped on his horn.

  "You could get us into an accident,^ Rigg said, his foot going down on the gas.

  "I could?"

  "Certainly. It's quite obvious to me."

  Lorri watched his profile, seeing that he wanted to smile.

  "I think you're better behaved when your niece is along."

  "Shh " he said softly. "It will be our little secret."

  Again Lorri wanted to laugh. She felt that way a lot when he was around.

  "So tell me," Rigg said. They were in the driveway, and Rigg had held Lorri's door open so she could get out. "Have you thought of any more questions you wanted to ask me?"

  "Not really about the rescue, but I did think of one thing."

  "Okay."

  "The food on the boat was good, and I've always heard the opposite. Did Ellis fix special things for me?"

  "Yes," Rigg replied drily, "I suspect he did go out of his way for you, but you need to remember that you were starving."

  Lorri laughed. His tone and facial expressions had been hysterical.

  "Oh, yes," he went on. "You can laugh. You didn't have to eat our usual fare for months on end."

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