Chapter 2
Finn arrived at his studio at nine the next morning. He always needed time to prepare himself for a session. Last night, he’d looked Elise Preston up online and she was more than famous. She was the hottest thing in Hollywood.
It didn’t unnerve him, though. Finn wasn’t easily impressed.
He readied the session room. A hired cleaner had already disinfected the area, washed the floor and dusted. So he turned on his air machine which puffed out a lavender scent that permeated the space.
He dropped down into a recliner opposite the reiki chair and set the timer for one-half hour. Closing his eyes, he blanked his mind. He mentally repeated his mantra. May I be happy, healthy and at peace.
The chime rang and pulled him out of the zone.
Feeling refreshed by the meditation, he went to his office off the waiting room and prepared the necessary paperwork.
The forms asked for intimate details but not anything sexual.
He returned a few phone calls then heard the knock on the front door.
She was fifteen minutes early but he was ready.
He opened the door and found the beautiful woman standing there in a peach sundress and sandals to match. “Good morning, Ms. Preston.”
“Good morning, Mr. McKenna. You aren’t a doctor are you?”
“No. I have an MBA in business but soon learned it was not a fit for me. So I trained for a year and got certified to practice reiki. Come in.”
She practically glided inside. Her hair was in a ponytail and it swung freely behind her.
“We’ll sit in my office for a bit so you can fill out some forms.” They walked the short distance to the small room. “There’s a chair with a pull up arm for you to write.”
She settled in. “This first questionnaire deals with your physical health including your gynecological health. It also asks why you chose reiki. More of a why you’re here.
” He handed her the papers. “The second one is about reiki. It explains the treatment. You’re required to state that you understand what you’re going to be doing and agree to it. ”
She took a pen out of a big white purse. He studied her. “You’ll have to take out the tie in your hair before the session. Relaxation is a big part of the treatment and that style isn’t conducive to it.”
She nodded and set her hair free. It flowed past her shoulders in thick waves.
“Are you feeling all right, Ms. Preston?”
“Call me Elise. And no, I’m scared that I’ll say or do the wrong thing and you’ll kick me out again.”
“I promise I won’t do that.”
“I am sorry for how I acted.” She was an actress but the words seemed genuine. He gave her the benefit of the doubt.
“You’ve already apologized. You’re forgiven. Now fill out those forms. I’m going to the reiki room.”
“Can I have water beforehand?”
“Yes of course. I want you to be relaxed.” He went the fridge in the waiting area and took two bottles. “I’ll be back to read the first one while you’re filling out the second.” He walked out of the small space.
* * *
“Whew!” Elise must have passed the test this time. She truly believed this man could help her. And she had nowhere else to turn. She took a minute to study the office for what it revealed about Finn. Smooth teak furniture. Soothing sage green walls. Great artwork.
She went back to the forms. First up was name, of course, height and weight.
Second was the history of her health. She’d broken her wrist once on a movie set.
Had all her shots for diseases. Suffered a couple of sprained ankles.
But that was in the past. Now, she was in good health, except for her inability to conceive.
No, there was no history of uterine fibrosis.
No endometriosis, no malformation of the uterus.
She had regular periods all her life. But for two years, she hadn’t gotten pregnant.
The natural way with a man she was close to. And five IVF treatments.
She sipped her water and stared at the paper.
“Almost done?”
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—”
“I won’t give in. Now you don’t want to ruin my completely relaxed body by arguing with me.” Her violet eyes twinkled. “I know how to get my way.”
He laughed out loud. “I bet you do. Fine, then. I concede.”
* * *
That night, Elise walked into Black and Blue Restaurant, one of the eatery recommendations the studio had gotten from the city council.
Max, her companion and co-star, had insisted they dine together to discuss some scenes.
She had a sneaking suspicion he was after more than that, but he was handsome and friendly, so she went with him.
Their table was in a comfortable booth three down from the door.
She slid in first and when he went next, he moved closer to her than she wanted. “I need a little more room, Max,” she said calmly.
“Sure.” He inched away.
A busboy came over. “Tap or bottled water?”
“Bottle of course.” Max again.
“Your waiter will be right over.”
The second server appeared. “Hello, I’m Benjamin. I’ll be taking care of you tonight.” He glanced twice at Elise but didn’t comment. “May I get you a cocktail?”
“We’ll both have martinis. Dry. Olives.”
She said, “Just bring one of those. I’ll have club soda.”
“Not drinking tonight?” he asked when Benjamin left.
“No.” She didn’t explain. She owed Max nothing.
When drinks came, the capable Benjamin smiled. He was charming with a smattering of gray hair on his head and in his beard. “Would you like to order now or enjoy your cocktails?”
“We’ll wait.”
“Not long, though,” Elise put in. “I’m starving.”
“I’ll check back soon.”
Max held up his glass. “To A Woman in Jeopardy.”
She clicked hers with his. “To the movie.” She took a sip. “So what did you want to discuss?”
“We may as well get it out of the way first. I’m concerned about how we’re shooting our current scene.”
“Specifically what?”
“Elise, you’re upstaging me.”
“Honey, I’m the star of the film.”
“I’m your co-star.”
“You’re the second lead.”
“Can you give it some thought?”
She knew then that she’d made a mistake accepting his offer of dinner, but she didn’t want to argue. “Yes, I’ll think about it.”
A man strode by their booth. Tall, with mink-colored hair, he stopped two tables over and kissed the pretty blond woman who’d been seated alone. She could hear him say, “Hey, babe.”
When he turned a bit, she saw it was Finn McKenna. He looked gorgeous in a light pink shirt and gray sports coat. The color would highlight his eyes.
“Do you know them?” Max asked.
“Him. Some.”
“You should tell him pink isn’t a man’s color.”