"How painful for you."

"It was. At the time I didn't know how I was going to keep on, but G.o.d is always bigger than the pain."

"That's certainly true," Ruth agreed, just as they heard the door. Rigg, Lorri, Mitch, and Max came in, smelling like the out-of-doors and looking for food, Del arrived also, and the feast began.

"That's a sweet girl you've got there, Donovan," his father said to him late Sat.u.r.day night. "You'd better keep her." "I'm working on it."

j 280.

"How is she doing, Donovan? I mean, really?" This came from his mother.

"She's doing well, but the loss is huge. She wasn't willing to leave home this weekend, to be separated from her mother. I thought I would have to drop the entire suggestion until I realized they could all come."

"And she was fine with that?"

"Yes. At first I thought Mrs. Archer might be struggling with her being away, but it's Lorraine who can't do the leaving right now."

"Did she say why?"

"Not specifically, but she told me she was utterly desperate to see her mother while on the island. It meant more to her than eating. I wonder if it's just too soon."

Rigg was enjoying this chance to visit alone with his folks, but he had to drive back to southern California the next day after lunch and knew he'd better get some rest.

"I'm for bed," he said, kissing his mother and hugging Del.

Del and Virginia were tired as well, but they continued to talk long after Rigg was asleep.

"I liked your family," Lorri told Rigg on the way home. It was late, and even though they were almost home, Ruth and Max dozed in the backseat.

"They liked you too."

"Did they? I'm glad."

"You sound like you doubted."

"No, not really. I'm just pleased."

281.

281.

"What did you think of Santa Rosa?"

"It's a beautiful town. It must have been fun growing up there."

"It was," Rigg told her just as she yawned.

Conversation drifted off. The car pulled up at the Archer home some 20 minutes later. The family thanked Rigg and let Dean carry their bags inside. They had much to tell him, but it would have to wait until morning.

2827uJeto ftoC'

Dean did not rush off on Monday morning. Max told him all about her weekend, how much fun she had with Mitch Riggs, and how nice the Riggs family turned out to be. After Max left, Dean stayed to talk with Ruth and Lorri.

"Did Rigg seem more relaxed to you this weekend than he usually is?" Lorri asked once they'd given Dean a run-down and were settled in with coffee and toast.

"I think he was," Ruth replied, having also noticed it. "It must be because he was in his own home. That's bound to have an effect."

Lorri nodded thoughtfully, but before too long she turned, a rather serious frown directed at Dean.

"Lorri, why are you frowning at your grandfather?"

"He knows why."

Dean's head went back when he laughed.

"It's not funny, Grandpa. You scare the man to death!"

"I'm not trying to scare him, Lorri, honestly."

Lorri was still frowning, and try as he might, Dean could not stop laughing.

283.

283.

"Will someone tell me what's going on?" Ruth requested.

Lorri told her mother about the way Rigg feared Dean. Ruth looked surprised.

"He never indicates that he's afraid," Ruth argued, "I couldn't tell before he said something to me, but now I notice the way he'll slip and call me Miss Archer," Lorri sent another frown. "It's because Grandpa scares him."

Lorri's ire was amusing. Ruth could finally see why Dean wanted to laugh.

"What do you want me to do?" Dean asked, laughter still lurking.

"I don't know." Lorri sounded aggrieved, and even Ruth's hand came to her mouth.

"What's funny?" Lorri asked, not very angry at all.

"I don't know if I can explain it. It's not like you to be so protective, so it's a little humorous."

Lorri sighed, not sure she found it so amusing.

"I am protective of Rigg. I just realized that."

"Then he's a very blessed man," her grandfather said, all humor gone.

"You don't disapprove, do you, Grandpa?"

"If I did, you would have known it a long time ago."

Lorri nodded. Rigg might be nervous around Dean Archer, but there was no reason. It looked as though it might be something Rigg would have to work through on his own.

"My brother and sister-in-law want to know whether you can join them for lunch on Sunday," Rigg told Lorri when he picked up Violet on Friday afternoon.

284.

"Will you be there?" she asked, teasing him a little.

"No," he teased right back. "They want to give you the third degree and don't want me around."

"Oh, I don't know if I can agree to that. I might end up as nervous around them as you are around Grandpa."

"I thought I was hiding that better."

Lorri looked sympathetic. "Does he still scare you?"

"A little. It's probably his rank more than anything else."

"Are you coming to our house?" Violet suddenly asked.

"I believe I am. Won't we have fun?"

"I have a brother. He's little."

"What's his name?"

"William. We call him Billy sometimes."

"Nicknames are fun."

"What's a nickname?" "Well, like when you call William, Billy, or when your uncle calls you Vi. It's not your full name, but it's still part of your name, or sometimes it's a fun, silly name. My name is Lorraine, but most everyone calls me Lorri."

"I call you Miss Archer."

"Yes, you do, because you're a very good girl."

Violet managed to look shy and pleased all at the same time. Lorri invited her to help with the cla.s.srooms, and they were done in record time.

Rigg stood back and let them talk, staying quiet in the car when Violet continued to question Lorri. It was not how Rigg wanted to spend the few minutes he had with her on Friday afternoons but felt he had no choice. He dropped Lorri off and comforted himself with the fact that he would see her Sunday, and not just 285.

285.

for church. They could spend the afternoon together at Jim and Dorothy's.

Max could hardly believe her eyes. They still had five minutes until the service started, so she walked to the back pew, her eyes on the serious face of Johnny King.

"h.e.l.lo, Johnny."

"h.e.l.lo, Max," he returned, all swagger and bravado gone.

"Are you all right?"

Johnny looked ahead for a moment, his eyes pained. Max hesitated in indecision, but went ahead and spoke.

"Do you mind if I pray for you, Johnny?"

"No," his voice had grown hoa.r.s.e.*ldon't mind at all."

Max gave him an understanding smile and moved to sit with her family. Each one of them, Rigg included, saw the tears in her eyes, but the music was starting and questions would have to wait.

Lorri felt her heart pound. She didn't know why. She had already met most of Rigg's family, and they had been wonderful. But for some reason Rigg's brother and wife, Violet's family, seemed like the last hurdle. If they liked her, that meant she had pa.s.sed.

Lorri told herself to quit being silly, but when Rigg stopped the car in front of a small bungalow, her heart continued to pound.

ii 286.

"That was Johnny King from your cla.s.s, wasn't it?" Ruth asked when the family sat down to lunch.

"Yes."

"I haven't seen him in ages."

"I think he stopped coming about two years ago."

"Do you know why?"

"No, and I don't know why he was there today, but he looked so upset." Tears had come to Max's voice again, but she continued. "I told him I would pray for him, but he didn't want to talk. He's never not wanted to talk to me."

"Is this the boy who has been interested in you all year?" Dean wished to know.

Max nodded, not sure what to think.

"Did any of the men speak to him, Dean?" Ruth asked.

"I don't know, but I can find out tonight."

Max didn't know why, but she prayed that Johnny would be there. If he needed help, he needed to come back as often as he could.

"That was delicious," Jim told his wife, sitting back, full and satisfied.

"Thank you. Shall we wait on dessert?"

"I think that's a good idea. Besides, if Violet can't give Lorri a tour of the house soon, she's going to expire in her seat."

All adults laughed and looked to the little girl with compa.s.sion. She had been so excited to show Lorri around, but her mother had put the meal on as soon as Rigg and his guest arrived. As it 287 *

was, Violet ate very little of her food, over-the-moon with excitement to have one of her teachers visiting her house.