Every Storm by Lori Wick Page A

freedom-she'd never been held captive by her graifdfather or mother--but right now she felt like a contemporary to her mother and not a member of the next generation.
    "Are you all right?" Ruth asked, having watched an odd expression chance across Lorri's face.
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    "Yes, just thinking about some things." Ruth smiled a little. "I think we'll be doing a lot of that." Lorri sighed. It was so lovely to be understood. She slipped her arms around her mother again and hugged her tight. They embraced until Max said that lunch was on the table.
    "Did you get the butter?" Ruth asked Max on Saturday morning, studying the grocery list in her hand.
    "Yes. And the oatmeal and the crackers."
    "What kind of crackers did you find?"
    Max grabbed the box from the shopping cart and held it up for her mother.
    "Oh, those are good. We haven't had those for a while."
    "Are you making soup?"
    "Yes."
    "What kind?"
    "Cream of potato."
    "Oh, my favorite."
    "I thought you might enjoy that."
    Once a month Ruth went to the PX on the base and stocked up, but for small amounts of everyday items, they used the local grocery store. Today there was an additional reason: They didn't want to be that far from home.
    Lorri found the note about her mother's whereabouts as soon as she arrived in the kitchen. Still getting used to the idea of being
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    at home, she moved slowly, getting herself a cup of coffee and adding a bit of milk.
    She had just settled in at the table, the newspaper open in front of her, when her grandfather came in from the garage. He poured his own coffee and joined her.
    "How did you sleep?" Dean asked.
    "I must have slept well because I can't remember anything after lying down."
    "Do you feel rested?"
    Lorri made a face.
    "Give it some more time."
    "Where were you?" Lorri realized she'd heard the car.
    "I had to run to the base." Dean paused for a sip of coffee. "I have to leave next week."
    Lorri didn't comment. Her heart had done an odd little flip-flop in her chest, and she only looked at her grandfather.
    "I'll be gone about a month and then home for good."
    "Do Mother and Max know?"
    Dean shook his head. "I was just told."
    Lorri bit her lip.
    "It'll be all right," Dean said.
    "Where will you be?"
    "Hawaii."
    "What if you don't come back?" Lorri asked the only question in her mind.
    Til come back."
    "Would God do that, Grandpa? Would He make us say goodbye to someone else right now?"
    "I don't think so, honey. We have to trust that He knows what we can take."
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    Lorri told herself to calm down. She told herself to trust. God had proyed His faithfulness so many times; there was no need for her to doubt now.
    "Are you all right?"
    "Yes," she was able to answer truthfully. "I'd rather you weren't leaving, but I'm not going to panic."
    "I have to tell your mother and Max when they return."
    Lorri only nodded. For some reason she wanted to panic again but pushed the temptation away. Her grandfather was right: God knew what they could handle.
    "Max, what are you doing?" her mother asked while she loaded the bags into the car and Max stood-not helping-looking back at the store.
    "I think those two girls are giving away kittens."
    "That's just what we need," Ruth said with mild sarcasm.
    "I was thinking the same thing."
    Ruth finally stopped and looked at her very serious daughter. Max looked right back.
    "Let's take a kitten to Raine."
    Ruth opened her mouth to say no, but the word didn't come out. She looked at Max and then to the front of the store.
    "Please, Mother," Max entreated softly, bringing Ruth's eyes back to her.
    "We don't know if there's a kitten in the box that's just right for your sister."
    "But we could look."
    "Yes we could, but it can't be just any kitten."
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    I' "That's true. We'll only take it if it's just right." ; "Can I trust you to decide, Max, or is your heart going to be lost the moment we get over there?"
    Max's smooth brow dropped in thought.
    "You'd better decide. If you