Chrissy decides to go back to work after she has made a complete recovery from the surgery. Jim wants to provide for her and keep her safe in the house but he sees she is determined. He buys her a new convertible coupe so she can get into town and back on her own. She gets a job at the coffee shop on the day shift as a waitress so she is free to come home at night when Jim returns from the garage. One day, she enters the house and calls out to Jim to come downstairs.
--"Honey, you'll never believe who I ran into!" she shouts with joy. "It's my brother Rick."
Jim slowly descends the stairs and sees Chrissy standing next to a tall, frail-looking man with black moussed hair and boot sideburns. His lean body is encased in a fitted sport shirt and jeans. He smiles as if he knows Jim already.
--"Jim, I'm Rick" he says, extending a hand for shaking. He says he is a gambler by profession and has spent his time in perfecting his craft in the gaming rooms of Las Vegas and Reno.
--"It's amazing how we met," Chrissy says. "I was serving him some coffee and donuts and I said to myself, 'I know this man.' Then I got closer and I almost dropped the tray. I was sure it was my brother. I said, 'Rick, is that you?' And he just looked at me like I was from some other planet. He had no idea. He said, 'Do I know you?' I said, 'You sure do, but maybe not like this.' I said, 'It's Chris.' He didn't even know what I was talking about until I said I told him our mama's name. He almost fell on the floor."
--"What can I say?," Rick said. "It's true. I was flabbergasted. I mean, I'm a gambler and I know odds. But what are the odds you'll mean your long-lost brother as your sister, serving you a doughnut in a small town coffee shop. Probably six point two gazillion to one. Wow. I've been involved in some wacky scenes in my time but this one—I just fell right out. Thought they'd get the paramedics."
--"Well, you sit down and I'll get us some beers. Is that ok honey?," she says looking at Jim.
Jim sits in the overstuffed chair his father used and tries to take in what has happened. Chrissy found her brother at the coffee shop. He sees that Chrissy is deliriously happy as she brings in the cold beer.
--"I have to say I'm shocked, shocked that the person I grew up with is now a beautiful young woman," Rick says, shaking his head and leaning in confidentially towards Jim. "I knew him, excuse me, her as a sensitive, shy person. Someone not macho like her brother, ha ha. I knew that. But who knew that she was really a woman? I'm telling you, honest to G-d, I never knew. Never said anything to our mom or pop that I heard about. But then I left home early and well, we just weren't that close anymore. It was my fault and I'm gonna make up for that. Can you imagine living with a feeling like that and nobody knows you're in pain. Gees."
Rick puts down his bottle of beer.
--"Sometimes, it's someone outside the family who sees things more clearly. And I guess I have you to thank for making my...sister's dream a reality. You're a good man, Jim Hastings, I salute you."
Rick smiles but the corners of his mouth make the smile appear a grimace.
--"What brought you into town?," Jim asks, rubbing his hands on the armrests of the chair.
--"I'm crisscrossing the country," Rick says. "I try to enter all the poker tournaments I can. I'm on my way to a big game. I decided to make a pit stop for refueling and some local home-style cooking. That was the best decision I ever made. It's been so long."
He turns to Chrissy.
--"I'm sorry Chris. I should have been there for you but I didn't know."
He seems suddenly overcome with emotion. Chrissy runs to his side and consoles him. Jim watches her offer consolation.
--"It's all right, Rick. It's not your fault. I left home too. I didn't tell anyone what I was going through. You couldn't have known."
They hold each other, their foreheads touching as if transmitting silent thoughts. When they part, Rick laughs and wipes his eyes, as if brushing away tears.
--"Hey," he says in a buoyant tone, "what do you kids do for fun around here, watch someone get a haircut?"
--"We have lots of things here," Chrissy says.
--"Yeah? Like what?"
--"We see movies, take walks, go for an Italian dinner."
--"Whoa, you must get all tuckered out from that excitement."
--"Cut it out Rick. We like it. Not everybody can be a big-time gambler."
--"I hear you. I was just joking. I like that you guys have a simple, decent life not like your old reprobate brother living out of a suitcase and waiting for the big win."
--"What you do is exciting Rick."
--" Yeah. Poker's like a sport now. You can see it on television. I'm going to enter a big one. Grand prize is three million dollars. Can you freaking believe that? Three million dollars."
--"I hope you win it hon."
--"I have a feeling money's coming in babe."
Jim has a twinge in his stomach when he hears Rick call Chrissy "babe."
