Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday (2019)

[bunniefuu]

- Well, of course I did.

- Hey, Hannah!

Hey. I love seeing you two

out celebrating.

Hey, listen. It's almost time

for the tree lighting.

You're gonna join us?

Ah, yeah, just give me one minute.

I'm making a few more notes

on a book I'm editing.

Okay. Well, don't work too hard.

'Tis the season to be jolly.

There's just a few weeks before Christmas.

Okay.

Welcome and good evening, everyone.

Welcome to tonight's

tree lighting ceremony.

Before we start tonight's celebrations,

this is just a reminder to check out

all the information

on this year's seasonal events,

including caroling,

the toy drive and, of course...

a chance to ride on Santa's sleigh!

And that's all happening right here.

Now, can I ask for a volunteer

to come up here

and help me light the tree?

Pick me, please. Pick me.

You, sir, in that snappy overcoat

and plaid scarf.

Come on up!

At your service.

You look familiar. What's your name, son?

Ryan MacDonald.

Ryan, of course.

- Do you remember Ryan?

- Of course I do.

Alright, on my count.

In three,

two, one!

Hannah Pressman.

It has been a while.

Ryan MacDonald. I can hardly believe it.

Are you here for Christmas?

Oh, no. Just a quick trip to sign

some papers for my family's estate.

You know, I still think of your folks

every time I go down your old street.

They were such lovely people.

Thank you. You know,

they were big fans of yours, too.

So, I see Angel Falls

hasn't changed a bit.

You know what? That is totally not true.

We have, uh...

a new multiplex movie theater.

Oh, wow! So I guess you get to watch

all the action movies

on the big screen now.

Oh no, I... I prefer dramas.

Less car chases,

more story and monologues.

I mean, not that I have

time to go, anyway.

Really? Not even time for movies

based on your favorite novels?

Fine. Yes, I make an exception for those.

Aha! I knew it. I knew it.

- Ha! Okay.

- Hey, wait! Where're you going?

Can I at least buy you a free

hot chocolate? We can catch up.

Come on, you don't know all my highlights?

- My mom keeps me up to date on yours.

- Is that so?

Mm-hmm. Let's see.

You went to college in New York,

and you're still there.

And you have an apartment

with a view of the park,

and apparently a terrible taste in movies.

Okay, Okay. Alright, my turn.

Um, you graduated top of your class,

came back to Angel Falls,

and your favorite color is... pink.

What? No. Come on. Green. All the way.

Ah...

Anyway, I really should get back to work,

so...

Some things never change.

What are you working on?

- A follow-up to The Bookworm.

- I heard about The Bookworm.

- That's really cute.

- It is thought-provoking, not cute.

How are the numbers?

They were... adequate.

Well, maybe it didn't have

enough of a marketing strategy.

See, if I was in charge,

I would have done a whole--

At The Press, we do things

a little differently

than you fancy New York publishers do.

I was just trying to help.

Okay. Well, I should go. Ah...

It was nice running into you

after so long.

Yeah, it was nice seeing you.

Okay.

See you around.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas. Oh, candy cane?

Merry Christmas!

Candy ca--

- Raffi!

- Anthony.

Welcome to Angel Falls, my friend.

- It has been too long.

- Indeed, it has.

You know, Michael said

you were the best choice

- for this assignment.

- Oh, he's too kind.

I am looking forward

to offering my guidance.

It won't be straightforward, though.

Oh, it never is,

even for us guardian angels.

Oh, when will they learn?

- Love is so simple and so pure.

- Yet so complicated.

Ha! Yes. Anything could happen.

Merry Christmas.

- What can I get you?

- Yeah, um, just a small coffee.

- And your name?

- Tina.

Are you interested

in joining our rewards program?

No, thanks. I don't know

how long I'll be in town.

Well... Merry Christmas!

Right. Same to you.

Hey, what's up?

- Ah!

So good to see you, buddy!

Oh, it's been so long.

- Yeah.

- Since what?

- Senior year of college?

- Yeah, I think, um...

since my parents' funeral.

It's been a while.

So, uh, your uncle has been managing

the estate and the house as the trustee,

but... you want to take things over.

He retired earlier this year,

and I want to take it off his plate.

Okay, yeah. Well, I can easily execute

that transfer into your name.

So what does that entail?

Mostly signing a lot of documents.

Ah, and if you're still considering

putting the house up for sale,

we'll have to list it.

In the meantime,

I found a new tenant.

Great! Great. Um...

Well, let's get started.

I was hoping to drive

back to New York tonight.

These documents will take

a lot of time to process,

- and there'll be more papers to sign.

- Wow!

Can we tackle these over email or courier?

I mean, Angel Falls is only

a couple of hours from New York.

We could, but it would be

a lot smoother with you here in person.

Aren't you headed to your aunt

and uncle's for Christmas?

No. They're on

a Christmas cruise this year.

Then why don't you stay for the holidays?

We could head up some

of the local activities.

Yeah, maybe.

Let me think about that.

Great! Okay. I have

a conference call this evening,

so if you could get the keys to Tina,

the new tenant,

that would really help me out.

Okay.

You've reached The Printed Press.

Sure, one moment.

Um... Hey, Mom.

Any luck on finding

a front-desk replacement?

I've been putting posters all over town.

Actually, I'm interviewing someone today. Hmm.

And... I have a surprise visitor

popping by this morning.

Hello!

Ryan! Hey! Twice in two days.

Told you I'd be seeing you around.

A trip to Angel Falls is not complete

without seeing my mother's closest friend.

I miss her every day, you know?

Your parents would be so proud

of the fine man you've become.

Thank you, Leslie. I hope that's true.

So, how have you been?

How's Lowell? How's the company?

The website looks great!

Lowell is good, thanks.

And the company is fine.

We've had some success

with Jason Davidson's memoir

and our history books are really

popular in academic circles.

Mm-hmm.

But now, we're looking

to expand our reach.

So Hannah has suggested that we tap

into another part of the market.

We're thinking of getting into

cookbooks and travel guides.

Oh, that's great. But have you thought

about expanding your fiction department?

Well, we release a few novels each year,

but never been our focus.

Well, I thought fiction

was your favorite thing.

- Well, as a reader, sure.

- But it's nearly impossible

to make a dent

in that side of the industry.

Yeah, that's why enhancing our

non-fiction catalogue is a safer bet.

Well, obviously,

and this is your decision,

but if you could land a marquee

talent to join your roster,

you could leverage that

for more publicity.

That may be too big a step for us.

But, hey... I have a thought.

Since you'll be here longer than expected,

would you consider coming in

and reviewing some of our ideas?

Oh, but I'm almost done with my proposal.

Ryan has years of experience

in book promotion.

We could use his insights.

Like a special consultant.

Oh! That is an impressive title,

I like the way that sounds.

Yeah, aren't you working

at Pages Publishing?

I mean, this seems like it

would be a conflict of interest.

I'm actually in between jobs, right now.

- Wait, you left Pages?

- Yeah, just recently.

Leslie, I would be more than

willing to help any way I can.

It's the least I can do after how kind

you've been to me over the years.

I just checked in on you

from time to time.

- Your mother would expect nothing less.

- Well, it's... it meant the world to me.

Why don't you look around?

Okay, I will.

Mom, Ryan as our consultant?

I know! I'm surprised he said yes too.

Look, you two are gonna have a great time

brainstorming together.

Okay, slow down.

So your mother asked an old friend...

No. We were friends when we were younger,

but when we to high school,

- I was always in his shadow.

- That must have been hard to handle.

It was. And you know what?

He was a model student.

He was top of our class,

captain of the basketball team.

Senior year, he beat me off

for class president.

Okay, that was so long ago.

Senior year of college,

I applied for my dream job

at Pages Publishing.

I thought you always wanted

to take over The Press.

Well, yes, but I wanted to start

at a bigger company first

and I had my heart set on Pages for years.

Okay, so you applied...

I mentioned it to Ryan.

Next thing I know, he applies,

charms the supervisor and

inevitably gets it for himself.

Ouch. No wonder you don't want him

around The Press, even temporarily.

- Exactly.

- Okay. Let's take your mind off of this.

Come on.

Humorous essays.

Okay, this is no laughing matter.

I mean, the guy is already

making lofty suggestions

about expanding our fiction department.

Okay... Inspirational self-help.

You know, you're a really good friend,

but I'm in no mood to be inspired.

Time to bring out the big g*ns.

- Some Tina Finnegan for you?

- Oh, Christmas romance. Yes!

Oh, I love her work.

I wonder when her next book is coming out.

I heard she left

her publisher a few months ago.

There's no word

on what she's releasing next.

Huh. It's too bad.

Is Ryan's idea really that terrible?

I mean, you are a literature expert,

and you wanted to have more experience

at a bigger company. You could create

a bigger company right here.

The idea of expanding our entire roster

of authors would be a huge undertaking.

What if I put the entire company

in jeopardy and it failed?

What if you were a total success?

Just think about it.

Where can I find a hero like this?

The guys in those books

are a total fantasy.

After three years of marriage,

sometimes, the most romantic thing

Tom does for me is empty the dishwasher.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Wow! Okay. Well, as for me,

I will be snuggled up

with this as my date.

Hi!

Tina, right?

I'm Ryan MacDonald.

This is my house. Nice to meet you.

Likewise.

Did you need to come inside

and take a look around?

Oh no, no. That's... that's not necessary.

I just wanted to come

introduce myself and give you the keys.

I'll be staying at Angel Inn

if you need me.

Okay. Here for the holidays?

- No, um, just some long overdue errands.

- Hmm.

Wait. This is your house,

but you're not staying here?

That's right.

- Do you have family in town?

- Um... No, I don't.

Oh. That doesn't make sense. I'm...

Is that garage a separate apartment?

- Yes, it is...

- Why don't you stay there?

I have not lived on my own

for a long time,

and it would actually make me

feel more comfortable,

- having someone around.

- Are you sure?

I insist.

Oh... Okay. Thank you.

Excuse me. Hi, can... can I help you?

Hi. I'm Anthony. I'm the new receptionist.

Oh! Welcome toThe Press. Hi, I'm Hannah.

Oh! Hannah. Delighted

to make your acquaintance.

Yeah. Um, do you have any messages for me?

Uh, no messages, but I do have

the latest bestseller chart.

Wow! That's really helpful info.

And on your first day, it's impressive.

"Tina Finnegan's Memories for Christmas

tops the charts again this year."

Huh. I mean, sales always skyrocket

this time of year,

but it's so funny

'cause I was actually reading

that same book last night.

Yeah, what's it about?

I mean, besides Christmas.

It's about a soldier

who gets amnesia during the w*r,

but then his memories return just in time

for him to come back home for the holidays

and reunite with his true love.

Oh, it's nice.

Yeah.

Morning.

Hey, I'm Ryan.

- Anthony, new receptionist.

- Nice to meet you.

Oh, Tina Finnegan. What a coincidence.

- You know her?

- She's actually renting my house.

She's in Angel Falls?

Yeah.

I wasn't expecting her, but there she was,

right at my front door.

You're familiar with her work as well?

Ah, no. Not really.

Just from the publishing world.

It's really not my cup of tea.

Yeah, you're more into sci-fi, aren't you?

I mean, as I recall, you were obsessed

with a certain fantasy series.

He even, uh, started a fan club.

Okay. The Dread Monarch Trilogy

was a literary masterpiece,

and I've moved on

to more sophisticated material, all right?

Oh! You should put one of Tina's books

on your reading list.

Yeah, maybe. Alright, I gotta go.

I got a meeting with Leslie.

I wish I could discover

an author of Tina's caliber.

Identifying your wish

is only the first step.

- Wait, what do you mean?

- Well...

a wish isn't gonna grant itself.

You have to figure out what action to take

to make it happen.

Huh. Yeah, but what if

your wish is unrealistic?

Well, you're an editor, Aren't you?

Make adjustments to your wish

until it sounds just right.

Hey, honey. Everything Okay?

Yeah. Uh, what do you think about

signing Tina Finnegan to our roster?

How? Isn't she with a big publisher

in the city?

Well, apparently, not anymore.

Plus, she's here in town.

I want to set up a meeting

and tell her about The Press.

Well, she would certainly be

a marquee talent,

but taking on someone at

her level would be a major leap.

Also, don't forget we're about

to confirm how to allocate

our resources for next year.

It's probably not realistic.

Oh! I'm so sorry, I...

Oh. Hey, Ryan. It's just you.

Oh, it's just me?

Does slamming into someone

you know rather than a stranger

- make it better or worse?

- Well, that depends. I mean...

a stranger might not try to

interfere with my business plan.

Ah, yes. Your mom told me

about your Tina plan.

I see you've finally decided

to take my suggestion.

I am considering your suggestion.

Actually looking up

Tina's contact information now.

Well, you do realize that

you have a direct line to her

- right in front of you.

- Yes, but I prefer

to go through proper

professional channels, so...

Okay. Then I guess I'll just

tell her that you're sorry

- you missed her at wreath making.

- You're going to that?

'Tis the season.

I'm on my way there right now.

Would you... would you like to...

Shall we?

Gosh!

- I'm not taking your elbow.

- Okay, Okay.

Oh, wow. Um...

Your wreath could use some more flair.

Now, who's interfering?

Look, I'm trying my best, here.

Well, you know,

I'd give you an A for effort.

I haven't done this in...

I don't know how long.

Well, it's not like

I'm exactly a pro either.

- I guess I'm pretty rusty myself.

- Yeah.

You know,

I just don't see the point

in going all out, anymore.

I live alone,

it's not like anybody's gonna see it.

Yeah, I'm in the same boat.

I don't decorate the same as I used to.

Hey, it's getting kinda late.

Didn't you say Tina was coming?

Yes, she said she would...

There she is.

- Tina... you made it!

- Oh, wow.

Um, I'd like to introduce you

to an old friend,

- Hannah Pressman.

- Hi, Ms. Finnegan.

Wow, um... It is such

an honor to meet you.

I was wondering, um...

You see, I'm... I'm a huge fan,

and, um... well, I was thinking

if I could talk to you about...

Hannah works for The Printed Press.

They're an amazing little

publishing company in town.

Oh, I see.

And we, uh... we have some great ideas

on how to make your next book huge.

I was hoping I could talk to

you about your writing future.

I don't have a writing future.

- What?

- I mean it doesn't matter

what you say or what company you're with.

The fact of the matter is, I've retired.

What? No! You can't retire.

The world needs more books like yours.

I... I think I'm gonna head home.

I'm not really feeling up to this.

Oh! You just got here.

This isn't for me.

It was nice meeting you, Hannah.

Oh, so nice meeting you too and...

Oh, wow.

I hope I didn't offend her.

She seems pretty upset.

I don't know what happened.

- Good morning, Hannah.

- Hey, good morning.

You know, I think I need

to tweak my wish again.

Sometimes, thing unfold in

ways you didn't first imagine.

That doesn't mean

your wish wasn't granted.

Hey! Do you need me for something?

No.

Yeah, no. I was gonna get coffee.

Wanted to know if you wanted anything.

Oh, yeah. That'd be great. Thank you.

What are you working on?

Oh, it's a statistical analysis of how

The Press could have a greater impact.

Oh.

Uh... These are all financial predictions.

You don't have anything

about creative impact.

Yeah. Numbers are the priority.

Well, not for me. I wanna be

inspired by my work, so...

I know, that's a nice sentiment but, um...

but in business, you have to be practical.

Well, I agree but, um... You know.

Things aren't always valued

by the bottom line.

Well, I can't really

calculate inspiration.

But if Tina sees how successful

she could be at The Press,

then she might reconsider her retirement.

Oh yeah. Hey, did you ask around?

Did you find out

why she left her publisher?

I asked around, but nobody knows anything

except for that it was sudden,

but I think it's worth approaching...

- Hold that thought.

- Again.

I think, um...

I think maybe you should be

familiar with her work.

Yeah. Okay, sure.

I'll give it a read if I have a chance.

And I'll email you a copy of this.

Great.

Morning!

- Hey.

- Did you see Ryan today?

Yeah, he settled right in.

Oh! You got anything in those bags for me?

No peeking!

You'll have to wait 'til

Christmas morning.

You know, I had a hard time

figuring out your present this year.

- Ryan's was no easier.

- Ryan's?

You know I always send him a gift.

This must be a difficult

time of year for him.

Yeah, you're right. Sorry.

Hey, um, do you think you're gonna

invite him to the office Christmas party?

Of course. Is that a problem?

No, no, shouldn't be.

You used to be so close.

I never understood why you lost touch.

Oh, well, you know.

We're not kids anymore, Mom, so...

It's just we see things

really differently.

Anyway, I'm gonna go get a coffee,

you want one?

- Uh, yeah, that'd be great! Thanks.

- Okay.

So, I've been studying

the list of activities.

What do you recommend?

Let's take a look.

Hi, Hannah. Candy cane?

Uh! No thanks. It's too early for sweets.

- It's never too early.

- My feelings exactly.

Oh look, here. Caroling tomorrow night.

Oh, I haven't been caroling in years.

Hmm. What about you?

Uh, no. I haven't been caroling

since I was a kid with my parents.

You remember your mom

used to always sing so loud?

I remember that.

Even though she could not carry a tune.

Well, if you ask me,

it's important to be

a part of one's community.

"No man's an island,"

isn't that the expression?

Yeah, I think so.

But I don't really know

anybody here anymore.

All the more reason.

If you want to get to know people,

you gotta get out there and

mingle and spend time with them.

Actually, back in the day,

we did pull off a pretty good

duet in choir.

Yeah, but you always sang over me.

It's all about the harmony.

- And, we could invite Tina!

- Like a festive do-over?

Exactly. What do you think? You game?

Great.

Was there an expl*si*n in there?

Oh, this. I'm baking brownies.

I'll bring you over a batch.

Well, I will not say no to that.

Baked goods aren't why

you stopped by, though.

Did you wanna come inside?

Oh, um... Well, um, no thanks.

The reason I'm here

is 'cause I want to invite you

to go caroling with me tomorrow.

- That's not...

- Would it help

if I say, I would not take no

for an answer?

It's just that there's gonna be

a lot of people there

that I used to know before

my parents passed away and...

Well, the truth is it's... it's been

a little overwhelming being back here.

Yeah. I can understand that.

And since you're new to town,

I figured that we could be each other's...

holiday partners in crime.

That's not a real thing.

I figured you of all people

would appreciate

a little artistic liberty.

Okay, I'll see you tomorrow!

Bye.

According to his list,

Tyler wants his first bicycle.

My nephew's old enough to ride a bike.

A tricycle, it's a great idea.

Yeah, maybe I'll just

get him a motorcycle.

- Sounds fun.

- Hannah, okay!

- What is on your mind?

- I'm sorry.

I just keep thinking of Ryan's idea.

I wish he would have just

kept it to himself.

Why are you letting him get to you?

Because I had some clear plan,

and now I'm all confused.

You know, just because he worked

at some fancy company

doesn't mean he knows

what's best for The Press.

Meanwhile, my parents want me

to look at his marketing ideas.

How did they feel about him

getting the job at Pages over you?

They don't know about it.

I just... I was so embarrassed,

I didn't wanna bring it up.

I felt like such a failure.

Look, one rejection is not a failure.

I think I got the message loud and clear.

You know what?

I was gonna go back to The Press

after graduation anyway, so... whatever.

I'm sorry things didn't

work out with Tina,

but I am proud of you for trying.

That was a bold step.

Thank you.

You know what?

I'm gonna give it one more try.

She's supposed to go caroling

with Ryan, but it's a long shot.

Well, I don't know what

you'll do for The Printed Press,

but I do know what you're doing tonight.

What? No! Come on,

I have so much work to do.

You know, as your best friend,

it's my job to make sure

you have fun this season,

which is why I signed you up

for the toy drive next week.

And tonight, we skate.

Okay, fine. You know what?

We can indulge in some childlike wonder.

Hi, I'm gonna need

two pairs of skates, please.

- Thank you again for dinner.

- Yeah, of course.

Oh, I'm glad you decided to stick around.

- You can finally meet Ashley.

- Hey, I'm sorry again about the wedding.

I just couldn't get away.

You missed Hannah's k*ller speech.

Hannah was in the wedding party?

Yup. Yup. When Ash moved to town

after I graduated law school,

Hannah was her first friend.

She really kind of took her

under her wing.

Hey, since you're here,

you have to join us for Christmas.

That's really thoughtful,

but I think I'll do my own thing.

Which is?

I don't know,

probably something in New York.

You should be with your family.

Okay. Well, if you change your mind,

you're always welcome.

I appreciate that, but I'm looking forward

to meeting Ashley another time.

No, no time like the present.

The night is young.

To make up for the hockey game

you're missing this weekend.

Sort of.

Hey!

Hey! Hi.

Um, Ashley, this is Ryan.

So this is the famous Ryan

that I've been hearing all about.

Ah! I see my reputation precedes me.

I said an old classmate

was back in town, that's all.

Aha! Well, it's great to finally

meet you after all these years.

Tom says that you own the local bookshop.

I do! You should come by

and check out our Christmas sale.

- I'd love to.

- And you won't wanna miss

our "Storytime with Santa"

that we have next week.

Which is...

We do a reading

of classic Christmas stories for the kids.

The Press is actually one of the sponsors.

Hmm-mm.

- Wow!

I haven't seen anything on the website.

Because we don't do it for the publicity.

No, I wasn't implying...

- Do you need any more volunteers?

- The more, the merrier. Thanks, Ryan.

Okay, great.

So, where do we get some skates?

Ah! This way.

All right.

Come on.

You wanna race around

the rink for old times' sake.

What? I think I'm beyond that.

Oh, alright. I guess

I'll just remain undefeated.

Oh!

You okay?

Okay, I think we just call it a draw.

Yeah, it's probably for the best

for both of us.

Good morning.

Hey! Ready to face the music tonight?

- Literally?

- Yeah.

At least, it will be a lot

less perilous than ice skating.

Oh, come on, not for you.

Weren't you on the hockey team at Pages?

You really do know

my entire bio, don't you?

Well, your company profile

was very detailed on their website, so...

Oh, so you looked me up online.

Got it.

No, I was just curious about your work.

Hope I remember the lyrics.

Oh! Come on, it'll come back to you.

You just have to...

get back on the saddle.

- Are you referring to my legendary fall.

- Yeah.

When we took riding lessons?

You could never drop that.

That's because it was the only

thing I was better at than you.

It's not true. You were better than me

at lots of things and you still are.

Hey. Your partner in crime has arrived.

Though it looks like you're

all set with Hannah here.

Yeah, but I'm glad you made it.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you for inviting me. Hi, Hannah!

Hi.

Good evening, Angel Falls!

I hope you're all feeling

the Christmas spirit!

Yeah!

Well tonight,

we have a very special treat.

Without further ado,

the church choir is going to

lead us in our first carol.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

'Tis the season to be jolly

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Don we now our g*y apparel

Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la

Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol

Fa-la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la

Ryan? It is you!

We heard you were back in town!

He doesn't remember us.

What?

- You don't remember us, do you?

- Yes, I do, Delores.

Gloria, how are you?

You were right. Nice to see you too.

Oh my goodness!

Ryan, you...

you look so much like your father

when he was your age.

So, does anyone know what song is next?

Uh! Gloria, Delores,

this is Tina Finnegan,

author of some of my favorite books.

- Oh, what a pleasure!

- Nice to meet you.

- What have you written?

- Oh, you would love her books.

So many of them are about

the magic of Christmas.

Well then,

maybe you can settle a debate for us.

Ribbons or popcorn strings?

Well, they're both worthy options.

Yeah!

You know, I say ribbons.

They're colorful and you can just

toss 'em right on the tree.

Wrong. It's popcorn strings.

They're delicious

and they look good on the tree.

It's a double threat. It's a no-brainer.

No, all that needle and

threading takes forever.

- I dare you to prove me wrong.

- Okay, and if I do?

Coffee on me until you leave.

Throw in a muffin,

you got yourself a deal.

- Hey, don't push it.

- You know, see?

They've always been like this.

They used to babysit my son.

They remind me of myself

and my husband Lawrence

when we were dating. It was all teasing.

Oh, no, no, no. It's not

like that. We're just...

Uh, will your husband be joining us?

I would love to meet him.

He won't.

It was very nice to meet you. I, um...

I think I'm gonna head home.

I'm just feeling a little tired.

Thank you for inviting me out.

- Hey, it's not over yet.

- Good to meet you too. Bye-bye.

So, how was caroling? Successful?

Ah! If by successful,

you mean not spilling hot

chocolate on myself, then yes.

You know, actually, Tina ran off

before we were able

to spend any time with her.

Really? Oh, I'm sure

you'll get another chance.

Yeah, I hope so. I feel like

I keep upsetting her, though.

How so?

Well, um, last night, she left right after

I asked her about her husband.

Oh. Look, relationships

are sensitive subjects.

Just let her share her

personal life in her own time.

Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't pry.

So, besides Tina leaving early,

did you at least enjoy yourself?

Yeah, yeah, I did.

But I didn't accomplish anything, so...

The most rewarding experiences occur

when you aren't trying

to achieve something specific.

- Meaning...?

- Meaning, uh...

enjoy the moment and don't worry

about the tangible stuff.

Do you charge for this wisdom?

I'll put it on your tab.

Hmm.

Oh, oh, by the way, I bought...

...way too many decorations.

Think you can use any of these?

I've already decorated,

but that's really generous.

Wait, you know what? Take 'em anyway.

You never know when

the mood's gonna strike.

Okay.

What are you doing out in the cold?

I don't know. Sometimes, I like

to let my ideas marinate in the fresh air.

I'm trying to figure out what

direction to takeThe Press.

- That's funny.

- Oh! You think it's silly don't you?

No. I was doing the same thing.

Oh, so you weren't just

talking to yourself back there?

No, I was preparing for a job interview.

Yeah, um, how come you left Pages?

I mean, it seems like

you were climbing the ladder.

I was, but then we got

taken over by a bigger company

- and everything just changed.

- Changed how so?

The... the culture became

a lot more corporate and...

What? Okay. Yes, I do care

about the bottom line,

but I felt my integrity slipping

and that's important to me.

Is this new job in publishing too?

No, it's in software,

but marketing is marketing, right?

Look, Ryan, what are you passionate about?

That's a good question.

I don't know. After school,

I started at Pages and...

you know the rest.

You know, it's kinda getting

a little chilly out, so,

I think I'm gonna head back to work.

But listen, good luck

with your job interview.

Thanks.

Sure.

Hey, I just came by to drop this off.

- What is happening in here?

- Come in.

Oh, I told you, we should have

just bought the cookies like last year.

This is a disaster.

I thought it would be more special

if we made them ourselves.

Oh, it's just a baking emergency.

Just? You know what?

These cookies are

for the "Storytime with Santa" event

this afternoon

and we have no cookies, and you...

...you can't have Santa without cookies.

Actually, I may be able to help.

- You know how to bake?

- Not me.

Hey, do you ladies think

you can help ice these?

Yeah.

- Is that good?

For sure. We are so grateful

to you and to Ryan

for bringing you to our rescue.

He seems like quite the gentleman.

Yeah. He did come through for us today.

Hannah always says she wishes

chivalry would make a comeback.

Well, considering my bad luck with dating,

I'm just not sure it exists anymore.

Is it possible that your ideal

match checklist is a bit unrealistic?

Okay, you know what? If it is unrealistic

to want a guy who's respectful,

who can make me laugh

and who supports my ambitions,

- then I will gladly stay single.

- What do you think, Ms. Finnegan?

Yeah, am I aiming too high?

Oh! Well, first of all,

call me Tina, please.

And no, not at all.

My Lawrence, he was exactly

like you described.

Was?

Um, he passed away six months ago.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

He sounds like a wonderful man.

Hmm-mm. We had a beautiful life together.

But you know, my advice

to you is don't settle.

Yes, ma'am. I agree.

You know, these are perfect.

You should come by to the party

- to see everybody enjoy your treats.

- Yeah!

I don't know. I was planning

on staying in tonight.

Oh. Well, you could read

one of your favorite stories.

I would be thrilled to put you

on the list of presenters.

I'll think about stopping by.

Okay.

- Yes. Okay.

- Oh, wow!

Right? They look so good!

I'm so happy with that.

Ryan MacDonald reporting for duty.

Great timing. I just finished

rewriting the story assignments.

That's great. And just so you know,

I've been practicing my Jack Frost voice

all night, so it's...

That may have been in vain.

Our friends Gabby and Jack

got called out of town last minute.

His aunt took ill.

I'm sorry to hear that.

But what does it have to do with me?

Oh, you and Hannah are gonna

take over for them.

You're doing

'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

And...

This is your costume!

I was not aware of the dress code.

How come you get off the hook?

- Oh, I'm not off the hook.

- Wow, that is...

Glorious.

- You look good.

I know, take it in.

I stand corrected.

Hey, by the way, how did it go with Tina?

Oh, well, you know.

She saved the day, but listen,

I learned that she lost

her husband recently.

- Did you know that?

- No.

Yeah.

- Oh, that's awful.

Yeah, so I'm hoping that

there's something we can do

- to maybe cheer her up a little.

- There she is. Hi, Tina!

Hey! We're just about to get started.

- Hi.

- These are great.

This looks fantastic.

"'Twas the night before Christmas..."

- "And all through the house...

- Not a creature was stirring..."

- "Not even a mouse."

- "The stockings were hung...

By the chimney with care."

"In hopes that...

Saint Nicholas...

Would soon be there."

Happy Christmas to all!

And to all a good night!

h*! h*! h*!

Mr. Santa, can I give you a message?

Of course, little girl!

I'm going to my grandma's for Christmas

and I wanted you to have

my address so you could find me.

As long as you've been

a good little girl,

Santa will find you

no matter where you are.

I have been good, Santa. I promise.

He's so good with them.

Ah, then you'll be on my Nice List.

Now, don't forget to leave

some cookies out for Santa.

Okay, well, I think we have

one last story.

Actually, could I read something?

Sure, by all means.

Thank you. Hi, kids!

I'd like to share a story

that my husband and I always

enjoyed during the holidays.

A long time ago,

in a gingerbread land,

there were two elves...

How was the flight?

Merry Christmas.

- Hey, Anthony.

- Ryan!

What are you up to?

Oh, I am just exploring

and meeting new people.

Ah. Well, soon you'll know

everything about them,

they'll know everything about you.

- It's the nature of a small town.

- But does that bother you?

I don't know, it took me

a couple days to get acclimated,

but now I kinda look forward

to running into a familiar face.

Case in point, yourself.

You know, I haven't completely gotten

my bearings yet,

so if you think of any gems I should see,

please let me know.

Actually, I'm not fully reacquainted

with Angel Falls yet.

It's been a while since

I thought about all the details.

That's the complicated thing

about memories, isn't it?

Sometimes, it seems easier to avoid them

rather than face the pain

they could cause.

Yeah, I've certainly been guilty of that.

But when we do that,

we miss out on all the joy

those memories can also bring.

- Right?

- Yeah, it's true.

- Have a great day!

- Thank you.

I wanted to return this.

Oh. Finished it already?

- And enjoyed it no less.

- Yeah?

Now, you gotta let me recommend something.

- Okay, fine. Fair is fair.

- Oh, really? Okay.

In that case, I'll have

a pile of sci-fi books

and action movies on your desk,

by tomorrow.

- Okay, you can bring one thing.

- Fine.

Gosh, the... the Christmas celebrations

Tina describes in her book

are so elaborate.

Yeah, I know. Which is ironic,

seeing how we've had

to convince her to come

to any seasonal event.

You know, I have an idea.

What are you doing tomorrow?

No plans.

Alright. Should we get

this tree to the car?

- Yes. Okay. Um... Yup.

- You take the top.

You know what? I've never been an athlete.

Oh, yeah. I know.

I remember you in gym class.

I'm not gonna lie, a toddler could

catch better than you could.

You know what? I handed out

that water like a pro.

Come on. You're good at everything you do.

So, um, what are you into these days,

besides working for The Press?

Um, you know, museums, concerts, theater.

Actually, I go to New York a lot

to catch the new shows.

What? You go to New York,

you don't call me?

It's because I'm always

in and out so fast.

Next time, you should call me.

I'll go to a show with you.

I mean, unless you got somebody else

that you'd rather go with.

Are you asking me if I have a boyfriend?

No, I don't.

I've always been kind of unlucky in love.

I've actually kinda given up

looking for that special person, so...

Yeah. Yeah. I get that.

It's hard to find somebody

who really understands you, you can trust.

Have you? Found someone, I mean?

No. Maybe someday.

Yeah, we can't all be lucky like Tina.

Seems like Lawrence was her ideal match.

Yeah.

Well, shall we try this again?

Yeah, Okay. Alright.

Lift with the legs! I believe in you.

One of us does.

What is all this?

We're here to give the house

a Christmas makeover.

Yeah, we figured anyone who depicts

a perfect Christmas deserves one herself.

There's really no need to do this.

Oh yes, there is. You deserve

the full holiday experience.

Yeah, and we're gonna take

care of everything.

It's our way of saying thank you for

all the joy you brought us this season.

So I guess you're coming inside today.

I thought he was worried he'd get stuck

listening to all my stories.

Well, the truth is that... I thought

it would be hard to come into the house

after all this time, but...

- I think I'm ready.

- Okay.

Let's do this.

That's perfect.

- Yeah?

- Look at this.

- Nice.

- Adorable. Momma and baby.

- Are you Okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

Being in here brings back

a lot of memories.

Our family shared so many

happy times here over the years.

Well, feel free to look around.

Hey, you were right, by the way.

This popcorn string really makes

for some tasty dcor.

I tried to tell you.

Aww!

What a beautiful couple!

Hey, was that one taken in Angel Falls?

It was. Lawrence grew up here.

Is that why you came back to town?

Yeah. Being here

makes me feel closer to him.

I know what you mean.

Keeping in touch with Leslie...

It's Hannah's mom.

It's always been important to me.

Makes me feel closer to town.

I didn't realize that.

Angel Falls seems like

an idyllic place to grow up.

Lawrence loved it here.

And you? Do you think

you'll make it your permanent home?

I'm not sure anywhere is gonna

feel like home to me again.

Well, when it feels right,

you'll know you're home.

Yeah. Maybe you just need to

explore the town some more

and figure out why Lawrence

loved it so much.

It's like you said in

Memories for Christmas.

"Home isn't a place on the map,

it's a feeling in your heart."

You do have a way with words.

I used to anyway.

I'm afraid the proverbial ink has run dry.

Well then, maybe you'd like to read

something that Hannah's worked on.

- She's an amazing fiction editor.

- That doesn't surprise me.

You read novels from The Press?

Yeah! Your mom sends me copies.

You have a great instinct, I can tell.

Yeah, but... I mean,

we don't have any sci-fi.

I know, but I wanna support you.

Support The Press, I mean.

Oh. Well, um...

Thanks.

We should, uh...

finish decorating the tree.

- Yeah.

- I'll be right back.

Do you think that I said something

to upset her again?

I don't know.

- Wow!

- That's beautiful.

Lawrence's old family heirloom.

Who wants to put it on the tree?

Oh no, we couldn't.

- No, we couldn't.

- No, no.

Here, here. You do the honors.

Hi, Maxine! First off, I want to thank you

for the interview and the opportunity.

Well, your resume was

extremely impressive.

And the reference we received

from Pages was glowing.

Well, that's good to hear.

As for us, we have hundreds of employees

across multiple offices nationwide.

You'll be reporting to a team

of project managers,

marketing execs, creative directors.

And we'll have an excellent

support staff at your disposal

should you need them.

I'd like to discuss...

Good morning, Hannah.

You're looking chipper.

You were right, by the way.

Uh...

can you be more specific?

Well, Ryan and I spent some time with Tina

without any agenda,

and she really opened up.

So can we classify it

as a successful experience?

Yeah, I think we can.

And it was such an honor, you know,

learning more about her.

I mean, especially 'cause

I'm such a fan of her work.

Maybe you can apply this new

philosophy towards others.

You know, actually,

Ryan opened up too and...

He is surprisingly a skillful

tree trimmer, by the way.

Ha ha! It sounds like

you made a good team.

You know, joining forces to collaborate

can be an excellent idea.

Hmm.

Well, well...

- Hey.

- I would have thought

you would have finished all

your Christmas shopping by now.

Oh, mostly, but I want to get

the perfect gift for my parents,

so I had to buy and return a few times.

What about that whole

"It's the thought that counts" thing?

Oh, come on. That is something that people

with no gift-giving imagination say.

- Well, that is harsh, but true.

- Yeah, true.

I hope my aunt and uncle like

what I'm sending them.

I'll give you a consultation

on your parents' gift.

- On the house.

- Hmm.

On the gifts? Uh, no.

But, uh... Listen.

Um, would you be willing to walk me

through what you foresee

for the bigger financial department?

I thought you would never ask.

Okay, listen. I am not sure that

I'm willing to take the risk

on that kind of expansion,

but I would like the full picture.

What are you so worried about?

Rolling the dice and

putting the entire company

in financial jeopardy? No big deal.

Hannah.

You are so talented.

And you're passionate about your job.

There's no reason that you can't take it

to the next level and be successful.

Um, I don't know, I'm pretty content

with things the way they are.

Are you content or just afraid

to put yourself out there?

Because even if Tina doesn't come onboard,

there are other writers you can foster.

Anyone would be happy to work with you.

Well, that's...

It's really kind of you to say.

Um, listen, I...

I read that statistical thing

that you emailed me.

- Oh, yeah. And?

- Yeah.

And the numbers added up. Pun intended.

You know, you're really

savvy with numbers.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Was that a compliment?

Oh! Consider it your

early Christmas gift, Okay?

Thank you, you're so kind.

You know, I think I might

overhaul the store after the holidays.

Change things up a bit.

You should ask Ryan for tips

on what to do with your display.

Okay. Interesting.

What? Why is that interesting?

You don't want any suggestions?

I'm just surprised that

you're suggesting Ryan to me.

Oh well, you know.

He's not so bad after all.

It's a Christmas miracle.

Thank you. What do I owe you?

Oh, hey. Uh, that's actually on me.

You did convince me about popcorn.

A woman of her word.

Yeah, and you know what?

- Two muffins as well.

- Wow, thank you!

Yeah.

- Would you excuse me for a sec?

- Yeah. Yeah, of course.

Hi!

Uh...

Hi, Maxine. Good to hear from you.

Ryan, congratulations.

We'd love to offer you the position.

That's amazing! Thank you so much.

Um...

- Can I let you know?

- Okay. But either way,

I'm gonna need an answer before Christmas.

Of course. I understand.

And thanks again.

- Hey, here you go.

- Thank you.

Yeah. You Okay?

Yeah. It was just the software company.

They had a few more questions.

- That's promising, right?

- I think so, yeah.

What do you think of this new development?

There's plenty of time before Christmas.

Everything is gonna work out

just as it should.

- I have some great news.

- Okay, well, don't leave me hanging.

- These are the last documents to go.

- Really?

I thought the process

was gonna take more time?

I knew you were anxious

to be done with it,

so I had a few things expedited.

Just sign these.

Alright. And then, um...

- what happens next?

- Now, the estate belongs to you.

So if you want to sell the house,

the decision is yours.

And, if you want,

you can head back to New York

for Christmas like you planned.

Well, this is...

this is great news.

Hey, honey. What's up?

Hi.

Well, two things.

First, I've decided to be more

welcoming of Ryan's feedback.

He and I are actually meeting later

to discuss the options for The Press,

and then I will be ready

to present my proposal

- for next year's slate.

- Terrific!

- What's the second thing?

- Ummm...

are you guys free to come over tomorrow?

Sure.

- What's the agenda?

- No agenda. Just family time.

- Sounds wonderful.

- Yeah.

Everything all right?

Actually... I'm not sure.

Between... Between you and me...

I got a job offer from a software company.

Oh! Uh...

Does this mean that you'll be

headed back to New York?

Yeah, I guess soon.

I, um... I got my apartment there.

I got this new job waiting for me.

It just... seems like

the most sensible thing to do.

The sensible thing isn't

always the right thing.

What do you want to do?

Um...

I... I don't know.

I've just been...

going through the motions for so long

I haven't really stopped

to think about it.

Well, sometimes, it helps to

bounce ideas off another person.

Yeah, that's not really my style.

Just... I've been relying

on myself for so long, I...

I don't even remember

to ask other people for advice.

Well, suit yourself.

But it can be refreshing

to put your guard down,

let someone else in.

Hello.

Welcome to my humble abode.

- Thank you.

- Hot chocolate?

Yeah, that would be great.

So just to confirm, you like books, right?

Yeah, like just my favorite thing.

Yeah, me too. They've always

given me a lot of comfort.

Is that why you applied to Pages?

Uh, well, every time I would visit

my aunt and uncle, my face

would always be in a book...

trying to keep my mind off things.

And then, um...

one day, my uncle suggested

that I turn it into something productive.

One day you're studying business and then,

all of a sudden, you get my dream job.

Your dream job?

I applied for everything in New York.

Any excuse not to return to Angel Falls

- and have to live in that house.

- Yeah, but...

Come on, Ryan, you know

how much that job meant to me.

Well, I asked the interviewer about you.

They said you were amazing,

but that all you could talk about

was returning to The Press.

I thought you'd turned it down.

Are you serious?

No, they never even offered it to me.

I didn't know that.

Wow! I though... I thought you just

dazzled them with your interview skills.

You know, I have actually, um...

been holding this against you

for a really long time.

I wish you would have said something.

Ah, I feel horrible.

No, I feel horrible.

I, I just... I don't know,

I was embarrassed. I always thought

like I was in second place.

I thought things came so easy to you.

No. Trust me, they did not.

But, in all fairness,

I should have talked to you

before I applied, so...

No. Hey, you got a lot going on back then,

and I completely understand how

overwhelmed you must have been.

Yeah, I was, but...

I would never do anything to hurt you.

I'm just sorry that you've had that

impression of me for so long.

No. I'm sorry I painted you

as a villain this whole time.

You know what?

You...

are just like the protagonist

from Poinsettia Lane.

Wait, wait. You've had time

to read more of Tina's books?

Yeah, I actually have

a confession to make.

- Um, I've read all her books.

- Are you serious?

Well, don't you remember

who introduced you to her work?

Oh, my gosh! I...

I completely forgot your mom gave me this.

I miss her.

Both of them.

Yeah.

So, Tina... why didn't you

just say you liked her books?

Ah, well, when I found out

that Tina was my tenant,

I didn't want to bring it up with her

'cause I didn't want

to embarrass her, so...

I just... I kind of played it cool and...

everything just sort of

spiraled out of control.

Wait, are you telling me that

Ryan MacDonald has insecurities?

Hannah, everyone does.

No, you never seemed insecure to me.

Well, then my efforts must have paid off.

Well, I...

I don't know what to say.

This is just... just a lot to take in.

Yeah. Do you wanna go for a walk?

Yeah. Sure.

With your creative vision

and my cost-effective strategy,

this could totally work.

You know, it does make a lot of sense.

Probably should have

consulted you a few days ago.

- Ah! Ah!

- Yeah.

Yeah. Hey, how are things going?

Did you settle things

with the software company?

Not yet, we're still in talks.

It's the job that you want though, right?

I don't even know. What do you think?

I don't know. I think you should do

whatever makes you feel

the most fulfilled and inspired.

- You make it sound so easy.

- Because it is!

I mean, do you think the software

company's gonna do that for you, or?

- Not sure, but probably not.

- You'll figure it out.

Just follow your heart.

Listen,um, can we...

can we pop in there really quick?

- Yeah, for sure.

- Great, I need to pick up

- some things for the toy drive.

- Oh, that's tonight?

- Yeah.

- Oh, I gotta get something too.

Thank you for reminding me.

- What would you do without me?

I'd like to say welcome, everyone,

to our annual toy drive.

If you've brought a contribution,

please take it to the donations table.

And if you're here to gift-wrap,

your station

will be adjacent to the donations table.

Here you go. That ought to keep you warm.

Okay, great. Hey, check it out.

Hey!

Tina!

Hey!

So good to see you out.

Well, Hannah gave me her number,

and I invited her to come along.

Did you know? It turns out

Delores and Gloria

knew Lawrence when they were growing up.

Oh yeah, and he conducted

the craziest experiments in science class.

I would have loved to have met him.

Those look great.

- Aren't they?

- Tina is a fastidious wrapper.

- Well, I'm...

- And...

quite the storyteller, as you can imagine.

We're going to do Poinsettia Lane

in our next book club.

Hey! Hey, you two,

why don't you two join us?

- Yes!

- Yeah, sure.

You wrap and I'll ribbon?

That sounds like a plan.

Pull up a chair. Get busy!

Let's get you set up. Okay.

Some cutting skills you got there.

Hey guys! Mind if I snap a pic of you two

for Angel Falls Gazette?

- Sure.

- Okay.

It's over there.

Have fun!

Okay.

That could be the cover of my next book.

I mean, if there was a next book.

Okay.

You too, and Merry Christmas.

Hannah!

Oh. Something troubling you?

Have you ever misread a situation

only to find out years later

that you were completely wrong?

As a matter of fact, yes,

on more than one occasion.

In this case, is the truth better or worse

than you first thought?

Better.

But also really surprising.

Well, if you're asking for my advice,

I think I'll need a few more details.

It's about Ryan.

Hmm.

You know we go way back, right?

Yeah, I gathered that. Yes.

Well, all this time, I've been

blaming him for something

that he has nothing to do with.

And... the insecurities

have been in my head,

I just never realized

how much it was affecting me.

Insecurities have a way

of making us afraid of taking risks.

But sometimes, the right risk

is worth it for the right reward.

I've just been so afraid of failure

that I've been holding myself back.

Yeah, but see, you have the awareness now,

so you can stop blaming Ryan

and face your self-doubts head on instead.

Hey!

- Hey.

Tina said you'd be dropping by.

Yeah. You know, Tina's

giving me a baking lesson.

Well, just so you know, I'm available

to sample anything you may need.

Noted.

Hey, you didn't respond

to my text, by the way.

I invited you over to my place tonight.

I'm having my parents over

- for a pre-

- Christmas dinner.

Yeah, I didn't want to impose.

What? Don't be ridiculous.

Come on, you're basically

an honorary Pressman.

Okay. Well, can I at least bring my famous

"I bought it at the grocery store"

Christmas ham?

You know, I was hoping you would.

Hey! Stop distracting my new student.

Okay. I'll leave you to it.

- I like shortbread.

- Okay! See you later.

Hey! I made us some tea.

- Oh.

- And I thought we would start

- with gingerbread today.

- Oh, perfect. That sounds good.

I mean, hopefully, I can impress Ryan

with my gingerbread-making skills.

You want to tell me

what's going on between you two?

What? There's nothing to tell.

Oh, honey. I may have quit the game,

but I've been a professional

romantic for over two decades.

I know flirtation when I sense it.

Okay, well, I regret to inform you

that your senses are way off.

Okay. Let's just say I'm not convinced.

Look, it is true, Okay?

I was hoping that I'd meet someone

like the leading men in your books,

but...

...I'm just not sure that the thoughtful,

generous heroes you describe

exist in real life.

Well, my leading men might be embellished

and they might be put

in extreme circumstances, but...

they were all rooted in reality.

Based on Lawrence?

A lot of the time, yes.

Well, I'm just saying that...

that I've never found a man

that measures up to your words.

There will never be another like him.

He was my everything.

He was my... beginning,

my middle...

Well...

You know, I tell you,

no one enjoys a good story more than I do,

but sometimes, you do have

to put down your book

so you can see

what's right in front of you.

Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?

My family's hosting a party for The Press.

- Isn't that an office event?

- Technically, yeah,

but we invite everyone

and we would love for you to be there.

You're very kind.

Wait, is that our guest?

Yeah.

Yeah, well, I told you

I'm not good at baking.

Mmm! Well, this was wonderful, honey!

I could not eat another bite.

Uh, listen, I know that I didn't want to

talk about business tonight,

but there is something I want to say.

I've been afraid of taking

a leap at The Press,

but after a lot of encouragement

and collaboration, I think I'm ready.

When Ryan first suggested that we expand

the fiction department,

I didn't think it was feasible.

Neither did we. What do you think now?

Well, after seeing the research,

I think that the company

is more than capable of

taking on the challenge.

"More than capable." So what's next?

Okay, if we put our resources together,

I think that we could expand

our fiction department

and sign new authors to our roster.

So no more cookbooks or travel guides?

It's a bigger risk,

but with a bigger reward.

And...

I think it's the right choice.

Creatively and financially.

So if you say you're sure...

- I say... let's do it!

- Really?

We can tell everybody

at the party tomorrow.

Thanks, Mom!

Okay!

That was fun, don't you think?

Why do you sound so surprised?

Your parents are great.

You're lucky to have 'em.

Yeah, well... I'm sorry

you haven't had the support that I've had.

Oh. Well, I know it's not the same,

but my aunt and uncle have

always been there for me

if I need somebody to talk to.

Yeah, well, so am I.

I mean, if you want to.

Well, I... I...

I just may take you up on that.

Well, I'll, um...

I'll leave you to it.

Oh, uh, hang on just a...

Right. It's here.

Oh no.

What?

- I didn't get you anything.

- No, it's Okay.

- It's just... You know, it's...

- Are you sure?

Yeah, it's just... Look, it's, um...

it's just a little something

for you to remember the town.

I just want you to know that...

you know, you can always

come home to Angel Falls if you want to.

Do you like it?

I love it.

You know it's early.

Do you wanna get a hot chocolate?

Yeah.

That sounds good.

Okay.

Look, there's Santa!

You know, you really should get the full

Angel Falls Christmas experience.

You alright?

Okay.

Thank you.

- Hark! The herald angels sing

- Oh, my goodness!

Glory to the newborn king

Okay.

Oh, thank you.

You're welcome.

You two lovebirds ready for a ride?

Oh!

We're not, uh...

Um...

Sure...

Join the triumph of the skies

Hark, the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn king

You know,

if I end up at the software company,

I'm really gonna miss this town.

If?

Well, I realized that...

you're so passionate

about your job because...

you love it.

- Yeah.

- I want that for myself.

- Really?

- Yeah.

Why, I think that's great. I mean,

everyone should do

what they appreciate most.

I see that now.

I think that you have inspired me...

...to be inspired.

So, thank you for that.

Well, you know, you encouraged me

to get out of my comfort zone,

so... the thanks goes both ways.

Thanks for riding with us, folks.

Hey, you two!

- Hey.

How come you all look so serious?

- Just a little sad about Tina.

- Why? What happened?

- She left Angel Falls.

- No. We have to talk to her.

She's already booked

on a 9 p.m. bus to New York.

But... what are we gonna do?

I just think she's making a mistake.

- Anthony.

- Hello, my friends.

Oh. You both look quite upset.

- Is everything alright?

- Not really.

We just found out Tina's leaving town,

with only three days 'til Christmas.

She won't answer phone calls.

I mean, I don't know,

maybe we were being too pushy.

Do you think we drove her away?

Sometimes, an impulsive reaction

can really be a mask

for something underneath.

That's right. We know she was...

putting up walls because

she was heartbroken, but...

I don't think Tina retired

because she doesn't have

anything left to write.

It just hurt her too much.

Do you think we still have time

to catch her?

- It's worth a shot.

- Okay.

No! We missed it.

Oh, I just wish...

What?

I don't know,

I just really wish we could have,

been there for her,

you know, just a little more.

Are you two taking a trip?

You're not on the bus!

No. I decided to take the next one.

I was actually just coming to find you.

After all you've done for me,

I couldn't leave

- without saying a proper goodbye.

- Do you have to leave at all?

I'm sorry. Being here for Christmas

without Lawrence is just too painful.

Tina...

don't you think Christmas is

gonna be hard without Lawrence

no matter where you are?

Running isn't the answer.

It's taken me over a decade

to figure that out for myself.

We think that you should stay here

and be a part of this community.

I just... I don't know where I belong now.

You belong in Angel Falls.

Being in Lawrence's hometown

has just brought up

so many memories for me.

Now, you can face those memories...

and remember all the wonderful times

that you had together.

And we know you miss Lawrence, but...

Tina, you deserve to be surrounded

by people who care about you.

Well, you've rendered

this writer speechless.

No one should be alone for the holidays.

Lawrence would say the same thing.

Boy, when you two team up,

you're certainly persuasive.

Does that mean that you're gonna stay?

I should at least stay for a while.

Well then, first order of business

on the calendar is our party tomorrow.

I wouldn't miss it.

Thank you, Dad. Hi everybody!

I want to welcome you

to the Printed Press Christmas party!

We've had an exceptional year,

and our community

has grown closer than ever.

We've seen some new faces,

and some old friends returning.

At The Printed Press,

our team and our supporters

mean so much to us.

So on behalf of the Pressman Family

and everyone at The Printed Press,

here's to a happy holiday

and an exceptional new year!

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Thanks, Dad.

So that's the offer

from the software company?

Yes. It's...it's very generous,

and there's a potential for growth.

They must really want you on their team.

Not that I blame them.

Thank you.

And they want me to come in

and sort things out with HR immediately.

Can you believe that?

It's very difficult to walk away

from an opportunity like this.

Yes, it sure is.

So, I don't know, I gotta get of here soon

and sort things out.

Are you Okay? What's going on?

Doesn't matter.

Tonight's all about celebrating

The Press and holidays.

You've pulled off

a terrific party, Hannah.

- Yeah.

- Oh, thank you, Gloria.

My son wrote me the sweetest card.

- I think you should read it.

- Honestly, I think we may have

another budding writer

for you to check into.

Perfect.

- That's great.

- Sorry to interrupt.

- Can I steal Hannah for a second?

- She's all yours.

Thanks.

Hey... what is it?

I know you're busy,

but everybody's going to get

eggnog at the square later,

and I was wondering

if we could grab a drink.

Uh, it's been kind of a long day, so--

It's... it's kind of important.

I would really like to talk to you.

You know what? I think I already know

what you're gonna say.

- So, uh...

- You do?

Yeah. You didn't think I would find out

what you told my mother or...

Oh! Yeah, but I wanted to be

the one to tell you.

Well, it's disappointing.

I mean, I thought you'd really

changed your perspective.

Ah... What? What are you talking about?

When you told me that you

wanted to be inspired by what you did,

were you just mocking me or...?

No, I meant every word I said.

You've been an amazing inspiration to me.

Then why didn't you just tell me

that you've been offered

the job at the software company?

I mean, I thought we were really starting

to open up to each other.

Bec, I, I, I just... I wanted

to have it all sorted out

before I told you about it.

Oh. Well, it's all sorted out now.

I'm sure you can't wait

to get back to New York.

And you know what, it's completely fine.

I know why you couldn't turn it down.

I mean,

you love being practical in business.

I don't think that's fair.

Is everything alright?

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. It's fine, um...

Actually, I have to go.

I'll see you around, Hannah.

Making another field call on me?

The clock is ticking.

Think you'll have this

all straightened out in time?

Christmas is still two days away.

Sometimes, you have to have vision.

Everyone's having a wonderful time,

don't you think?

Totally.

Wow, you sound the opposite of festive.

I just think Ryan made the wrong decision

about the new job.

You think he should have accepted it?

Wait, what?

I thought he had.

He was going on and on to Mom about it.

No, he wasn't. He asked my advice.

Ultimately, he decided it wasn't for him.

But he said he couldn't wait

to leave Angel Falls.

I thought he was just waiting

to wrap up on the paperwork.

We finished all that days ago.

He chose to stay in town.

With you.

No, I...

- Oh, no, I gotta go. I gotta find him.

- Hold on.

He's already left town.

- Hi!

- Hi.

Why aren't you at the party?

I'm just on my way there myself.

I have to go back to New York.

You're leaving now?

You don't want to be here for Christmas?

No, not anymore.

Um, if you see Hannah,

would you please give that to her for me?

I will, but you could

give it to her yourself.

No. I don't think she wants

anything from me. Hmm...

I should go. Yeah.

Ryan!

Are you the one that told me

running wasn't the answer?

Are you really gonna leave

without telling Hannah how you feel?

I should go.

Well, we should get cracking

on the list of writers for next year.

Actually,

I may have a few names for you...

including mine.

Tina, hiya. These are

my parents, Leslie and Lowell.

It's so lovely meeting you, Tina!

- Likewise.

- Pleasure.

I've heard all about

Hannah's vision for The Press,

and, well, if you'll have me,

I'd like to be a part of it.

Does this mean you're unretiring?

I am.

And I wanna stay in Angel Falls.

I was thinking about writing a romance

based on my relationship with Lawrence.

- I think that's a great idea.

- This is great news.

Enjoy the party, and we'll firm up

the details in the new year.

Great!

Alright.

Wow!

And this is for you.

- Oh.

It's a list of emerging writers?

Ryan really believes in you.

He just dropped that off at the house.

Wait, he hasn't left town yet?

No, I tried to convince him to stay,

but he wouldn't listen.

You're still here.

Yeah.

I was about to go, but...

there's something I have

to say before I do.

Me first, please.

I know you didn't take the job.

I misunderstood everything.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you

about the offer.

I didn't know if you'd react

the way I hoped.

What were you hoping I'd say?

That I... I should turn it down.

And that I...

belonged here, in Angel Falls.

Well, you do belong here, in Angel Falls,

and...

Ryan, I'm so sorry for what I said.

I... I was hurt because I thought

you were gonna leave

without saying anything, and...

I wouldn't do that.

I know.

Because you're right,

I do jump to conclusions.

Even after I laid into you so unfairly,

you still gave that list to Tina for me.

It's because...

I want to support you.

And I always have.

Well... what did you want to say to me?

That you are an extraordinary person...

and that all the inspiration

I've been looking for

is right here with you.

You're coming back?

As fast as I can.

Well...

then I'm really happy

that I got to know the real you

because that's the man

that I have fallen for.

Did... did you just say you...

you've fallen for me?

Yeah, I did. And you know what?

I think that I could say

the same thing for you.

Hmm.

Anthony, you did it.

Oh, I just provide

a little nudge here and there.

No. You, sir, are a master

in the arbitration of chance.

I'm just happy that Tina found her

Christmas spirit and her way home.

So Hannah and Ryan?

A happy accident?

Really?

Let's just say that while

orchestrating Tina's path,

I realized I needed to enlist

some extra help, and in return...

Love.

Simple and pure.

Yet so complicated.

Anything can happen.

You know, Raffi?

I am really gonna miss this place.

Let's go.

Merry Christmas, Ryan.

Merry Christmas, Hannah.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

'Tis the season to be jolly

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

Don we now our g*y apparel

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

Hey! h* h* h*

See the blazing yule before us

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...