Those dozens of applications were now in a neat, thick stack with a slew of color coded sticky notes. Curious, she picked them up.

Population too small.

Geography a hindrance.

Employment rate high. Good for them, but not a good fit.

Baffled, Cat flopped down on the couch, clutching the paperwork. She’d been trying to make the same assessments for a week. And Noah just breezed into her personal space and helped himself?

She glanced at the handwritten note paper-clipped to the top of the stack.

Cat,

After a cursory glance, I don’t think any of these applicants are ideal for what you have planned. Just my two cents. And if you want my opinion—which you haven’t asked for—I’d recommend that you keep looking. The right location is out there.

Noah

It was the same conclusion she’d been dancing around last night. Either the physical location wasn’t right, zoning laws were too strict, or the local economy was already more than stable. She wanted to bring this school to a community that needed it, that would embrace it. But at least it was a start. She still had another month before the application process expired. She’d find it.

She traced a finger over Noah’s hastily scrawled signature and, with a sigh, pulled out her phone. She snapped a picture of the stack of papers, the Christmas tree in the background.

Cat: I see I had a helpful elf here today.

When he didn’t respond immediately, Cat opened the boxes of ornaments. She took her time, hanging them in a pattern for best coverage. And while she did, she wondered how Noah knew she’d want to decorate the tree herself.

Her phone buzzed from the couch cushion.

Noah: Santa and his elves work 24/7 in Merry this time of year.

Cat smiled despite herself. The man had gone out and figured out how to do the nicest thing possible: save her time.

Cat: Well, please tell them I appreciate it.

Noah responded with a picture of his rug burn on one knee.

Noah: Not as much as I do.

She laughed and before she could think better of it, shucked off her shirt. She’d earned her own rug burn on her lower back over her hip bones. She snapped the picture over her shoulder and fired it off to him.

Noah: You’re literally killing me. How am I supposed to focus on Sara’s essay on M.C. Escher now?

Cat: From what I can recall you’re quite attentive. I’m sure you won’t have any problems.

Noah: The Hais are moving back into their house this week.

Cat: I’m aware.

They’d film for a day at the Hais. It would air as the next to last episode of the show.

Noah: They’re spending the weekend with Jasper’s parents, and Sara stays with her mom…

Cat paused and chewed on her lip.