Page 79 of Wild Promises

"I'm asking you if there's a way to do both. Can you take on an investor or a partner,and give her time to buy part of the business? It goes without saying that anyone okay with this arrangement would let her stay on as a doctor. She said the one doctor couldn't afford to, and she's fairly sure the second will sell the practice. You have to know there wouldn't be anything for her in town, unless she wanted to open a competing practice. She's just not going to do that. That means she'd have to move to another town. She doesn't want that. I don't want that, and I suspect you and your wife don't either."

"I only just got her back."

"Is there a way to help her? I know she betrayed your trust when she went back on her word. But I can assure you, she wants to build a life here."

"I'll need to run the numbers and talk to Dr. Sterling to see what he thinks."

"Tori's not going to be happy that I came to you."

"She doesn't know you're here?"

"No." She might be upset that I'd gone behind her back. I had altruistic motives, but I was going against her wishes. She was an independent woman, and she wouldn't be happy about me being here. But once she saw how everything worked out in her favor, she'd come around. She had to.

"You think this is a good idea?" her father asked.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants. "It's probably not. But someone had to say something."

Her father nodded. "Why didn't she tell me how she felt?"

"She felt like she'd already ruined her chances when she went back on her word. She understood that you needed the money."

"I saved for my retirement. I invested. I'm going to be fine. The sale of the practice was added bonus. But I don't need allthat money. I could inquire about a partnership with some kind of agreement to let Tori buy my half when she's ready. Then I could keep practicing when I want."

I hadn't thought about Dr. Clark wanting to continue to practice. This was an added benefit for him too. "I appreciate you considering it."

"It's a good idea. One I hadn't thought about before. I was worried about Tori, but she assured me she was fine with selling."

"Running your practice is her dream. She was sidetracked for a while in New York. But how many of us haven't made a wrong turn or two? Thought something else was better for us? Then we grow up and mature."

Her father nodded. "You're absolutely right." Then he stood and held his hand out to me. "Welcome to the family."

I shook his hand. "I haven't asked her yet."

"She'll be lucky to have you. You're a good man, Xander."

His approval filled the holes in my soul that still needed acceptance. "Thank you, sir."

"I want my girl to be happy."

Tori had been happy living with me these last few weeks. Her move to Telluride probably had something to do with that. "I want to do everything in my power to make her happy."

"Well, happiness comes from within. We can help people, but ultimately it's up to them."

She seemed happy with me, and I knew I was with her. Everything would work out how it was supposed to.

"Thanks for stopping by. I hadn't even considered that possibility before, and the more I think about it, the more I think it's the perfect arrangement."

Just like how me and Tori started out as fake. It was the perfect arrangement until it wasn't. I wanted something more, something permanent. Now I just had to plan the perfect time totell her. It should be in front of everyone. "I hope you'll stop by the Wildes' Thanksgiving feast this year."

"I'll talk to the misses, but I'm sure she'll want to."

"I might ask Tori then, but I'll let you know for sure."

"We'll be there."

"Thanks again for talking to me."

Dr. Clark nodded, and I let myself out. It was the right thing to do. I couldn't have let her father sell the practice when it was Tori's dream. She'd understand that I had to do this.

---