I'd Never View it as Cheating Pt. 02

We spent a relaxing day around the pool, laughing and swimming—Lizzie looking as incredible as ever in her bikini. I missed making love with my wife something awful. I enjoyed Toni—maybe a little too much—but nothing...nobody would ever replace my incredible wife.

We left the pool around five to shower and prepare dinner. I had placed several potatoes in the oven to bake almost an hour ago. Now I placed the fluke fillets in a large baking pan, basting liberally with olive oil while Toni and Beth tossed a salad. We ate precisely at six so we could take Lizzie back to the home and Toni, Beth, and David could get a decent night's sleep in preparation for work the following morning.

David and Beth had Lizzie in the car while I stayed behind for a moment with Toni. "Other than my wife and kids there's no one on this planet who means as much to me as you do, Toni. You're an incredible person and I do love you."

"I love you, too Chuck. I just hope I don't fall completely in love with you. I know that would be impossible for both of us." I agreed with her, but we kissed for several minutes anyway. After one final quick peck I showed her out. Fifteen minutes later she was home and we'd put Lizzie to bed once again.

We went fishing almost every weekend, spending as much quality time with Lizzie as possible. If it helped her I wouldn't know; there were no visible signs even though—God knows—we were praying every day for a miracle.

I went to work for two days in the middle of July to interview new teachers. In some districts the principal would do the preliminaries and pass the final candidates on to the district office. Here the process was the exact opposite. Carl believed, as did I, that I had to live with the teachers every day so I should have the final say on who was hired. I interviewed eight people on the first day, amazed as I often am how people dress for an interview. Patrick was with me throughout the day because he would supervise the English and French teachers. He was fluent in French while I knew about three words.

After one interview I asked the candidate, a young woman with excellent academic credentials if she was really interested in the job. "Of course," she replied instantly, "everyone knows this is an excellent school."

"Then, may I ask you why you dressed the way you did? You're wearing a set of overalls, for crying out loud."

"Well, you're not wearing a suit."

"That's true, but I already have a job and I don't have to impress anyone, do I? You're here to impress us so we'll offer you the position. One of the critical things we consider is a candidate's judgment and, having worn this absurd outfit to an interview has led us to seriously question yours. We won't offer the position to you, but hopefully you'll think a bit more for your next one. Thank you for your time." I rose and the interview was over. Of the four French candidates we hadn't found even a single one worth hiring. We did better with the English interviews, recommending that we hire two—one for the English position and the second, a French minor, for that position.

The following day Patrick joined me again to interview for the chemistry opening. A good chemistry candidate could wear a burlap bag to the interview—that's how hard it was to find a good one. We only had three finalists and selected a young man who had been teaching junior high general science in another district. For these interviews I had invited our one remaining chemistry teacher to join us.

It was mid-August before I knew it and the final week of August I conducted new teacher orientation, reminded once again of my fateful meeting with Lizzie. School opened the Wednesday after Labor Day with the usual problems—some students needed to have schedule conflicts resolved and the school buses all seemed to be late even though we had been assured the drivers knew the routes by heart. My personal highlight was seeing Jackie Henderson-formerly McMullen-enter school with the biggest smile I'd ever seen. She asked me to come to the nurse's office with her. She stripped down as she had last March; I was astounded to see no scars. "Mom and Dad took me to a dermatologist so the scars could be removed. Aren't they great?" I hugged Jackie while I agreed. Jackie had gone from hell to heaven.

The first week was hectic, but we all knew it would be so we were as prepared as could be. I anticipated that the second week would go more smoothly, but on Wednesday a phone call changed everything. It was Dr. Thompson who had called. "Dr. Spangler, can you bring your wife to the University Hospital tomorrow morning at ten? It could be terribly important. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you any more until Lizzie has been examined."

"Okay, I guess...I'll bring her." He continued, telling me the exact location and who we would meet. I phoned Carl to ask for the time off. "I have no idea what they want, Carl, but I'll try anything to help her." My next call was to the home, making arrangements to pick her up at 9:00.

To anyone living in Suffolk County there's only one University Hospital—the home of the Stony Brook University Medical School. Several of my personal physicians were professors there and they were all outstanding. I spent the rest of the day praying for a miracle.

We arrived early—the home was only fifteen minutes from the hospital, but I knew from experience that finding a parking place could be a problem and Lizzie would be slow-moving because of her confusion. We walked into the lobby at 9:35 and out of the elevator on the third floor a few minutes later. Down the hall toward the Neurology Department we went, stopping at the nurses' station where I asked for Dr. Thompson or Dr. Kingman. Dr. Thompson met us a few minutes later and led us into an exam room.

"Chuck, I have to leave you here for a bit while our team examines Lizzie. I'm sorry, but we can't have any distractions during the testing. I'll explain everything in about forty-five minutes. Help yourself to some of the magazines or watch the TV." He took Lizzie by the arm and led her through a door on the opposite side of the room. I sat in one of the chairs and thumbed through some of the year-old magazines, but I couldn't concentrate. I was worried about Lizzie.

Time dragged as it always does when waiting and this time it was even worse because I had no idea what I was waiting for or why Dr. Thompson thought it was so important. Finally, after what seemed to be hours, Dr. Thompson reappeared, taking the chair opposite mine. "Any idea what biochemistry is, Chuck?"

"Sure...I have a Master's in biology and I've taken plenty of chemistry courses. Many plant and animal processes are chemical reactions."

"Yes, that's a pretty good description. We have teams of biochemists working along with our neurology staff to isolate and identify the chemicals that affect the brain and the central nervous system. Much of our study has involved cadavers and the major problem we've had to face is that brain tissue deteriorates after death much faster than most of the body's other organs, but recently we've had a breakthrough in that area.

"About six months ago we were able to identify a chemical that had previously been suspected, but never confirmed. In tests with mice memory was significantly improved and now we want to try it on human subjects. That's why we wanted to examine Lizzie—to determine if she would be a suitable subject."

"And...?"

"It's not quite that simple. We'll select two hundred to test." My face must have shown the shock I felt because he hesitated for a moment. "Yes, Chuck there's no shortage of test subjects, unfortunately. Half will get the serum and half will get placebo. The chemical is a liquid so it will have to be injected daily.

"I'm not going to lie to you. We have no idea what an effective dosage will be or even if there will be an effective dosage...and there is the potential that the serum could injure or even kill the subject. We tested five hundred mice and six of them died during the test period. We have no idea if that was related to the medication or if it was some other problem."

"I assume that Lizzie qualifies since you're telling me all of this."

"Yes, she's an ideal subject because she hasn't been seriously impacted for long, but she is seriously impacted."

"When do you need an answer?"

"The sooner the better; oh, yeah—she'll have to move into the hospital here and you'll have to administer the injections. We'll show you how to do it and give you plenty of practice. The reason we insist on this is that you'd have to do it if she is able to go home."

"What happens if she gets the placebo?"

"That will be pure saline solution so there will be no impact. However, if the procedure works those subjects will be the first to get the serum once it's approved. That could take years, unfortunately."

"Damn! This could cure or kill her; I don't know what to do. I really don't." We waited in silence until Lizzie was led back into the room a few minutes later. I knew then what I would have to do.

I had belted Lizzie into the passenger seat and slipped into the driver's when I pulled out my phone to call David. I was a bit surprised when he answered. "I have something extremely important to discuss with you and Beth. Please get her to your apartment for a phone call at seven tonight. It could take quite a while."

("Is this about Mom?")

"Yes...we have a very important decision to make. It's something we have to do together. I'll explain everything then. I need to call Toni. I'll want her input, too." I ended the call and rang Toni knowing that she'd be busy. I left a message asking her to call me ASAP. Twenty minutes later I had kissed Lizzie good-bye and was on my way back to school.

Toni called me at noon and I briefly outlined what had happened. She agreed to come immediately after court, bringing a pizza for dinner. We talked and talked during dinner. She listened and questioned me, but did not offer any opinion. I rang David at seven exactly, using the land-line and setting the phone on speaker. I got right down to business after greeting my children.

"Your mom is eligible to test a new serum," I began.

"Great!" Beth could barely contain herself.

"Maybe...maybe not." I explained the pro's and con's, how the serum, if she was given it, could harm or even kill her. We talked back and forth for almost a half hour without reaching any decision. Then I realized that Toni had been silent. I turned to face her then asked, "What do you think, Toni?"

"I don't want to intrude on what should be a family decision, but...I don't think there is anything to really consider. Lizzie is alive now, but is virtually dead to your family. If there is any chance to bring her back you have to try it. That's what I would do if it was my husband involved. Didn't the doctor tell you that time was a critical factor?"

"I agree, Dad," David interrupted. "When you come down to it, what do we have to lose? Six mice out of five hundred and they don't even know why they died. I say go for it."

"I don't know," Beth told me, "but, I'll support whatever you decide, Dad."

"Me too, Chuck." Toni took my hand in a show of support.

"Okay...I'll phone Dr. Thompson first thing tomorrow morning and tell him we'll do it. This would be a great time to pray for your mother...me, too. I'll have to give the injections and monitor her progress if she has any."

I ended the call and looked into Toni's eyes. She rose from the kitchen table and pulled me up with her, leading me to Beth's bedroom. I stood silently as she swiftly removed my clothes then hers. She laid me carefully onto the bed and lowered herself onto my body. Toni kissed me with a tenderness I hadn't experienced in ages and with the love we'd both denied had existed—had denied was even possible. Yes...I'd learned to love Toni. It was more than the sex. We'd stopped fucking months ago, making love instead. Yet, there'd never been any question that Lizzie was my number one.

She held me and kissed me as she rubbed her abdomen over my cock. It felt like it was made of steel when she slowly rose-her eyes on mine the entire time. She was sliding down my organ as she voiced what we were both feeling. "I love you, Chuck, but that's not what's important here. It's Lizzie. She's all that matters. I'd hate giving up what we have, but I'd do it in a heartbeat if she could recover. I'd do anything for that."

I had just begun driving up into her when I finally had the nerve to reply. "You've known for months how I feel about you, Toni. I love you, too, but you're right. Everything has to be for Lizzie. She can't do it for herself so we have to do it for her. I pray...oh, God...I don't know what I pray for, Toni."

We were really into it now, moving together like a well oiled machine—me thrusting deeply into her hot cunt, her rubbing her clit into my abdomen—when she leaned down to kiss me. "We both know what you're praying for, Chuck. We're both praying that Lizzie will recover even though we both know it will mean the end of us. You're a one-woman man and I'm a one-man woman. Neither of us would ever think of cheating. I couldn't love you if you were any other way." She punctuated her remarks by squeezing me with her powerful cunt muscles and seconds later we both came explosively. I held Toni as though I never wanted to let her go.