Page 105 of Neap & Spring

“That’s not a low,” Patrick finally responds, his voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts. “That’s a high. You did something incredibly difficult, and you succeeded. That takes real courage.”

“It’s just a dip.” I try to shrug it off and make it smaller.

“It’s not just dip,” Wesley interrupts. “If it took you five years to work up to it, it’s a hell of a lot more than dip. It’s a victory.”

“Are you ready to start cooking again?” Hayes probes gently.

I can feel Callum still beside me, his hand tightening on mine, ready to shut down the question if I need him to. Always ready to protect me.

Which is why we are in the situation we are in to begin with.

I sigh. “I don’t know. For five years I couldn’t even think about it. And today I started again. Even if it was just a dip and took all day. And I guess — I guess that is a high. But it’s also a low. Because it shouldn’t have taken five years. It shouldn’t have been that hard. And I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do more than that.”

Beckett nods slowly. “That makes sense, actually. Some things are both high and low at the same time.”

“Yeah,” Iris says quietly beside me. “Some things are definitely both.”

Patrick is watching me with a fatherly look of compassion. “Well, for what it’s worth, the dip was excellent. And I’m glad you’re here, Vivienne. Really glad.”

“Me too,” Callum hums, his thumb moving in small circles against my palm. “Really glad.”

I give the room a small smile, a heaviness lifting off my being.

Patrick nods, satisfied, then turns to Callum. “Last but not least.”

Callum shifts beside me. He’s choosing his words carefully and weighing what to say and what to keep private. The same way I was.

“High: It’s been great having help with the restaurant and with the business plan, and the marketing, and the day-to-day operations. With everything, really. It’s been —” He pauses, trying to find the right words, rubbing at his mustache. “It’s been really good to not feel like I’m drowning alone anymore.”

He doesn’t look at me when he says it. He keeps his eyes straight ahead, but I know. Everyone in this room knows.

He’s talking about me.

I have to blink back tears.

“That’s what we’ve been saying for months,” Wesley agrees, and there’s no judgment in it. Just relief. Deep, genuine relief for his brother. “You needed help, Cal. We’re glad you’re finally accepting it.”

“I didn’t really have a choice,” Callum quips wryly. There’s a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “The investors hired some big-time consultant without really asking me first.”

“Best thing they ever did,” Patrick chuckles.

Callum glances at me then, just long enough for me to see the adoration in his eyes.

“Yeah,” he breathes, holding my gaze. “Yeah, it was.”

Everyone is watching us. I can feel the weight of their attention, but I keep my eyes on his.

“Low …” Callum runs a hand through his hair, breaking eye contact. “It’s torture waiting to hear back from the investors. Not knowing if the plan is good enough or if any of this is going to work or if I’m going to lose everything I’ve built.”

The vulnerability in his voice makes me have to blink back tears again.

“It’s going to work,” Wesley exclaims immediately. His voice is full of absolute certainty.

“You don’t know that, Wes.”

“I know you. And I know Vivienne’s been busting her ass for your restaurant.” He points at both of us as he speaks. “I know the plan is solid because you wouldn’t have sent it if it wasn’t. It’s going to work, Cal.”

“And if it doesn’t,” Patrick adds, leaning forward in his chair, his eyes locked on his son’s face, “we’ll figure something out. We always do. You’re not alone in this. You never have been. You understand me?”