Chapter 38: Chapter 38

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 that should make him overjoyed. Instead, it only felt like a small victory without being able to share it with Noelle.

At least he had Pooch. The little dog had been the only bright spot of the last six days. He had decided to bring the pup with him to the parade, even though it was pretty cold outside. Pooch was on his leash, but he wasn’t walking at the moment. Brady had him tucked into a carrier inside of his coat. It might look odd to some people that he was carrying a little dog like Pooch was a baby, but Brady didn’t care. Pooch was his family now, and he wasn’t going anywhere without the dog if he could help it. Wrapping his red scarf more tightly around his neck, Brady found a spot to watch the parade.

It was a good show, though nothing like the parades he was used to in the big city. Still, the homemade floats, the bands, the clowns and Christmas characters throwing candy--it was all nice. He wore a smile most of the time he stood there watching, but it wasn’t enough to distract him from Noelle, not even at the end when Santa came by, and all of the kids went crazy. He needed to find her. But what if she still wouldn’t talk to him?

After the parade was over, Brady decided to walk down toward the park. Maybe there was a chance she’d be there, near the Christmas tree. They’d had so much fun decorating it together and at the lighting. It almost put a tear in his eye thinking about it.

Brady’s boots crunched through the snow. There were a few people milling around the beautiful tree, but he didn’t see Noelle anywhere. Pooch began to wiggle in his carrier. “This is where we met, little buddy,” Brady reminded him. Pooch barked and licked his face, making Brady laugh, but then, when the dog continued to try to get free of his carrier, Brady thought maybe he needed to go to the restroom. He lifted Pooch out of the holder, intending to take his leash before he put him down, but the little wiggly dog was quick, and before he knew it, Pooch had snatched his scarf--again--and was taking off across the park.

Panic set in as he thought of losing the dog, even though he had updated his tags for their new address. “Pooch!” he shouted, giving chase. “Come back here!”

Pooch ignored him, running as fast as he could, scarf in his mouth, leash trailing behind him. Brady ran after him, dodging startled people, pine trees, and children’s slides and swings. “Pooch!” Brady screamed, but the dog just kept running.

***

Noelle hadn’t seen Brady anywhere. She’d spent most of the parade looking for him, walking down the sides of the street, trying to spot him amid the bundled up viewers, leaping up to try to see over the heads of men much taller than her. If Brady was there, she hadn’t seen him.

The thought that she should call him entered her mind, but she didn’t do it. What would she say? Sorry I accused you of doing something you’d never do--again? No, until she figured out how to apologize, she wasn’t going to just call him and hope the right words popped out of her mouth.

With a sigh, she took one more look around. The downtown area had basically cleared out. She did see one lone figure she recognized, though. Drawing in a deep breath, Noelle approached Mayor Jenkins who had that smug smile on his face. “Good evening, Miss Snow.”

“Is it?” she asked, trying to keep her anger in check. “You misled me, Mayor Jenkins, and I don’t appreciate it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said with a smirk. “I told you there was no new funding for the shelter. That’s true.”

“That’s not true. You know there is. It’s just under the meat packing proposal. You said all of that just to stir up trouble!”

He shrugged, “That part of the budget is new and may never be approved.”

“Oh, it will be. I’ll do everything I can to make sure that it is. And I’ll also lead the campaign to make sure that parking garage never comes to be.”

Mayor Jenkins narrowed his eyes. “You can’t do that! What if I move to have you removed from your position?”

“I’d like to see you try it. You couldn’t even stop the Christmas events, Mayor Jenkins. Or maybe I should just call you Joe. You’re up for re-election next year, aren’t you? I bet I know someone who can beat you—royally!”

“Who? You?” He laughed.

“Oh, no, not me,” Noelle said, knowing she’d never want that job. “My mother.”

She could see fear in his eyes as Mayor Jenkins considered what would happen if Doris Snow ran against him. “You wouldn’t….”

“Try me.”

“Let’s talk this over, Noelle,” he said, his hands up. “No reason to overreact.”

Noelle didn’t want to speak to him anymore at all, but then, she heard a familiar yapping, and turned to see a sight she couldn’t believe. “Pooch?”

It was him--running at her full-force, a red scarf trailing from his mouth as he attempted to bark around it. “What are you doing here?” Noelle asked, rushing toward him and leaving Mayor Jenkins stammering behind her. She scooped Pooch into her arms. “Why do you have Brady’s scarf?”

Pooch dropped the scarf and licked her face. “Goodness! It’s nice to see you, too, Where have you been?” she asked, but then, she raised her eyes and saw Brady standing a few feet in front of her, and it all started to make sense, even though she had no idea how it had come to be that Brady had Pooch. Now she understood what the “something important” he’d needed to tell her was.

Brady stooped to pick up his scarf and pulled it to himself, winding it around his neck before he closed the distance between them. “I was trying to tell you,” he said, his voice soft as he struggled to regain his breath from the run.

“How did you get him?”

“The couple that took him home was Kyla and Rob,” he explained. “They thought I needed a dog for my new place.”

Her eyes bulged as she thought about what Kelsey had said. She’d mentioned the woman had a big belly--did she not realize Kyla was pregnant? If she’d said that, maybe they would’ve figured it out last Saturday. “That’s… perfect,” she said.

“Listen, Noelle, I know you’re still upset at me, but--”

“No, I’m not,” she said as Pooch continued to wiggle. “I’m not mad. I’m… stupid. I’m so sorry, Brady. I shouldn’t have ever believed Jenkins. I should’ve known you’d never leave the animals out of your budget, even if you didn’t care about me.”

“Jenkins?” Brady repeated and then nodded in understanding. “Figures.” He took a deep breath and said, “I do care about you, Noelle. Very much. I can’t imagine spending this Christmas without you--without the two of you.” He looked from her face to Pooch and then back again, and Noelle felt her knees begin to weaken.

“I’m falling in love with you, Brady,” Noelle said, quietly. “It’s both terrifying and wonderful all at the same time.”

He smiled bright enough to rival the twinkling Christmas lights around him. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Noelle. I know I love you. Being without you this week has reinforced that. What do you say, from now on, we spend Christmas together--me, you, Pooch?”

Tears wet her eyes as Noelle laughed and adjusted Pooch in her arms so that she could close the distance between herself and Brady. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

His lips met hers, and Pooch yipped in glee as all three of them got their Christmas wish--to be together for Christmas.

***

Epilogue

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?”

“Didn’t you already open one at your mom’s house?” Brady asked, a twinkle in his eye.

Noelle shrugged. “I think I should get one from you, too.” She held up a gift box for Brady, knowing it was the new laptop he desperately needed for work. Now that Doris Snow was mayor, everyone had to be at the top of their game. Mayor Snow was a flurry of activity, but she’d done so much good for the town, everyone agreed she was the best mayor they’d ever had, and she’d just been elected a few months ago.

Ever since the animal shelter had changed locations, they’d had so many volunteers, Noelle couldn’t keep up with them all. Thankfully, her new assistant, Rhonda, who’d taken the full-time position the second Noelle had asked, even though she’d been happily enjoying her retirement from teaching, was always on top of everything. Rhonda was also a great liaison between the school and the shelter, organizing the classes that came in to read to the dogs every school day.

The senior citizens also came in every day to walk the dogs, feed them, and play with them. It was a perfect arrangement. Most of the time, there weren’t even enough animals in the shelter for all of the volunteers to walk. More people had been coming to adopt pets recently, and no one was bringing the cheerful animals back. Having plenty of exercise and being able to go potty outside whenever they wanted had made some pretty good dogs, and the cats were lapping up all of the attention, too.

Of course, she’d had to insist that Brady take Goldie home with him the moment she realized he’d been the one to pay for her vet bills. It just didn’t seem like their family was complete without the little dog. When she’d finally realized that the couple who had owned the house before Brady was John and Sal Carson—the same woman who’d owned Pooch—she knew fate had definitely intervened.

“Fine, you can have one more present,” Brady said with a grin. “But it’s not under the tree.”

“Where is it?” Noelle asked, confused.

Brady reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black, velvet box. Noelle felt her breath catch in her throat as she realized what he was going to do.

“Noelle, this year has been the best one of my life, and I can’t imagine spending even one more day without sealing this relationship forever.” He opened the box, revealing a beautiful, sparkling diamond ring. “Will you marry me?”

Tears filled her eyes as Noelle nodded her head. “Yes, of course I will.”

With a broad smile, Brady pulled the ring from the box and slid it in her finger. The diamond caught the soft glow from the white Christmas tree lights and seemed to shimmer. Noelle brushed away her tears and leaned in to kiss Brady. “I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too.” He kissed her again and then, with Goldie and Pooch yipping and yapping beneath the Christmas tree, Noelle reached over and patted them on the heads, so thankful for her beautiful family, knowing whatever Christmas future may bring, she’d be happy as long as she had Brady, Goldie, and Pooch.