Page 9 of Climb Me Maybe
"How about two o'clock again?"
He nods stiffly, turning to leave, then hesitates.“Sky said something.Earlier.About breathing into the pain.”
“Yeah?”
“What was she talking about?”
The question feels bigger than anatomy.
I step closer, tilting my head back to hold his gaze.“One of my massage mentors taught me that pain’s a conversation.If you fight it, it screams louder.If you breathewithit, you can negotiate, and work on relieving it.”
He swallows hard."How should I dress…or what do I need to do…logistically?"
The nervousness in his voice is endearing.This big, capable man who scales trees is anxious about a massage.
"It's pretty straightforward," I say gently."Wear whatever is easiest to remove.You'll undress to your comfort level and lie on the table under a sheet.I'll only uncover the area I'm working on at any given time."
"Okay."
"I promise I'll take good care of you."The words come out more intimate than I intended, and I see his cheeks go pink before he looks away.
He nods and starts to walk away, then pauses."Imogen?"
I turn back to him.
"Thank you.For being patient with me about all this."
“Of course, Brady.”
He gives me a smile that makes my knees weak, then disappears into the pines like a shadow.
* * *
I spend the next morning massaging Hazel, Ewan the sawyer’s wife, then preparing the room for Brady.
Fresh linens, the right lighting, my selection of more robust-scented oils within easy reach.I want Brady to feel as comfortable as possible for what's clearly going to be a big step for him.
He arrives five minutes early, knocking like he’s interrupting a funeral.
"Come in!"I call, wiping my suddenly damp palms on my yoga pants.
He steps inside, shoulders nearly spanning the doorway.It’s as if he’s entering a minefield, gaze darting to the table, the oils, the Himalayan salt lamp casting a warm glow over his inked forearms.
He glances around."This looks..."
"Professional?"
"Relaxing," he finishes."Very relaxing."
“I’m glad.”I gesture to the massage table dominating the center of the room."That's the idea.How are you feeling?Nervous?"
"Yeah, maybe," he admits.
"Completely normal.Your first massage can be intimidating."I hand him a towel."Okay, so here's how this works.I'm going to step out while you get comfortable.Most people undress down to their underwear, but it’s all up to you.There’s nothing I haven’t seen before.Then lie face down on the table and pull the sheet up to cover your lower half."
His Adam's apple bobs as his fingers hover over his shirt buttons.“Is this usually…”
“Awkward?”I shrug.“Maybe at first, but soon you’ll be a pro,” I tease."Take your time getting situated, then just call out when you're ready."
