Ash Tsai, Eric Guilmette
A year ago, Caleb Hale was undergoing physical therapy at a veterans’ hospital when volunteers stopped by with dogs to help cheer up the patients. Amber, a kind woman, helped him feel understood and cared for, if only for the brief time she was there. The dog she brought along cheered him up too. Today, the woman, Amber Perry, runs an animal shelter, and she is determined to find the right homes for the animals for a Christmas adoption fair (and for the families that will adopt them). She is focused on this push for adoptions when Caleb stops by. She doesn’t remember him at first, but he remembers her. He’s better now but his life feels a bit empty, as he can’t seem to find his purpose, and he’s distanced himself from his parents who he felt kept pushing him to find faith and meaning in the injury that took him out of the military. He makes friends with a dog at the shelter and has been thinking about adopting, but isn’t sure he’d be good at taking care of it. Amber encourages him to stop by anytime to see the dog at the shelter. As he stops by, Amber and Caleb come to understand each other better and Caleb helps with the efforts for the seasonal adoption drive. Amber and her family (parents, siblings) help Caleb see a perspective of faith no matter what he faces in life, which helps him decide to invite his parents over for the holidays. Caleb is also falling in love with Amber but his feelings are hurt when it appears one of the shelter’s donors is dating Amber. Amber isn’t interested in dating said donor but she is unsure if Caleb returns the feelings she is developing for him. Perhaps it’ll take a dog’s keen sense of love and loyalty to bring Amber and Caleb together for romance at Christmas.
2024