By the time I got behind the wheel of my Camry and headed for the congested streets of the medical center, I felt like I had a stomachful of bedsprings. The slick streets slowed everyone down, which made me even more anxious and impatient.
When I entered Kate’s office, she and April were in the reception area talking.
“Kate, I need therapy for acute Houston Traffic and Parking Syndrome. Is there any hope?”
She smiled. “Not with your personality. Emma called and she’s having a hard time finding parking, too. I’m ready to start as soon as she gets here.”
“You’re sure it’s okay that I’m present during the hypnosis?”
“She wants you here. She has a very strong and positive connection with you, and I can’t think of anything that would make her feel more comfortable.”
I smiled. “Really?
Before Kate could respond Emma walked through the door with a cheerful, “Hi, everyone.”
Kate led us through the reception area, door and down the hall past her family therapy area, the only therapy room I’d been in before today. We entered a room set up like a cozy living room. A matching green pastel sofa and love seat were separated by a rocking chair-the glider kind. There were lamps on two end tables, and both lights were turned on, spreading a soft, warm glow over the room. An afghan Kate had crocheted was lying across the glider.
“Let’s all sit-Emma, take the rocking chair if you would-while I explain what will happen,” Kate said.
Emma placed the afghan across her knees after she sat down. I chose the love seat, and Kate sat across from me, adjacent to Emma.
“First,” Kate said, “let’s clear up any misconceptions about hypnosis. I won’t put you to sleep, though you may feel more relaxed with your eyes closed.”
“There’s no trance?” Emma asked.
“Actually, there is one, but not like a stage show trance. Think about when you daydream. Does the daydream sometimes block out the rest of the world?”
Emma smiled and nodded. “Oh, yes, and I’ve had plenty to block out.”
“That’s all a trance is, a state of intense concentration. I’ll help you get there with guided imagery. Abby, would you turn off the lamp near you?”
I did, then leaned back against the love seat cushions into the shadows.
“Emma,” Kate said, “I’d like you to rock the chair slowly and at the same time think of yourself as resting on a huge, fluffy pillow.”
Emma closed her eyes and moved the chair back and forth.
Kate whispered, “Clear your mind. Think of something that soothes you-a warm bath, a day in the sun, a good book… anything. It’s your decision. Everything is in your control.”
“Okay,” she said.
Kate repeated, “Clear your mind,” several times, and even in the dim light I saw Emma’s body melting into that chair as her rocking became more rhythmic.
“I want you to ride on your pillow into the clouds. Can you do that?” Kate asked.
“Yes.” Emma’s eyes remained closed, her voice calm.
“Take yourself above the streets, above the bus stop you told Abby about.”
“Okay,” came Emma’s reply.
“Tell me when you’re there,” Kate said.
“I want to go slow. Slow is better.”
“Take as long as you want.” Kate had been leaning forward whispering to Emma, but now she sat up without taking her gaze off her subject.
I swear it took an hour, but was probably no more than a few minutes before Emma said, “I see the roof of the covered bus stop. See the streets and the tops of the cars.”
“Good. When you’re ready, float down until you see the people sitting there.”
“It’s better up here.” Emma’s voice sounded a little slurred, like she was talking in her sleep.
“Safer?” Kate said.
“Yes. Much safer.”
“Abby and I are watching out for you. You can look at the people’s faces. Nothing will happen.”
“Abby’s here. Kate’s here. On the pillow.”
“That’s right. When you’re ready, Emma.”
More silence as Emma rocked and rocked for another eternity. “I see,” she finally said. “It’s me, waiting for the bus, and she’s there, too.”
“A woman?” Kate asked.
“Abby. She’s on the bench sitting with me. We’re talking.”
I saw my sister’s eyes narrow, saw her shoulders tense. “Okay. What are you wearing, Emma?”
“The gray suit I found at Goodwill. Only cost me ten dollars.”
“You’re going to work?”
“Yes. Then I have class. Scott will have to cook dinner, and he hates that. But it’s okay. Abby says everyone has to pitch in sometimes.”
Kate leaned forward. “And what’s Abby wearing?”
Emma laughed. “That funny-colored uniform.”
I saw Kate’s shoulders relax and she almost smiled. “What else does she have on?”
“The black shoes with the thick soles. She says she’s on her feet all day. I’m lucky I don’t have to be someone’s maid.”
“She’s a maid?”
“You can tell she works really hard. Her hands are always chapped, and she looks tired, even though she’s young.”
“What else do you know about her?” Kate asked.
“She smokes, but when I sit next to her she always puts her cigarette out right away. I never ask her to. She just does. She cares about other people.”
“What color is the uniform again?”
“Turquoise. White collar. The letters on her pocket are white, too.”
“Are you close enough to see what the letters say?” Kate’s tone was even, her voice soft and soothing.
I wanted to get up, shake Emma and tell her to spit it out. This whole deal was like sucking peanut butter through a straw. But I had to give my sister props. I could never do this job.
Emma went into another long, agonizing silence before she said, “I need to get a little closer.”
“However long it takes is fine,” Kate said.
I wanted to scream, “No it’s not fine!” but I remained silent, sitting on my hands to keep them still.
At last Emma said, “Purity Maids. Those are the words embroidered on the pocket.”
I must have sighed audibly, because Kate held up her hand and gave me a look that would freeze a jaguar. I mouthed, Sorry.
Coming out of the trance was almost as slow a process as it took to get her to that pocket embroidery. Kate brought Emma back above the bus stop and allowed her all the time she wanted to return to reality. Even when she opened her eyes, she still seemed to be somewhere else.
“Turn the light back on, would you, Abby?” Kate said.
I pressed the switch at the base.
Kate said, “How are you feeling?”
“I could live in this chair.” Emma was smiling, her face content in the lamplight.
“I plan on having one like it for my new house,” Kate said.
Emma quit rocking, sat upright. “How could I have forgotten? The owner took your offer. You got the house, Kate.”
Kate grinned. “That’s great. When can I move in?” “Pending inspections and title searches, I’d say a couple weeks. Cash transactions really speed things up.”
“I think we’ve both had a good day-and Abby, too, right?” Kate looked at me.
“Yes. Do you remember what just happened, Emma?”
“Remember you in a maid uniform? I don’t think that’s an image I’ll ever forget.” She laughed. “But why didn’t I see the woman’s face, Kate?”
“The human mind will always seek to protect the psyche from harm-sometimes even in unhealthy ways-but that’s a whole other lecture.” Kate smiled. “By putting Abby’s face on this person, you felt safe enough to get close and to stay long enough in the trance to find what we needed.”