Chapter Two.

As one would likely expect, the first day of school was extremely hectic for Liz.  With so much on her mind she had forgotten all about the thought that had gone through her head before she fell asleep the night before.  That was until her fifth period class.  At the beginning of each of her classes she had introduced herself to the class.  She then went around the room and had the students stand and introduce themselves aloud to everyone else. She thought many of the students probably already knew each other, but they were all new to her.  Plus it was a good ice breaker.  The seventh student to speak in her fifth period class stood and said “Hi!  I am Alyssa Cantrell.”  Then she smiled at Liz, or Miss Stevens as she had introduced herself to the class.  When Alyssa smiled, she revealed the prominent metal braces and forsus springs in her mouth.  While several other students earlier in the day had also had braces, they had been much more subtle and had not sparked a recollection in Liz’s mind of her thoughts the night before.  But this time, the shocking amount of metal she saw in the girl’s mouth reminded her.  Liz thought it must be horrible to have to walk around with that much metal in one’s mouth.  But Liz noted as the class let out, Alyssa was smiling and talking with classmates.  She seemed oblivious to the scaffolding in her mouth.  As Liz watched Alyssa disappear out the door she thought “what a brave girl.”

After the final bell rung, Liz stayed in her classroom.  She was at her desk studying her student rolls, trying to put a face with each name.  But with over 200 new students, she knew it would be a process.  She had even asked all of the students to be patient with her as she got to know them all.  And to please not be offended if she got a name wrong in the fist week or two.  Her concentration was broken by “Hey!  How did it go?”  She turned to see Maggie standing in her doorway.

After they had relayed to each other how their days had gone, Liz said “so last night I was thinking about what you said about getting braces.  And I am interested in seeing if maybe clear aligners would work for me.  I mean, I am not dating and don’t plan to for a while.  And since I am making a fresh start, maybe I should do it with a new and improved smile.  Who did you go consult with?”

Three weeks later, Liz pulled in and parked in the lot of Family Orthodontics.  She was running a few minutes late as the after school traffic had been horrible.  She hurried up to the reception desk.  She was flustered as the clock on the wall said 3:55.  At reception she said “Hi!  I am Elizabeth Stevens.  I have a 3:45, or had a 3:45, appointment.  I am sorry I am late.”  The blond girl behind the desk, her name tag said Katie, smiled at her.  Liz immediately noticed the metal brackets covering each of her teeth as well as the lime green elastics that stretched between her upper and lower jaws as she responded “it’s not a problem.  We understand that our adult patients are busy.”  She typed a few things into her computer and looked up and said “since you are new, can you please give me your ID and insurance card?  And please fill this out” as she handed Liz a clipboard.  Liz took the clipboard and said “sure thing.  And thank you for understanding.”  After digging her drivers license and insurance card out and handing them to Katie she said “I will get this right back to you.”  Katie gave her a big metallic smile and said “Thank You!” 

Liz turned and surveyed the waiting area to find a seat.  As she looked around the room she noticed a mix of about half kids with their parents and half adults or older teens.  Her eyes lingered on one woman around her age that was wearing some kind of blue plastic and metal mask on her face. She saw there were elastics stretching from the mask into her mouth.  Liz wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but she assumed it was something to do with orthodontics.  She shuddered.  Another patient, a tween girl sitting with her mother, had a metal bar looping around her face attached to black straps on top of her head.  Liz did recognize this, she knew that the poor girl had to wear headgear.  As she finished up looking around the room, she saw someone she recognized.  In the corner was Alyssa, her student with the metal braces and springs in her mouth.  She was waving towards Miss Stevens.

Liz approached and said “Hi Alyssa!  So this is your orthodontist?”  Alyssa looked up and said “yes Miss Stevens.  I got my braces last spring break.  I SO hope I am done with them by graduation next year.  What are you doing here?” 

Liz sat in the empty seat beside her and said “well, I am just exploring the idea of getting clear aligners.  I have a couple teeth I would like to straighten up.”  Alyssa said “that is cool.  Good for you.  Mrs. Shelton had them for a year before she got ceramic braces.  You couldn’t even see them.  We wouldn’t have known she had even gotten them if she hadn’t asked us to ignore her new lisp when she first got them.  I would have loved to have gotten them, but they couldn’t fix my bite.  So I had to get regular braces.  And these awful springs.  I can’t wait to get them off.  Anyway, it looks like you have some stuff to fill out.  I will leave you alone.”  Liz looked at Alyssa and thanked her, then bent over and went to filling out the paperwork.  She was almost done when she heard a voice call out “Alyssa Cantrell, the doctor is ready for you.”  As Alyssa stood Liz said “good luck Alyssa.  Maybe they will take those springs off”.  Alyssa smiled at her and said “I hope so.  If they do, I am going to consider you my good luck charm.”

After filling out the new patient paperwork she had returned it to Katie who told her they would call her soon.

After finishing her examination, she was led to an office that said “Emma Stanfield - Treatment Coordinator”.  Entering the office, the woman behind it stood and extended her hand and smiled.  Liz noticed she had clear ceramic braces on her teeth.  Liz stuck her hand out as the coordinator said “Hello Miss Stevens.  I am Emma.  I wanted to discuss some treatment options with you.”

After they sat Emma said “so looking here, it looks like you are interested in clear aligners.  Unfortunately, you are not a great candidate for them.  You have some bite issues that the aligners just can’t effectively address.  However, you are certainly a candidate for traditional braces, either metal or clear ceramic like I have.”  Hearing this bad news Liz pretty much gave up the dream of a prettier smile.  But since she was here, she decided to at least be polite and hear the woman out.  She said “so what all would that involve.”  The coordinator layed out a treatment plan.  It would be an estimated 28-30 months.  She had mentioned several appliances that were completely foreign to Liz.  At the end, she had discussed cost. Liz was taken aback when she heard it would be $7,500 dollars.

After finishing her presentation, Emma said “if you want to start, we can do it today and go ahead and get your spacers installed.”  Liz said “thank you, but I don’t think I will.”  Emma asked “so, what is your major concern?  We have lots of adult patients, and adult braces are no big deal.  I can personally vouch for that.  Or is it the financials?”  Liz answered “it is all of the above. But thank you all for your time.”  She stood.  Emma said “hang on just a second.  I can’t do much about the braces.  But if the financials are the concern, there is another option.”  To be polite Liz sat down.  Emma continued “Dr. Butler is seeking participants in a multi-year experimental trial he is involved with.  Patients that participate will get full treatment at zero cost. And you would be a perfect candidate.  We are looking for 30 people who have a class II bite and 30 more that have a class III bite.  They need to be aged 21-40 and never had orthodontic treatment before.  Believe it or not, that is hard to find.  But you would be perfect.”  She dug out a one page sheet and handed it to Liz.  Across the top it read ‘BioMechanical Impacts of Extraoral Forces on Adult Orthodontic Treatment.’  Liz had no idea what this meant.

Emma said “this sheet outlines the details.  Your appointments would be at the university an hour away.  And they would be on Saturdays.  But it would be a GREAT opportunity to get treatment for free.  Is that something you would be interested in?”  Liz said “no, but thank you.”  She started to hand the sheet back to Emma when she thought of Maggie.  Liz wondered if she knew about this. So, she looked at Emma and asked “but can I take this with me?  I might have a friend that would be interested.”  Emma said “of course not.  That is why we printed them up.  Please, share with anyone you can, we are struggling to find the volunteers we need.”

As Liz walked to her car she was feeling a little bummed out.  She had really hoped she could sort her smile out with clear aligners.  With her dream of a new smile gone, she thought about Alyssa.  She thought “maybe she had a better appointment than me and was able to get those springs out of her mouth.”  And she thought of Maggie.  Maybe this study would be something she was interested in.  After all, Maggie seemed pretty dead set on getting braces, traditional or otherwise.  And free was a great price.  She would give her this flyer.  Then she thought of what Emma had said about needing participants.  Better yet Liz thought, I will tack it up on the bulletin board in the teacher’s lounge.  While she herself couldn’t bring herself to wear adult braces, maybe there was another teacher at the school that could.  And hey, free is free right?

Chapter Three.

Maggie brought three more glasses of wine into the living room.  She handed two of them to Tina and Liz, keeping the third for herself.  Tina was also a teacher at the school, a 29 year old physical education and health teacher who was also one of the girls volleyball coaches.  It was a Friday night and the three were having a girls movie night.   As she sat Maggie said “come on Liz.  Please!  They only need one more volunteer before they will start the trial and we can start treatment.  Tina, Emily, and I are all eager to get started.  I mean, the sooner we get started, the sooner we will be done.”  Tina said “she’s right Liz, and it’s FREE!  When will you have another chance at free orthodontic treatment?  And I know you HATE the idea of having braces.  But, you won’t be alone.  There will be four of us at school starting treatment at the same time.  Pretty, pretty, please?”  Maybe it was the wine, but Liz said “if I do it, will you three quit beating me up over it?”  Tina said “oh come on, don’t be a baby, we aren’t beating you up.”  Maggie added “well, actually I might try that next.  To physically beat you up.  Come on!  Say yes!”  Despite the voice in her head screaming no, Liz looked at the other two and said “ok damn it, I will call them on Monday and tell them I am in.”  The two other women cheered.

Four weeks later Maggie pulled into the parking deck adjacent to the orthodontic department of the state university.  In addition to herself; Liz, Tina and Emily where in the car with her.  Emily was also a teacher and co-worker.  She was 35 years old, married and taught 10th grade English.  As they parked Maggie said “this is exciting.”  Emily added “and thank you for jumping on board Liz.  We will be the four amigos.”  The foursome entered the large reception area and saw a number of other women already there.  There were also 4 guys.  This was the orientation for the trial, all the participants where expected to be here.  After they signed in the four ladies sat and chatted.  After about 15 minutes a woman in scrubs entered the room and said “ladies and gents, if you would please follow me, we will get started”.  Liz could not take her eyes off the woman.  Protruding from her mouth was a shiny silver facebow.  And around her head was a complicated maze of cloth and plastic straps with a number of elastics attached, stretching from the complex straps on her head to the facebow that was so prominently sticking out of her mouth.  Liz sat frozen staring at her.  Maggie shook her on the shoulder and said “come on slowpoke, let’s go!”

As the large group of 60 people followed the woman into a large auditorium style classroom, Liz whispered to Maggie “what is that she is wearing?”  Maggie answered “she is wearing headgear.  That is interlandi headgear.  I am guessing we all might get headgear.”  Liz was shocked.  She asked “wait, what?  Headgear?  Nobody said anything about headgear.”  Maggie said “come on Liz.  You are the one that posted that flyer on the bulletin board.  It said ‘extraoral’ in big bold letters.”  Liz asked “wait, what do you mean?  I didn’t know what extraoral meant.  Are you saying it means headgear?”  Maggie replied “yes silly.  I thought you knew.  But don’t worry, if we do have to wear headgear, I am sure it will only be at night.”  Liz looked at her with wide eyes and said “you think we will have to wear headgear?”  Maggie said “maybe, probably, but again I am sure it will only be at night.”

Once everyone was seated and had settled down, an older bespectacled man in a white coat spoke into a microphone.  He said “Wecome!  I am Dr. Emmanuel Markisian.  I am the department head here and will be overseeing this trial.  Thank you for volunteering to participate in the exciting research we are performing here.  Everyone here will finish this trial up with a beautiful new smile.  Now let me explain a few more details about the trial, and then we can get all of you in the chair so we can get your spacers in and get you out of here so you can go enjoy the rest of your Saturday.”

Two hours later the four women were in the car and on their way back home.  In the front seat Tina had the visor flipped down examining her new spacers in the mirror.  She said “it feels like I have food stuck in my teeth.”  Emily replied “I did a little research on getting braces.  A lot of people say that spacers are the worst part. So if we can just get through the next week it should get better.  Right?”  Maggie said “I am sure it will.  But either way, we are getting braces for FREE!  I mean, if the four of us were paying for them it would be $20,000 or $30,000.  That is a LOT of money.”  Everyone but Liz agreed it was a lot of money.  Maggie looked in the rearview mirror at Liz and said “what is wrong with you?  You haven’t said a word today since we left the orientation.”

Liz said “I am terrified.  What have we gotten ourselves in to?  I mean, they said we can’t refuse any treatment and if we do or drop out we will be billed for our treatment.  And did you notice that ALL the assistants were wearing headgear?  That big huge headgear like that first woman had.  Are we going to have to wear that?”  Maggie said “yeah, we may.  But I am sure just at home.  And if you remember what the the head said, this is an ongoing trial and all their staff are participants.  So what if we have to wear headgear while we sleep.  It is all free.  And we all already signed the contract.  So we are committed now.”

As the three others excitedly chatted on the ride back, Liz sat silently digesting everything she had seen and heard that day.  Maybe there was a way she could get out of it, even if she knew the three others in the car would give her hell.  As if reading her mind Maggie said “Liz, don’t even think of trying to weasel out of this.  None of us are going to let you off the hook.  And do you remember what our assistant Tara told us?  That no one that had completed treatment ever regretted it?  Keep that in your mind.”

Liz certainly had something in her mind.  But it wasn’t that.  It was an image of the huge headgear that Tara had been wearing. 

I am trying to make this one a little more fast paced and to the point than past stories. Not sure if it works or not, but as always content feedback is always appreciated.

Great story!

Chapter Six.

Tim followed Liz into her tiny dining area.  She placed the bag on the table.  She looked at Tim and said "thank you so much.  Again you really shouldn't have."  She continued "but I want to be upfront with you, I am not looking to date at all right now.  I don't want you to think I am leading you on.  It's just that, well, I'm not feeling very pretty right now and could use some company.  If you want to leave, I will completely understand."

Tim looked at her and asked "can we sit?"  After they were seated, Tim continued "Liz, you made it abundantly clear when we first met you are not able to date right now.  I think that was maybe the fourth thing you told me when we first met.  I know you just got out of a divorce.  I completely respect that.  I brought you dinner because it is the neighborly thing to do.  There is too little random kindness in the world.  I try to contribute when I can.  And maybe it will help offset some of the things I have done in my past.  I didn't bring you this to try to, well, you know."

Liz was a little shocked by someone, especially a man she barely knew, being so upfront and honest with her.  She wasn't used to it after her previous five years of marriage.   She said "thank you for understanding.  And how presumptuous of me to think you would be one bit attracted to someone with braces." 

Tim responded "with all due respect, that is ridiculous.  Liz, you are a beautiful woman.  Yesterday you were a beautiful woman without braces.  Tonight you are a beautiful woman with braces.  That is it, it is as simple as that.  Any man would be crazy not to be attracted to you.  But they would have to be an as**ole not to respect your situation."

Liz sat there speechless, a slight red hue on her cheeks.  Did Tim just call her beautiful?  She stammered "well, I, um... thank you?"

Tim could see that Liz was flustered.  He changed the subject by saying "so, since you just got those, I bet you haven't tried to eat anything yet.  Let me just forewarn you, it is different.  But lucky for you, your neighbor Tim knows all about it.  I don't know what you like to eat.  Or if you are vegan, or lactose intolerant, or anything like that.  So, I just winged it."  He reached over and removed two styrofoam boxes and a styrofoam cup from the bag and placed them on the table.  As he popped the lids open he said "we have mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, and sauteed spinach.  I put the gravy for the potatoes in a separate cup.  And for a meat we have some baked lemon pepper grouper.  And you may hate it all, but it is easy to eat."

Liz looked at the food and said "you are so thoughtful.  Did you fix all this?  For me?"  Tim replied "I did.  Hopefully I did a decent job."  Liz felt something inside her.  This attractive man had gone to the trouble to fix her dinner.  She said "I am not vegan or vegetarian or lactose intolerant, or any of that kind of thing.  I LOVE fish.  And mashed potatoes and mac n cheese.  Spinach, not so much.  It looks delicious.  Again, THANK YOU!"

Tim said "well good, I got lucky.  Do you feel like trying it?"

Liz asked "is this weird?  That you are about to watch me eat?  And have you eaten?  I don't want to just eat in front of you."  Tim said "maybe it is weird, but life is weird.  Maybe I want to be your braces life coach?  Maybe that is why I was put on this earth?"  Tim laughed and then continued "and I have eaten, I was snacking and sampling things along the way.  So, don't feel bad about eating in front of me.  The first thing you need to do is remove that wax from your braces."  Liz said "oh gosh, I hadn't even thought of that.  Let me go to the bathroom."  Tim said "you don't need to do that.  Just do it here.  You aren't going to gross or weird me out.  I promise I have seen a lot more gruesome things in my life than a pretty woman removing wax from her braces."  Liz thought to herself 'did he just call me pretty?  Again?'.  She said "no, it isn't even that, I need a mirror."  Tim responded "fair enough.  But why don't we try something else?  If you are ok with it, let me do it for you.  Again, just as your braces life coach."  Liz looked at him unsure how to respond.  She finally said "ok."  Tim scooted her beside her and said "open up."  As Tim reached into her mouth and removed the first clump of wax Liz felt a shiver go through her body.

Once he had deposited the little balls of wax on a napkin, he moved back over to the chair across from Liz.  He said "that wax looks fresh.  You can probably reuse it after you get done eating, brushing, and flossing.  That is another thing about having braces.  Not only is eating different, you will become a pro at brushing and flossing.  Because you will have to do it all the time.  Why don't you eat, and I will tell you all I remember from high school."

As Liz ate, Tim talked about his high school days.  She had already told him it was all delicious.  Even the spinach.  His story wasn't all about his braces, but he interwove them in his story.  He had been a just above average student but had been athletic playing both baseball and football.  He relayed his one big braces emergency in high school, when a ground ball had taken a funny hop at third base and instead of landing in his glove had landed in his mouth.  He also talked about dating, and that him and his steady girlfriend had braces together for over a year.  And that as hard as they tried, they had never managed to get them stuck together.  Liz looked up from her food when he said "but probably the worst part of braces for me was the headgear.  That bastard made me wear headgear for two of the three years I had my braces.  Or tried to make me.  I wasn't good about it.  That is why it took me three years instead of two."

Liz asked "how bad was it?  Did it hurt?"

Tim said "no, not really.  Well, at first it did.  Like the first two weeks.  But it was just the fact that I was, if I do say so myself, a strapping stud.  Who then at night was supposed to go home and wear headgear.  It was a real dichotomy in my brain.  It was just weird more than anything.  Looking back, being maybe just a little more mature now than I was then, I wish I had just worn it like I was supposed to and gotten it over with.  Just bit the bullet so to speak.  But, I was a hormone addled 16 year old.  So being a good orthodontic patient was nowhere to be found on my priority list."

Liz weighed what she was about to say.  Should she tell him?  He was being honest and upfront with her she thought.  So she decided to do the same with him.  Liz said "I am pretty certain I am going to get headgear.  I am terrified of the thought."

Tim said "wow, really.  They told you that you would be getting headgear?"

Liz said "no, not exactly.  I have never had braces but was wanting to fix a few things in my smile.  And I figured this was the perfect time.  I'm single, not dating, and making a fresh start.  I am working on myself a lot.  So I figured why not work on my smile too.  But when I heard it would be $7,500 I scratched it off my list.  Until I was given an opportunity to get them for free.  I signed up to be a part of an orthodontic study.  Actually four of us at school did.  Or more accurately, three of the other girls jumped at the chance and then shamed me into joining them.  So, we are all getting braces for free, but with some caveats.  We had to get metal braces instead of ceramic.  And we have to agree to whatever treatment they tell us to.  No questions asked.  Or we have to pay for the treatment.  I didn't understand all the nomenclature when I signed up for it.  I just wanted free braces.  I didn't realize that 'extraoral' means headgear until after I had signed the contract and had gotten my spacers.  Tim, I signed up for a study on the effectiveness of headgear on adults without even realizing it.  I am such a big dummy."

Tim reached over for her hand.  Liz let him take it.  He said "you are NOT a dummy.  Not at all.  No one knows everything.  And you having never had braces, who would expect you to know orthodontic lingo?  And so what if you have to get headgear?  Then you will just be a beautiful woman with headgear.  In the whole cosmic scheme of things, it is just a tiny blip, almost imperceptible on radar."  Liz realized that for the third time tonight Tim had called her pretty or beautiful.  She thought it so strange to hear someone call her beautiful.  Nonetheless, it did make her heart flutter a bit.

When Liz finished eating, she said "well, I guess I need to brush and floss.  They gave me this big bag full of different brushes, and floss, and these little paddle things.   They showed me how to use them all, but I am not sure I will remember how.  This is going to be an ugly mess I'm sure.  Tim, thank you for dinner."  Tim said "if you want me to leave, I certainly will.  But first, how about I help you?   Maybe show you what everything is, how to use it?  It has been over 10 years since I had to do it.  But I bet it is like riding a bike.  You don't ever really forget.  And I can get that piece of spinach out of your brackets."  Liz slapped her hand over her mouth.  From behind it she said "oh, how embarrassing."  Tim replied "Liz, it isn't embarrassing at all.  It is just part of having braces.  I promise you it won't be the last time you get some food stuck in them.  It is just part of it.  But, it isn't embarrassing."

Liz sat and thought about that for a second.  She was embarrassed at the thought of her neighbor, or was he her friend, helping her.  Actually, she was embarrassed about this whole thing.  But she realized she might could use some help.  She looked at him and said "promise you won't get grossed out? And promise me you won't think less of me or something?"  Tim said "I promise not to get grossed out.  And I don't even know why you said that last part.  Why in the world would I think less of you?  Come on, let's go to your bathroom."

Tim watched Liz in the mirror as she brushed.  He gave her a couple of little pointers as she did.  Then she pulled out the little proxy brush and asked "what do I do with this?"  Tim took it and said "let me show you."  As he explained that you used it to brush under the wire between brackets he was doing it for Liz.  Once again, she felt a shiver go through her body.  Once he was done he rinsed the brush off in the sink and said "and it is as easy as that.  Now flossing, flossing is a little bit more involved.  I had to use a floss threader and run it behind the wire on every tooth.  It took SO long.  So, I wasn't the best flosser.  But, it looks like they gave you the little floss paddles.  I saw a commercial for them and think I know how they work.  Let me see if I am right." 

As Tim flossed her teeth, Liz couldn't get over how strange this whole situation was.  But she also couldn't get over how attracted to Tim she was.  Once Tim was done, he said "and that is it.  Unfortunately, you need to do this after every meal."  Liz said "ugh.  Well maybe it will help me lose this 10 pounds I have been trying to lose forever."  Tim looked at her in the mirror and said "you don't need to lose anything, you look perfect."  Liz went silent.  Before, she was ready for him to leave.  Now, she wanted him to stay.  She said "Tim, I have no idea what I am doing.  But it has been so long since someone told me I was pretty.  Or did anything nice for me.  Oh gosh I am rambling."  She went quiet as Tim watched her in the mirror.  Finally she asked "would you like to watch TV with me?"  Tim replied "I would love that."

When they sat down on the couch, Tim sat a very respectable distance away from Liz.  In fact, he sat on the opposite end of the couch from her.  She wondered if she had read this all wrong.  Maybe he really was just being neighborly and had no attraction to her.  I mean, despite what he had said, she did have braces.  How could he be attracted to her?

As they watched a movie they had both seen they chatted.  At one point in the movie the two characters on screen kissed. Liz scooted over on the couch beside Tim.  She was afraid he might recoil, but he didn't.   Liz looked at Tim and asked "what is it like to kiss with braces?"  Tim said "it is different at first.  You can't press too hard or the brackets dig into your lips.  But you get used to it."  Liz wanted Tim to kiss her.  She was hoping that question would be the hint he needed.  It wasn't. She leaned over towards him and said "I would like to see what it feels like."  Tim said "Liz, I would love to be the one to show you.  But I don't want to be responsible for something that you regret."  Liz looked him in the eyes and softly said "I am not going to regret it if you kiss me.  I am going to regret it if you don't."

Great story! Seems to be about right pace and level of detail. Lots of possibilities for relationships to develop.

Chapter Eight.

Fifteen minutes later there was a knock on her door.  Liz opened the door to find Maggie standing there.  She was dressed in shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops.  She had her hair up, like she hadn’t wanted to take the time to fool with it, or just wasn’t feeling up to it.  She had put on some make up, which was more than Liz could say.  As soon as she opened the door, Maggie walked inside.  As she headed towards the couch, Maggie said “ok, tell me all about it.  I want all the juicy details.”

Liz sat down beside her and relayed the previous night.  Of bumping into her neighbor and feeling mortified about her new braces.  Of him fixing and bringing her dinner.  Of him helping her with her braces.  Of her initiating the kiss.  Of falling asleep in his arms.  Of him not trying to take advantage of the situation.  Of helping her to bed.  And finally the note she found.  She got up and walked to the bathroom.  She returned and handed the note to Maggie.  She quickly read it and looked up with wide eyes.

Maggie said “OH MY GOSH.  This is the sweetest thing I have ever seen.  You have to be pulling my leg.  This doesn’t happen in real life.  This only happens in Hallmark movies.  What are you going to do?”  Liz said “I have no idea what to do.  It has been so long since I have dated.  You tell me.  What should I do?”

Maggie thought for a moment and asked “well, what is wrong with him?  Does he have a hunchback?  Does he look like Quasimodo?”  Liz swatted her and said “no, he is so cute.  And sweet.  And I felt some things last night I haven’t felt in years and years.  But I don’t want to mess it up before I can even see where it goes.”

Maggie said “well, he likes you.  I mean, I don’t know how much. But no one does what he did if they don’t like the person.  Let me ask you, have you done with him like you have every other guy you have met since you moved back here?  Every time you see him, do you say ‘Hi, I’m Liz, I don’t want to date you’?”  Liz gasped “I don’t do that!”  Maggie just looked at her. And Liz realized that is how she had approached him.  Liz said “is that the way it comes off?  It is isn’t it?  I hadn’t even thought about it.  I am horrible.”  Maggie said “you are not horrible.  Not at all.  You are coming out of a bad situation.  Getting your feet back under you.  Finding your equilibrium.  But, if you told him all that, and he still did all that, I think he definitely likes you.”  Liz thought about what Maggie had said.  She asked “so, what do I do?”

Maggie said “I don’t really know.  I need to meet this unicorn.  He sounds too good to be true.  I need to get a read on him before I tell you what I think.  He lives in the apartment across from you?”  Maggie got up and went into the kitchen and opened the small cupboard.  Liz followed her in and asked “what are you doing?”  Maggie pulled out an unopened jar of peanut butter and turned towards Maggie holding it triumphantly.  She said “this is perfect.”  Liz said “what in the world are you talking about?”  Maggie said “I am starving.  I haven’t been able to eat a thing since I got my braces on yesterday.  I think I might could handle some peanut butter.  But neither of us can get the lid off.  I am going to knock on your neighbors door and ask for some help.”  Liz said “No!  It is Sunday morning.  Don’t bother him.”

Maggie said “you wanted my help.  I am going to help.  I promise you, if what you have told me is true, he won’t be upset at all.  He will be glad to help the damsels in distress.  And if he is upset, which he won’t be, he will be upset at me.”  Liz watched with trepidation as Maggie walked out her door into the breezeway of her apartment.  Her stomach was doing summersaults.  She hoped Maggie was right.  But she couldn’t bear to watch it unfold, so she closed the door behind Maggie.  She sat down on the couch and watched her knee nervously twitch up and down.

Out in the breezeway, Maggie knocked on Tim’s door.  A few moments later it opened.  Maggie was momentarily stunned.  Liz had not been lying.  In front of her was a fairly trim yet muscular man about 6’ tall with broad shoulders, blue eyes, sandy hair and a rugged yet handsome tanned face.  She noticed he had a slight scar above and behind his left eye.  But it didn’t detract from him, it simply added to his rugged look.  She couldn’t tell what it was, but there was a tattoo on his upper right arm peeking down below the hem of his t-shirt.  He was wearing shorts and Sperry boat shoes, which revealed his muscular legs.  No, she thought, he is certainly not Quasimodo.  Maggie said “Hi!  I am Maggie Rogers.  I think Liz told you she and three of her friends got braces yesterday.  I am one of those friends.  And I am sorry to bother you.  But I have not been able to eat anything since lunch yesterday.  Liz has a jar of peanut butter.  I was wanting to see if I could eat some of it.  I am starving.  Surely I can manage a few spoonfuls of peanut butter.  But neither of us can get the lid off.  Can you please help me?”

Tim looked at her and smiled.  Maggie immediately noticed the silver wire running across his top teeth.  Was he wearing a retainer?  It sure looked like it.  He said “Maggie, it is wonderful to meet you.  And you are not bothering me.  I was being useless and watching TV.  I would be more than happy to offer my help.  Maybe I can get that lid off.”

Liz was astonished when Tim followed Maggie into her apartment.  Then she was mortified.  She looked just the way she had when she rolled out of bed.  She was stuck.  Should she run down the hall and try to freshen up?  Or should she go and try to hide behind a curtain?  Tim didn’t give her either option.  Before he tackled the jar of peanut butter he walked up to her.  He said “good morning Liz.  You look wonderful this morning.  Did you sleep well?  Is your mouth bothering you too much?”  Liz was captivated by him.  She shyly said “yes, I did sleep well.  And my mouth hurts a little.  But it would be hurting more I’m sure if someone hadn’t left some Advil out for me.  Thank you for that.  Thank you for last night.”  He looked at her and replied “so you found my note.  I meant everything in it.  If I overstepped my bounds, or made any miss steps, please let me know.”  Liz replied “no, you did not.  You were perfect.”  Maggie looked on as the two maintained eye contact, saying nothing.  She could feel the heat between them.

Finally, Tim broke off his gaze and asked “where is this peanut butter that needs an attitude adjustment?”  Maggie brought the jar over to him.  He opened it effortlessly and handed it back to Maggie.  He said “here you go.  But you said you haven’t eaten since yesterday?  But you haven’t tried my cheesy grits and cheesy scrambled eggs.  Give me about 10 minutes.  I will bring you something you can eat.  Both of you.”  As he darted out the door he said “I will be right back.”

After he was gone Maggie looked over at Liz.  She said “he seems amazing.  And he likes you.  A lot.”