The sound of the dog barking was Beth's signal that Jim’s car had pulled in the driveway, it was 7:15 PM, 15 minutes later than Jim normally comes home. As the door open Beth tried to remain calm and steadfast as Jim yelled out
"Hi honey, I’m home"
"Hello dear, I’m here in the living room" replied Beth, sitting calmly on the couch.
As Jim rounded the corner and stepped into the living room, he produced a large bouquet of roses from behind his back
"Suprize -- sorry I am late but I stopped by the local florist and picked these up, I hope you like them"
"Oh thanks baby, there beautiful"
"How are you feeling today?" asked Jim, saying nothing of the new brace.
"Well, I feel ok, all things considered " replied Beth, waiting for Jim to comment on her new hardware.
"That’s great honey, keep up that positive attitude"
Beth was now turned at about a 30 degree angle on the dark green leather couch trying her hardest to look Jim in the eyes but the new braces really kept her torso and especially her head and neck very rigid, allowing little or no movement left or right.
"I can’t believe you haven't notice!!" replied Beth in an agitated tone.
"Notice what??" replied Jim
"This!!" responded Beth as she put her hand to her new brace and started to cry
"Oh honey, I’m sorry, actually, I did notice, I -- I just --just"
"You just what?"
"I just didn't want you to think that’s the first thing I saw when I came into the room -- I mean you can really hardly even notice it."
Jim was now sitting down next to Beth stroking her hair and gently kissing her on the cheek.
"I didn't act suprized because I wasn't"
"You mean you know what happened today??" asked Beth, trying to turn her head and look at Jim, but having to twist her whole upper torso.
"I called Doctors Leemoore’s office after I was unable to reach you this afternoon and he told me the whole story"
"What time did you talk to him??"
"Oh, I think it must have been around 1:00pm or so"
"What did he tell you?" asked Beth, now concerned that Jim knew it was not a roller blading accident
"He told me that the injury was worse than they originally had thought and that they had found a small fracture in one of your cervical vertebra. He said that although he is very concerned about your condition, he is confident you will make a full and speedy recovery. However, he did mentioned that it looked like you were going to need to wear a more rigid neck brace than he originally prescribed" Jim now was holding both of Beth's hands while he looked her in the eyes.
"He told me you would need to be in what’s called a SOMI type neck brace for at least 6 weeks, possibility more depending on how your healing progressed" replied Jim as he put his hand to Beth's SOMI Brace.
"I went on line and looked up "SOMI Brace" and got lots of information and pictures of it so I had some knowledge of it before I saw you. I wanted to be able to help you get along better in your new brace so for the last 5 hours I have been collecting information and have spoken to a couple of physical therapist about the do’s and don'ts of the SOMI Brace." Replied Jim as he produced a stack of papers from his briefcase with pictures, information, specs and handwritten notes, etc. about Beth’s new SOMI brace.
"I wanted to come down to the Doctors office right away after hearing the update on your condition but Dr. Leemoore said you would be fine. He also said that there was really nothing I could do at this point since you were already down at the orthopedic shop getting fitted for your new brace. That’s when I decided my best option was to give you my full, undaunted support in helping you make a full recovery. So I figured a good start would be gathering as much information as possible on your new brace and your condition and, a nice bouquet of long stem roses"
"Oh honey, your so sweet – I’m so lucky to have you" replied Beth as she struggled to turn her head and kiss Jim on the cheek.
"Unfortunately, I think its going to take a lot more than long stem roses to help me get through this thing."
"I know you have had a hard few days here honey and I am sure the new brace is not real comfortable but we’ll get through this thing, I promised" countered Jim as he careful hugged Beth and gently caressed her beautiful dark brown hair
"Well, I wish that was all of the story but I had a few more interesting developments this afternoon after you spoke to Dr. Leemoore." replied Beth
"What do you mean "more developments," honey?" asked Jim in a concerned tone.
"Well, during my brace fitting, Andrea, that's the lady who was fitting my brace, noticed something in her set of x-rays that Dr. Leemoore's office did not pick up. As soon as she spotted something suspicious, she immediately contacted Dr. Leemoore at his office and after a 30 minute discussion, they both confirmed that I have another small fracture in the middle of my back, at T5 and T6, or something like that."
Jim, now trying very hard to conceal his concern, took both of Beth's hands and said
"Oh my God honey, are you serious?" Responded Jim, clutching Beth’s hands.
"So what does all this mean honey, shouldn't you be in the hospital or something?"
"Well, not exactly, they say the second fracture is very small and stable and should heal quickly, so I guess that’s the good news"
The bad news is that it looks like I will have to wear a brace even more restrictive than this thing" Beth responded, putting her hands to her SOMI Brace.
"This brace and my new corset (which you can’t see) are just temporary. I was at the Bay Orthopedic, all afternoon getting measured and casted for my new custom brace, which is supposed to be done next Monday -whoopee. Oh my god Jim, I’m so scared" replied Beth as she began to cry.
"casted, what do you mean casted?" asked Jim
"You know, casted, like in a full body cast so they can make my new plastic shell, it was just awful" cried Beth
"Oh honey, it will be ok, don't cry, please baby, don't cry, I am going to be here for you, all the way. I have already taken the next few weeks off, starting tomorrow, so I can be with you" Jim took Beth into his arms and gently stroked her dark brown hair as Beth continued to sob.
"I’m so sorry I’m crying Jim, but today was just awful, probably the worst day of my life – and this new brace looks like something out of Zena – Warrior Princess, only much worst. At least her body armor stops at her collarbone and is somewhat fashionable. This thing is just horrible looking and goes from my hips to chin!
Beth tried her hardest to put her head on Jim’s shoulder and cry but the SOMI brace held her head in such a way that the best she could do was to carefully lean her torso in his direction and sob.
Oh honey, it’s OK, please baby, it will be OK. You are going to need to pull your self together here and be strong, you’ll make through this" replied Jim as he awkwardly tried to hold Beth and comfort her.
"I’m sorry honey, your the greatest, what would I do without you. And your right, I do need to pull myself together here be strong throughout this whole thing"
"And I’ll also remind you that you need to be a cooperative patient with both Dr. Leemoore and myself, promise?"
"Promise" said Beth, cracking a slight smile.
"Good, so lets start you on the road to recovery by getting you to Bed! Dr. Leemoore told me he wants you in bed for the rest of the week"
"My my, I love it when your so forceful, " replied Beth as she stood up and gave Jim one of those bedroom smiles.
"I mean to rest honey, not to fool around, there will be none of that for a while" responded Jim
"Oh, boo who Baby, and I thought you liked me in my "New Hardware" buy the looks of your trousers.
Jim looked down at his crotch and noticed that his raging hard-on was now forcing his pants out in a very noticeable way. He blushed and put his head down, trying to think of something to say to her.
"What can I say honey, its been a few days since you relieved "Omar" here and, well I think he's got a mind of his own. I am sorry honey, I realize it will be a few months before we will be able to have sex again" Jim said, his head now hung low like a boy who just lost his best friend.
"Says who!!" demanded Beth
"I must say that I may not feel like it today or maybe not even next week but I am not going to be celibate for the next few months while I recover" said Beth in a very aggressive tone.
"Slow down now honey, we just need to make sure its OK with the Doctor before we make love, that’s all. Believe me, I'm always horny too but the last thing I want to do here is hurt you, that’s all"
"OK, your right, I will ask the good Doctor if and when we can have sex when I see him Thursday. I will warn you though, after they strap me into this new brace, you may not find me very sexy at all!" replied Beth
"Oh honey, don’t be silly, of course I will find you sexy, brace or no brace"
"Well, we will see about that, unless of course your one of those men that Andrea, my orthopedic fitter, warned me about!"
"One of what men?" asked Jim
"One of those men that are actually turned on by the sight of a woman in a neck or back brace." Replied Beth
"What???" Jim responded with a puzzled look on his face.
"Andrea told me there is actually a secret society of "Neck Brace Lovers" made up mostly of men who enjoy seeing the opposite sex in a variety of neck and back braces! I guess it REALLY turns them on! – can you imagine?"
"You have got to be joking, right? – Please tell me you are joking, my god, just when I thought I had heard of every strange fetish in the world" replied Jim with and astonished but slightly guilty look on his face.
"Hum Jim, by that guilty look on your face and that erection in your pants, maybe, just maybe you are one of those brace lovers? – replied Beth jokingly.
"Well, how about it Jim, are you hiding any deep, dark little secrets from me? --- hummm……?"
"Oh please Beth, I have never!! … are you serious?" asked Jim, now concerned.
"Oh lighten up Jim, I am just teasing" smiled Beth as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Ha, ha, very funny, you actually had me going for a second there. Now what do you say we get you in bed funny girl?" laughed Jim as he help his beautiful wife down the hall and into their bedroom.
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