He poured drinks from a well-stocked cabinet and settled in an easy chair. "Now, then, I want to know if you're really convinced of this business of other worlds."
"Sure," Chuck said, "unless you've got me doped or hypnotized or I'm dreaming or something. It all seems real enough."
"It is real." Ice cubes clicked as Charles tilted his glass and drank. "Now let's get down to business. Just listen to what I have to say and don't interrupt. I want you to think for a moment about those times in your life when you've had to make a decision or choose between two alternative courses of action which would affect your whole life. Have you ever wondered, when you've made your choice, what would have happened if you had chosen the other alternative? For instance, if you arrived at a situation where two jobs were available and you chose one, wouldn't you sometimes wonder how things would have been if you had chosen the other job?
"I think I can show you," he continued, "that when we reach such situations and finally select a course of action, we also take the other course at the same time. I'm going to try to prove to you that an alternative world somehow comes into existence in which you live your other life. As a matter of fact, you and I sprang from one of these decisive moments. I'm pretty sure I know which one, too."
He cut short his guest's protests with a quick wave of his hand. "You really can't argue with me about it. You've seen two worlds already—surely you don't think it ends there? After all, we live in an infinite universe; why shouldn't we be infinite creatures living out the infinite possibilities of our lives? Still, to return to you and me—your wife's name is Kathy, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Is yours?"
"My wife is called Estelle. Does that mean anything to you?"
Chuck put down his drink and straightened suddenly. "You mean Estelle Defoe?"
"That's right. If you want to make sure we're talking about the same girl, go look out the window."