The last week had been rough for Brady. While he’d been distracted painting a few rooms in his new house and picking out new furniture, he missed Noelle, and she absolutely refused to return his phone calls or texts. Going by to see her seemed desperate, and he wasn’t ready to be that guy yet, so he decided to come to the parade and see if he could run into her there.He’d spoken to her mom earlier in the week, but Doris didn’t know what had sparked the outburst about the budget at the fair. Noelle hadn’t told Doris either. Now, as the sounds of a marching band sounded in the distance, Brady walked along between the citizens of Holiday Hills that he was getting to know, smiling and waving, but not feeling any of it.Even closing on his new house earlier that day had not been that thrilling, and knowing that the board members agreed with his new proposal to move the animal shelter also seemed like something

One year later…. “That one’s not for you, Pooch!” Noelle said, sitting on the floor beneath the Christmas tree. “That one clearly says Goldie on it. You don’t want to steal your sister’s present do you?”Pooch panted and hopped up and down undeterred by the fact that he’d have to settle for another present. Noelle removed the wrapping and held up a new squeaky toy for Goldie who barked with glee and then took it out of Noelle’s hands to investigate more.Brady reached beneath the tree and pulled out another gift. “This one’s for you, buddy,” he said to Pooch, unwrapping a new bone. The gift had Pooch giddy with excitement. He took it and dragged it across the floor, already gnawing on the end.“What about me?” Noelle asked. “Where’s my one Christmas Eve present?&rdqu