Page 9 of Hypnotized By Love

Not that those memories or facts had done me much good. I’d sat there like a rage-filled monster, unable to speak, and could only just growl at him menacingly.

No wonder he’d smiled at me. He’d probably recognized a kindred spirit.

I really did want to be the bigger person. I was just failing miserably at it.

To soothe my wounded psyche and ignore my current shortcomings, I mentally ran through my schedule. I was all booked up this morning. I had a session with Heather and then an intake for a new client, followed by an online session and then lunch.

It only took a few minutes to drive to our small downtown area. It was mostly filled with shops for tourists, and my office was just off the main street in a very old building.

I climbed up to the second floor and let myself in. I had just put my things down when I heard the reception-area door open and then voices.

As in, more than one.

And there in my waiting room?

Mason Beckett. Again.

This was starting to feel like some kind of cosmic prank. I was about to snarl at him and ask what he thought he was doing when I realized a beat later that his mother was also in the waiting room, ready for her session.

“Heather!” I said, trying to smile. I was probably failing.

“Good morning!” she said, standing up and walking toward me. “I hope you don’t mind, but I told Mason he could tag along and observe. Is that okay with you?”

No, it most definitely was not okay with me, but what was I supposed to say?No, take your evil offspring and go?

“Sure. Come on in.”

Heather chattered away, like she normally did. My mom was more of an introvert, and I’d always assumed that one of the reasons her lifelong friendship with Heather worked so well was that Heather paved over any possible awkward silences with constant conversation.

She lay down on the couch while I sat in my chair. I tried to listen to her story, but instead I was hyperaware of Mason observing my office and then heading over to sit in the corner, where he could keep an eye on me.

He probably thought I was scamming his mother and was here to verify his suspicion.

This was going to result in another onslaught of negative online reviews.

I took in a deep breath, telling myself to ignore him. I’d been observed in many sessions. This wasn’t anything special or different.

It didn’t feel that way, though.

I needed Mason gone.

Heather was in the midst of telling me about her neighbor’s carport collapsing on top of the new SUV they’d just bought when I gently interrupted her and asked if she was ready to begin.

“Yes! Oh, and I want you to know that I’ve been listening to that recording you gave me. I’ve noticed a big difference with my insomnia. I am definitely falling asleep faster and staying asleep. I should have come to you a long time ago!”

Mason shifted loudly in his chair, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.

I started the induction sequence and we moved through it quickly, heading to the deepener and into the place where Heather felt safe and relaxed.

It was always easy to tell when she’d entered the trance state, as the chipper, chatty Heather became silent, her answers to my questions monosyllabic.

Not able to help myself, I glanced at Mason. He had his arms crossed and was staring daggers at me.

I turned my attention back to his mom. I wasn’t here to hate on stupid Mason; I was here to help Heather with her problem. While I talked about overcoming anxious thoughts and the importance of sleeping afull eight hours and how her body needed that, I heard Mason making little noises of disbelief in the corner.

Red bursts of anger fizzled through my blood. Shaking my head slightly, I tuned him out completely and focused on his mother. We did the guided imagery where she remembered a time when she’d slept well, and I encouraged her subconscious mind to retrain her body to get the rest that she needed.

“As soon as you get in your bed, you are able to easily let go of all your worries and concerns from your day. You will allow your body and mind to relax and to sleep well and fall asleep quickly,” I told her.

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