They hugged and went back to their beds, but sleep was miles away.

179.

179.

"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 pa.s.sed 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 compa.s.sion in her voice and felt her own compa.s.sion, compa.s.sion for the younger sister who just wanted her to be happy.

i 182.

"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 pa.s.s 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 183.

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away for weeks and months on end. Max was having her best year in school, and G.o.d 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."

i 184.