Meryl and Don: An Unforeseen Journey

Chapter 71

After Don and Meryl held each other for a little while longer, Don went to check on Henry and use the bathroom. When he was in the bathroom he reached in the medicine cabinet for some Advil for his pain from sleeping on the floor all night and frowned when he saw the ointment that Meryl was supposed to use for the tearing Mann caused and noticed it was unopened. As he thought about it he never saw her use it; not like he necessarily would, but when they were in the hospital the nurses always applied it for her. He wondered if she used it at all and that made him worry about her health. He knew this was an extremely sensitive topic but one he needed to broach with her; he just hoped and prayed it didn't lead to another fight.

***

Don talked Meryl into not cooking; and she no longer needed the distraction. With all the drama and stuff they lost sight of the fact that they were both still healing physically and needed to take it easy. She went along with Don's suggestion of eating the food that had been prepared for them first. She looked forward to extra time making up with Don and time spent with both him and Henry. She poured them both some lemonade and took them out to the living room to wait for him. She smiled as she saw him walk into the living room just as she was sitting down but her smile faded when she saw the look on his face. "What's wrong? Is it Henry?"

"No, baby, he's fine." Don said with a kiss to her lips as he sat down next to her. "I went into our medicine cabinet to get some Advil..."

Meryl cut off what he was saying and cupped his face. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I'm fine, I promise. Just some twinges which the doctor said was normal." He said as she nodded. He didn't want to say it was from spending all night on the floor. "Anyways, I found this. It looks like it hasn't been opened."

Meryl took the tube out of his hand when he showed it to her. Indeed, the box was still sealed. "It hasn't been."

"Sweetheart, why not?" Don asked concerned. "You need this to help heal, physically. I can't imagine how bad the damage is. I mean they even had to sew you up in the hospital."

Meryl looked away. "It's embarrassing."

"Mary Louise, this is me." Don said with a kiss to her lips as he turned her face to him. "You don't EVER have to be embarrassed with me. I'm just concerned. I want you to heal, sweetheart; and you can't heal if we're not taking care of you."

Meryl nodded as he wiped her tears. "I can't reach. My belly is too big and I can't reach or see what I'm doing."

"Darl, why didn't you say something?" Don asked concerned. "It was even hurting you to use the bathroom when we were in the hospital; is it still?"

Meryl nodded as she choked. "Like a bitch."

"Mer, I would have helped you. Why didn't you say something?" Don asked.

Meryl was crying harder. "What was I supposed to say? Hey Don, will you put the ointment on my vagina because of the awful damage another man caused? It's disgusting, Don. I can't let you see that."

"Shhhh...." Don said as he took her in his arms and held her tightly while stroking her hair and kissing her head. "You are my wife, the love of my life and NO part of you is disgusting. I want to help you in any and every way. Sweetheart, you don't want to get an infection or make it worse."

Meryl shook her head. "I guess I could ask...God, I don't want to ask anyone."

"Baby, you don't have to ask anyone; I'm offering to do it. I want to do it for you." Don whispered as he moved so his forehead was pressed against hers. "Let me."

Meryl shook her head. "I don't want to hurt you by seeing that. I don't want you to see that; you'll think less of me."

"NO WAY IN HELL WILL I THINK LESS OF YOU!" Don said emphatically. "It will hurt me if you don't let me help you. I know it will be difficult but we can take it slowly. I'm not trying to be sexual, I just don't want ANYTHING to happen to you."