I was four, so she’s like my mom in a lot of ways. But even more social than me.”
“I’d like to meet her sometime,” Liam said.
“I’m sure she’d love that,” Viola told him. “She’s been fascinated with you since Hawaii.”
Liam shifted uncomfortably. “I am sorry about how I treated you there.”
Viola shook her hand as if to wave his words away. “You’ve already apologized.”
“Yes, but my actions deserve more than one apology.”
Viola drank some of her water. “How are things going with Callie and Xander gone?”
“Well, their dogs love me.” He’d found that as much as he hadn’t thought himself an animal person—a fact he generally tried to hide, seeing as how he owned an entire chain of pet stores—he’d bonded with Jax and Darcy. Those two dogs were energetic bundles of fur, but when he couldn’t stand to be alone with his own thoughts, they were always ready to play.
“What’s not to love?” she teased.
“Just the fact that I’m a viral mess.”
“Nah,” she replied, lightly. “You’re a viral human. We’re all a mess in our own way, it’s just most people don’t have to have their breakdowns aired on the evening news.”
“Just the lucky few, I guess.”
They ate in silence for a moment, Liam appreciating how comfortable it was to sit beside Viola, and realizing how much he missed being a part of social settings. He’d always loved the dinners and the visiting with new managers part of his work. The endless paperwork and problems, he could have done without.
“What are some of your favorite things to do here?” he asked. While they finished eating their dinner, and as dessert was placed in front of them, Viola told him about all the best, touristy things to do in Eureka Springs.
Liam loved watching her get animated as she talked about this place she loved. He’d forgotten how expressive her face was, but it was coming back to him now. How Viola had captivated him with her energy and her stories while they were in Hawaii.
She stopped talking to take a bite of her fruit dessert. She’d been given a custard tart, topped with glazed strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. He’d already eaten most of his raspberry swirl cheesecake, loving every single bite. He’d had somewhat low expectations for the dinner—he knew how much these events could cost and hadn’t expected Eureka Springs to have a huge budget for upscale food—but he’d loved all of it. They had a rock star caterer, for sure.
“I’ve been seeing a therapist,” he said. “The one above your office referred me to someone in Bentonville who specializes in anxiety.”
“How’s that going?” Viola asked, her tone cautious.
He considered her question. “Really well.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I thought it was going to be a bunch of granola, hippy-dippy, love yourself business, but it was nothing like I expected. Dr. Graham—the therapist—is all about actual, doable things to help me manage this.”
“Like what?” she asked, then hurriedly added, “If you don’t mind my asking.”
“No, I don’t mind.” He swallowed the last bite of his cheesecake, then turned more fully toward Viola. Even though they were in a room full of people, and at a table with six additional people, it felt like they were the only two people in the room. “One of the things we talked about is for me to picture a place I love, or a safe place, when I feel like my anxiety is going to burst out of me.”
“Where do you picture?” she asked.
“Hawaii. The beach at sunset as the waves are coming on shore. I try to engage all five senses in the experience: the salty scent of the water, the sound of the waves crashing, the feel of the sand on my toes and the warm sun on my skin, the taste of salty spray on my tongue, and then, of course, the sight of the pinks and oranges of the setting sun over it all.” He’d been a little skeptical at first, but the next night, when he’d awoken in the middle of the night, he’d worked hard to immerse himself in those thoughts, and it had worked. He’d even been able to fall back asleep for a few hours afterward, the first time he’d been able to do that.
“What else?” she asked, taking another bite of her dessert.
“To make a list of things that help, so when I’m feeling anxious, I don’t have to problem solve. Find an activity to do that has rote movement. A lot of people crochet or knit,