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It feels weird. I haven’t thought about getting a dog since Paul passed away. The thought had filled me with dread. I didn’t want to have to watch another dog grow old again, didn’t want to have to be there when they passed away. But watching Alice and the girls fussing over Goober makes me feel so warm and high that I can’t help thinking this is the nicest gift anyone has ever bought me and how Alice already seems to know me better than I know myself.

Because this is perfect.

This is my family.

This is what Alice meant when she said our family is what we make it, not what we think it should be or what society deems it to be. And Alice has just completed it with Goober.

“Alice needs a present!” Darcy cries, already pulling gently at Goober’s ears.

“Yeah, what did you get Alice because Santa didn’t leave her a present here?” Dana puts both hands on her hips and eyes me with such ferocity that I’m glad I have one of Alice’s gifts with me.

I pull out the small, gift-wrapped box from my back pocket and hand it to her. Everyone is staring at us, and I know the significance of this moment, know what it must look like, and can see the way Alice’s eyes light up at the small package.

“This is probably good timing,” I begin, as I know Alice is waiting for me to say something. And I know these aren’t the words she wants to hear—I see the hope in her eyes—but there’s a time and place for those words, and this isn’t it. “Open it.”

Carefully, Alice opens the wrapping and takes the lid off the box. She pulls out the key and the keychain, which is a gold A, and twirls it in her fingers.

“It’s your key to our house,” I tell her.

Her eyes move from the key to me.

We haven’t talked about moving in together. In fact, we haven’t talked about moving our relationship forwards in any way since the wedding, and I don’t know whether it’s because we felt we didn’t need to or that neither of us has been brave enough to approach the subject. But Alice has been spending more and more time at my place. On the rare occasions she returns to her apartment, my house doesn’t feel the same, and I end up counting the hours until she comes back.

“What?” She looks dazed.

“I want you to move in with me. I want us to live together. Besides, I’m not looking after Goober on my own. I won’t be a single dog-parent. I don’t want that for him. He needs us both, if you’ll have us?”

“Of course I’ll have you both.” Alice throws her arms around me, and Goober jumps up and starts licking her hand.

“She’s only moving in with him to be with Goober,” Dana whispers loudly to Darcy, who replies with a nod.

“I’m so happy for you guys,” Romana says, and she bends down to give Goober a pat on the head.

“Yeah, you both deserve this,” Smithy adds.

“Now, who wants to open more presents?” Romana asks as the girls jump to their feet and dash over to the real tree that stands proudly in front of the large bay window.

“I want to give Alice her gifts,” Darcy says bossily.

“Well, I’m giving Goober his,” Dana argues.

“What about me? Who’s going to give me my presents?” I ask, mocking a sad face.

“You got a dog. What more do you want?” Darcy says, rolling her eyes.

“Fair play,” I reply, though in my head, I know there’s one more thing I want, but it can wait.

Alice

It’s just getting dark when we climb out of Owen’s car, Goober tugging at his brand-new lead like he knows he’s going to his new home and that this one will be forever.

But it isn’t just his new home. It’s also mine.

Warmth swamps my chest as I walk up the front path, and Owen stands back.

“Go ahead. Use your key,” he tells me.

He takes Goober’s lead as I fish in my bag for it, my A keyring jangling as I slip the key into the lock.