“I don’t know. Either way, one vow I’ve made to her will have to be broken.”
*****
AFTER THE TREATMENT
It was the time during Covid where no one was allowed in the room with the patient and the doctor. Tim and Jasmine had to wait outside with masks on for Abby to tell them the results. Finally, she came down the ramp with tears in her eyes.
“It didn’t work. Jasmine, please apologize to your friend for me. I’m sorry.”
“We’re the ones sorry for you. We were very hopeful for success.”
“I’ve still got a lot to look forward to. I was offered a part-time volunteer job at the hospital today that can be done with me in a wheelchair. I start next week. At least, I can feel useful again. Jasmine, I won’t need you during the day anymore. I can take care of my colostomy bag on my own now.”
“I’m so happy for you Abby. Let’s go celebrate.”
“I refuse to celebrate until you and Jasmine have had sex.”
“Abby!”
“I was dead serious when I made you two promise to have sex. Tim, I swear by all that is sacred that I will divorce you if you don’t do as I ask. You do not deserve a life sentence of no sex just because I have.” There was no mistaking the seriousness in her face. Tim simply nodded in agreement. He could not say the words out loud.
That night Jessie spent the night with her mother. They tried not to listen for the sounds of love coming from the master bedroom. There was enough noise that they were satisfied the act was being performed. Jessie comforted her crying mother. Jessie let Jasmine know that they were being too loud. The bedroom sounds quieted down from then on.
The next few months, Tim and Jasmine shared the master bedroom. Jasmine got a better job at Tim’s company as a receptionist in another department. With the few expenses she had sharing a home and car rides with Tim, Jasmine was able to use most all of her salary to pay towards the real loan it took to get Abby the experimental treatment.
Abby continued to surprise everyone by her acceptance of the new arrangement in a house with a husband, his lover, and their daughter all living under the same roof. On her next birthday, Abby told everyone that this year she was giving a present to all, and no one was to give her anything.
The day came. “You all sacrificed so much to get me well. I tried to repay Tim and Jasmine by giving them a chance to regain happiness in the bed. I hope you have enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed giving it to you. Well, today I’m introducing a new choice in our arrangement.
Abby stood up from her wheelchair and took a few wabbly steps. “I lied. The stem cell treatment worked. I kept it secret so I could reward Tim and Jasmine. I have been doing a volunteer job and going to physical rehabilitation off the books. It has made up for almost all the atrophy that had occurred. I am now 80% normal functioning in my lower body.”
Jasmine asked, “Does that mean that you can perform as normal down there . . . you know?”
“I can pee and poop on my own and, more importantly, I’ve masturbated myself to orgasm again. I’m ready for the real thing.”
Tim inquired in a state of shock, “That means that you and I can make love again?”
“Yes. But the more important question is ‘Do you want to stay married to me or do you want to divorce so you and Jasmine can be together again as husband and wife and not just lovers?'”
“You think that having sex with Jasmine would make me want to marry her again? I have enjoyed having sex with her, but I always planned for us to stay married whether you could have sex again or not. Abby, you’re my wife and Jessie is our daughter. I am happy beyond belief that we can fully resume our old life before Jasmine and your accident.”
Jasmine interrupted, “Abby, I make no claims on Tim’s time now that you’ve recovered. I admire your compassion to give Tim a substitute for your ability to have sex with him. I can honestly say I never detected a hint that he was interested in remarrying me. I will be leaving for my boyfriend’s house as soon as possible. You and Tim have a lot to catch up on. I am happy for you both. There is one favor I would like.”
“I bet it has to do with Jessie.”
“Yes, she and I have a special connection.”
“Of course.” Abby and Jasmine hugged.
EPILOGUE
Tim helped Jasmine move her things back to her apartment. Once done, they grabbed a drink and sat on the couch together.
“When Abby said she was ready to have sex again, why didn’t you tell her that we never had sex? Wouldn’t that have made her feel better?”
“No. She staked her self-image on relieving me of my marriage vows, it would hav made her feel bad that I had not had vaginal sex with you.”
“It was difficult to be with you and not have sex. I hope that proves how much I care about you, Abby and Jessie.”
Tim turned to her with tears in his eyes, “I’ll miss you.”
“Don’t do that to me. I promised myself not to cry. I had you once and threw you away. Then I had you again and now I’m losing you again. I think it’s going to be harder this time.”
“Jasmine, I was glad we had the time together. I was reminded of how much I once loved you. Going back to Abby is something I want to do and have to do. That doesn’t mean that I don’t still love you. I just can’t BE with you.”
“You could if you weren’t so fucking loyal.” She smiled.
“At least I got to answer a question that came up when the hospital first called.”
“What’s that?”
“I am my ex-wife’s keeper and will always be there for you.”
“Get out of here before I rape you.”
Tim stood up and looked at her through his teary eyes. “Good-bye.” He walked out of her apartment and went back to being a husband and father.