Chris by Randy Salem

undying love for Dizz, Chris could not promise that her feelings for Carol would not grow beyond fondness.
    For Chris was wise enough to know that it was possible for her to love them both and at the same time. One of them desperately and without hope, the other constructively and with shared enjoyment. She did not care to contemplate what would happen if the time came for her to make a choice. For the moment she was not ready to part with either. Carol, because she offered tenderness and affection and understanding. And Dizz—well, just because she was Dizz.
    She decided to take an indirect tack.
    "Dizz," she said, "do you know that while you were out there with George, I was sitting in here driving myself mad? I was sick with jealousy and fear. And when you came in, I thought you were going to say you're eloping with him or something." It hurt her to admit it, to let Dizz see behind it. But she could think of no other way out.
    Dizz laughed as heartily as Chris had a few minutes before. "You ninny," she said. "George is just a friend. I enjoy him, that's all."
    Chris grinned. "See what I mean?"
    "What?" Dizz said, looking puzzled. Then the face relaxed. "Oh," she said.
    Chris got off the chair and squatted down before Dizz. She took both the girl's hands in her own. "Honey," she said, "I'm repeating myself, but I love you. You're a part of me, like my hair or an arm. I wouldn't be complete without either. Or without you." She kissed the curled fingers. "And if you ever hear me cry, it's not because you don't make me happy. It's because I haven't done the same for you."
    They were quiet together for a long time, with their hands clinging. Chris saw in Dizz's eyes something close to tenderness. It had been many heartaches ago since Dizz had looked at her like that. And many tears.
    Finally Dizz said, "You won't leave me?"
    Chris sighed. "No," she said. "I won't leave you." And if I could believe that you would keep that glow, she thought, I would never even look at any one else.
    Dizz stood up. With a finger she tousled Chris' hair. "Shall we drink to that?" she said. "I could use one."
    "Sure," Chris answered. "I'll take coffee, though. No more alcohol or cigarettes till I get back from Tongariva."
    Dizz fixed herself a drink and got coffee for Chris. She came back to the bedroom and put both drinks on the desk. She sat down on the chair. Chris had sprawled out on the bed and lay with her hands linked behind her head. She was relaxed now, the pieces of her world all back in place. She was ready to believe they could go on together forever, as they had always gone on, and that nothing could interfere.
    "How long will you be gone?" Dizz asked.
    "A month. Maybe more."
    "Chris," Dizz said, "tell me honestly. Will this be a dangerous job? I can't help remembering the last one."
    "I thought we settled all that this morning," Chris smiled. "It could be, of course. Any diving job could be. I prefer to consider the cheerier aspects."
    "I know," Dizz said. "But how do you think I feel, sitting here for a month? Not knowing whether you'll be corning home in one piece or ten—or none."
    Chris nodded. "You're right," she said. "You can always come along, you know."
    "This may be the shock of your life, my dear, but I have every intention of doing just that," Dizz said triumphantly.
    "Do you mean that?" Chris said, afraid to believe it.
    "I do," she replied. "No gorgeous brunette is going to know more about this trip than I do!"
    "Ouch," Chris said. "I thought you were afraid I'd drown."
    Dizz picked up her glass and drained it in three long swallows. "I believe in killing two birds with every stone," she said.
    At the mention of the gorgeous brunette, Chris remembered her proposal to Carol. Somehow it all seemed very far away and just not very vital. Dizz was going to Tongariva with her. The first time since that trip to Nova Scotia. Maybe, alone and away from the city, they could get a new start together, work out some of their mutual