Page 13 of Wild Promises

"Thank you, Oliver."

They walked out of the room, and I let out a breath. Dad popped his head in while I was finishing my notes for Joey's appointment. "Can you do lunch in my office?"

"Of course. Be right there." The staff took a lunch break at the same time. That way, we didn't have to worry about squeezing in breaks around appointments, calls, and deliveries. I appreciated the time because nothing ever slowed down at the hospital.

I finished my notes, grabbed my packed lunch from the refrigerator in the break room, then headed to Dad's office. His name was written in script on a plaque outside his door. I couldn't wait until my name was up too. It was just a matter of time, because this was always our plan. I'd work with Dad until he retired, and then I'd take over the practice.

I closed the door, then sat in the chair across from him. "What's going on?"

"Are you planning on working here while you're home?" Dad asked, and I looked up in surprise.

"Of course. That was always our plan."

Dad winced, and I got a bad feeling. "'That was our plan when you were finished with your residency, but you stayed in New York. You said that was your dream now."

"I changed my mind. I know this is where I'm supposed to be." Maybe Dad wanted to give this a little time, or he thought that Hugh would try and convince me to return to New York. There was no chance of that, but I could be patient.

"I made other arrangements when it looked like you wouldn't be returning home to run the practice."

My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

"I put out feelers for buyers. I got quite a bit of interest, and the money is good."

I opened my mouth, then closed it. "I thought nothing had changed. That I could walk back into the practice and pick up where we left off. But I guess I was presumptuous."

"I'm happy to have you home, and it's good to work together, but I'm counting on the sale to add to my retirement."

I couldn't afford to buy him out. I'd been paying off my student loans and not saving nearly enough to buy his practice. I didn't bother unwrapping my sandwich. I'd lost my appetite. What would I do now? It wasn't fair to ask my dad to change his plans, not when I'd thrown everything off course years ago. "I understand."

"I'm really sorry."

I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes, and I couldn't hide my disappointment. "I'm enjoying being back."

"Maybe whoever buys the place will want to keep you on."

There was a roaring in my ears. I planned on at least having a job here. What would I do if it wasn't a possibility? I'd be traveling to a hospital to work? That wasn't what I had in mind when I moved home.

"I know this isn't what you wanted to hear?—"

"If you're worried about me changing my mind, I'm not going to. Hugh and I are over."

"It's not about that. The plans are already in motion. I have several buyers interested."

"Are you sure they'll keep the practice open?"

Dad nodded. "That's what I'm going to talk to them about. I'll have them tour the place, and we'll sit down and talk numbers. They know that I want the practice to continue to be open. We're the only one in town. Urgent care centers pop up, but most people prefer going to their doctor versus an emergency room."

I had dreams of my name on the door. Now that wasn't a possibility. I'd lost my boyfriend, my apartment, and my dream job in the span of a week. When would things start to go my way?

Isaw a bunch of emergency appointments that afternoon, and it was a whirlwind of tests and prescriptions for antibiotics. When I finished work, I felt like I'd made a difference. Parents preferred to see a doctor in a small practice rather than to drive to an urgent care center where they might wait for hours. I was pleased that I was able to handle more of these appointments.

I rushed home, reheating dinner since Mom and Dad already ate, then changed into warm clothes. I couldn't wait to see Xander again. When we talked on New Year's Eve, it was good to reconnect.

He'd been the one to stop all text communication before that, and I wasn't sure why. Was he angry because I reneged on my vow to return home after my residency? Was he upset I was dating Hugh? I didn't share much about my relationship with Hugh other than to say we'd moved in together, and my plan was to stay in the city.

I drove my rental to the lodge, knowing I needed to buy something now that I was living in a place where I could easily own a vehicle. I parked in the visitor space, then headed to the back of the lodge where I used to meet Xander.

I paused, looking around for Xander in his signature red ski-instructor jacket. He was seated at a picnic table talking to a woman who held her skis in her hands.

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