Her frown always made him want to laugh. She tried to be fierce but wasn't at all good at it.

"Shall we go in?" he asked. "Or do you need to frown a little more?"

"I just might." She was still working to be tough.

"You can save it for later," Rigg said, his arm around her, a kiss going to her temple. "I'm sure to be in trouble again when I suggest you take a nap."

Lorri opened her mouth to get after him, but he smiled and opened the door, effectively cutting off anything she might have said.

The family came to hug her, and Rigg stood back and watched, raising his brows in pure amus.e.m.e.nt when she looked his way, almost making her laugh.

"Is Lorri all right? I mean, should they be here?" Cora asked of Ruth when they had a moment. Ruth laughed a little.

352.

"I'm not sure Rigg is all that thrilled with the idea, but I suspect Lord desperately wanted to get out. He's going to get her to lie down in a little while."

Cora glanced over her shoulder and watched Lorri sink into a chair, relief on her face.

"If he came for her now, I think she'd go."

Ruth looked too. The women exchanged a glance but decided to leave it up to the Riggs.

"Why don't you and I take a trip upstairs?" Rigg asked, not waiting for an answer. "I think lying down might be a good idea."

"I don't think I'm tired yet," Lorri said, her words coming after a moment's thought.

Rigg wanted to laugh. She was blinking owlishly at him, and her movements were slow and deliberate. She hadn't noticed it, but there had been a collective sigh as he'd taken her from the group of men and women working on dishes.

"Look at this," Rigg said, doing his best to sound surprised once they reached Lorri's old room. "A nightgown, and right on your bed."

Lorri laughed a little. "I think I've been plotted against."

"Not at all," Rigg replied, working b.u.t.tons and ignoring every protest in an effort to get her to lie down. Clad in the comfortable old gown her mother had unearthed, she made a trip across the hall to the bathroom. Rigg hovered near the door and urged her into bed as soon as she was done. Lorri finally stretched out, more comfortable than she'd been in hours, her eyes closing fast.

"Rigg?" she said softly.

353.

353.

"Right here, love."

Lorri's hand came out, but she didn't say anything else. Rigg held her hand in both of his until she was sound asleep.

The living room was actually quiet. Rigg and Lorri had gone upstairs, and the rest of the adults were in the kitchen and family room. This was the reason that Max invited John to sit down when he arrived, opting for a few minutes of peace.

"How are you?" he asked, thinking she looked good enough to eat.

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"Fine." He held a card out to her. "This is for your grandfather."

Max took it. "I'll put it with the others," she said, but she didn't look in any hurry to move.

"We have snacks if you're hungry," she offered.

"I'm fine, but thanks for offering."

Silence fell, something that had become unusual between them. Max wasn't sure what he was thinking, and John wanted to take his cue from her because she seemed distracted.

"How is your sister doing?" John finally asked.

"She's here-upstairs lying down. I think the baby might come soon."

"Are you all right with that?"

Max looked caught. How had he guessed that she was troubled?

"Did you suddenly become a mind reader?" she asked, trying to put him off.

"Where you're concerned? Always."

354.

Max glanced around the room, not wanting to admit her true feelings.

"What's going on?" John pressed.

"I just don't want anything to happen to her. I've been worrying about that lately."

"Does she know that? Have you told your mother?"

"No. It seems too silly in this day of modern medicine, and I know I'm not supposed to worry for any reason."

"YouVe already lost one sister, and you don't want to lose another."

Relief flooded Max's face. "I didn't think anyone would understand."

John reached for her hand and held it.

"My mother told me that Evelyn and I are not really hers to keep, but that we belong to the Lord. Should the Lord want us, He has the right to take us, since we belong to Him." John hesitated. Max was listening to each word. "I think it must be the same with sisters, Max. You can't hold on to Lorri too tightly. She doesn't belong to you. If I had to make a guess," John put in right away, "I would say she's going to be fine, but either way, she belongs to Jesus Christ."

Max nodded, thankful for the reminder. The admiral showed up just a few minutes later, and John was able to personally deliver the card and birthday greeting. Dean could see that Max had been crying, but he didn't intrude, knowing that if she wanted to tell him she would. And besides, John was there with her. Dean knew there was no reason to worry.

355.

355.

"I think I hear movement upstairs," Dean quietly told Rigg just 30 minutes after Lorri fell asleep.

"Is Max or Ruth up there?" No.

Rigg took the stairs two at a time and came to his wife's door just as it closed. He knocked softly and slipped inside. What he saw stopped all the words he'd been ready to say.

With only a towel wrapped around her, Lorri Riggs stood in the middle of the room, the bedding on the floor.

"My water broke," she said simply.

"We have to get to the hospital immediately," Rigg commanded, sounding as though he were aboard theEvery Storm.

"Not wearing a towel," Lorri said pointedly as she began to look for her clothing. Rigg had hung everything in the closet and now helped her redress.'

"Did you get any sleep at all?"

"I think so."

But to Rigg's ears she sounded tired. It was not what he wanted for her, but clearly the choices were over. Most of the house knew what was happening before they could get out the door, and Ruth was there, hugging her daughter goodbye and telling her they would come soon.

Rigg gently tucked his precious bundle into the car, and off they went to the hospital. It was time to have a baby.

Everyone told him that for a first baby, the timing had been amazing, but the five hours Rigg had been forced to sit in the waiting room and wonder about his wife had been nothing but miserable.

356.

He followed a white-garbed nurse down to his wife's room, finally able to see her. The room was dimly lit, but Rigg had no trouble spotting Lorri in the bed. He pulled a chair close and leaned to touch her.

"Hi," she said, eyes peeking open to see the face she loved.

"Hi, yourself," he said and kissed her. "You're a mommy."

"Isn't she beautiful?"

"Yes! What else would she be?"

Lorri laughed, a tired, relieved laugh.

"I thought we were having a boy," Rigg said.

"We don't have any girl's names picked out," Lorri responded, trying to concentrate when all she wanted to do was sleep.

"I have one."

Lorri looked at him.

"Josie."

"Oh, Rigg." Lorri wasn't sure. "Do you think it will be all right?"

"I think it will be wonderful, but I can ask your family first."

"Do that, Rigg." Lorri relaxed, knowing he would take care of everything. "Check with them, please."

"Okay, I will. Go to sleep now. I'll be here when you wake."

Lorri nodded, not able to fight it any longer. Rigg stayed close, watching her drop off before he closed his eyes to pray.

Thank You for this wonderful woman You have given me and this daughter that You've now given us. Help us to be faithful, Lord; help us to show her the way.

"h.e.l.lo, Mr. King," Max said from their doorstep much later that day. "I know it's getting late, but I wondered if John is still up."

357.

357.

"Of course, Max." Mark King was delighted to see her. "Come right in. John," he called to his son. "Max is here."

John needed no other urging. He was in the living room in the next few seconds, his father leaving the young couple on their own.

"Hi."

"My sister had a baby," Max told him, barely holding her tears. "She's fine and the baby is fine. I needed to tell someone."

John moved forward and put his arms around her, holding her close.

"I was scared," Max confessed. "Even at the hospital, I was scared. I didn't want to be, but I was."

"You weathered the storm."

Max moved her head back to see him. "The boat that rescued my sister was theEvery Storm.I don't know if I've told you that."

John only nodded.

"Every storm we've ever been in, G.o.d has rescued us, John. Every time, the ultimate Rescuer has been there. I just realized it."

John smiled into her eyes before saying, "I prayed for you. I prayed for all of you."

"Thank you."

John continued to look down into her face. That she would come to him like this was huge. He knew she was the one, and it seemed she knew it as well.

"One of these days, Max, I'm going to be asking. One of these days, I'm going to be coming after you."

Max smiled. "Well, then it's a good thing that I'm not going anywhere."

John's smile matched her own as he pulled her back into his arms for another hug.

358f?ili$tt Ruth sat on the floor of the living room, five-month-old Josie in front of her, trying to sit up. She smiled with delight over anything Grandma did, a small laugh escaping when Ruth placed her in her lap and kissed her soft neck.