She looked up. “With the first sheet.”
“Give that to me and read thoroughly the second one.”
He sat at his desk and discovered the most personal things about her while she read the second sheet carefully.
When they were both finished, she looked up at the same time he did. On his face was the most profound expression of sympathy she’d ever seen. “I’m so sorry you’re having problems conceiving. You have every right to expect an easy conception and pregnancy.”
She swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
“Let’s go to the room. You’ll like being there, the atmosphere and the treatment.”
They walked into a room twice the size of his office. It was dim but not dark. It smelled of lavender. A gentle hiss of a machine puffed out the scent. He pulled up the arm of the chair and she sat. Stretched out. He covered her with a throw.
“Today we’re going to concentrate on stress reduction. You indicated on the paper that your life is full of stress. I can understand that as an actress, you’re always on.”
“Yes.”
“Now close your eyes. This time, I won’t touch you physically, even though you indicated I could. And we won’t talk during our session.”
“I understand.”
First she felt warmth in her head. It flowed through her. Next her shoulders tingled. Then the area around her breasts. Stomach and womb. His hands stayed there the longest.
Eventually, a deep sense of wellness flowed through her.
Her body heated like it did in a warm bath. She thought she dozed. She didn’t know how long later she heard the subtle chimes. Then a soothing voice. “We’ve finished, Elise. Stay in this position for a few minutes then I’ll bring the lights up and you can sit.”
She had no desire to move so she let the feelings consume her. After a while he said, “I’m undimming the room, but it won’t be bright…now I’m going to raise the chair.
When she came upright, she looked at him standing on her left side. “That was wonderful. I didn’t even feel you touch me but I’m more relaxed than I’ve ever been.”
“I didn’t touch you. Reiki can flow from my hands to your body without physical contact. In future sessions, I may touch you, though.”
“How many treatments will you give me?”
“You indicated you’ve scheduled an IVF at Memorial Hospital here in town in four weeks. I suggest you see me at least six times before then.”
She smiled. “Thanks for squeezing me in.”
“Let’s go out to my office and put dates in our calendars.”
He raised the arm, removed the blanket and she slid off the chair. She teetered a bit and he grasped her arm. “That’s normal. Don’t worry about it.”
Finn tried not to sigh as he dropped down at his desk and she sat in the chair in front of him again. Though she felt utterly relaxed, she wasn’t. He discovered blockages all down her body but especially in her womb. Just like Fiona. So he was experienced in diagnosing then dealing with this.
“I’m assuming that you’re scheduled to work during the day.”
“Mostly. But there are times when I’m not in the scenes being shot. They try to group together so I have some days off. I have those dates for the next two weeks.”
He found places for her sessions but two were at eight in the morning and one at night, all three outside his normal work hours. He’d have to come early and stay late. He decided on the spot not to charge her more for those.
“Finn, I’ll pay extra for the early sessions and the one at night.”
It was like she’d read his mind. “Not necessary.”
“I insist. I want you to upcharge me by half.”
“I—”
