Epilogue
Five years later…
The Pet Vet’s parking lot was alive with laughter, excited barks, and jingling bells. Christmas lights, strung up along the eaves and wrapped around nearby trees, twinkled merrily. Their annual adoption event was in full swing.
Norah Gray crouched down beside her daughter, five-year-old Goldie, her golden curls tied up in a green and red Christmas bow.
“Hello, puppy,” Goldie said to the scruffy terrier mix. “Don’t worry. My mommy and daddy will find you a home.”
Norah still marveled at how the little girl came into their lives through adoption, a perfect addition when she and Matt thought they were too old to become parents.
“Mommy, if we can’t find Scruffy a new home, can we keep her?” Goldie asked, her blue eyes wide with hope.
Norah laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sweetie, I think Paddy Two might get jealous. Besides, we’re here to help other families find their perfect pets, remember? Just like we found you.”
Goldie nodded solemnly, then broke into a wide grin. “And just like you found Paddy Two!”
As if on cue, their Irish Setter bounded up to them, tail wagging furiously. Paddy Two nuzzled Goldie’s cheek. She threw her arms around his neck and dissolved into giggles.
Happiness filled Norah’s heart. Life didn’t get any better than this.
Across the lot, her brother Nate had his arm draped around his girlfriend, Sarah. The way he looked at her reminded Norah of how Matt looked at her, and she suspected there might be another Wells wedding on the horizon. Nearby, her sister Nellie was showing off her wedding ring to Jean and Wally. Cotton, now a distinguished older lady, sat contentedly at their feet. Colleen and Dwight joined the group, Georgia trotting faithfully beside them. The old pointer mix moved a bit slower these days, but her eyes still sparkled with life.
Matt stood near the entrance, clipboard in hand. He caught her eyes and smiled, that same smile that still made her heart skip a beat after all these years. He handed the clipboard to Vanessa, whose two young children tugged her toward the Santa station.
So much had changed. The clinic had grown, now with a full-time groomer and a cat café next door, but more than that, their lives blossomed in ways she’d only dreamed of five years ago.
“How are my two favorite girls?” Matt asked, wrapping an arm around Norah’s waist.
“Daddy!” Goldie launched herself at him, and Matt opened his arms to catch her and swing her around. “Can we sing the Christmas carols now? Please?”
Matt chuckled and hoisted her up on his hip. “Soon, sweetheart. We’ve got to help a few more pets find homes first, okay?”
Overwhelmed with love and gratitude, Norah leaned against him. “You know, watching all these families… it reminds me of us. How one dog changed everything.”
Matt nodded, and Norah knew he was thinking of that first Christmas when Paddy—or rather, Gonzo—had brought them back together. “Sometimes the best gifts come with four paws and a wagging tail.”
As if to prove his point, Paddy Two chose that moment to wedge himself between them, tail thumping against their legs.
Around them, the adoption event continued—excited chatter, playful barks, and the jingling of collars. But in that moment, they were in their own little world. A world of love, second chances, and the kind of happiness that comes from opening your heart—to animals, to family, and the endless possibilities of love.
As the first notes of “Silent Night” drifted through the air, Norah looked around at their gathered friends and family. This was the true magic of Christmas—the connections they made, the love they shared, and the home they created, not just in a place but in each other’s hearts.
Five years ago, she never could have imagined this life. But now, surrounded by so much love, Norah couldn’t imagine anything else.