"I think well. We haven't talked past generalities, but when I met her mother in church on Sunday, I was invited to dinner Friday."

233.

233.

"Are you going?"

"Yes. I'm looking forward.to it."

"You wrote that you were trying another church closer to the base. Is that the church?"

"Yes. I just got home."

"Did you see Lorraine and her family tonight?"

"Not to speak to, and I didn't see her mother."

"How is it going at the new church?"

"I like it. The preaching from the Word is very sound. Pastor Higgins addresses the men a lot. It's convicting, but it reminds me of the church there at home."

"I'm glad to hear it."

Rigg heard a small commotion on the other end, and then his mother came back on.

"Your father wants to talk to you. I'll write this week."

"Okay."

"I love you."

"Have you too."

Rigg spent a few minutes with his father, keeping it brief but glad to have talked to them both. He thought about their conversation for a while. A few words from Dorothy in a letter, and his mother makes a phone call. It must have shook her up a bit.

Rigg smiled at the thought. He would write this week as well, but there wasn't a whole lot to report. He could see the words in his head.

I've met a woman I want to get to know. At times she seems terrified of me. Her grandfather is an admiral. At times I'm terrified of him. If we ever get over our fears, I'll write more.

234.

Lori Wick "Max?" Arlene said for the third time, finally reaching out and touching her friend's hand.

"What?"

"I've been calling your name."

"Oh, sorry."

"You've been distracted all day."

"I'm sorry" Max said again but didn't elaborate.: "What's up?"

Max looked as" indecisive as she felt. After a moment she sighed.

"For two girls who have sworn off boys, we suite manage to talk about them enough."

"Is that what this is about?" Arlene made a face; She'd been ready to have boys back in her life for weeks, but Max had not gone along.

"Not about me. It's about Raine."

"Tell me."

Max did, sharing the way their mother had invited the lieutenant to dinner.

"Tonight?" Arlene clarified. "He's coming tonight? No wonder you're distracted."

"I keep thinking about Raine. I don't want her to be embarra.s.sed or anything."

Arlene had been on the verge of asking all about this man, but she held off. Max's sad, distracted face was about her sister, and for these two friends, that was no joking matter.

"We'll pray, Max," Arlene encouraged her.

"What will we pray?"

Arlene remembered something from the sermon the week before.

"That all hearts will be humble."

235.

235.

Max felt as though a weight had suddenly been lifted. Her grandfather had told her at one time that worry was a prideful thing.We want to be in charge, and when we can't be, we worry. We need to humble ourselves before G.o.d and let Him have His way.

"Thanks, Arlene " Max said with heartfelt honesty. She spent the rest of the day asking G.o.d to give them humble hearts during dinner. Each time she started to worry, she confessed it and thought of something else. She was able to report to Arlene at the end of the day that it had gone very well.

236.

"You're here," Lorri said quietly.

"Where am I supposed to be?" Rigg asked, having already hugged and kissed his niece, who was now playing with a small ball she'd pulled from the pocket of her dress.

"I just didn't think I would see you until tonight."

Rigg nodded: thoughtfully, trying to gauge if she was pleased or disappointed.

"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?"

237.

237.

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 cla.s.srooms?"

"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.

J.

238.

"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 rea.s.sured 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 239.

239.

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 gra.s.s her grandfather would probably be cutting in the morning.