Monday, the rest of the staff at 'TMJ and Sleep Plus' had the day to themselves to enjoy as they saw fit. The girls had split up into a couple of different groups to see the sights. Andi, Abby and Alex were together. They had gotten a leisurely start, not leaving the hotel until after 10 a.m. It was Abby's and Alex's first time in New Orleans and Andi, having been there several times, wanted to serve as tour guide and show them the city while it was daylight and still fairly safe. They started at Cafe Du Monde ordering beignets. Neither Abby nor Alex had ever had a beignet, and certainly not a world famous Cafe Du Monde beignet. Both the ladies loved them. Abby couldn't resist having two. She had excitedly told Andi that they had to bring some back to Texas with them. Andi had just smiled and agreed, hoping that if her plan worked Abby would have ample opportunity to enjoy fresh beignets in the future. Next, they had explored the French Quarter and Jackson Square. The newbies had been blown away by the St. Louis Cathedral. And everywhere they looked there was exquisite decorative wrought iron. Upon visiting Lafitte's Black Shop, Andi noticed that Abby seemed particularly intrigued by the rough hewn iron shackles. Andi had smiled and made a mental note of this. Finally, tired and hungry, Andi had taken the trio to Pirates Alley Cafe for lunch.
After the pirate wench waitress had taken their orders, shrimp po-boys for Alex and Abby and a bowl of gumbo for Andi, Andi had added "and please bring us all an absinthe, one won't hurt." Abby and Alex were absolutely enthralled by the city and they had so many questions for Andi. In the middle of explaining the myth that Andrew Jackson and Jean LaFitte had actually met in this very place, Andi stopped talking abruptly. She looked over towards the door and raised her hand, waving it back and forth.
Alex and Abby looked in that direction and saw a sandy haired man, he looked to be around 6' tall and trim, smiling broadly and waving back at Andi. As he approached Abby asked "who is that?"
Andi said "you are about to find out." As the man approached Andi rose from her seat and said "Justin! Thank you for joining us."
The man stepped up and gave Andi a hug, which Andi reciprocated. He said "Andi, it is so good to see you. And goodness do you look fetching in your headgear. I am so excited to get a closer look at it and all the other new gadgets at the show. And thank you so much for referring Katie. She called and we have her all set to come in next week."
Letting go of the man, Andi said "that is wonderful. I know she seemed excited when we last corresponded. Hopefully she doesn't balk when she hears what her treatment plan entails. But I don't think she will." Andi then turned towards the table and said "gals, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Justin Jennings. Justin practices here in Metairie. He was a year ahead of me in residency, but we have stayed in touch. He will be attending the conference, at least tomorrow." She turned and looked at Justin and said "Justin, I would like to introduce you to Alex and Abby. Dr. Abby."
Justin reached out his hand towards Alex, who accepted his hand. As they shook, Justin said "Alex, such a pleasure to meet you. Andi says you are the best assistant she has ever seen."
Alex quickly said "it is a pleasure to meet you." She then turned her head towards Andi and said "thank you."
Andi quickly responded "I only told him that because it is true."
Justin released Alex' hand and turned his attention towards Abby. As they too shook hands, Justin said "Dr. Abby, it is such a pleasure to meet you. Andi has told me so much about you I feel like I already know you. But you are even lovelier in person."
Andi watched as Abby averted her eyes towards the floor and bit her lower lip. Andi didn't even think she realized she was doing it. As Abby cut her eyes up towards his face, Andi saw she had a little color in her cheeks, a slight blush. Abby replied "it is so nice to meet you too. Andi has been talking about me behind my back?"
Justin smiled broadly, displaying a perfectly straight and blindingly white smile, before he said "yes, and it was all good. She told me what an amazing friend and orthodontist you are. But she didn't prepare me for how beautiful you are."
Andi saw Abby's cheeks darken further. This was going even better than she had hoped for. Abby stammered "oh, well.. thank you." Andi thought she seemed embarrassed and shy. And it was adorable.
Seeing as it looked like Abby was at a loss for what to say next, Andi said "I hope it is ok, but I invited Justin to join us for our quick lunch. Is everyone fine with that?"
Alex had quickly said it was. Abby again bit her lip before glancing back at Justin. She replied "I would really like that."
Justin said "thank you. And since you are guests here in my city, I insist on paying. Have you already ordered?"
Andi replied "we just did, but I see our wench headed in this direction."
The waitress stepped up to the table and asked "sir, do you need a menu?"
Justin turned and smiled at the woman. He said "no need, I will take an oyster poboy, dirty rice instead of fries. And if the ladies here have not already ordered it, bring us a double order of the fried gator bites as an appetizer please."
As the waitress departed, Justin turned back to the table. Abby asked "alligator? I have never had it. Is it not icky?"
Justin said "nope, it is actually really good. I know everyone says everything tastes like chicken, but it tastes like chicken. What about oysters? Have you had them?"
Abby said "oh boy did we. We ate so many of them last night. I don't care for raw ones. But those chargrilled ones last night were incredible." She looked at Justin before she hesitantly said "and they say oysters are an aphrodisiac."
Justin smiled back at her and said "that is what they say." Andi smiled. It appeared they were flirting with each other. And that is just what she had hoped for.
Andi changed subjects and said "so Justin, what do you really think about my headgear? Could you see yourself integrating it into your practice?"
Justin turned and looked Andi in the face. He said "I think it looks amazing on you Andi. And kudos for wearing it in public. I wish all my patients were as dedicated. As for using it, if it is as amazing and versatile as you say, and I don't doubt you, of course I will integrate it into my practice." As he stared at her more closely he asked "wait, those aren't elastics that are connecting it? What IS that?"
Andi smiled broadly before leaning over towards Justin giving him a closer look. She said "you can touch them if you want" before giggling. She continued "I mean my rods." As she pointed up at one she explained "these are protraction rods. They take the place of elastics. Instead of using the force of elastics, which can be inconsistent, I have protraction rods installed. They are turned, much like an expander is. They are consistent, and we can provide as much or as little force as desired. And I have a good reason for wearing my headgear in public. I can't take it off."
Justin seemed enchanted by what he saw. He actually did put his hand up and run it along one of the rods before he said "oh, wow. I see. So you turn them? And they tighten up? Yeah, I can see how this would be more consistent. But how painful is it?"
Andi said "I wouldn't say painful. I would say there is discomfort after turning. Like after turning my expander. Or when you install a new, stronger wire on a patient." She looked at him and asked "would you like to see them turned?"
He looked at her and asked "could I?"
Andi said "of course." She dug into her purse and pulled out the wrench for her rods. She looked at Abby as she extended the wrench in her direction. Andi asked her "Abby, would you mind coming around the table and turning them for me? Just a half turn each though please."
As Abby took the wrench, Andi thought she saw a look of disappointment on Abby's face. Andi realized she had interrupted the obvious flirting that had been going on between her and Justin. Andi said "would you come around here and turn them please?"
Abby stood and made her way around the table. She stood there a moment before trying to squeeze in between them. Justin said "woah, hold up." He scooted his chair back a bit and asked "would it work better if you sat on my knee?" as he patted his thigh.
Abby looked him in the face and asked "would that be ok?"
Justin smiled back "it would be wonderful."
Abby tentatively lowered herself onto his leg and asked "is that too heavy?"
Justin replied "no, that is just perfect. I have a beautiful woman sitting in my lap about to engage what may be the most incredible orthodontic appliance I have ever seen." Andi saw he was looking up at Abby, though she couldn't see him. Justin then cut his eyes towards Andi and asked "it may be a big ask, but could you also turn your marpe? I would love to see how that goes too."
Andi laughed before replying "no, of course not. But first things first. First my rods." She nodded towards Abby, who reached down and seated the wrench on the first rod and made a half turn. She repeated the process on the other rod. Once she was done, Abby went to stand up. Andi reached out her hand and stopped her, saying "stay where you are at, you still need to make a turn on my expander."
As Abby had made the turn on Andi's second protraction rod, Justin had noticed a fleeting grimace on Andi's face. He asked "so just discomfort?"
Andi chuckled before saying "yes, just discomfort. But I guess that is different for every patient." Justin just nodded in agreement. Andi took the wrench from Abby, deposited in her purse, and pulled out the wrench for her expander. As she handed it to Abby, Andi said "these were first production, going forward we are going to produce them so that the same wrench can be used on both the marpe component of the Miller appliance and the protraction rods." Without a word, Andi leaned in closer, tilted her head back, and opened wide. Abby reached in and seated the wrench on the appliance and gave one turn.
As Abby withdrew the wrench from Andi's mouth, she heard Justin say from behind her "wow, that is just amazing. Really Andi, it is just incredible. I know it can't be all that fun, but I am so blown away by your dedication. I don't even exactly know how to say what I mean, but it is really incredible."
Abby turned in his lap and asked "so you, as a man, aren't repelled by all the metal? By the headgear? The fact Andi can't take it off?"
Justin seemed caught off guard by the questions. He looked at Abby and said "well, first of all, I know Andi is happily married." He went quiet a minute, seeming to try to gather his thoughts. He continued "so, I mean, you know, I wouldn't ever try to, you know, hit on her or anything. But no, I don't find it a turn off. Not at all. I think it is incredible she is going through treatment. It shows how much she cares about herself. And how much she cares about Sam too. That she is willing to undergo some short-term inconvenience, and I will say pain instead of discomfort, for a lifetime of better health. So no, as a man, I am most definitely not repelled by it. Not at all. Just the opposite."
Abby stared at him "really?"
Justin replied "really."
Abby seemed to be lost in his eyes before she suddenly blurted out "oh, I am sorry. I am probably crushing your leg."
As she stood Andi could see she was flustered. She was glad when Justin said "no, you most definitely weren't." He smiled at her and said "I liked the way it felt." This made Abby blush once again.
Andi interjected "Abby dear, my wrench?"
Abby turned and said "oh, sorry."
Andi smiled at her and said "no need to apologize." As Abby handed the wrench back to her, Andi said "Abby, maybe you want to tell Justin about your upcoming treatment?" Abby looked back at her and widened her eyes, like she hadn't wanted her to say that. Andi continued "Abby, it is ok. I bet Justin will find it fascinating. At the very least. Why don't you take your seat and tell him about tomorrow?"
As Abby made her way around the table back to her seat, Justin asked "your upcoming treatment? Tomorrow?"
Andi looked at Abby as she took her seat. Andi said "Abby, tell him. It is so exciting."
Abby seemed to be studying the table as she softly said "tomorrow, I am having a Miller appliance and Nova appliance installed. And I will be getting Miller headgear with protraction rods. Like Andi is wearing."
Abby couldn't see Justin's face light up. But she heard him say "oh wow." She felt sad, she had been immediately attracted to this man. And she just knew the idea of her wearing headgear would be repellent to him despite what he had said earlier. She was surprised when she heard him say "that is amazing Abby. Extraordinary. Inspiring. You are getting it installed tomorrow?"
She tentatively looked him in the face. The look on his face wasn't one of revulsion. He was looking directly into her face. She thought the look on his face was one of excitement. Maybe even desire. She brushed that thought away as wishful thinking on her part. But regardless, he didn't look repulsed. This instinctively made her smile. Feeling a bit more confident, she said "yes, tomorrow. We are doing live demos in the booth. Dr. Brad will be installing Kristi's and Kelly's at noon and 2 p.m. Then Andi here will be installing mine at 4 p.m."
She watched Justin's face as he said "that is SO exciting. Congratulations Abby." Abby thought he looked happy. She wasn't sure how to respond. He continued "oh goodness, Andi had told me she would be doing an installation in the booth at 4. And I had already planned on being there. But now I wouldn't miss it for the world. I am so happy for you Abby."
Abby said "I am so nervous. I know I am going to be sore. And talking will be such a challenge. And eating? Hah, tonight might be my last solid meal for a while. But mainly I am worried about the headgear. And what people will think."
Justin gave her a smile. He said "well I can't speak for others. But I know you will just look amazing in your headgear. And I hate it, but you are right. You probably will be sore tomorrow, for the next few days actually." He stared at her a moment before "perhaps you would like to join me for a few drinks tomorrow after the show closes? Maybe I can show you a little more of my city?"
Abby blurted out "you mean like a date?"
Andi laughed, she was so happy this was going so well. She found Abby's awkwardness endearing. And from the expression on his face, so did Justin.
Justin replied "yes, like a date. If you would like that."
Abby said "even with me in all my metal and my headgear?"
Justin locked eyes with her and said "especially with all your metal and your headgear."