Every Storm by Lori Wick

different." Dean's voice was low and sad. "Losing my Maxine was unbelievably painful, but losing Tom was like losing a part of myself. I don't know if there's any other way to describe it."
    "I think you must be right. A corner of my heart is constantly on Josie, but now that I have details, Lorri's in that painful corner as well. When I picture her digging in the dirt..."
    She couldn't go on, and Dean wasn't sure that she should. For some time neither one spoke. Ruth would cry and then contain t herself. Dean sat in his quiet agony. Eventually he began to pray. "Dear Father, I thank you for bringing Lorri back to us. Thank |,JYou that she's home safe. Help us to endure this pain, Lord. Jo is ith You, and that should bring us great joy, but right now we Blare lodged in our pain. Please don't let us lose sight of You and pour plans for each of us. Please help us. For Your sake and in Pour Son's name, amen."
    "Thank you, Dean," Ruth whispered. "It will come, Ruth. I promise you. Your grief will turn a corner, id the intensity will pass. God understands all about losing a Id. Just keep going back to Him."
    Ruth could only nod because the tears were starting again, in came close and gave her a hug before leaving her on her . He knew there was little he could do. To some extent, all of em would have to walk this path with God alone.
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    Lori Wick
    "She sleeps a lot," Max said to her mother at lunchtime the next day.
    "Yes, she does."
    "Is she really all right?"
    "Yes, she was checked by a doctor at the base in Australia. There's also a huge time change to deal with, and it's simply going to take some time to get back to normal."
    Max wanted to ask how much time but knew that was being unreasonable. She knew it would never be quite the same again. The thought saddened her, so she tried to think about something else.
    "Summer's going by fast," she said.
    "Yes, it is."
    "I'm not going to want to go back to school."
    "It's still more than three weeks away and your senior year." Her mother smiled at her. "You might have fun."
    "That's what Arlene says." Max spoke of her closest friend.
    "Did you talk to her this morning?"
    "Yes, she called."
    "Sounds like she was trying to cheer you up."
    Max didn't want to tell her mother that she'd been crying again so she said nothing.
    Ruth would have questioned her, but they heard Lorri on the stairs.
    "Good morning," Lorri greeted.
    "Good afternoon," her mother said in return.
    Lorri groaned in self-derision. "My bed felt so good, Ijust kept rolling over and going back to sleep. Hey, Buddy," she added, bending to pet the dog who had come up to greet her.
    "I've got lunch ready if you're hungry," Ruth said around a yawn.
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    "You sound tired."
    "I am," Ruth admitted, wanting to be honest.
    Lorri looked at her mother. She didn't look tired except a little around the eyes. Lorri knew the fatigue was over her homecoming but didn't know how to offer help.
    "Is there anything I can do?" she asked, her voice reflecting uncertainty.
    Ruth went to her and spoke once her arms were around her.
    "All the news is very new for us, Lorri. I don't believe my thoughts will keep me awake every night, but they did last night."
    Lorri looked into her mother's face. She was the most beautiful woman Lorri had ever known. Her eyes reflected her caring and love, and Lorri was still trying to convince herself that she had finally made it home.
    "Why don't you come and get me when that happens, and we can talk?" Lorri suggested.
    "Right now you need your rest, but maybe sometime I will."
    Lorri nodded, knowing it had to be her mother's decision but realizing for the first time that childhood had completely fallen away. She had departed for Australia a woman, certainly, but this was different. If she'd been forced to put it into words, she probably would have failed, but in her heart she knew a great change had taken place.
    At the moment she didn't know how she felt about that. There was no need to yearn for