I sighed. "We'll decide what to do if that happens. There's too much uncertainty right now."
Dad nodded. "I want you to be happy."
Affection rushed through me. "I am happy. It was the best decision to move back home, and I love working here." I'd already built relationships with my patients, seeing them in the grocery store or at the resort.
"I'm glad."
My phone buzzed. It was Xander telling me he was working late again. He worked too hard. I wondered if I could run home, change, and meet him at the resort. I stood and kissed my dad's cheek. "I'd better get going."
I walked out of his office. The feeling of working here was bittersweet. It was my dream job, but I wouldn't work here for long. Dad would sell to Lincoln; he was the perfect fit, but he couldn't guarantee me a position. Lincoln had to do what he could afford, and a second doctor wouldn't be in the cards for a long time.
I had a few more weeks to work here at best. I'd help Xander with the winter festival and finding a house. Then I'd need to figure out my life.
I hurried home to change, then drove to the lodge. I knew I'd find Xander in the area behind the lodge, cordoned off with caution tape.
I saw Christopher, who Xander had taken under his wing, on the other side of the fenced-off area. "Do you know where Xander is?"
He threw a thumb over his shoulder. "At the snowball area."
I had no idea what that was, but I ducked under the tape and walked in that direction. There were various snow forts built that looked more like small walls or barriers. I wondered if this was a paintball course but for snowballs. There were buckets placed behind the walls, probably to stockpile snowballs.
There was one structure in the middle which was larger than the rest. It looked like a house with windows. There was a light on inside now that the sun was setting.
"Xander?"
"In here," came his voice from somewhere inside.
I ducked under the doorway and sank to my knees in the packed snow. "What is this?"
Xander was patting the walls. "The snowball house? I don't know what to call it."
"It's so cool." I was glad I'd worn my snow pants because I could sit without the cold seeping through the material.
"We have various activities set up. Noelle is building a walk-through light display. There will be vendors and fire pits."
I smiled, excited for him. "It's going to be amazing."
Xander sighed, and I could see the strain around his eyes. "I hope so."
"You're working too hard." He'd been doing lessons during the day, studying the business spreadsheets before and after, and now organizing the festival.
He gave me a tired look. "I'll rest when this is over."
"Do you need help with anything?" I asked, wanting to ease his load.
"Maybe we could test it and see if it works?" he asked hopefully.
"The house?" I asked as he ducked outside.
When I joined him outside, he said, "The course."
"You want us to have a snowball fight?" I asked him slowly, not sure I understood him.
"You want to?" Xander asked as he absentmindedly formed a ball of snow with his gloved hands, then dropped it into a nearby bucket.
"Will it just be us?"
"Uh-huh." He was definitely working too hard, putting too much pressure on himself. I was sure his brothers didn't want him to work himself into the ground. But he didn't listen to me when I said he should take breaks.