Chapter 10

"She has a what?" Brian asked the doctor, clearly lost.

"I've looked over Stefanie's X-rays again, and I was able to confirm she has a herniated disk in her lower back," he nodded.

"Jesus, no wonder she's been in agony most of the time. But does this mean……"

The doctor shook his head. "There's non surgical options such as compression therapy or a new technique called Pulstar, both which have given my other patients some very good results. Surgery is a last resort, and I won't even consider it unless other options are exhausted."

"So what are you recommending for her?"

"I've referred her to a PulstarCare clinic that does the procedure. It's quite painless and she should be able to see some progress after a couple of sessions."

"How is she reacting to all of this?" Brian wondered, thinking anything at this point would be better than seeing Steffi in pain most of the time.

"Actually, she's very open to the idea, especially when I discussed the non-invasive treatments."

"Good, because nobody's cutting my wife open unless it's a last resort."

A short time later, things with Steffi had been wrapped up and she had come out of the exam room. "Looks like I'll be out of this agony soon," she managed to smile.

"So I hear. I thought maybe you pulled something at first, but since this had been going on awhile without you not getting much better, it was time for a check up."

"I'm glad I listened to you after all," Steffi nodded. "Who would have though I'd be the one with something like this? You're the one with the dangerous job, not I."

"I guess it goes to show something like this could happen to anyone, baby. By the way, Audrey cleaned up the house a little and she's making dinner, so you have two less things to worry about when we get home."

"To think she's given up most of her spring break to help me," Steffi smiled again.

"Well, she loves her mama, what can we say?" Brian grinned back.

"I guess so," Steffi nodded, reading off a sheet of paper. "Prescription for a painkiller, physical therapy exercises, alternate heat with cold, and an appointment with some PulstarCare clinic. I should have one of the kids look up that thing on the Web."

"Stef, you know how to work a computer; all you have to do is Google it."

"Sure, but that chair at the desk practically kills me."

"Well, we could use one of the dining room chairs for now and put a little cushion on your lower back."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"Now be warned, Stef, I'm not sure about Audrey's cooking; she takes more after me than you in that department," Brian pointed out. "In any case, if there's any mishaps, I have a backup plan."

"Don't you always?" Steffi asked. "Take into consideration your idea of dinner being ready is when the smoke detector goes off."

"Very funny, sweetheart. Here's a drugstore; want me to get that prescription filled for you?"

"Yeah, and get me some more of those heat patches while you're in there, will you? I think I'm almost out of them at home."

"All righty. Be back in a few."

Steffi waited in the car, watching the rest of the world go by, when her phone rang. Checking the caller ID, she saw it was Audrey.

"How's the dinner project going?" Steffi asked once she'd answred the phone.

"Okay so far," Audrey replied. "Did Daddy tell you by any chance the milk is sour? Good thing I sniffed before using any of it or I would have had to start over."

"We're on our way home," Steffi explained. "As soon as he's done filling my prescription, I can have him get milk."

"Better have him get some juice for breakfast tomorrow too. Either he or Heath put the carton back in the fridge with like two drops left in it."

"Good lord. All right; I'll let him know. Just don't burn the house down in the meantime."

"Very funny, Mom. I can't do much worse than Daddy has done in his attempts."

"You're right," Steffi laughed. "Where's Heath?"

"Bryan took him bowling. I was supposed to go, but I told them to go ahead because I needed to do stuff around here with your back being messed up and stuff. Anyway, Heath should be back by dinner."

"Well, I suppose being with Bryan, it should be all right. Here comes Daddy; we should be home in about twenty minutes."

"Here we are," Brian said cheerfully, tossing in a bag just as Steffi had hung up. "Pain drugs and heat patches for the back patient." He was munching on something.

"What are you eating?" she asked.

"Had a chocolate attack," he explained.

"Brian, Audrey's making dinner."

"That's the idea. If I don't finish it, I'll have an excuse to get away from the torture."

"You're awful," Steffi shook her head. "Her own father, especially after she's suffered through some of your weird creations. By the way, we need milk and juice. Audrey called while you were in the pharmacy; apparently not only did someone forget to inform us the milk was sour and dump it, but there is an empty juice carton in the refrigerator."

"I swear to Christ it was Heath this time," Brian replied.

"Mmmm hmmm. Seems it's always Heath. We can pull into this little store right here; it's on the way home."

"Okay, okay, I'm going. Gee, you're a cranky patient."

"Could you get me some bottled water too? I should take one of these pills."

"Sure, but you have to take them with food too." He handed her the remnants of the candy bar, which Steffi took, shaking her head and smiling.

She then sat back, watching him go into the store, wondering what the hell she'd do without him and the kids at a time like this.

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