by Lori Wick
"Just fine," she told her with a cheeky smile. "I've been asked out more this year than all my other years combined, but I just say no."
"But does that get us thick, center-cut pork chops from the butcher?"
No one around the table expected this outrageous remark from Lorri, and they nearly choked on the food they were chewing.
"Lorraine Susan Archer!" It was her mother's turn to be shocked.
Lorri tried not to look too pleased, but it felt good to give back a little.
"On a more serious note," Dean cut in, thinking it might be more than time. "I've heard from Ken."
This had the effect he expected. All eyes and ears were atteni:, tive.-
"He'd
like, to visit later this month, probably after Thanksgiving, but only if it won't be too upsetting."
"Well, of course he should come."
"It might be upsetting, but he needs to come."B"What day?"
All three women had spoken at once, and Dean tried to wade through it all He waited until the table grew quiet.
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"He's not sure what day. He'll send word."
"How is he doing?" Ruth asked.
"His letter didn't say." Dean's eyes swung to Lorri. "I can imagine that he will want some details. Are you sure you're up to this?"
"Yes. Tell him to come anytime."
The table was a bit quiet after this, but only until Max made her announcement: "I almost blew up the science room today."
What followed was a hysterical account of mishaps and mislabeled containers. No one was hurt, but Max was in her element, entertaining her family with the tale. She managed to singe the tiny hairs from the backs of her fingers but otherwise was unscathed.
"And I still got an A," she said simply, wrapping up the tale and making her family laugh once again.
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First Lieutenant Kenneth Showers looked wonderful. He had
flowers for Ruth, a warm handshake for the admiral, and hugs
for Lorri and Max.
"Sit down " Ruth urged. "It's so good to have you back." "It's good to see you too. I've been concerned about all of you." "We're doing well. We've wondered about you." Ken smiled a little. "I'm not su^e I believe it yet." He looked
to Max. "You look so much like Josie these days, Max. It's hard
not to stare."
"Does it make it harder?" she asked compassionately.
"Not hard to be around you, but hard to believe that Josie's
not coming back."
Max didn't know what to say to this, but it didn't matter. Ken's
eyes swung to Lorri.
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"I heard a pretty horrendous story about you."
Lorri shrugged a little, not sure what to say.
"Do you feel like telling me about it?"
Lorri didn't let herself ponder on whether she felt like it; she just started in. She was vague about the crash and even the burial, hoping he wouldn't notice. She glossed over as much as she could-for his sake-and ended by telling how the crew of theEvery Stormhad found her.
Lorri finished and looked him in the eye, knowing in an instant that he wasn't going to go for it. He looked at her, as kind as he'd always been, but the questions were in his eyes. They weren't long in coming.
"There was no one on this island but you?"
"That's right."
"Did you find a shovel of some type In the plane?"
"No."
"So you dug in the dirt with your hands?"
"Well, I found a flat rock, and that helped."
Ken never took his eyes from her. He'd seen awful things on the shores of Europe, things he never wanted to think about again, but he hadn't been forced to bury someone he loved.
"Don't spare me, Lorraine."
No one missed his use of her full name, especially Lorri.
"Josie was dead," Ken went on, "but you were not. Right now I want to find out about you."
"It was awful," she heard herself admit. "My sister and Clarence Fuller were dead, and I've never felt so alone. At first I wanted to die with them, but then I realized there would be no one to tell my mother what happened to Josie, so I did what I had to do."
"You had water?"
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Lori Wick
"Yes, there was a spring, so I had all the water I wanted. Food was not so easy."
"What did you eat?"
"I tried the different plants and berries. I was working hard and felt I had to have food, but it wasn't that easy."
"Working at digging?"
"Yes. The first berries I tried burned my mouth so badly that I had blisters. Another kind made me vomit, and another was so bitter I couldn't swallow it. The only ones that didn't make me sick were hard to find, so I ate leaves that weren't as bitter."
It never once occurred to Ken that her family hadn't heard all of this. He never even looked their way. It was the same for Lorri. It was as if she and Ken were alone in the room together.
"And all the while you dug?"
"Yes. It took me about five days to finish the holes."
"You did separate holes?"
"I couldn't bring myself to bury them together. It was hard, but I don't regret it."
"And then what? What did you do all day after that job was done?"
"I spent a lot of time next to the graves. I felt a little better, even though Josie couldn't hear me. In the mornings I would search all over for bur things, but I only found a few pieces of our luggage and some scraps of clothing. I found a shoe that probably belonged to Clarence."
"How long, Lorri?"
"Was I on the island? About six weeks. I don't know if I would have made it much longer. I was pretty weak by the time the boat arrived."
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Ken just looked at her. His father had warned him about the changes in her, but he thought she looked good. Maybe a little thin, but healthy.
"I'm sorry, Lorri," Ken said at last "Josie wouldn't have wanted that for you. She would have wanted to protect and take care of you. I don't know if there was ever a letter from her that didn't mention you. I know you did everything together. In fact, I worried about it, because I feared we wouldn't live close after the wedding."
If he kept it up she was going to cry, and she didn't want that. She wanted her own question answered.
"I have something to ask you."
"All right."
"You don't seem upset." Her voice didn't betray the turmoil she felt inside. "Were you still in Jove with my sister?"
"I was going to tell you about that, and yes, I'm still in love with your sister. I always will be, but my family noticed it as well. I don't show my emotions easily, but it's bigger than that, Lorri. You see, I hadn't seen Josie in over five years. Her letters meant everything to me, but sometimes they would take six months to find me. Our love and our plans had to be placed in a far corner of my mind so I wouldn't get my head blown off."
Lord's hand came to her mouth. "I'm sorry, Ken. I'm sorry I said that."
"No, Lorri, honey." Ken's voice was filled with understanding so that he sounded like the big brother he'd been planning to be. "I wasn't scolding you. I'm glad you asked. I was going to tell you anyway so you would never doubt my feelings for Josie. I was so honored I was to become a part of this family."
For the first time they became aware of the others. Max had buried her face in a sofa pillow, and Ruth sat with her eyes dosed.
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Dean's face gave nothing away, but he watched his older granddaughter very closely.
"I'm sorry if I shouldn't have pressed her in that way," Ken said quietly to the admiral.
"I think it's all right, Ken. I'm glad Lorri felt she could tell you." He looked to Lorri. "Are you all right?"
"I am, yes. I think it helped to talk about it. And Ken," she said, adding a few more words, "you need to know that Josie adored you. If she didn't have a new letter, she read your old ones. You
never left her heart for a single moment."
The man who had said he didn't show his emotions cracked a little. His eyes closed in pain and longing, and he sat very still for several seconds. When he looked up, the admiral was ready with a rescue. He asked Ken about his life now, his immediate plans for the future, and where he would be stationed. Ken stayed and visited with the family for another hour.
"I have Christmas presents for you," Ken ended his visit by saying, stepping back to the front door to retrieve a large bag.
"But Christmas is almost a month away," Ruth protested with a laugh.
"But I probably won't get back this way for a while. And I wanted you to have them."
She had done well to that point, but his words caused tears to come to her eyes. Ken had a tender hug for her and for the rest of them before going on his way.
"I want him to love again," Ruth said when the door had been shut. "I won't tell him that, but I'm praying that he'll love again."
Her family was too emotional to comment, but everyone nodded their agreement.
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"Dean Archer," Ruth said in a whispered, scolding tone on Christmas Eve. "What are you doing?"
"What are you doing up?" he shot back, having been caught in the act.
"I heard all this bumping around and thought we had burglars."
"And what exactly were you going to do when you found burglars?"
"I don't know, but I wasn't going to lie there and wait to be murdered in my bed!"
Dean had to laugh. She sounded so exasperated but had been speaking in a whisper the whole time.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Ruth asked, just as she realized that Dean was standing in front of a dark piece of furniture that came to his waist.
Having watched her gaze and seeing no help for it, Dean stepped to the side so Ruth could see what he was attempting to hide. Ruth took in the wooden console and wide dials of a very large radio, and her eyes widened.
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"You bought a new radio?"
"Shh," Dean hushed her, which caused them both to giggle, neither aware that it was already too late.
"What's going on?" Max said as she joined Lorri on the top step.
"I think they're sneaking in a big Christmas gift."
"They're not being very quiet about it," Max said around a yawn. "What do you think it is?"
"I don't know."
The wordradiodrifted from below just then, and the girls looked at each other in surprise. Trying desperately to contain their own laughter, they sprang up and ran to Max's room, the closest.
"A radio!" Max whispered, her eyes huge with excitement.
"We'll have to be surprised in the morning," Lorri ordered. "Don't forget."
"I won't. It sounds like it's going in the family room, so we'll just stay in the living room like we always do."
"All right."
The chimes in the hallway struck 12 times just then. Lorri smiled at her sister.
"Merry Christmas, Max."
"Merry Christmas, Raine."
They hugged and went back to their beds, but sleep was miles away.
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"Meiry Christinas!" the Archers shouted when Leonard Andrews opened the door.
"Merry Christmas! Come in, come in. Cora, they're here."
Hugs were exchanged and bowls and platters of food were passed off to be refrigerated or enjoyed on the spot. Two of the Andrews' sons were home, Scott, the oldest, and Ray, the youngest of the three boys. Bob, the middle of the boys, was married and having Christmas with his wife's family.
"It smells wonderful in here," Ruth said.
"It's the cider. Let me get you a mug."
"Thank you."
"Would you like cider, Lorri?"
"Oh, hi, Scott. Thank you, I would."
In the kitchen, Cora waited for her son to look at her, but he would not. She blocked his way to the kettle of cider on the stove top, and that wrung a smile from him and also brought his eyes up.
"Yes," he said very quietly, "you were right."
Cora couldn't stop her huge grin. She had told her son when he arrived the day before that Lorri Archer had done some growing up since he'd last seen her, and was in fact beautiful. Scott had not seemed overly convinced. Cora knew no end of pleasure to have him tell her she was right.
"Behave yourself," he told her softly before slipping out of the kitchen to give Lorri the cider.
"Thank you," Lorri said, smiling up at him, not remembering his hair as being so light. "How have you been, Scott?"
"I'm doing well."
"You must be done with school?"
"Yes, I'm at Falcon these days. Mostly in development."
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"Sounds interesting. Is this a busy time for you?"
"Yes, we had only half of yesterday off and today. It's too hectic to close down."
"Well, that's a good problem, isn't it?"
"Yes," Scott laughed. "Put like that, it is. What are you doing to keep busy right now? Are you headed back to Australia?"
"No, I'm sticking pretty close to home."
"You have an accent."
Lorri shook her head. "Mother and Max say the same thing."
"It's very charming," he complimented her, and Lorri was surprised to find herself blushing.
Scott noticed it and observed accurately, "I think you need to get out more."
Lorri laughed a little before agreeing, "You're probably right about that."
A feast was in the making, and Lorri excused herself to help in the kitchen. Scott joined his sister and Max in the living room, where he noticed that Ray was rather taken with their guest. He mentally shook his head until he heard Max telling them about the new radio Dean had bought for Christmas. Suddenly Max had his attention as well.
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"Did my eyes deceive me, or did Scott Andrews show some interest in you, Raine?"
"Did my eyes deceive me, or did Ray never take his eyes off of you?"
Max, who had flopped down on the end of her sister's bed, smiled.
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"It was a fun day, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was. Are you still sworn off boys?"
"For the most part."
"What's the other part?"
"Oh, I don't know. When someone like Ray shows interest, it has an effect."
"What kind of effect?"
"Pleasure, I guess. It probably doesn't help that Arlene wants us to marry her brothers and all be one big, happy family."
Lorri's brows rose on this announcement. She had enjoyed seeing Scott, but marriage had never entered her mind.
"Do you never think about marrying, Raine?"
"I did before Josie died, probably because she had Ken, but I haven't given guys much thought since."
"I keep seeing guys who would be perfect for you."
"Like who?"
"Clint Corbett."
"Do I know him?"
"He plays the organ at church. His wife died about two years ago, and he has the cutest little girl."
"I don't think we've ever met."
"You don't sound like you want to meet him"
Lorri wasn't sure if Max would understand, but she had to try.
"I still feel a little lost, Max. I'm so thankful to be here and not in Australia, but even here I feel slightly displaced. The thought of meeting someone new right now only adds to that feeling. Does that make sense?"
"It does. I won't push you."
Lorri caught the compassion in her voice and felt her own compassion, compassion for the younger sister who just wanted her to be happy.
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"Well, if you spot a man and you're sure he's the one, you'd probably better at least nudge me."
Max smiled. "I love you, Raine."
"I rather like you too."
These days they didn't pass up opportunities to hug. With a final Merry Christmas and a hug to go
with it, Max went to her room so they could both go to sleep.
"I'm thinking about returning to women's Bible study after the new year, Lorri," Ruth mentioned a few days after Christmas. "Would you like to go?"
"I would, yes. Is there a reason you haven't gone until now?"
"I just felt I needed some time."
"What are you studying?"
"Hospitality, among other topics."
"Who teaches it?"
"Betty Higgins."
"Sounds interesting. What day is it?"
"Thursdays."
"I'd like to go. What Thursday do you start back?"
"I'll have to ask someone about that. It might be right after the first, or it may be the next week."
"Where do they hold it?"
"Pastor and Betty's house."
In the midst of this conversation, it struck Ruth that she was very blessed. She had known loss and heartbreak, but her family was all around her. Dean's retirement was coming up in August, and that was a blessing too. Gone would be the days when he was
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away for weeks and months on end. Max was having her best year in school, and God had blessed her decision not to be so taken with boys. She was the happiest Ruth had ever seen her, even amid the grief.
And Lorri was an added bonus. Like most mothers, she wanted to see her middle daughter loved and married, but for the moment she was here, and the simplest of conversations was warm and comforting to Ruth's heart.
"That's a faraway look," Lorri commented.
"Just counting my blessings."
"Did you number me?"
Ruth didn't answer. She simply put her arms around her daughter and held her close.
" 1946," Arlene said, leaning against Max in the backseat of the car. "Can you believe it?"
"I'll be 18 this year," Max said. "I think that's old."
Leonard and Cora didn't comment from the front seat, but they smiled. Max had that effect on them.
The Archers had given a last-minute slam-bang New Year's Eve party, but that wasn't enough for the girls. Arlene had asked to have Max overnight, and Ruth had given her permission.
"I'm going to, give boys another chance this year," Arlene proclaimed.
"Not me," Max argued. "If Prince Charming doesn't fall into my lap, I'm staying where I am."
"What about Lorri? You're still looking for her, aren't you?"
"Yes, but I don't tell her who I find. She doesn't want that right now."
