Rigg took a pull from his coffee cup and just listened as Dean shared the things they had seen and done. He had received postcards from Lorri, but he knew there was only so much you could fit into that s.p.a.ce.

"Well, now," Dean suddenly said, his head turning to look in the kitchen window. "I think someone is up who might want to see you."

Dean left the yard on that note, and by the time Rigg got to his feet, Lorri was there. Rigg took her in his arms and held on tight.

"I missed you" she said, stretching on tiptoe to hug his neck. Rigg's arms were around her, and as far as he was concerned, there was no reason to ever let go.

"Five weeks from today you won't have to miss me anymore."

Lorri stepped back and smiled at him. Rigg gave her a swift kiss.

"Have you had breakfast?" Lorri asked.

"No, but there's something I want to tell you first."

Lorri took her grandfather's chair, and Rigg sat beside her.

"Bankman and a.s.sociates is opening an office in Sh.o.r.e Hills."

338.

Lorri blinked. "Sh.o.r.e Hills, California?"

"Yes."

"As in 15 miles from here?"

"That's the one."

"What did you tell them?"

"I told them to count me in."

"Rigg," Lorri said, instantly beginning to worry. "Are you sure you want this? Are you sure you want to live outside of Santa Rosa?"

"I'm the one who looked for work down here for months before throwing in the towel."

"But wasn't that because you wanted to be close to me?"

"Yes, but the truth is that I tike both cities and the churches in each one, so if you have a preference, we can live here."

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all."

"I still feel like a compromise is needed here."

"Okay," Rigg said slowly, not sure what he was agreeing to.

"I think we should retire to Santa Rosa."

Rigg laughed until he had tears in his eyes. With the interruption of the war, he'd only just started his career, and his bride-to-be was already talking about retirement.

"I don't think it's funny," Lorri told him seriously, watching his hysterics and trying not to allow even a smile. "We need to have a plan."

"I'm 27," he reminded her.

"Well," she conceded, "maybe it's a bit premature."

"A bit?"

Lorri looked exasperated and ready to tell him as much, but Ruth put her head out the door and said that breakfast was on.

339.

339.

1.

"Well, Mother certainly rescued you," Lorri told him. "You need to be pinched."

"Do I get to pinch back?"

Lorri saw the look in his eyes and wagged a finger at him, her eyes telling him no. Nevertheless, she took no chances. She let Rigg go ahead of her into the house, not sure he was entirely trustworthy at the moment.

"I got your letter" Dean said to Johnny, catching him right after the service. "Thank you very much."

"Was I clear, Mr. Archer? I don't want to step out of line."

"Very clear, and I wasn't the least bit concerned of that. I think the idea of you and Max getting to know each other is a very good one."

Much as this affected the rhythm of Johnny's heart, he still calmly asked, "Do you know if Max is all right with that idea?"

Dean couldn't help but smile. "She was rather set against seeing anyone during her senior year, wasn't she?"

Johnny relaxed a little and gave a comical shake of his head.

"She was smart to hold me off at that time, but I didn't think anyone could have such resolve."

Dean smiled with pride.

"Maybe we'll see you Friday night," Dean told him, offering his hand.

Johnny gladly shook it, not even waiting until they'd left the church parking lot to tell his family what the admiral had said.

340.

"You're looking rather distracted" Lorri teased Max at the end of the week. Johnny had just left.

"I am" Max teased right back. "I can't decide between waffles or pancakes for breakfast. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep."

Lorri laughed, grabbed Max's arm, and pulled her down to sit close to her on the sofa.

"I think he likes you " Lorri said.

"Why do you say that?" Max asked, sounding more than a little pleased.

"Well, how many weeks does this make that he's brought you home, and he doesn't just drop you off but comes inside, plays with your dog, talks to your family, and couldn't be more charming if he tried."

Max looked over at her sister.

"You make it sound like it's a big put-on."

"Not at all, Max. I didn't mean to. Johnny is a great guy. I'm just teasing you over the fact that he's having a hard time hiding how he feels."

"Do you think he can see how I feel?"

"I think so. You're a little cautious, but you haven't shown him the door."

"I got so used to rejecting him that it became a habit."

"I hope you know, Max, that that still has to be talked about," her sister advised, all at once serious. "If he's had girlfriends, you'd better make sure he's now ready to be a one-woman man."

"Grandpa said the same thing."

Til pray for you, Max."

"Thanks, Raine."

Not long into the silence that followed, Lorri sighed.

"Do you miss Rigg?" Max asked.

341.

341.

"All the time."

"It's not long now" she comforted her older sibling. "Just three weeks from tomorrow, and you won't have to miss him anymore."

Lorri sighed again. "Now I'll be the one who won't be able to sleep."

"You're up early," Ruth said to Dean when she went downstairs a few days before the wedding. "Are you feeling all right?"

"I'm fine. Buddy wanted out, and I didn't go back to sleep."

Ruth wanted tea this morning. She brewed a cup and then joined Dean over the newspaper.

"Did you see this ad?" Ruth suddenly asked. "The Simmons Company is making electric blankets. How does that work?"

"I don't know. It doesn't sound too safe."

"I think I will stick with the cotton and wool blankets we have," Ruth told him, going back to the printed page.

"Do you think Rigg and Lorri have enough blankets? Santa Rosa gets cold at night."

Ruth looked at her father-in-law. It wasn't like him to even think of such things.

"Are you worrying about them?"

He made a face. "Maybe a little."

"You'll like Rigg's family. They're wonderful."

"So you think about the distance too?"

"I do, Dean, but not with a heavy heart. I know it will be hard, but we've had her for more than a year, and Santa Rosa is easier to reach than Australia."

342.

"Not to mention, they'll be moving back down here sometime next summer," Dean added.

"I keep reminding myself of that very thing."

No other words were shared, although Lord's departure was still on their minds. By mutual, unspoken consent they went back to the morning paper.

343fTt*Jcnif"Fuc November 30,1946 "Oh, Raine," Max said when she went to the small room off the church foyer and saw her sister. "You look beautiful."

"Is the dress all right? Not too plain?"

"No, it's perfect, especially with Mother's pearls. She did a great job."

Lorri looked excited, but in truth she was very nervous. The idea of walking down the aisle in front of all those people made her knees shake.

"Don't be nervous," Max said, reading the look just as Dean knocked on the door and Max let him in.

Lord's heart thudded when her grandfather said they were ready. She tried to calm down, but it didn't work. Not even the sight of Rigg in his suit, smiling up the aisle at her, their families and friends all around, could calm her down. Her voice quivered through the whole service. Rigg's own voice was deep and somber, and then it was over. They were husband and wife.

Lorri relaxed at the reception. Her husband holding her hand, she laughed, visited with everyone there, and loved knowing that 344.

Rigg was hers for keeps. Nevertheless, she had no desire to linger. When Rigg told her it was time to go, she said her goodbyes and thankfully left with her husband.