Every Storm (25 page)

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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Lori Wick

"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.

Ruth cut off when she heard movement behind her. Leonard had come to the kitchen. He got mugs down from the cupboard and brought the cream from the refrigerator.

"This was kind of you, Ruth," he said simply, preparing a cup of coffee for his wife.

Ruth didn't comment, but Leonard still looked at her.

"You know all about grief, don't you?" he said.

Feeling helpless, Ruth shrugged a little.

"It doesn't matter, does it?" Leonard went on. "A tiny unborn person or a grown daughter-it's still so painful."

"I was just thinking that same thing."

Leonard smiled at her. "Join us with your cup, Ruth."

"Thank you, Leonard," she said, watching him head back to the living room. She did fix her own cup and returned to her friends, thankful to be there. When all three were settled in the living room, Leonard began to pray.

"What's the matter?" Max asked when Lorri suddenly grabbed her arm.

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"He's here!" Lorri said, her voice low, even though the service was over.

"Who's here?" Max said and then realized. "Where? Where is he?"

"Coming this way," Lorri got out just before Rigg slipped into the empty pew ahead of them, stayed standing, and greeted them.

"Hello, Miss Archer."

"Hello, Lieutenant. How are you?"

"I'm fine," Rigg answered, smiling and wondering how many times their conversations would start this way. His eyes darted to the younger woman beside Lorri, and Lorri caught it.

"This is my sister, Maxine. Max, this is Lieutenant Riggs."

Both women stood, and Max put her hand out to shake the lieutenant's.

"It's nice to meet you, Lieutenant."

"Do you prefer Max or Maxine?" Rigg asked, deciding to cut all formality.

"Max," that young woman told him, smiling at his relaxed manner.

"Max it is," Rigg said, thinking that she was as beautiful as her sister. "Are you by any chance still in high school?"

"I'm a senior."

"I have a brother who's a junior."

"Does he go to Harmony Hills?"

"No, most of my family lives up north in Santa Rosa."

Lorri hadn't known that and found herself listening closely. Max was relaxed with the lieutenant, and Lorri wished her heart was not pounding so hard, a pounding that only grew worse when she spotted her mother across the way. She knew what she must do and waited only for a lull in the conversation to do it.

"Lieutenant?" Lorri began.

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Rigg turned to her immediately, almost as if he'd been waiting for her to address him.

"Yes."

"Would you mind terribly if I introduced my mother to you? I know she would wish to meet you."

"I would be happy to meet your mother," he said with all the kindness he could muster. She was looking very strained over the question-far worse than Friday sfternobn-and he felt almost desperate to put her at ease.

"She's talking to someone right now, but maybe if you-" Lorri floundered to a halt.

"I'm in no hurry." Rigg understood the unspoken words. "I can wait as long as you like." :

Lorri glanced over to find Max watching her. The younger girl gave her a sympathetic smile, and Lorri knew she looked as lost and flustered as she felt. She knew nothing but relief when Rigg began a conversation with Max again.

It took some minutes, but Ruth finally came their way. Many folks had cleared out, and Lorri was glad for that. Lorri watched as her mother approached and saw the very moment when she spotted the man in uniform. Her eyes darted to her daughter, who spoke right up.

"Mother, I want you to meet someone," Lorri began, letting her mother get a little closer. "Mother, this is Lieutenant Riggs, the gentleman who rescued me from the island. Lieutenant, this is my mother, Ruth Archer."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Archer. Thank you for the note."

Ruth had shaken his hand, but she didn't let go. Tears she could not control filled her eyes. Rigg stood patiently, his eyes respectful and not darting away.

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"I'm sorry," Ruth whispered.

"It's all right," Rigg assured her, wishing there was some way for her to know it truly was.

"Are you all right, Ruth?" Dean had come up, and his voice was just what Ruth needed. She nodded, let the lieutenant reclaim his hand, and took a moment to compose herself. Still, she was not going to let this opportunity pass.

"Lieutenant Riggs," Ruth jumped in without letting herself think too much. "Are you by any chance free for dinner this Friday evening? We're going td barbecue chicken on the grill if that sounds good to you."

"It's sounds delicious. What time would you like me to come?"

"Any time after 5:30. We'll probably eat at 6:00."

"Ill plan on that."

The family said their goodbyes then, Rigg speaking to everyone but Lorri. For her he waited until last, stopping and catching her eye.

"I'll see you Friday."

"Okay." Lorri nodded and managed a small smile. She moved off with her family, asking herself if he meant Friday afternoon or evening. And then she realized it didn't matter. Friday was just five days away.

"She's going to marry him, isn't she?"

Ruth was changing her clothes before starting on lunch but turned from her closet to look at her youngest daughter, who had taken up residence on the bed.

"I don't know, Max."

Max looked at her mother, desperate for answers, and Ruth sat down on the bed, telling herself that lunch could wait.

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"What is it you're thinking, Max?"

"He's wonderful," Max said simply. "And he looks at her, Mother, you know, in that special way. He's unbelievably kind; I've never met anyone so kind. I guess Ken is kind too," Max said as an afterthought. "I think that's why Jo loved him, and that's probably why Raine will love the lieutenant.*'

Ruth just listened. She didn't know what to think, but she certainly understood what Max was talking about. She had stood holding his hand-a total stranger-and then she had cried. His eyes had never left her face. As if he'd been ordered to do so, he stood still and waited for her to make the next move.

"What did you think of him?" Max asked.

"He's seems to be very special, but your sister isn't quite at ease, Max, and that's why I'm not going to start looking for wedding dress patterns."

"You should have seen her before you came over. I've never known her to be like that. She was so nervous, but when he looked at her..." Max searched for the words. "He was just so sweet and patient and kind! I don't know how else to say it."

But Ruth didn't need to hear it any other way. She knew just what Max had seen. The lieutenant's face flashed through her mind, swiftly followed by her daughter's. Ruth knew the least she could do was pray; in fact, that was the most she could do as well.

"Was I seeing things, or did you seem a little flustered around the lieutenant?"

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"You weren't seeing things, Grandpa," Lorri had to admit, starting lunch when her mother didn't come from upstairs. "I'm nervous around him, and I'm not sure why."

"Would it help if the two of you could talk about your rescue?"

"I don't know, but at any rate, that's not likely to happen."

"I wouldn't bank on that," Dean said boldly, not ready to tell her what he'd done. "I'm asking God to give you that opportunity. I think it's just what you need."

Lorri turned to look at him, the salad fixings momentarily forgotten.

"Why do you feel it's so important?"

"It could have been any boat to stop at that island, but it wasn't. It was the
Every Storm.
The skipper could have been married with three kids, but he wasn't. He was a single man who shares our faith in Christ and who now seems interested in my granddaughter.

"None of those things are a coincidence, Lorri. I'm not saying we should book the church, but you and Rigg have some type of future together. Maybe it's only to talk about the island and what that was like for you, but this man is not out of our lives just yet."