It had been one of the longest days of Abby's life. Her mouth was on fire and her face was sore from the pressure of her new headgear. While Dr. Miller had told all of them who got their appliances to take as many breaks as needed, or even go back to their rooms to rest if necessary, Abby had buckled down and made her mind up she was going to make it to 6 pm when the show closed. Things were made even worse from having to talk with all the people who had questions about the new appliances in her mouth and on her face. It seemed that so many of the dentists and orthodontists at the show wanted to get the perspective of someone who was not only in treatment with them but was also an orthodontist herself. She was so self-conscious of her garbled speech. She had repeatedly apologized to those she was talking with throughout the day, asking them to please excuse her. Everyone single person but one had told her basically the same thing, that her speech was incredibly clear to have just gotten so much installed in her mouth.
The only person who had not said that was a hygienist and myofunctional therapist named Wynn who had stopped by in the morning. As they had made their introductions, Abby had noticed that Wynn herself had a pretty severe lisp. After Abby had asked Wynn to excuse her speech, Wynn had laughed. She had then opened her mouth widely where she leaned her head back and then forward so that Abby saw she had a monstrously large marpe in the roof of her mouth and a hyrax expander in her lower. Abby noticed that Wynn's upper expander had 8 tads instead of 6 like her own. She also noticed hooks in her mouth and wondered if she also wore some type of protraction device. When Wynn had looked back at Abby she had told her "shister, I towally get eh." Wynn had then explained she wore a Petit facemask for twelve to fourteen hours a day but hadn't had any real success with it getting her upper maxilla to move forward. She wanted to ask Abby if she thought a Miller headgear with the protraction rods might be able to achieve the forward movement she needed. After Abby had explained the pros to Wynn, Abby had taken Wynn over to the media desk where she had given Wynn a thumbdrive with all the technical information.
She had then asked Wynn if she would like a sample of Miller headgear. Wynn's eyes had lit up and she would be so appreciative of it. Or at least that is what Abby had thought she had said, Wynn's speech might have been even worse than her own Abby thought. Abby had then told her to ask her provider if they thought it was appropriate for her case. Wynn had excitedly told her that her provider was her boss, and that he was somewhere else on the show floor. Abby had watched as Wynn pulled her phone out and typed on it. In just a few seconds Abby saw her screen light up with a response. Wynn had looked at Abby and said "thah yah sho musch. He'sh eh boof nineshixty. Ah ahm gohta go she wah he sheesh rah nah." (Thank you so much. He's in booth 960. I am going to go see what he says right now.) It surprised Abby when Wynn leaned over and hugged her.
It was even more of a surprise when Wynn returned ten minutes later with a pudgy gray haired gentleman in tow. As Wynn stepped up she said "Dr. Avvy, thish is mah bosh Dr. Carlisle. He hash a few questionsh abou Miwwer headgeah." (Dr. Abby, this my boss Dr. Carlilse. He has a few questions about Miller headgear.)
Dr. Abby had spent 15 minutes with them, explaining all of the new Oprsco products, but really focusing on the headgear and protraction rods. When she was done, Dr. Carlisle had rubbed his chin. He said to her "very interesting. Very. It does seem like it would be effective. But my concern is patient adoption. Patients actually agree to wear it?"
Abby responded "yesh shir, jusht look around the boof." (Yes sir, just look around the booth.)
He had looked around the booth and said "touche." He continued "but what about patients that aren't being payed by Orpsco? What about patients who are paying for their treatment. They agree to wear it?"
Abby had nodded her head up and down before she replied "sho far, we are batting one hundred perchent. Not a shingle patient has refushed to start or quit treatment over headgear. It may be becaush sho many of ush in our offisch wear it ourshelvesh. They shee that if we can do it, then they can do it too." (So far, we are batting one hundred percent. Not a single patient has refused to start or quit treatment over headgear. It may be because so many of us in our office wear it ourselves. They see that if we can do it, then they can do it too.)
Dr. Carlisle replied "well that is certainly true. I have seen that patients seem to be more relaxed and more compliant since Wynn here started treatment. Maybe I should get the rest of the girls in the office started too." He had laughed before he turned to Wynn and asked "so, you really want to try this?"
Wynn responded "I woul lah to trah at leasht." (I would like to try at least.)
Dr. Carlisle had said "well, when we get back to Topeka I will fit you with it. That is if Dr. Abby will show me how to install it correctly."
Abby had smiled and said "there ish a video on the thumb drive. And we ah having live demosh in the booth three timesh a day; noon, 2 and 4." Abby then thought a moment and looked over at the treatment chair in the middle of the booth. She turned back and looked at Wynn and then Dr. Carlisle and said "or, I could inshtall it for Wynn now and you could watch."
Abby had watched their faces. Wynn said "yesh, shure, letsh do thish!"
Dr. Carlisle had looked at Wynn and shook his head before saying "be careful what you wish for." He then looked at Abby and said "well, you heard her."
Twenty minutes later Wynn stood up from the chair with pink Miller headgear permanently attached to her face. The look on her face was one of turmoil. Abby looked at her and smiled. Abby said "it looksh cute on you."
Wynn had replied "itsh a lot of presshure in mah mouf."
Abby said "yay! Then you know it is working. Congratulationsh."
Wynn looked at Dr. Carlisle and asked "are you sure I should do thish?"
Dr. Carlisle replied "well Wynn, we need to move your upper maxilla forward a few millimeters. And I certainly think this will do it. Let's try this for a month and see how your scans look. I want you to tell me what it is like. And maybe we will start using it in our office."
Abby looked at Wynn. She thought Wynn was regretting her decision. Abby said "Wynn, you will be sho happy you deh thish. I promish." Abby had pulled out her card and handed it to Wynn and said "if you have any questionsh jusht let me know. And maybe shtop by later today and let me know how you are doing?"
Wynn had thanked her, though Abby could see her lower lip seemed to be quivering a bit. As the pair walked away, Abby could hear Dr. Carlilse telling her it had been her decision and that she was going to have to live with it for at least the next month.
At 5:15 Abby was doing her best to hide in a remote area of the booth to avoid having to speak with anyone else. She had not noticed the man slip in behind her. When she heard a voice say "excuse me ma'am" she had exhaled. She was too tired and too sore to deal with anyone else. The voice continued "I was looking for..." She realized it was Justin's voice. She instantly turned, the pain in her mouth forgotten. She turned to see him standing there behind her. It looked like he had come straight from the office. He continued "the most beautiful woman in the world. Oh! There she is!" He had then given her that big, blindingly white smile of his that she had already fallen in love with. Without even thinking, she hugged him.
Justin wrapped his arm around her back and asked "how you doing?"
Abby had said "sho musch better now."
Abby then abruptly stopped the hug and stepped back. She looked at Justin and said "shorry, we jusht met. That wash weird."
Justin shook his head and said "no, it wasn't weird. It was wonderful. I know we just met. But it doesn't seem like it. Does it?"
Abby had looked at him a moment before she said "no."
Justin said "so, where is your purse? I am busting you out of this place."
Abby replied "nah, thah showsh not over yet."
Justin said "Abby, for you it is. Andi told me to take you back to your room and make you comfortable." He reached up and gently put his hand on the side of her cheek. The frame of her facemask blocked some of his hand, but the warmth Abby could feel made her shudder lightly. He continued "Andi said your mouth is hurting. I can't imagine what a long day you have had. Come on, it's time for you to relax." He removed his hand from her face, reached down, and took her hand.
As she entered her room with Justin behind her, Abby noticed an open bottle of wine on the counter flanked by two long stem glasses. She asked "wah ish thah?"
Justin had been gently closing the door as he replied "it looks like someone called ahead to room service and had them deliver a bottle of wine. You have earned it Abby. Get comfy and I will pour you a glass."
She stopped walking and turned to look at him. She said "thah ish sho shweet. Thah yah." Again, she hugged him.
He held her a minute before he said "let's get you comfortable." After fluffing up the pillows, he had also stolen the ones from Andi's bed, he helped get her propped against the headboard. Then, he had tenderly removed each of her shoes. He got up and returned a minute later with a glass of wine. As he handed it to her, Abby saw it had a flexible straw poking out of it. She said "yah ah shweet and thoufull." (You are sweet and thoughtful.)
A moment later he returned holding a glass of wine for himself and a plush bathroom. He looked down at Abby and asked "boo, would you like to slip into a robe while I massage your feet? And then your back?"
As he rubbed her feet, Abby watching him intently. It felt so good, her feet were sore from being on them all day. But what she enjoyed even more was the fact that he was doing it. He was so cute she thought. He was so focused on her feet. It was clear that while he might not be a professional masseuse, what he lacked in skill he made up with determination. Several times he had asked her if it felt good, or if he should be doing something different. Every time she had told him it was perfect. When he was done, he had rubbed her feet with lotion. It felt like heaven. Between the foot massage and glass of wine, Abby felt much more relaxed. She even thought the pain in her mouth had subsided some.
He looked up at her and smiled before he noticed her empty wine glass. As he took the glass he said "the lady needs a refill." As he brought it back he smiled and said "now time for a back massage."
He had been gentle as he helped her to sit up. He had turned her so that her back was to him and gently slipped the robe off her shoulders. Abby had no clue how long he had been rubbing and kneading her back it felt so good. When she finished off her second glass of wine though he said "ok boo, let's get you on your stomach." Laying on her stomach, he could feel him pressing even harder on her back, kneading her tight, tired muscle. When he had finished, he rubbed her back with lotion. He had asked "did that feel good?"
Abby responded "Justin, it wash amazing. Everywee thing feelsh better."
He said "standing all day is just the worst." As she rolled over he continued "I hope that helps."
Abby looked at him. He seemed to have a thought running through his mind. She asked "wah ish it?"
Justin said "oh, nothing."
Abby reached out and said "wah?"
Justin said "Andi told me your back gets sore. It's just, well, I was wondering if your brace might help you?"
She looked at him. She hated her Milwaukee brace. She was so embarrassed by it. But looking at Justin, she realized he didn't seem phased by it. She even wondered if maybe it wasn't actually a turn on for him. Either way, she remembered how it had felt last night when he had put it on her. Part of her couldn't believe what she was about to say. She smiled at him and said "it might, woul you like to help me put it on?"
She thought he looked a little embarrassed when he replied "well, if it would help your back, yes."
She put her hand on his chest and said "eh woul. But I want to shtand in front of the mirror when you puh eh on me. Show I can wastch." He had simply raised his eyebrows as he extended his hand.
Unlike the evening before when she had closed her eyes, this time she watched every move he made as he latched and strapped her into her Milwaukee brace. She couldn't understand it, but it turned her on so much. When he had pulled her shoulders back, it sent a shiver through her. As she turned he said "I hope that didn't hurt you."
She cut her eyes up and made eye contact with him. She said "a lil. I liked it." She couldn't help but smile at the surprised look that came to his face. She was so turned on. Glancing down at the front of Justin's pants she could see he was too. She leaned in against him and said "you like it don't you? Your poor kitty, helplessh, strapped into all her metalwork. Well, almosht helplesh. I need one more thing from you Justin." She meowed at him before she asked "kitty needsh a treat." She reached down and grabbed his crotch. She purred "will you give your kitty a treat?"
He said "Abby, I... I don't want you to think I am pressuring you. I just want..." He went silent as she began to unbutton his shirt. He continued "Abby, I just don't want to move too fast."
Abby stopped. She stood there in silence before she said "it'sh the bracesh. I knew it."
She turned away, devastated. He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. He stepped in front of her and said "Abby, it is not that. No. I... I think... I will just say it. I think your braces are so hot. You are so hot. I want you so badly. I just don't want to make a mistake."
She looked at him and said "I am sorry I put you in this situation. I think you should leave."
