Expecting the Unexpected
by WCR

---

     Rita drove to the beach, not seeing much of anything as she did so.  The
wind whipped through her hair, bringing the smell of salt.  Overhead was the
screeching of seagulls.  The doctor confirmed her worst fears...the aneurysm
was getting worse.  But what could she do?  Getting out of the jeep, she
removed her shoes and walked along the edge of the water.  There was a chance
that it could be fixed, but she could lose motor function, some speech, maybe
even be in a coma.  Not exactly what she wanted to hear, but didn't the truth
hurt?
     The sky was a deep orange with streaks of yellow and pink thrown in.
 She sat down in the sand, her arms wrapped around her knees, staring
straight ahead.  She wished that she could sit here forever...just let the
sound of the waves and the sway of the palm trees soothe her.  She reached
down, letting the sand drift through her fingers.  It was a light tan, very
soft.  It glistened from the sun's rays.
     In the distance, she heard an old car sputter to a halt.  Without
looking, she knew then that her solitude would be broken.  But it was Chris.
 It was okay.  She figured he was there to check up on her.  When she had
finally confessed her problems to him the other night, he was understandably
shaken.
     "Sam, what are you gonna do?"  Chris asked.  He had wrapped his arms
around her as they sat on her sofa.  She was crying a bit, frightened of the
pain, but more of the unknown.
     "I don't know.  Oh, Chris...I thought this was all over...I thought that
I was in control.  Then the headaches grew worse again..."  Rita wiped her
eyes with her left hand.  When she looked at Chris, she saw his eyes were
filled with fear -- a fear that only matched her own.  "But I gotta be
strong."
     "No, Sammy.  You don't.  I'm here and I'll always be here when you need
me."  Chris stroked her hair and kissed her hand, giving her a small smile.
 "You aren't about get rid of me so easily."
      "You always know when I need you, Sam."  Rita kissed his cheek and
hugged him.
      "Well, I'm not just another pretty face, Sam..."  He sobered.  "Promise
me you'll tell me the truth after your doctor's appointment?"
     Rita paused, looked at Chris, and nodded.  "Absolutely, Sam."
     "Good...hey, I'm starving.  Let's get chinese..."
     The night left them debating over what to eat, keeping each other from
mentioning the worst...

     Now, he was here.  He seemed to know her well.  She didn't tell him she
was going to the beach...but here he was.   "I thought I'd find you here,
Sam."  Chris sat down in the sand next to her, taking her hand.  "Quarter for
your thoughts."
     "A quarter?"  Despite her worries, she smiled.
     "Well, you know.  Inflation,"  he paused.
      "Ah, I see."  Rita just sat holding his hand, then took a breath.
 "You're probably wondering what happened today, huh?" 
      "Yeah.  So tell me."  Chris looked at her intently.  He seemed to be
holding his breath, waiting.  The shadows on the ground grew longer.
      With a heavy heart, Rita told all.  The loss of function, language,
even the possibility of a coma.  Chris sat, rocking her like a baby.  His
arms tightened as she talked about the coma.  "So, you gonna have the
operation, then?"  he asked, when she was done.
      "Well, the doctor said there is more technology than there was just
five years ago.  I have a chance to get this taken care of once and for all.
 I can't pass this up, Chris.  The risks are worth it, I guess.  I'm strong."
 Rita looked at Chris, his face now hidden by the growing dark.  In the
distance, the waves crashed in, drowning out the cries of the hungry
seagulls.  "I just wish that the recovery process wasn't so long...six months
before I can go back to work...that's just for desk duty."  
     Chris whispered, "I can't imagine work without you to keep me in line,
Sammy.  But if this will fix everything...I'm behind you all the way.  Know
that."  He looked up, trying to find the source of the wail of a seagull.
     "Promise you won't get too attached to your temporary partner?"  Rita
asked, squeezing his hand.
     Chris looked at her wide-eyed.  "Never happen.  Nobody makes bad coffee
quite like you!"  Rita punched his arm through his sport coat.  "Ouch, that
hurt."
     "Well, you deserved it!"  Rita stood up, wiping the sand from her pants.
 She held out her hand, offering Chris help up.  "Come on, let's take a
walk."
     "I'm with you, Rita."  Chris and Rita walked, hands linked.  Their feet
touched the warm water.  "So...when do you make a final decision?"  Chris
asked, looking at the horizon.
     "Soon."  Rita stopped and looked at him.  "Will you go with me to the
hospital if I do this?"  Chris kissed her cheek.
      "I'll drive you, Sammy."  Rita smiled.
      "You are the best friend I'll ever have,"  she replied.
      "Yeah, yeah.  You're mine, too."  He laughed.  
      "In that case, Chris, you can come with me when I tell Harry about my
problem.  I'll need someone to share the explosion with!"  Rita shuddered.
      "I'm a brave guy.  It'll be a blast."  Rita laughed.  In unison, they
cried, "Literally!"
They ran down the rest of the shore, laughing in the dark.

       Later, reaching their vehicles, Chris said, "Take care.  I'll follow
you home 'cause I'm just that kind of guy."  Rita leaned over and whispered,
"Be careful, Sam.  You don't want people knowing you're not Mr. Macho!"
       "You're bad, Rita."  Chris said.  ""Why do I take this abuse?"
       "'Cause you are a masochist, Sam."  Rita said, climbing into her jeep.
        "Hmm..."  Chris said.  "Are you okay now?"  he wondered aloud.
        Her green eyes were much more calm.  "As long as you are around to
pick me up when I fall, Christopher Lorenzo, everything will be okay.
 Everything!"

     A week later, after Harry Lipschitz yelled the roof off the Palm Beach
Police Department, and the arrangements were made, Rita went through with the
surgery.  Harry, Frannie, George, and Chris awaited word in a small,
antiseptic smelling waiting room filled with old, faded red vinyl chairs and
even older magazines.
      Chris kept pacing.  "Lorenzo, you're gonna put a hole in the floor.
 Relax."  Harry pleaded.  Just as Chris was about to reply, Rita's doctor,
Doctor Carl Barner, a short, gray haired man, came out.
       Before he could speak, Chris said, "Doctor.  Rita.  Is she okay?"
        The doctor sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, still dressed in
his green scrubs.  "It was a delicate surgery, but...she came through
remarkably well."
        "I always knew Lance was a fighter,"  Harry piped up.  "When can we
see her?"
        "Not 'til at least tomorrow.  Then will be fine."  the older man
looked around, then asked, "Any questions?"
         "Actually, doctor, I have some."  Chris asked.  "Will Rita...will
she...is she in a coma?"
         The older man grinned then.  "No.  She told me before she went under
that she wasn't gonna be playing Sleeping Beauty."  He paused, and added,
"She's a strong one!"
          "That she is!"  Chris laughed.  "Thank you, doctor."
           "You are all welcome.  Now, I must go.  If you need me, don't
hesitate to call..  I'm Carl Barner."  He turned and walked off.

           A few weeks later....

       "Well, Sam, I did it,"  Rita told Chris, as he helped her take a sip
of water.
        "It helps that the blood vessel was farther away than everyone
thought, I knew Mark Dennison, your ex-boyfriend/ex-doctor, was a schmuck."
 Chris told her, smirking.
        "Be nice, Sam!"  Rita admonished, smiling back.  "I'm in a forgiving
mood."
         "Okay, I'll be nice,"  he agreed.  Chris put the water glass on the
nightstand and took Rita's right hand, the one not hooked up to the IV drip.
 "I'm so happy you'll be here to put up with me, Rita."  Chris said softly.
          "Me too, Christopher.  Life is never boring with you."
          Chris beamed.  "Thank you so very much, Sam.  I always knew you had
excellent taste."
          Rita rolled her eyes.  "Where are the hip boots when I need them?"
          "Ah, Sam, I told you long ago...I was sneaking up on your good
side."  Chris said, kissing her hand.
          "Yeah."  Rita smiled.  "You did that.  Thanks for being here,
Chris."
          "Anytime, Sam.  Anything for my best friend,"  Chris told her.
          "Me, too."  Rita replied, putting her hand on his cheek.  "Anytime
at all."

                                      END