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He sighed, then shot me a look that clearly said, ‘Do you see what I have to put up with?’
I tried to hide my smile. “No, you’re fine. I just had no idea you were a hypnotist.”
“The human mind has always fascinated me, but that isn’t important. What is important is that I really think I can help you, Layla.”
He seemed so sincere that I felt a tremble of hope. “How?”
“I could give you a six hour lecture every day for four years, and you’d still have questions. Let’s just say that I’m good at reaching your subconscious and removing your mental fingers from the various triggers that can send you into panic attacks.”
“Do you have a lot of experience?”
“He hypnotized me,” Hannah said in an odd, dry voice.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“And it helped?”
She slowly nodded, and her voice grew thick with emotion as she said, “Immensely. It changed my whole view on the world, of myself. Made me stronger. Happier.”
“It almost sounds too good to be true.”
“There’s no guarantee it will work.” Leo ran his fingers through Hannah’s hair as she cuddled into him. “I’m not saying I can cure your every ill, but I do think I can make a noticeable difference in how your mind views and handles trauma. I know hypnosis isn’t the most conventional form of treatment, but are you willing to let me try?”
“Leo, I have done everything you can possibly think of to try to fix myself, both conventional and unconventional. Acupuncture, crystals, salt room therapy, color therapy, music therapy, group, individual, and metaphysical therapy. Compared to the woman trying to talk me into buying a rose quartz egg to shove up my—err, place that the sun don’t shine to cleanse my chakra, you’re fine.”
Leo gave an unexpected laugh while Hannah snorted. “Then you’re willing to let me hypnotize you?”
I looked down at my hands and fiddled with my nails as I turned the idea over in my mind. “Sure, why not?”
“Excellent.” Leo texted something on his phone. “We’ll start in about an hour.”
“What? Can we do it tomorrow? I’m kinda wiped out from all the drama.”
A knock came from the door, and a moment later a tiny Hispanic woman wearing a pair of khaki pants and a pretty pale gold blouse came in holding a tray.
With big slashes of silver coloring her raven black hair, she had a kind face and a ready smile. “Mr. Brass, here is the hot chocolate you requested.”
“Thank you, Domini.”
She set the tray down on the pale wood table situated between the sofa and the beanbag chair. Steam curled from the big green earthenware mugs, and the scent of chocolate tickled my nose. Big, fat marshmallows floated on top, along with a dash of whipped cream and what looked like chocolate shavings.
Leo handed me a mug while Hannah grabbed one for herself. “Here, drink up. It’s better if we try this when you’re already nice and relaxed. Some studies have shown that the brain responds better to suggestion when the subject is tired. The hot chocolate will help.”
Shrugging, I took a big drink of the delicious beverage, the subtle hint of cinnamon coming through the sweetness of the chocolate. “Oh my God, this is so good.”
“Isn’t it to die for?” Hannah fished out a partially melted marshmallow and ate it. “Domini says they used to make it in her village in El Salvador when she was a little girl. It’s delish.”
We chatted for a little bit about Domini and a few of the other people that worked for Hannah and Leo. Hannah wasn’t born rich, so she still found it weird to have a staff, but she wasn’t complaining about it. Cleaning this place was a full-time job, and she’d rather spend her time at home with Tiffany. I understood her point of view. My adoptive parents had a maid that came in once a week to clean stuff, despite the fact that my mom Jan was a stay-at-home mom. She had to be.
I was a high-maintenance kid for the first few years that I’d lived with them. Hell, it took me a year to even start talking to them, but she never gave up. Jan dedicated herself to helping me heal, and I know that without her and her husband Pat’s endless love and patience I would have been lost. She’d been so proud of me when I’d video chatted with her briefly while getting ready tonight. Hell, she was almost giddy that I had friends.
Shit, I’d have to call her tomorrow. Should I tell her the truth about what happened, or should I omit a few things so she wouldn’t be disappointed in me? Hell, I was disappointed in me. I could only hope I didn’t make too big of a scene and scare away possible donors.
There was a lull in the conversation between Hannah and Leo, and I set my now empty mug on the table.
