Chapter One.

Tara sat nervously tapping her foot as she filled out the paperwork stacked on the little table in front of her.  As she filled out and signed form after form, she couldn’t help but think about the smile of the perky blond receptionist, Becky, who she had obtained the stack of new patient forms from.  There was just SO much metal in the poor girl’s mouth.  And her lisp was so severe.  Tara hoped she didn’t have the same in store for herself.  But, Tara was desperate.

Tara was a tall, athletically built 31 year old accountant employed by a large multinational firm.  Despite her good looks, she had always been introverted and somewhat socially awkward.  In fact, Tara had always considered herself a nerd.  But not in a negative connotation.  She took pride in her ability with numbers.  She had been a star student in school and now she was a rising star in the firm she worked at.  Or had been at least until recently, when she began having to take so much medical leave. 

And while she was attracted to men, very attracted to them in fact, and they were attracted to her looks, she found relationships difficult.  No, she understood numbers much better than men. And while she knew she was athletic, she had never been drawn to sports.  Even in high school, she had rejected the idea of playing volleyball or basketball, despite the coaches at her small high school practically begging her to.  All except running.  She loved to run.  Never competitively; beyond one annual local half marathon and a couple of charity fun runs; but it was something she loved.  Until recently, which is one of the reasons she now found herself sitting in the waiting area of “TMJ and Sleep Plus”.

She was here because of a referral from the second ENT she had seen.  Her symptoms had begun a little over a year earlier.  At first it had just been some occasional popping in her jaw, stuffiness in one of her ears and the occasional headache.  But things had deteriorated.  After six months, she found herself having headaches more days than not.  She self treated with over the counter pain killers.  But the headaches got worse, more frequent and more intense so that Advil and Tylenol didn’t touch them.  At times they were debilitating.  And then two months ago, the vertigo began.  She finally made an appointment with her general practitioner.  He had run a battery of tests and could find nothing wrong.  He had prescribed her a pair of blue light glasses to wear while at her computer, suspecting this might help.  They hadn’t.  So he had then referred her to see an ENT.  He gave her two offices to contact, her choice.

She had made an appointment with the one closest to her.  But, she zoned out halfway through the appointment.  The man had just been so pompous and arrogant.  His tone and demeanor were condescending.  Tara thought he was just a nasty human being.  She had gotten out of there as quickly as possible and she had set up an appointment with the second on her list

She had found this ENT, Dr. Alicia as she asked to be called, warm and caring.  And with an infectious smile covered in metal braces.  Tara realized how young the braces made Dr. Alicia look.  Dr. Alicia had examined Tara and administered a battery of tests.  Dr. Alicia had noted after the hearing text that Tara did have some issues with hearing high frequency noises and picking out noises amongst background noise. 

At the end of the appointment, Dr. Alicia had sat down with Tara and delivered her assessment.  She had recommended Tara schedule a follow up to get fitted for hearing aids, an idea that terrified Tara.  She was only 31.  And she already wore glasses, she just hated contacts.  Glasses AND hearing aids Tara thought. Nonetheless, Tara had agreed to schedule the followup appointment.

Dr. Alicia next brought up the subject of TMJ.  She explained she herself suffered from TMJ and completely understood what Tara was going through.  She explained that is why she had braces herself.  She explained that while they were an adjustment getting used to, they had helped her so much.  She recommended Tara schedule an appointment with her orthodontist who specialized in TMJ and sleep medicine.  Tara was in a daze.  Hearing aids?  Maybe braces?  How had things gotten so sideways?  But she was desperate.  She couldn’t live like this.  So she reluctantly agreed.  Dr. Alicia lit up enthusiastically and told her that she would have her receptionist schedule the appointment.  When she had stood to leave, Dr. Alicia had hugged Tara and told her she would be so glad she did this.  Which had brought Tara to sitting here.

The hearing aids she had gotten the week before had been an adjustment.  Not because they were uncomfortable.  Or really even noticeable.  But because she was now inundated with so many more sounds than she was used to.  She had just finished signing the last piece of paperwork when she heard the jingle of the bell on the front door.  As Tara turned her head, she realized she would have never noticed the door opening just a week earlier.  She watched as a woman she pegged at around 40 years old entered the office.  But what caused Tara’s jaw to drop open, audibly popping as it did, was the complicated looking plastic and metal mask the woman wore on her face.

I really like what you did with the title, the little orthodontic pun. I also like the first chapter and can see this going a number of different ways. I’m looking forwards to what is next.

Chapter Two.

Tara tried to be discreet as she watched the woman, dressed professionally in a black pants suit with white blouse, a matching bag slung over her shoulder, confidently marching towards the reception desk, her heels clicking on the tile.  To Tara, it appeared she was oblivious to the device she wore on her face.  As Tara snuck another look at her face, she took a snap shot in her head.  On the woman’s face was a clear plexiglas or acrylic mask.  On each side of the mask were two stainless steel looking rods that appeared molded into the mask.  Out of the woman’s mouth several white elastics protruded, attached to two small silver posts that angled up and out about an inch from just below the woman’s mouth.  She noticed there was an oval hole in the mask so that it didn’t cover her eyes, nose or mouth.  Instead it circled around her face, covering the sides of her face and prominent sculpted cheekbones, her forehead, and her lower cheeks and chin.  It appeared molded to her face.  She wondered if she could even take it off or if it was permanent.  The thought of wearing something like that herself made Tara involuntarily shiver.

Tara watched as the woman stopped at the reception desk and smiled broadly.  With her newly enhanced hearing Tara was able to hear the woman say “Good Afternoon Becky!  You look nice!  I am here to get signed in and see how Dr. Brad plans to torture me today” and then gave a laugh.  As Tara had been watching, she had noticed that the mask seemed to move independently, the portion that ran across her forehead and wrapped around her face covering her cheekbones did not move as she spoke.  However, the bottom portion that covered her lower cheeks and chin moved up and down.  Tara realized that must be what the steel rods molded into the mask were for, they allowed for the lower portion of the mask to slide up and down as she spoke.

She couldn’t hear Becky’s reply, there was still a plexiglass divider up.  Tara guessed this was a holdover from Covid.  But she heard the woman’s response.  She said “well, I was in court all day arguing a case.  By the time we recessed at 3, my jaw was just killing me.  I rushed straight to my car and put it on.  I hate the way it looks, but I love the way it feels.  But you know this first hand I know.”  She could hear a long murmur from behind the glass but again couldn’t hear what Becky was saying.  But once she was finished the woman shook her head up and down and said “oh, it is definitely worth it.  I don’t know what I would have done if I had not found you all.”  Another murmur from behind the glass was met by the woman saying “wonderful!  That is great news.  Hey, put in a good word with Dr. Brad and tell him to go easy on me.”  She again laughed and turned towards the reception area.

There were a handful of other patients in the room, and the woman seemed to be headed to an unoccupied corner.  Her path was going to take her in front of Tara, who didn’t even realize she was staring.  As the woman approached she turned her head and made eye contact with Tara.  Embarrassed, Tara quickly averted her eyes down towards the table.  Despite trying to shrink and completely ignore the woman, she couldn’t help but hear the clicking of the woman’s heels approach.  A pit formed in her stomach when she heard the clicking stop directly in front of her.

Tara sheepishly looked up, avoiding the woman’s face.  She was embarrassed and was trying to figure out what to say, how to apologize, when the woman said “Good Afternoon!  I am Beverly Willingham.  That looks like a whole stack of paperwork, are you a new patient?”

Tara responded “yes, and I am so sorry.  I didn’t…”

Beverly cut her off and said “no need to apologize.  I know I look like a cyborg.  And you aren’t the first, and won’t be the last, who’s eyes have lingered.  Heck, I find myself staring at it in the mirror, and I wear it every night and some every day.  But while I look like a cyborg wearing it, I am not a hurting cyborg.”  She noticed Tara’s leg nervously bouncing up and down.  She gestured to the row of seats and asked “are these seats taken?”

Tara shook her head back and forth and said simply “no.”

Beverly said “would you mind a little company?  I just hate waiting in doctor’s offices.  Time just seems to stand still.  And you look nervous.  I totally get that.”

Beverly sat down, leaving a seat between them where she sat her purse, and said “I was so nervous at my first appointment.  The whole idea of getting braces.  At 42. As an active attorney.  I didn’t think I could do it.  But I had such agonizing headaches most days.  And they were getting worse.  I knew if I didn’t do something, I wouldn’t be an active anything for much longer.  It was so nerve wracking.  But coming here, it has been one of the best decisions of my life.  I am mostly pain free now, cyborg mask and all.  And Dr. Brad and his whole staff here are just amazing.”

As she had been talking, Tara had slowly turned her eyes to face her.  She had noticed that this woman Beverly had clear braces on her top and bottom teeth.  Tara realized she even had a clear wire running through the brackets.  There was a little silver visible in the corners of her mouth, but from a distance, and without the obvious mask on, Tara would have never realized she had braces.

Despite her introverted nature, Tara realized how rude it would be to not respond.  Beverly obviously wanted to chat.  Tara replied “I am terrified.  But I am in so much pain too.  The headaches.  And now vertigo.  I was referred here by my ENT.  I hope they can help.  But I don’t know if I can wear braces.  I don’t know if I am brave enough.”

Beverly laughed.  She cheerily responded “honey, I totally get it.  My gosh, the first time I opened my mouth in the courtroom after getting my expander and lower braces I thought I might die.  But I didn’t.  You won’t either.  If you don’t mind me asking, what do you do?”

Tara responded by saying “I am an accountant.  I specialize in corporate accounting, specifically auditing, at Wise-Pricehouse.”

Beverly excitedly said “Hello Miss Client!  Nice to meet you!  I have actually been involved in a few cases with your firm.  Don’t worry, you weren’t the bad guys.”  When she laughed she titled her head back and opened widely.  Tara could see something silver in the top of her mouth reflect light back.  Beverly stuck her hand out and said “it is a pleasure to officially meet you.  Again, I am Beverly Willingham.  And you are?”

Tara said “oh, I’m sorry.”  She stuck her hand out and meekly shook Beverly’s hand, noticing how firm Beverly’s grip was, and replied “It is a pleasure to meet you.  I am Tara Reynolds.  And I am terrified.”

What a good start and what potential!

Maybe Tara´s glasses a myopic and will need a stronger prescription soon?

And some lisp will be possible as well.

We will wait and see...

Chapter Three.

Beverly gestured towards the paperwork and said “you may want to get those to Becky.  She will have to get you all set up in the system before they can see you.”

Tara said “oh, yeah, sorry.  I’m a little out of sorts.”  After returning the stack of paperwork to Becky and answering a few questions, some she could barely make out through Becky’s heavy lisp, she turned back to her seat.  As she walked, she wondered what that was in Becky’s mouth.  It looked like a bunch of steel bars hanging down behind her top front teeth.  Or, maybe a fence or a gate she thought as she sat back down.  Whatever it was, it seemed to cause the poor young woman a lot of issues speaking.

Beverly smiled at Tara and “really, there is no reason to be terrified.  I know, easier said then done.  But really, don’t be scared of Dr. Brad.  He is wonderful.  Don’t even be scared of braces.  Really.”  She reached up and deftly removed the elastics attached to her futuristic facemask.  She unzipped her purse and gently slid the mask in it.  She removed an empty clear plastic baggie from her purse.  Beverly said “sorry for being rude, but left me get these little boogers out of my mouth.”  Tara watched as Beverly removed the four elastics from her mouth one by one, dropping them in the baggie as she went.  Tara felt a mix of fear and fascination as she watched Beverly detach the elastics from somewhere in the back of the mouth.  From the ease with which she did it, Tara could tell Beverly was very practiced at it.

Once she was done, Beverly gave Tara a big wide smile.  She then said “see not too scary.  The ceramic brackets and clear wires and ligatures really are discreet.  Now, they didn’t feel too discrete at first, but I am completely used to them now.  I have to be careful about what I eat, not just because I have braces but because I have clear ligatures that stain, but Dr. Brad has been so understanding.  He gave me some spare clear ligatures.  He had Alex, she is one of his assistants, show me how to change them out and Dr. Brad gave me the green light to change them out on my top front six teeth.  He calls them the ‘social six’ and they are most prominent when someone smiles or speaks.  He really has worked with me.  He has tried to be as flexible as possible with my treatment as he can be to address social and professional concerns I have had.  And I know he will be with you too.  Now the mask?  There is no way to hide it.  But I love it.  It truly has changed my life.  For the better.  It has been a lifesaver despite some of the looks I get on the rare occasion someone sees me in it.”

Tara was still nervous.  But her trepidation was now mixed with curiosity.  She asked “how long have you been in treatment?  How much longer do you have?   How long have you had to wear the mask?  And how much do you have to wear it?  Has it all been worth it?”

Beverly grinned back and said “whoa counselor, one question at a time.  I will start with the last one.  It is easy.  Yes, it has absolutely been worth it.  Now, how long have I been in treatment and how long do I have to go?  My TMJ treatment, at least according to Dr. Brad, has been his standard severe TMJ protocol.  He has tweaked it for my needs, but I think I am a pretty standard case.  I am two and a half years into what was originally a three and a half year sentence.  But Dr. Brad has told me I might get let out a couple months early for good behavior.  I hope so.  It really is motivation to wear everything as directed.  Or even more.  Like me wearing my mask in here this afternoon.  Every little bit helps. 

So, what is standard severe TMJ treatment you may be asking?  I was in splint therapy for 18 months.  Then I got my upper expander installed along with my lower braces and a new lower splint.  After six months of active expansion, Dr. Brad locked the upper expander in place and covered the evil little screws with acrylic.  I also got my top braces then and a new lower splint.  I popped it out before I came in here, I still can’t speak with it in.  But it feels so good, like a little pillow for my jaw.  So I wear it whenever I don’t have to speak.  I still have my upper expander, she is just holding everything in place now.  But since I quit turning her we have finally become friends.  Or at least I don’t hate her anymore.  It is the same with my mask.  She has been in my life, every day and every night, since day one.  At first I hated her.  Absolutely hated her with a capital H.  But I have come to love her.  Or how she makes me feel, the tension she relieves.  I actually look forward to putting her on every evening.  Or like today, I put her on as soon as I got in my car.  I was really sore.  As soon as I put her on I could feel my jaw relax.  Now I won’t lie to you and say it has all been fun.  Or that there haven’t been a few tears along the way.  But has it been worth it?  Absolutely.”

Tara’s head was now spinning.  It sounded like so much.  But this woman was obviously happy she had done it.  Was doing it.  It made Tara think of her own situation.  Of how many times she had told herself ‘I would do anything to fix this.’  She looked at Beverly and said “wow, that is a LOT.  But it cured your TMJ”

Beverly replied “it has cured the root problem.  Dr. Brad was up front and told me short of a joint transplant my joints will never be perfectly healed.  But they are repaired enough that I have my life back.”

Tara asked “how bad is the initial consultation?”

Beverly replied “well, I just know what mine was like.  It was long.  Over an hour.  Poking, prodding, x-rays, bite down, do this, do that. Never painful, just uncomfortable a time or two.  Dr. Brad will then sit down with you and go over treatment options.  And then if you decide to move forward with treatment, and if you are as miserable as I was, you will, then  you will meet with the treatment coordinator and financial coordinator.  It is a process for sure.  But I was willing to try anything.   I was that desperate for relief.  If he had told me wearing a trashcan on my head would have helped, I would have at least tried it for a while.”  Tara laughed.  Beverly replied “I am joking.  But also serious.  I was that miserable.”

Tara said “I can’t tell you how many times over the past few months I have thought that.”

Beverly said “here” as she dug in her purse.  She pulled out a business card and handed it towards Tara.  Tara took it as Beverly said “seriously, TMJ is just the worst.  Way worse than braces. They are a piece of cake.   Or even the facemask.  The expander is rough, but not as rough as the migraines.  If you have ANY questions whatsoever, please let me know.  No, strike that.  Please text or call me after your appointment.  Please?”

Tara glanced down at the card and saw at the top ‘Willingham, Roberts and Bounds’. Underneath in smaller print was ‘Attorneys at Law’.  Underneath that, in larger raised silver lettering was “Beverly L. Willingham, Esq.’.  Tara glanced up at Beverly then down at the card again.  She had heard of Willingham, Roberts, and Bounds.  They were a powerhouse law firm in the city.  They had a reputation for being ruthless take no prisoner savages.  At least in the courtroom.  They had a reputation for crushing their opponents, just grinding them into submission.  She looked back up at Beverly, who seemed nothing like that at all, and asked wide eyed “you are the Willingham in Willingham, Roberts, and Bounds?”

Beverly gave a half smile and answered “guilty as charged your honor.”

Tara was momentarily shocked, speechless.  She had heard of Beverly Willingham.  She was a bit of a legend in the local legal field, talk about her prowess, and especially her ruthlessness, had even reached Tara’s ears during one particular nasty audit that had led to litigation that her firm had been involved in. 

Beverly sat watching Tara, who’s face belayed the thoughts that were running through her head.  Beverly gave Tara a big smile, really showing off her braces, and said “I’m not the monster they make me out to be.  Well, unless you are my opponent.”

Tara didn’t know what to say.  She stammered “no, I, I wasn’t thinking you are a monster.  Just… well you have such a reputation.  You are a legend.  A hero even to some.”

Beverly added “and a villain to others, I know.”

Tara sat there looking at Beverly.  She once again was smiling broadly.  Tara realized that she was a beautiful, elegant and refined looking woman.  Braces and all.

As if reading Tara’s mind Beverly added “and none of that has changed since I started treatment.  No, if anything I am even more ferocious because I am not distracted by the pain and fatigue from not being able to sleep.   I was terrified of having braces.  Petrified.  But it hasn’t slowed me down a lick.  Well, except for my brushing and flossing.  Ugh what a nightmare.”

Tara looked at Beverly ernestly and asked “but why are you being so nice to me, a total stranger?”

Beverly said “good question.  I am a talker by nature.  But that’s not why I stopped.  I sensed your fear.  It looked like you could use a friend.  And maybe a pep talk.  And I have been in your shoes.  So I…”

She was interrupted by a voice calling “Miss Reynolds?  Miss Tara Reynolds?”  Both Tara and Beverly turned their heads.  As Tara stood up on shaking legs, Beverly exclaimed “that’s Alex!  You will love her!”  Beverly gave a wave towards her and said “hey girl!  Take good care of my new friend here.”  As Tara took an uneasy step in that direction, Beverly reached out and physically grabbed her hand, stopping her.  Looking into Tara’s face she said “really, it is going to be fine.  Better than fine.  Let Dr. Brad help you.”

Tara said “thank you.  For everything.”

Beverly said “no, thank you for letting me ramble.  But if I did help, you are welcome.”  She gave Tara a big smile and then said “now giddy up, go get you some braces!”

....yet."

What a promissing end of the sentence!

I can´t wait for the next episode.

I know I certainly am enjoying this so far. There is such a wide spectrum of topics you can cover with the beginning of this story, and where you ended off makes me really want to keep reading. Plus, I always enjoy your stories.

You are off to a good start! Tara will likely need to undergo rather extensive treatment, but she has new new friend Beverly to help her along.