Free Bound by Suggestion by L.L. Bartlett

the side of her wheelchair and hugged her, taking the brunt of Grace’s tangled emotions, feeling my own eyes fill.
    Slowly, awkwardly, her arms came around me. She buried her face in my shoulder. Lost in her pain, I had no words to calm her, and simply endured it until her crying slowed. She smelled of baby powder, reinforcing my image of her as just a child. I patted her back and hung on.
    My knees began to ache, my head throbbed. Eventually Grace’s anguish ebbed. I felt a spark of gratitude, even warmth, from the frail young woman in my arms.
    We pulled back, and like mirror images, reached to wipe the tears from each other’s cheeks.
    “We’re connected now,” Grace whispered, her gaze riveted on mine.
    I worked at calming my own ragged breaths, then glanced uneasily at Krista.
    For a second I saw a tightness around her mouth, then she forced a smile. “I think we just made a breakthrough.”
     
    The polished cherry conference table sat twenty-eight people quite comfortably. Copies of the meeting’s agenda were placed in front of each chair. Glasses and carafes of ice water also waited on the table. The rest of the room was business like. Matted and framed past issues of the Foundation’s newsletter decorated the walls. As Richard took it all in, something inside him flickered to life. I want to be in the center seat , he thought.
    Richard stood before one of the frames, straightening his tie in the reflection. He looked the part and had done everything he could to make it happen. Now to wait for the big announcement.
    Footsteps, and the murmur of voices, heralded the approaching crowd. Among them was Mona Humphrey, who smiled warmly upon seeing him, but kept up her end of a conversation with one of the other board members.
    She took her place at the head of the long table and everyone else took seats. Richard selected one not far from Mona. Not a bad turnout, he decided; probably eighty percent.
    Wes Timberly was the last to arrive. He glared at Richard before turning to Mona. “Sorry I’m late.”
    She motioned him into a chair. “Now that we’re all here, I’d like to remind everyone of Dr. Zimmer’s retirement party on Thursday at Alexander’s. It’s also a good opportunity to meet the new Chief of Cardiology and his entourage. Let’s get there on time, in our party frocks and suits, smile, and be prepared to suck up to potential donors.”
    A ripple of laughter ran through the room.
    Mona donned dark-framed half glasses then looked down at her notes. “First we’ll review the minutes from our last meeting.”
    Timberly raised his hand, catching her attention.
    “Yes, Wes?”
    Timberly flipped pages. “I noticed that the notes aren’t clear on the catering situation for the spring gala.”
    “Not clear?” voiced a woman sitting on Mona’s right. Richard recognized the board secretary’s face, but drew a blank on her name. “What part confused you?” she asked, an edge to her tone.
    “Nowhere does it say precisely who is providing the food,” Timberly said.
    The woman stared at Timberly for long seconds before answering. “The gala is being held at the Park Club. The Park Club is catering the affair. They wouldn’t like it if you booked their facilities then brought in food from another vendor.”
    “No need to get snide, Gloria,” Timberly said. “I simply maintain that the historical record should be precise.”
    “I apologize, Dr. Timberly. I didn’t realize it was necessary to state the obvious for board members unable to make such intuitive leaps. In the future, I’ll keep your difficulties in mind when I write up my notes.”
    The tension in the room rose to a palpable level.
    Mona cleared her throat and met Richard’s gaze. Her expression said, “I did warn you.”
    “Everyone, please feel free to update your notes accordingly. Now, let’s continue our review.”
    Richard sat back in his chair. It would be a very long meeting.
     
    Sucking up another person’s