Every Storm

by Lori Wick

  "May I help you?" Max offered his sister. She knew her name was Evelyn.

  Evelyn looked suddenly shy, and Johnny spoke up.

  "My sister needs a dress for an outing she has on Friday. My mother couldn't come."

  Max couldn't stop the amusement that lit her eyes. His tone had been so resigned, and he looked as though he would rather be anywhere but there.

  "You're enjoying this," Johnny said, relaxing a little when Max was herself.

  "Not at all," she lied, a smile peeking through. "What color do you like, Evelyn?" Max suddenly turned professional, and Evelyn, after some moments of shy interaction, selected three dresses to try: two yellow and one blue in lush summer prints. Following

  i

  i

  304

  along slowly, Johnny stood outside the changing room trying to pretend he wasn't there. Max was having none of it.

  "Is Evelyn supposed to let you see the dress, or is she deciding on her own?"

  "I'm not sure."

  "Does she have a price limit?"

  "I don't know."

  "Were you supposed to bring your brain into the store with you, or did you leave that in the car?"

  Johnny finally caught on to what she was doing and even laughed a little.

  "You are an evil woman, Maxine Archer."

  "Are you just now figuring that out?"

  "Men are not supposed to be in this section," Johnny pointed out.

  "That's not true. A lot of men shop with their wives."

  Johnny's face changed in a heartbeat Pure, unadulterated interest filled his face, and he did nothing to hide it. His eyes held onto Max's until her cheeks began to flush.

  "I need to check on your sister," Max managed, but her voice carried very little conviction; She turned for the dressing room, able to feel Johnny's gaze on her at all times.

  Evelyn had found a dress. The blue one fit her well, was perfect with her fair hair, and was even within the price range her mother had said she could spend. Johnny had little else to say through the encounter, but Max was wholly aware of him. How could she not be? After her comment concerning husbands and wives, his eyes had barely left her.

  305

  305

  "Oh, my," Lorri said when Ruth handed her the letter and she saw the postmark. "He must have written as soon as he arrived."

  "He must have," Ruth agreed, but Lorri just stood there, the letter in hand. "Are you going to read it?"

  Lorri looked at her mother. "There's something I have to do first."

  Ruth watched as Lorri placed the letter on the table and then walked up the stairs. She knew her daughter had been in agony for the last several days and suspected that it looked much like her own struggle. Ruth sat at the table and prayed, asking God to help Lorri make peace with Him.

  I don't know what the letter says, but I can't keep fighting You. I've been so angry and hurt, and I've blamed You for everything. I'm sorry,Lorri prayed from the floor next to her bed.What a miserable marriage it would be ifRigg's not the one. I don't know why I insist on having my way. If he's the one, then You've planned a way, Lord. You always plan the way.

  Lorri cried for a time, but they were tears of relief. She was done ignoring the pain and being unthankful. God understood that she was hurting, but the anger had to go. She didn't expect to have a headache when she read Rigg's letter, but the pain was a good one. This time it meant she was right before God.

  "Okay, I have something to tell you," Max said before they started, "but you can't tease me or tell anyone."

  j

  306

  "When do I ever tell?" Arlene wished to know.

  "Okay," Max agreed, "you don't, but you can't tease me either."

  "I won't. Go ahead."

  Max bit her lip but still admitted, "I think I'm falling for Johnny King."

  The stunned look on her best friend's face was hysterical, but Max wasn't in the mood to laugh. Arlene searched her friend's eyes and saw that she was serious, more serious than she'd seen her in a long time. Arlene's heart filled with compassion, and she simply put her arms around Max and hugged her.

  "Do you hate me?" Max asked, and Arlene pulled back.

  "Why would I hate you?" Arlene demanded.

  "I don't know!" Max wailed in confusion. "I spent the whole year putting him off and now I tell you this."

  "So what changed?"

  Max looked as amazed as she felt. "I just didn't expect him to ever take his faith seriously, and every time he comes into church with that Bible in his hand, I just about die."

  "What kind of die? Happy die, or upset die?"

  "Happy die," Max confessed. "He's still fun and charming, but there's a peace about him now, like he knows he doesn't have to prove himself any longer."

  "What does your family think?"

  "You're the first one I've told."

  Arlene smiled, seeing what Max had not realized.

  "Your children will be beautiful. I hope you realize that," she said.

  "Arlene Andrews!" Max exclaimed, shocked. "What a thing to say."

  "He's the one, Max. I'm sure of it."

  307

  307

  Max suddenly heard herself. Didn't she say that to Lorri about Rigg on a regular basis? And what did it do to Lorri's heart? Right now her own was trying to leap from her chest.

  "So what now?"

  "Nothing," Max said. "I have no idea how he feels."

  Arlene sat back, looking as satisfied as Max had ever seen her.

  "What does that look mean?"

  "Only that it's a matter of time. I'm sure of it."

  Max grew serious again.

  "Arlene, are you really all right with this? Do you think Johnny could change that much?"

  "What I think is that God can do anything. And if Johnny keeps on the way he's going, I can't think of why anyone would object."

  "I'm glad you said that," Max replied, hearing more than the words. "I've got to give it time. I can't rush this."

  "And wasn't it your grandpa who told you Johnny's having Bible study with Pastor? So you know he's aware of the situation."

  "Right, right," Max agreed, trying to catch her breath, the possibilities flying through her mind.

  "Are you finally ready?" Arlene teased.

  "Yes," Max said, positioning herself in the chair, magazine in hand.

  "Show me the picture again," Arlene requested.

  Max held up the page full of models from the Sears catalog and pointed. Arlene took a moment to study the woman's image and then picked up the scissors. Max Archer was getting a haircut.

  J

  308

  Well, what do you expect, Maxine Archer?that woman asked herself in disgust, the church service just starting.You're not here to worship God and learn; you came to show off your new haircut to Johnny King, and he's not even here today!

  This scolding complete, Max bent her head with the rest of the congregation, but she didn't hear Pastor Higgins' prayer. She was too busy confessing her self-interest and asking God for an improvement on the day, especially concerning her attitude.

  Santa Rosa

  Rigg smiled over every line of Lorri's letter. She confessed how angry she'd been with God about his leaving and how she even had a headache when she read his letter but still loved it. He laughed outright when she described some of Muffin's latest escapades but was mostly remembering the night Muffin had arrived in the living room with an unmentionable article of clothing dangling from her teeth.

  The letter read, Rigg sat at the kitchen table and sighed.I've got to go back and ask her to marry me, Lord. I love her, and I know she loves me. My family loves her. Her family loves me; I can see it every time we're together,

  Rigg ordered his thoughts for several more moments before settling in to write another letter. He would write Lorri as well but not just yet. This time he had business with the admiral and Lorri Archer's mother.

  309

  309

  Max w
rapped the two blouses carefully for the waiting woman, glad she would be headed on her way. The woman had been almost impossible to please and Max feared she would find some reason to complain to the manager.

  Max was just about finished when she spotted him. With no mother or sister to give him an excuse, Johnny was standing at the edge of the department, his eyes on her. The tissue paper almost tore in Max's hands, but she forced herself to concentrate and finish.

  "There you are, Mrs. Duncan. I hope you enjoy them."

  "For that price, I ought to."

  Max didn't try to comment. She let the woman move off and then straightened the work area, wondering at the sudden shaking of her hands.

  "Hello," Johnny said, coming across the room faster than she figured possible.

  "Hi, Johnny," Max said with relief, glad to see a friendly face. "How are you?"

  "I'm fine, but I can see you've been busy."

  Max's brow creased with confusion until Johnny reached out and touched the ends of her shorter hair.

  "Oh, my hair." Max was suddenly embarrassed. "I'd forgotten for a minute."

  Johnny just stared at her, and Max's heart sank. She could tell he didn't like it.

  "You know, Max," he said quietly, "you were already more than a little distracting. I don't think it's fair that you do things to make it worse."

  Max's shoulders sagged with relief and she smiled up at him.

  "You didn't think I'd like it, did you?" he asked.

  310

  "Well, I wasn't sure. You didn't look too pleased."

  Johnny didn't verbally comment but he still communicated: His smile was warm and familiar, and for a moment Max forgot where she was.

  "I can't have visitors while I'm working," she remembered, coming back to earth with a thud.

  "All right. I'D just wander around until you're off."

  Her confused look told him every normal thought had flown from his head and he hadn't explained his presence.

  "I stopped by your house," he said, "but your grandfather said you were working. I told him I'd bring you home."

  "Oh, okay. The employee exit is on the east side of the building. I'll come out as soon as I can."

  "No hurry," Johnny told her, moving calmly on his way.

  Watching him, Max wished there was something calm about her just now. Her heart felt like a trip-hammer. She was only too glad that no other customers came in before the store closed. Fueled by extra adrenalin, she left the department in perfect order and was out the door in record time. Johnny was standing nearby, and ther,e was still plenty of light to find him.

  "Long day?" he asked.

  "Not too bad. The woman you saw wasn't very pleased, but then she never is."

  "So most of your customers are regulars?" Johnny asked, holding the door for Max to slip inside.

  "For the most part, but we get plenty of new faces all the time."

  In silence Johnny maneuvered the car from the parking lot and onto the street. Max felt nervous, and in an effort to cover it said the first thing that came to mind.

  "I didn't see you on Sunday, did I?"

  311

  3ii

  "No, my family took a little weekend trip."

  "Oh, how nice. Where did you go?"

  "My uncle has a lake house. We went there."

  "Sounds fun."

  "It was. It never has been in the past, but this year it was great."

  "Why was it different?"

  "Because we're different," Johnny said without conceit. "My dad didn't understand that he was to be leading the family. My mom didn't get that either. It didn't go very well with it the other way around."

  "I don't think I've ever met your parents, but they sound like wonderful people."

  "What do you mean?"

  "It's not easy to be told you're wrong, and change is hard, but now they've found out they need to grow and they're working on it. That's pretty special."

  "Yeah, I guess it is. Even my sister is doing well. She loves that dress you helped her buy."

  "It looked nice on her."

  "I'll tell her you said that," Johnny put in and then laughed a little. "She'll want her hair cut as soon as she sees yours."

  Max's hand went to her now shoulder-length locks.

  "Why is that?"

  "She thinks everything about you is perfect." They were now in the Archers' driveway, and Johnny turned to look at her, his eyes far too serious. "She's just finding out what I've known all along."

  When Max didn't have a snappy reply, Johnny climbed from the car. He opened Max's door before informing her that her mother had invited him for pie.

  i

  312

  "Apple pie," he told her as they walked to the door. "I just might offer to drive you home more often."

  Max laughed with more than just humor; she was relieved. He sounded like the fun-loving Johnny she knew. Her heart was already trying to gallop ahead of her. If Johnny kept talking the way he had in the car, there would be no stopping it.

  313l%JeHtyfTh%e

  August was hot. Lorri knew the earlier she got into the yard to water, the better it would be. Not bothering to do anything more than pull on a pair of shorts and an ancient blouse, she headed out to soak the yard, singing quietly all the while.

  Activity went on in the house behind her, but she didn't notice, not even when someone came from inside, sat on one of the patio chairs, and waited for her to finish. It didn't take long. Lorri turned off the water, coiled the hose and started inside. She stopped when she saw Rigg. Even when he stood to his feet, she stayed still on the grass.

  Rigg was a man of tremendous patience, something for which he had never been more thankful. Knowing how patient he would need to be in the coming days and weeks, he now waited for Lorri to speak or move toward him. She finally did walk his way, never once taking her eyes from his.

  "I missed you" were the first words out of her mouth, her hands coming out to touch him. "I missed you so much."

  "I missed you too, every moment." Rigg had taken her hands in his.

  314

  Lorri continued to look up at him. It was so dear to her now. She loved him. She loved him with every fiber of her being.

  "Are you here for the weekend?" Lorri asked, trying to think clearly.

  "Yes, staying at Jim's."

  "When do you have to head back?"

  "Tomorrow, sometime after lunch."

  "So we have all day?"

  "All day."

  Lorri smiled and Rigg laughed a little.

  "In fact, we're going out to dinner tonight," Rigg told her. "Just the two of us."

  "I would like that."

  "I think your mother is making breakfast. Shall we go in?"

  Lorri nodded, not able to stop looking at him. Her heart had come to a place of resignation, a place of low expectations. She had not expected him to keep in touch for too much longer. She thought the letters would become fewer and fewer and then end altogether. A visit from him had never crossed her mind.

  "How about some coffee?" Ruth offered, trying not to weep over the look on her daughter's face. This had been a hard secret to keep. Rigg's coming and his intentions while there had been known to them for a while now. But Ruth also knew her daughter. And with that knowledge she realized that things might not end the way everyone hoped.

  "Hi, Rigg!" Max suddenly said, coming into the room wearing her bathrobe. "I didn't know you were here."

  "I just arrived," he said, giving her a hug.

  Dean was working on eggs and bacon, and Ruth was taking muffins from the oven. In a short time, they feasted, Dean asking

  315

  315

  God to bless them all through the weekend and give Rigg safety in his travels.

  "What will you do today?" Dean asked of the young couple.

  Lorri had no plans and looked to Rigg.

  "The coast?" Rigg asked Lorri. "Since it's so warm?"

  "Sure. Which beach?"

>   "I think Sand Hill. How does that sound?"

  "I'll pack a picnic."

  And just that simply, the day was full. They ran away like children, sat on the beach, got too much sun, and dozed and talked all day. And the talk only continued when they changed for dinner and went out for the evening.

  The coastal restaurant Rigg had picked was dark and romantic. Lorri loved the atmosphere and the chance to dress up. The meal had been delicious, but now they just sat and talked, tall glasses of tea in front of them.

  "I think your nose is sunburned," Rigg told her in the candlelight.

  "It probably is," she agreed, touching the offending facial feature. "Do you ever burn?"

  "Not easily. Some of the men on the boat did. It wasn't overly fun."

  "Do you miss military life at all?"

  "No. I like order, but I have that in my life, so I'm fine without having to salute anyone."

  Lorri laughed, but something was oh her mind, and she wanted to talk about it. She saw no other way but to start.

  "My imagination ran wild when you were gone," she admitted.

  "What did you imagine?"

  i

  316

  "That you would meet a nice girl in Santa Rosa and forget all about Lorri Archer."

  "That's not going to happen."

  "But I wouldn't blame you if it did happen. Long distance relationships are so hard."

  "Not when you really care."

  Rigg put his hand on the table, palm up. Lorri put her hand in his.

  They stared at each other for some moments before Rigg asked, "Do you mind if we skip dessert and go for a walk?"

  "Not at all."

  Rigg took care of the bill a short time later, and the couple found themselves walking along the beach, Rigg's hand holding hers. Sand crowded into Lorri's sandals, but she barely noticed. It felt so wonderful to be with him, to have him hold her hand.

  Rigg suddenly stopped and brought her to rest in front of him, his hands on her shoulders.

  "You need to understand that I came this weekend for one reason: to tell you that I love you and want you to marry me."

  "Oh, Rigg," Lorri breathed. "I love you so much."

  Her hand came out to rest on the front of his jacket, and she could feel the thundering of his heart. It was on her lips to say yes, that she would marry him any time he wanted, when she suddenly came back to earth.

  Her head shaking a little as she worked not to panic, Lorri said. "I don't know if I can."