"I'm sorry, Raine."

"Don't be, Max. I'll get there. I'll tell you. I just might need a little more time."

"Don't listen to my complaining anymore, Raine." Max was frowning again. "I need to be spanked."

Lorri could only smile at her, and Max couldn't help but smile back. Cora felt as though she could move for the first time.

"More iced tea, anyone?" she asked.

They all wanted refills, and the timing was just right. While Cora did the honors, Arlene hummed a song that got Lorri singing. One song led to another and Lorri sang-usually alone-for nearly 30 minutes.

Max and Ruth were utterly silent. It was the first time they'd heard her in more than four years. If asked, they would have said they could have gone on listening all night.

Buddy was oblivious. Asleep on the kitchen floor, dead to the world, he had no idea that his tail had been spotted as the enemy. m.u.f.fin was approaching, turned to the side, back arched and hair on end, ready to pounce. She didn't expect to be caught.

"m.u.f.fin!" Lorri scolded her, bringing the kitten to a halt but no more relaxed. Her eyes a little wild and still on the hunt, m.u.f.fin went swiftly back to the tail.

Just coming on the scene, Max laughed so hard that she woke Buddy, who moved his tail and foiled the whole episode.

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The women kept on laughing when m.u.f.fin attempted to look innocent. Buddy sniffed her, and she actually began to purr.

"What a fake," Max complained. "She was about to get you, Buddy."

The dog, loving any attention from Max, went to her, tail wagging. Not to be left out, m.u.f.fin curled around one of Buddy's legs, her motor still running.

"Have you been crying?" Max asked, suddenly spotting what her sister was doing at the kitchen table. Around her lay discarded tissues, and in front of her was a small staek of envelopes.

"I'm writing to the children. It's harder than I thought."

"A separate letter to each one?"

"Yes. I want them to know how proud I am of them." Tears filled her eyes, but she kept on. "I want to remind them of all their progress and how much Josie and I loved being their teachers.'*

"Mr. Colins said you could go back." Max had taken a seat across from her sister, m.u.f.fin on her lap. "Will you go?"

"No," Lorri said with a definitive shake of her head. "I don't think I could do it without Josie, and I really don't want to try."

"I'm glad, Raine. I don't want you to be gone again."

Lorri smiled across at her.

"You're going to be the first to go. School starts in a little over a week."

"You have to remind me." Max's sigh was dramatic, her head going back. Lorri could only laugh at her. "It's not funny, Raine. Mother hasn't started on my clothes, and I know the year is going to last forever."

"Do you know what I just realized?" Lorri said, sitting up very straight. "Josie has some clothes that would look perfect on you."

Max looked a little shocked, so Lorri rushed on.

138.

Lori Wick "You don't have to go through the whole trunk, Max, but let me get her dresses and skirts out. Over the years, we found some very cute clothes in Australia."

"What about you? Don't you want to wear them?"

"I'm shaped a little differently than you and Josie. And I'm not as tall. We never traded clothes much. It just didn't work."

"I don't know, Raine," Max began, but Lorri was already on her feet.

"If they make you sad, or if it feels odd to you, I'll just put them back. Okay?"

"Okay," Max agreed, wondering if she might regret it, but she was about to be surprised. Max had never seen the clothing that Lorri hauled into her room. There was no sentimental attachment at all. And her sister was right; they fit and looked sensational.

Ruth came in from the neighbor's to find her daughters in a fashion parade. Max was using the hall as a runway, and Lorri was commentating.

"Maxine Archer is wearing a stunning navy skirt with a pointed waistband. She's matched it with a snow-white blouse, sporting just a hint of lace, perfect for school or that special afternoon date." Lorri paused for just a moment. "Unless of course, you've sworn off boys for good."

"What are you two doing?" Ruth said, smiling at their antics.

"I'm giving Max a new wardrobe for school. Josie and I found all kinds of cute things in Australia."

"This skirt is beautiful." Ruth studied tiny b.u.t.tons and detailing at the waist.

"Which reminds me..." Lorri was on the move again, this time to her own trunk in the living room. Her mother and sister 139.

139.

followed, and Lorri handed^'Ruth a skirt, similar to the one Max was wearing, and a blouse in pale pink. f; "Try these, Mother."

! '. Ruth didn't even think about protesting. New clothing, homemade, store-bought, borrowed, or handed down, was always fun. "Oh, Mother," Max exclaimed. "That blouse is beautiful with your dark hair. You should wear pink more often."

"I don't think I realized how close in size we are, Lorri, but I9don't want to take this from you."

"I can't wear it right now anyway. When I'm back to my normal ; size, I'll borrow it back from you."

"You're getting there," Ruth suddenly said. "I was noticing yesterday that you're filling out."

;" Lorri glanced down at herself before saying, "It's nice not to be as tired."

"But she was crying." Max felt their mother had to know. "She's writing to all of the children." "That would be hard, but it's very sweet of you."

"I miss them," Lorri admitted. "When my mind started to go on the island, I couldn't remember their names, and that was scary."

"Why did your mind start to go?" Max asked. "The hunger, I think. As soon as I got some real food, things became clearer, so I have to a.s.sume that my brain needed nutrition." '

"And that didn't happen until you were on the PT boat?" "Right. They fed me even while I was still on the island." "They didn't take you right away to the boat?" "No, they had repairs to make, and I stayed put until it was time to leave." As soon as Lorri said this, she started to laugh.

140.

Lori Wick I.

i '

"What's the matter?" Ruth had to know.

"It's not funny at all, but I can't help laughing. I(when they were ready to leave. The lieutenant was so j was always such a gentleman, but at that moment, I think j have strangled me."

"Where did you go?"

'To see Josie's grave one more time."

"Did you tell him that?"

"No." Lorri shook her head, wishing she had wasn't thinking too clearly. I should try to write him, 1 know where I would send the letter."

"He didn't stay angry at you, did he?" This was ir Max.

"No, not at all. He was very kind."

"Shall I tell you what I'm thinking right now?" Ru girls looked at her. "You've lived another life, Lorri. mother to be so disconnected from my daughter, You've stepped into a world that Max and I can't sha Dean could. He would understand, but all I can do i$ ine what this must have all been like."

"I'm glad you don't know." Lorri's voice was sober i want you to know what the war looked like. I had jui but I wish I hadn't even had that."

This time no one questioned her. Lorri was thi way the guns had exploded and the enemy aircrai them. She had held on for dear life, sure she was got in the water and drown, all the while wondering1 easier, drowning or starving to death.

"Are you all right?" Ruth had been watching her ( "Yes," Lorri said and decided to tell them. "The came under attack on our way to base. I hid in the J 141.

Hi everything. I didn't think about it until i amazing men, having to fight like that. I ;if the crew made it through the war."

id out for you." i$sk him when he gets home."

nd, but Ruth would have none of it. :;Skirt and blouse/' she said.

feave some other things you should try"

p i can wear them again."

e. "Because in a very short time you're lisize again, and you might feel differently l to argue, but Ruth forestalled her with ping to be so generous, but I have plenty raid Raine's closet if you change your tlpfully.

atter-of-fact, as if she could picture herrthing, that her family laughed. Loving to , Max grinned with pleasure before going S'Once in her room, she looked at all the it from Josie's trunk and realized her ti't have to sew at all before school began.

l," Leonard commented to Arlene on the , "Anything wrong?"

142.

Lori Wick If "I just miss the old Max. I know it sounds selfish, but sometimes she's so sad and quiet."

"Give her time, sweetheart. I think there's more to all of this than any of us quite realize, and that's bound to be very hard."

"What do you mean?"

Leonard and Cora exchanged a glance. Did they tell their daughter some of the things Ruth had shared with her friend? It would certainly help Arlene understand, but was it fair to the Archer family?

"Let's just say that Lorri has been through quite a bit, and that's bound to affect Max."

"Do you know what it is, Mom?"

"Yes."

"Did someone hurt Lorri?"

"No, it has to do with Josie's death."

Arlene knew there had been a plane crash. She had wondered but never asked how Lorri had survived. The facts had never been explained to her. Arlene now asked G.o.d to take care of her friend and to help her think less of herself. Beyond that, she didn't let herself dwell on what the details might be. She realized she didn't want to know.

i.1ri "There's something we need to talk about," Ruth told the girls on the way home from church on Sunday. "I told your grandfather that we would discuss it, and I keep putting it off."

"Why is that?"

"Because I'm tired of crying."

The girls didn't know what to say to this, so they made the remainder of the ride in silence. However, they were not going 143.

143.

to let their mother off the hook. Both Lorri and Max followed her up to her room, their actions very clear.

"I thought it could wait until after lunch," Ruth said when Lorri and Max sat on the bed and stared at her.

"Now is a good time," Lorri said pointedly.

Ruth saw no escape. She sat in the chair near the bed and made herself begin.

"Your grandpa and I want to have some type of service for Josie, including a headstone at the cemetery next to your father."

Lorri felt sick to her stomach and called herself every type of fool.Why did you push this? Why did you have to know right now?

"I like the idea" Max stunned her family by saying, unaware of Lord's turmoil. "I wish I could see where Josie is buried or even a picture of it. I'm glad we'll have something here." Not until Max was done did she realize that Ruth and Lorri were staring at her. She looked uncomfortable and apologized.

"No, don't be sorry, Max," her mother put in. "I'm glad I know how you feel."