Operation Mistletoe (2024)

[bunniefuu]

I thought it was good.

I'm not saying that the movie wasn't

good, it was, I enjoyed it, just...

heist movies aren't really

my thing.

I know, I know. I forgot,

you're more of a... you're more

of a romcom girl.

I am not.

Grace, I've known you since

you were 14,

you love romcoms more

than anyone I know.

I dont know if its that.

I think it's just...

I like the idea of two people deciding

that they're better off together

than they are apart...

and a happy ending

Ergo, you love romcoms.

Okay, fine.

I got to get back to the office

to do some work,

but I had such a great time.

- Yeah, yeah.

- Yeah.

I guess until the next time one

of us needs a plus one.

Mm, sure.

You're a good friend, Quinn.

- Have a good night, Grace.

- You too.

Yes, we're doing the eggshells shiplap

on the far wall to match the Carrera

marble in the kitchen.

Mm, I'll pick up the backsplash

samples later today.

That is not our job. Sorry.

Uh-huh, I look forward to

the design coming together too.

Chat soon.

Hey, did you finish the mood

boards for Hannahs tree?

Yeah, I sure did, I have them

back at the office.

Oh, amazing. Listen, I am swamped today,

would you mind running them over to her?

- Yeah, you got it.

- Thank you.

Can we get three hot chocolates, please?

Great. Yes.

What's that?

Ooh. Operation Complete Jacks Baseball

Card Collection is now... well, complete.

Complete as in?

Complete as in, on Christmas morning,

he's going to wake up to every rookie card

from the year he was born.

Youre too good to him.

- You know I love a mission.

I know you do.

Oh, did you see the email?

I did, yeah, the one about us decorating

the Town Square Christmas tree

in less than three days?

Hey, come on, we can do it.

We've done bigger jobs than that,

and that was less notice,

less time.

Yeah. I mean, I guess since

we didn't get the full decorating

contract from Sami...

She wants us to call her Mayor

Hoffman now.

Oh, yeah, of course. It's so weird that

she's our mayor.

I mean, we're the same age,

that just makes me feel old.

I know, but hey, she threw us a bone by

getting us that contract on the tree,

so we should at least try

to call her by her official title.

Yeah, and in the email that I saw,

she's gonna provide all these city

employees to help us out.

We don't need that.

I think we need all the hands

we can get.

Yeah, maybe you're right, but you know

what?

If we pull this off, next year,

the entire town Ivy Glen

could be designed and decorated

by Keen and Rankin.

That would be...

Everything we dreamed of when

we started our business!

- Yes! It is, yes.

- I know!

Holy cricket!

Oh, stop that! Just leave it!

Ryan St. Nicholas.

You sound so official.

So do you, Madame Mayor.

How goes your reign in our quaint

hometown?

It's been better. I'm actually calling

to ask you a favour... from an old friend.

What's up?

The St. Nicholas House.

My grandmother's house?

You still own it, right?

For now, yes. Why?

Um... I have a bit of

a situation.

So, Ivy Glen's charities are

in a bit of a pinch.

Normally, Christmas time

is our busiest time,

but now, donating is down

over 50 percent.

Inflation, recession,

everyone's feeling the pinch.

Which doesn't look good for

a young first-term mayor.

Or someone who cares about

their hometown.

Look, it's affecting so many

organizations, especially the food bank.

I wouldn't ask if it wasn't an

emergency, but...

have you considered reviving your

grandmother's Ribbons and Bows Fundraiser?

- Uh...

I don't know, not really

in my wheelhouse.

Even if it would so much good

for the town and honour your family's

tradition?

Okay, okay.

I'll... I'll consider it. I...

was thinking about coming back home

for the holidays

anyway to tie up a few things.

Well, let me know as soon as you can,

please, I'm on a bit of a timeline.

Oh, will do, Sami.

I believe that's Mayor

Hoffman to you.

Oh, sorry, Madame Mayor.

Kayla?

- Yes?

Will you book me that flight

back to Ivy Glen?

Of course.

I think Im going to head home

for Christmas after all.

Right away.

That was a long cocoa run.

Well, I had to complete operation "Make

Christmas magical for my husband."

- So, you found my race car?

- Yeah, and the track to go with it.

Hi.

Mom called, said she and dad arrived in

Italy and are having a great time.

Told me to tell you she got the fabric

samples from...

- Giuseppe?

- Giuseppe, yeah. Who's Giuseppe?

That's amazing. He is a draper in

Tuscany

and he hand-weaves all these

intricate patterns.

I wanted to use the samples for the mood

boards on the Balzerinis living room

so that I can tie in their heritage

to the new space.

- Great.

- Yes! I love that.

All right here.

Ooh, but we should probably focus on

the Christmas tree design.

Okay. I was thinking lots of lights.

Lights, okay.

Love it. What else?

That's as far as I got.

Okay.

Ahh...

Hm...

Well, let me give it some thought.

Where are you going?

We just got here.

Yes, well, I need inspiration.

So, I'll see you both later.

- Bye, sis.

- Good luck. I'll see you soon.

So, about that race car...

Okay, no peeking.

No before Christmas.

Hey, Maggie.

Yes, I saw your email.

Yeah. No, I... I'm in Ivy Glen

as we speak.

I will get the house all set up and

we should be ready to list in a few days.

Uh... I gotta go.

No way.

- I'm... so sorry. Um...

Ryan?

Grace.

Hi. What...

Why are you looking at me

like that?

Just... what are you doing

here?

I just came back to tie up

a few things.

Wow, must be a pretty big deal if it

brought you all the way back

from New York City to our

humble little town.

It's been... what, 15 years?

Five, actually. I came back to help move

my nan out of the St. Nicholas House

so she could live closer

to me in New York.

Right. I heard. I'm... so sorry

I couldn't be there, Ryan.

I loved your grandmother,

I was just...

I was out of state working with

a client and...

It's okay, I heard.

It is really good to see you.

Yeah, it's good to see you

too. You look...

very professional.

- And you look...

- More mature?

Exactly the same.

Oh.

Um... so, are you staying

for Christmas, or...

- I'm considering it.

- Hmm.

We should hang out

if you're free.

Yeah... no... it's actually my busy time

of the year,

so I don't know if we can

work it out, but...

Okay.

You know, my number is still the same,

though, so call me or text me.

Have your people call my people,

we can set something up.

Okay.

- Anyway, I should probably run.

I just was trying to get some

inspiration.

Olivia and I are actually in charge

of decorating the tree this year,

but we only have a few days, so...

It's going well, I see.

Stop it, I'm just getting

started.

Well, I can't wait to see what

you guys do with it.

Thanks.

So, I guess I'll see you around.

Yeah. Well, it's a small town,

so it's highly likely.

- Hey!

- Hey.

- What are you up to?

- Oh, just procrastinating instead of

designing that Christmas tree.

- Ooh, I had a really good idea.

- Uh-uh?

- Woodland creatures.

- Ooh.

Yeah, so we could have like all these

little critters running around the tree.

Wait, you don't mean live

animals, do you?

The idea sounded better in

my head.

Sami! Mayor Hoffman.

Hi.

To what do we owe the pleasure?

Oh, I'm so sorry I can't stay long,

but I have an urgent request

that I wanted to ask in person.

- What's up?

- Do you remember Ribbons and Bows

Fundraiser?

On Christmas Eve.

The one Mrs. St. Nicholas used to host

every year? Yeah, what about it?

We're reviving it.

Well, I'm trying to revive it.

Ryan isn't quite on board yet,

so I was hoping you could talk

to him.

- Uh...

- Ryan? Like...

Ryan St. Nicholas? That Ryan?

- Mm-hmm.

- I think he's in New York.

- He's actually in Ivy Glen right now.

- What?

- I was really hoping you could help me.

Maybe you could talk to him

and see if you can get him on board.

You know what? The Ribbons and Bows

Fundraiser really was his nan's thing,

so if he's not into it, then...

Oh, a lot of people in town could really

use this. It could do a lot of good.

Hmm... and you two are close.

We were close. Then, he went off

to New York

and he created this whole life

I know nothing about.

Well, he would still listen to you.

Could you just try? Please.

I wouldn't ask if it wasn't urgent.

- I don't know.

How about this? I know that this year,

the decorating contract went to Mark

and his team,

as it does every year for

as long as I can remember,

but he's retiring. It's gonna be

up for grabs next year,

so if you can help me get Ryan to host

this year's Ribbons and Bows Fundraiser,

it'll go a long way to seeing that you get

the contract from town council next year.

Okay. How about this?

You will personally guarantee...

Yes, that we will be the top candidate

next year for the contract

if we can get the house

decorated in less than a week?

Sure.

- We'll discuss it.

- We're in.

She's definitely in.

- Okay.

Okay, great. Thank you.

Oh, you two are lifesavers.

- Happy to help.

- Bye, Jack.

Bye, Mayor.

Okay. Umm... wow.

Hmm, looks like you have to get

to St. Nicholas House.

Yeah, looks like I do, uh? I guess I'll

give you guys an update when I get back.

Ryan.

Stop it, Jack!

Huh.

I know that look.

- I have an idea.

- Oh, no.

Not, "Oh, no." Oh, yes!

Whatever operation "Fill In The Blank

is churning in your mind...

You don't even know what

the idea is.

I know that Grace doesn't need you

meddling in her life.

She's a grown adult,

she's also our business partner.

And she's your sister

and my best friend.

All the more reason not

to meddle.

Okay, Ryan St. Nicholas is back in town,

he's her one that got away.

She has never explicitly

said that.

She's had a crush on him since she was

The whole town knows he

feels the same.

They've been friends for years.

If they wanted to date,

they would have by now.

No, they've never had

a chance. Think about it.

Ryan was dating Ryan dated Miranda

in freshman year and then,

when they broke up,

Grace started dating Vince.

- Ugh.

- And then, when they broke up...

Okay, I get it.

But now, they're both single...

I think. Wait.

What are you doing?

I'm just gonna do a quick little social

media stalk,

make sure that he's not in

a relationship.

It doesn't look like he is!

He's single and ready to mingle.

I love you and your little missions,

but it...

now is not the time for another attempt

at operation "Find Grace Love,

especially not with

Ryan St. Nicholas.

I'm going to order us some dinner.

While I'm gone, don't do any meddling.

No promises.

Well, well, well, look what

the elves dragged in.

Wow! Talk about a glow up.

Lookin' good, Santaman.

- Quinn, how are you, buddy?

- Good.

You know, no one has called me

Santaman since high school.

Ah, it's a waste of a perfectly

good nickname.

I don't know about that.

So, whats this I hear about

you wanting to sell the place?

Where did you hear that?

Ah, it's just a rumour around town,

since the place has been empty for what,

like five years, now?

Yeah, no. It was just a quick trip

back to get my nan out of this place.

She didn't want to go, but it was time.

She just couldn't handle this place

anymore, you know?

Oh, man, it's just so weird

being back here without her.

Yeah, losing a loved one is

never easy, man.

Hey, everyone loved your nan.

You know, she actually liked you...

even though you spent half your nights out

in out lawn here with...

putting, what? With the large Christmas

decorations all over our lawn.

- That was all Olivia and you know it.

- Oh, Olivia! Alright, pff.

The house is in pretty good shape.

Yeah, I've had people maintaining it,

making sure everything is in working

order. I just...

I'm not sure what I want to do

with it yet.

Well, if you do decide you want to sell,

I have a very interested buyer,

and if you do sell to me, of course,

I could guarantee you that I would fill

this place with a lot of life.

There you go.

Alright, I'll make you a deal.

If I do decide to sell, I'll call you,

let you make the first offer.

Sounds fair?

Sure.

Sounds good, sounds good.

Go Polar Bears, right?

- Hi.

Hey, Grace.

What's going on here?

You boys behaving yourselves?

Always.

Always? Oh, no. I remember more than one

hockey game where the coach

benched you two for...

what did he call it?

Severe competition.

You know, I thought of it more

as passion.

Passion, yeah, that's it.

Passion's the word you're looking for.

Alright, I'll get out of your hair.

Uh... I'm gonna grab a bite at

Beths Bistro, if you're free.

Oh, I... I... I have some work

I gotta get done, so...

Okay.

But if my schedule changes,

I'll text you later.

Sounds good.

- You and Quinn, uh? Oh, okay.

- It's complicated.

- Yeah? Oh.

- We're just... hanging out sometimes...

whenever we're both free.

It's nothing serious, we're just the last

two single people left in Ivy Glen.

Anyway, I...

Came here to talk to you about

the Ribbons and Bows Fundraiser.

- You did?

- Mm-hmm.

- Let me guess, Sami sent you.

- Oh, she did. She was very insistent.

Hmm, it's good to see that Sami will

still do whatever she can

to get what she believes in.

Yeah, but she has a point.

I mean, come on, your nan's fundraiser,

it did a lot of good

for Ivy Glen back in the day and...

you know, with the way things are,

it could a lot of people

if you brought it back.

Listen, I know that's the last thing you

probably want to hear,

but I'll help you, okay?

Anything you need, just consider it done.

I've already made a list of vendors that

I think would work for the place and...

it would really mean a lot to me

for this opportunity, I just...

I love it here.

So?

What do you say? Will you let me help you

revive the Ribbons and Bows Fundraiser?

Please.

I'll make it really easy for you, okay?

Olivia and Jack and I,

we will handle everything.

All you have to do is open up the place

and we will take care of the rest...

Okay, okay, okay.

So, you'll do absolutely everything?

All you have to do is smile and wave,

and you're good at that.

- Okay, you know what? Fine.

Let's do it.

- Okay, great! Yes!

- It could be fun.

- It'll be so much fun!

Okay, so do you want to meet tomorrow

morning at the caf,

we could start planning?

- Yeah, let's do that.

- Okay, sounds good.

- Okay, so tomorrow at the caf?

- Yeah.

- With Ryan St. Nicholas?

- Yeah.

Oh, wow, okay. I'm just gonna

go run an errand.

- Do you want me to go with you?

No, it's okay sweetie, I'll be quick.

I'll see you at home.

- You good?

- Yeah, great. Why?

Just, you know, Ryan.

Come on! He was my high school

crush, Jack, okay? I am so over it.

- I just know he was...

- A great friend, nothing more...

which is great. I love great

friends, they're... great.

Great?

- Stop it.

I'm just trying to be a good

big brother and look out for you.

Okay, you're a great big brother and

I love you, but I'm a big girl, okay?

The charm of Ryan St. Nicholas

has long since passed.

Okay.

Listen, I'm gonna order dinner.

Do you want sweet and sour chicken?

Does that sound good?

- Mm-hmm.

Egg rolls.

- Obviously.

Yeah.

What's wrong?

- Nothing.

- Hey, good timing.

- Hello.

Wow. I've had so many

post-game milkshakes here.

- Oh, yeah.

- Everything is the same.

Yeah.

It's kind of nice how things

don't change.

Yeah, it is.

Alright, let's grab a table.

Thank you.

The key to a great design is a strong

theme and since this is your fundraiser,

I would love to get your thoughts.

- Oh, sorry. That's one of our clients.

I gotta take this.

I will be right back.

Hi, Sarah.

Yeah, it's a good time.

You guys seem pretty busy.

You sure you got time for this?

Yeah, we got this. Come on, I know your

nan's house as well as I know my own.

I mean, I haven't been back to the

St. Nicholas House in a few years, but...

Nothing's changed.

Must be hard, going back there

without her.

Yeah. No, it is.

It's gonna be hard having

Christmas without her.

Yeah, but you know what?

She would be so proud

that you're reviving the Ribbons

and Bows Fundraiser,

that always meant a lot to her.

I was hesitant to do it, but honestly,

feels like the right thing to do.

Hmm.

Will your parents be joining?

They were always the life of the party.

- No, not this year.

They're actually backpacking

through Europe right now.

That's awesome.

I know! I'm so happy they're finally

doing it.

It was always on my bucket list to go

backpacking through Europe.

Yeah, mine too.

We should make that happen, then.

Um... so, this design.

Okay, how about this?

Come over to the house.

We'll go room to room,

see if we spark an inspiration.

That'd be great.

- You gonna get that?

Oh... that's just Quinn. You want

to get some hot chocolates to go?

- Yeah.

- Great.

Okay.

Can we get two hot chocolates

to go, please? Thanks.

- This your work?

- Yeah. Yeah, it is. What do you think?

Meh.

Kidding. The decorations look amazing.

Thanks. And it's really too bad that

we didn't get the contract

to decorate Ivy Glen's downtown

this year.

Yeah, but we will next year.

Thanks.

Hey. I'm gonna head back.

Jack's waiting on me to wrap the gifts

for the children that we're sponsoring

this year.

I'm about two hours late.

I'll see you both soon.

- See you soon.

- Bye.

So, is it weird being back?

I mean, so much has changed.

What do you mean?

Come on, everything about you

is different.

You left this town as a boy in a scraggly

white t-shirt with jeans

and you came back as a...

as a business tycoon in a very,

very posh suit.

- It is bespoke, thank you for noticing.

- Hmm.

Tell me about your business.

Oh, well, we are a full-scale decorating

and design firm

and we do everything from house

remodels all the way

to holiday decorating depending

on the client's needs.

So, what made you get into that?

Uh, my first year in college,

I took a decorating course

and it was just a throwaway course,

but it changed everything, changed me.

I don't know, I always thought you were

gonna do something with fashion.

- Fashion? Why?

You're just so bold, you know?

Do you remember when I bet you

you couldn't wear

my nan's Mrs. Claus outfit

for an entire week?

- I did.

- Oh, you did. You showed up every day

with a wig, the glasses,

that big fluffy dress...

I'm not gonna lie,

I was pretty impressed.

Yeah. Well, mister Bentford

wasn't very impressed.

He called me out in front of the entire

chemistry class, remember that?

Yeah. Well, he never had

a sense of humour anyway.

No, he didn't.

Thank you.

There you go. Thank you.

Keep the change.

You always knew how to make

everyone laugh.

Oh, I don't know about that.

Well, for me, at least.

Since that first day when

I was the new kid in Ivy Glen.

You know, I took my duties

as the unofficial head of the high school

welcoming committee very seriously.

Well, you made that transition

to live with my nan much easier.

I'm glad I could help.

Oh, speaking of help, if you need me to

do anything for the fundraiser,

I know you said that you would

take care of everything,

but if you need help, I'm here,

because that's what friends are for.

Yeah.

We're still friends, though, right?

Oh, come on, of course, we're friends.

We're always gonna be friends.

Listen, I should get going.

Okay. Text me if you want

to come by the house.

Okay.

Grace.

Yeah?

Really good to see you.

Good to see you too,

Ryan St. Nicholas.

I'm telling you,

this is the move!

- No, no.

- Yes, yes, yes!

This could finally be their perfect

moment.

Timing is everything, right?

Plus, Grace deserves her own love story.

This is just a little nudge.

Olivia, please, stop.

You didn't see her.

It affected her, it was so cute.

Like... okay. Do you remember

the Christmas pageant

that your mom talked

us into doing?

The one where Grace and Ryan

thought they were gonna be

background understudies, but then,

got wrangled into playing Mary and Joseph?

Yes, yes, and do you remember how they

were so locked into one another?

Like no one else mattered,

it was just the two of them?

Olivia, they were ten-years-old.

I think they were more focused

on not forgetting their lines

and embarrassing themselves

in front of the whole town.

Okay, maybe, but you didn't

see them at the caf.

The way that she was looking

at him,

I have never seen her look

at anyone like that before.

They are so perfect for each other,

the timing just never been right...

until now.

What?

I have a plan.

- You're kidding me.

Mistletoe.

- Isn't mistletoe Grace's thing?

- It's mine, now.

Operation Mistletoe. I am getting them

under this if it is the last thing I do.

Why?

Because, she's my best friend,

and even if she can't see it right now,

this is the right thing for her.

They've never been single

at the same time.

Okay, step one, the caf, check.

- You didn't?

- I did, yeah,

but we didn't end up

sitting at the right table.

Umm, but step two, I'm gonna put

it at St. Nicholas House,

and step three, I'm just gonna put

them all over Ivy Glen.

I mean, nothing says romance

like the magic of mistletoe!

You know what? You're right.

Nothing does.

Okay, I got one for the office,

two for St. Nicholas house,

I did one for the caf.

- Hey. What 'cha doing?

- Oh! Uh...

just looking for my

lip gloss and I found it.

- Do you want some hot chocolate?

- Yeah, sure.

Um, two hot chocolates, please.

- Hey, Grace, Olivia.

- Quinn, hi.

I'm glad I caught you. I just wanted to

swing by on my way to work

to run something by you.

- What's up?

Okay, I'm working with a major investor,

a luxury condo group

looking to expand into our little town,

how cool is that?

Cool or madly destructive

to our town's integrity?

Olivia. She's just kidding,

Quinn.

She's always been a kidder, huh?

Anyways, I just have to find them

the perfect location and we're good to go,

but I would love for you to

design the space.

Sounds amazing.

It would be huge and it could

put Keene and Rankin on the map,

and it would boost local business.

Mayor Hoffman agrees.

Yeah, we... we love that idea.

That sounds great,

we can't wait to hear more, can we,

Olivia?

- Yeah.

- Okay. Um... oh,

did you want a hot chocolate, Quinn?

Uh, ye... no, no,

I'm good, but talk soon?

- Sure.

- Okay.

- Oh, sorry. Okay.

Wow. I have seen rocks have more

chemistry than you two.

At lest, he's nice and he's smart and

you know, successful.

That's... that checks some boxes.

Well, that's love is,

it's just a box to be checked.

Okay. Listen, I'll see you in a few

hours to get started on the tree.

In a few hours?

Yeah, I told Ryan I'd stop by

the St. Nicholas House

so that we can talk about the design.

You know what?

I should get him a coffee too.

Ah, well, maybe while you're there,

you could go on the porch,

like, really take it all in,

maybe he's there with you.

Okay, I know you, Olivia,

what are you up to?

I... just taking care of our

most important client.

You have a glint in your eye,

got something up your sleeve?

Santas elves never reveal

their secrets.

Okay.

I gotta find some fancy

coffee shop.

Hey, right on time. What...

what's this?

A flat white with oat milk

and two sugars

How did you know my coffee

order?

Oh, come on, isn't that

the typical big city order?

Oh, okay. Well, what's your order?

Just in case, you know, I want to return

the favour.

Oh, just a small drip coffee

with two creamers.

- Simple and classic, I like it.

- Yeah.

Oh...

- I did not know that was there.

- Yeah, me neither. Um...

- I mean, we shouldn't, right?

- What? No. Ew.

Ew?

I don't mean like ew, ew,

I just mean...

...why? Did you want to kiss me?

No.

Did you want to kiss me?

- No.

- Okay, then we're good.

- Yeah, totally, totally good.

We should probably just take that down,

though. It's a little dangerous.

- I got it, I got it.

- Hanging up there like that, you know?

- Let's put that right in your purse.

- Great.

- Anyway, it's cold,

so maybe we should just get inside.

- Yeah, okay.

- Alright, let's get started.

Thank you.

- No problem.

Wow!

This is in a lot better shape

than I was expecting,

already done some decorating

too, nice job.

Oh, no, these were my nan's decorations,

we just didn't take them down

after she left.

She always had great taste.

Hum! The smell of this place brings me

right back to high school.

I know. I'd always make

the cleaning crew

use the exact same pine stuff

that my nan would.

Oh. It's nice that some things

stay the same.

Well, I'm starting to realize

that you're not the same at all.

- I'm not?

- No, you're more...

Hilarious? Good-looking?

Wildly well spoken?

You're more yourself. It's cool to see

you like this, focused, in your element.

It's really nice of you to say.

Well, I meant it.

Mm! You know, that was always

my favourite of your nan's decorations.

- This one?

- Yeah!

This is my eighth grade

masterpiece.

Eighth grade?

You made that in eighth grade?

Hold on, are you... mocking my

art skills?

No, I would never.

I'm being serious, I love it.

I mean, she has a lot of great

decorations,

but that one, that's the best.

Man. So why did you leave it up

after all these years?

I just didn't have the heart

to take it down.

I hired a caregiver for my nan

after grad school

and I realized I wouldn't be able to make

it out here as frequently as I wanted to.

I should have visited more.

The last few months here,

the caregiver said

that she thought every morning

was Christmas.

I just couldn't take that away

from her.

I'm glad you didn't.

I even went and decorated her room at

the care facility by my place.

Stayed up for five years until

she passed.

Well, there's nothing like the Christmas

spirit to get through hard times.

You know, what do you think

about adding to her collection?

What do you mean?

I mean, we don't have a theme yet

and this is really beautiful.

I mean, of course, we'd have to add more

and update a bit,

but I think it's a really good starting

point... if you'd like.

- I would like that.

- Great.

Glad to know we're on

the same page.

I mean, we still need to get a cohesive

theme to bring it all together, but yeah.

Okay, which room is next?

Right here.

So, you and Quinn, I know you

said it wasn't anything serious.

- Look, it's really not, okay?

We're good friends, you know?

It's nice to have somebody to go

to the movies with.

- Okay, so hypothetically...

- Mm-hmm?

If someone were to ask

you out...

Well, I would have to evaluate,

you know?

See if it fits to my work schedule.

Okay. Makes sense.

How about you? I'm sure a lot

of ladies love a bespoke suit.

- Some of them do.

Okay.

- I am kind of in the same boat.

- Yeah?

Everything at the firm is just

going so well that...

I don't know, I just haven't given

any thought to dating.

Oh. Well, you know, I am just so

relieved to know that we both grew up

to be adults with a great

work-life balance.

Ugh. I mean, my last

relationship was...

gosh, five years ago, maybe?

- Oof, what happened?

He was a really great guy,

he was in sales and...

I mean, he was really nice,

but we just...

ugh, you know, we didn't have that

thing, you know? That spark.

And I think we both knew it, but we were

just so good on paper

and we were trying to

make it work, but...

I realized that wasn't what was

best for both of us.

- No one else since?

- Oh, couple dates here and there.

- Yeah, Quinn, right?

- Okay, but chemistry is hard to fake.

Oh, you tell me. These days, it's like

finding lightning in a bottle.

You know, it's funny, I feel like I'm at

that age

where I can finally come up

for air.

For years, I just had my nose to

the grindstone, working late,

just doing whatever it takes to get

the job done,

not giving it a second thought.

- And now?

- Now?

I don't know, I just... kind of feel like

there's a shift in my life.

Everything that's happened in this

last year with my nan passing,

with realizing how much time

and dedication I put into work,

time that I'll never get back.

I mean, it's like someone turned on

the lights and I could see everything

that I gave up to get what I have.

There's still time.

- Not with my nan.

I mean, yes, I moved her as close to me as

possible so I could spend as much time

with her as I could, but...

it's never enough, you know?

I mean, she was the only family

that I had and now...

And now, you can start your

own family from the ground up.

If you want to.

- Should... we go see the sun porch?

Yeah, sure.

Do you remember sophomore year

when my nan hosted

that huge Christmas dinner?

Oh, come on, are you kidding?

The first time I had Christmas

Goose was in this very house.

Yeah? You had it since?

Oh, come on, nobody in this

town makes Christmas Goose.

Oh, and her hot chestnut stuffing,

I still dream about it to this day.

I know. I... I tried to make it last

year when my nan left me her recipe and...

yeah, it was a massive fail.

I burnt everything.

Well, maybe we could recreate

it some time.

I happen to be surprisingly

a very good cook.

Well, if your baking is any indication

of your cooking, I can't wait to try.

Oh, it's like stepping back in time,

I just love it.

Oh, yes. Okay, strike a pose.

You haven't aged a bit.

Do you remember your Christmas

cookies you used to make?

My nan used to love those.

She said it reminded her

of her childhood.

I tried to recreate them and it

just wasn't the same.

Are you talking about my

Christmas sugar cookies?

I had no idea.

Yeah. Well, if I didn't tell you,

I meant to.

Well, then, I'll have to make you

a batch while you're in town.

Please.

Have dinner with me.

Come on, Ryan, it's like

11 o'clock in the morning.

- I know, I meant later.

- Oh.

You know, I would love to,

but I have to decorate that Christmas

tree tonight.

- Yeah, I forgot.

- Yeah.

Okay, what about another time?

As friends, just friends,

old friends.

Yeah, maybe. Um... let me

check my schedule.

Oh, I forgot your busy schedule.

Let me just check, okay? Please.

So, Town Square, do you know

what you're doing yet?

Yeah, I do.

I'll tell you, but you gotta keep it

a secret.

I like things to be a surprise.

- Lips are sealed.

- Alright.

And I'll even show you some

of my designs.

So, I was thinking that I wanted

to tell a Christmas story, right?

I want it to capture the meaning

of Christmas, how it feels,

I want it to be a perfect blend

of the past and present.

It's a lot of pressure for

a tree, isn't it?

Yes and no, okay?

Listen, I like my designs to tell a tale

and even if I don't have it completely

figured out yet, I...

We should get a tree for this place,

a 14-footer.

You know, we could totally do that.

14 feet? That is huge.

Yeah. Well, go big or go home, right?

We want to make a statement.

And I think we could put it on the sun

porch, just like nan used to.

Oh, by the way, I spoke to Tim down

at the market and he's going to donate

all the beverages for the fundraiser

and the caf is gonna do

the catering free of cost.

Wow, that's... so generous.

I know, people, they're just,

they're so eager to help.

You know, this fundraiser really is doing

a lot of good for everybody.

I guess so.

It just feels right.

Yeah.

I'm gonna go get some decorations,

maybe I'll get some inspiration.

Yes. I will take some pictures

and maybe I'll get inspired.

Hm...

Hm.

Hey, Ryan?

What's up?

What are you doing tonight?

Want to decorate a Christmas

tree with me?

You have the whole town support.

Yes, I agree.

Okay. Chat soon.

Apparently, Grace and Olivia have gotten

everything off the ground

for Ryan's Ribbons and Bows

Christmas Fundraiser.

He actually sounded excited.

- Was that him on the phone?

- Oh, yes.

He asked me to get the word out,

do some publicity.

Hmm. Sounds like he wants one last

hurrah before he sells the place.

Sells the place?

Mm-hmm, I'm gonna make

him a great offer,

and then you, Madame Mayor,

will have a site for those luxury

condos we discussed.

I'd have to see the proposal first.

- You know that a first-class state-of

- the-art condo complex

would be great for local business.

Just think about all of the money that

would be poured into Ivy Glen's

restaurants and shops...

- I've already said I liked your pitch.

...By residents enjoying the new

luxury amenities.

We both know that the site of

the St. Nicholas House

is quite literally the perfect location.

Point is, I think this could be

exactly what we both need.

I mean, you want a second term

as mayor, right, Sami?

Boost the local economy,

increase the tax base

and youre a shoo-in.

Okay. Okay, let's talk about

this more at the office tomorrow.

I want to see those

numbers again.

Okay. Thank you, Sami.

Oh, no, no, I got it. Thank you.

Thank you.

That is a great tree.

It is gonna take us forever

to decorate it.

Oh, I have a plan.

I'm going to tie together the old

and the new,

figured Mayor Hoffman

and all of the donors will love it.

Hey.

- Where do you want this?

Over by the tree would be great.

Right away, boss.

Thanks.

What?

- Nothing.

- Thank you all for coming.

- Alright, let's do this!

You can take these over there and work

on that side of the tree

and I'll have the crew

finish the top.

- Sounds good.

- Thanks.

This looks phenomenal.

Yeah! Wait till you see how the design

ties in to the one at St. Nicholas House.

Spreading the themes across locations,

I like it.

Yeah. I just thought it might

encourage giving.

And these are so gorgeous,

where did they come from?

Oh, I might have had something

to do with that.

- Ryan!

- Jack.

By the way, I'm so sorry I missed

the wedding, guys. Congratulations.

No, we missed you,

but we understand, you're busy.

Yeah, but I'm always busy

and that needs to change.

Okay, I gotta go back

to the tree.

Yeah, I'll meet you over there

in a second.

I'm going to get the samples for

the Peterson tree. Do you need anything?

Grace? Do you need anything?

- No, I'm good.

Okay.

Bye.

So, things went well at St. Nicholas House

this morning?

- Yeah. Yeah... you could say that.

I mean, so well that he lent

you his nan's decorations.

Hmm.

Did you see any hanging

decorations that you liked?

Like greenery, festive greenery, no?

- Well, well, well, look at all this!

- Hey.

- Hey! I was just in the neighbourhood,

thought I'd pop by.

- Oh.

Okay. Well, I'm gonna go see if

the crew needs help.

Okay, thank you. What's this?

Coffee. Five creams,

nine sugars.

It's good, right?

Yeah, it's my go-to.

Hmm.

Anyway, I gotta run, the proposal goes

live this afternoon.

- Oh, good luck with that.

- Thanks.

Thanks. If it all goes well,

it could change all of our lives.

Yeah.

Anyway, I just wanted to say, this has

been a lot of fun,

us reconnecting and hanging out,

just like high school.

Yeah. Um...

...listen, about that, Quinn,

I think that you're a

really great guy, okay?

And I love your drive and your

ambition and...

I just...

I don't think that I can do this anymore.

I... I've really enjoyed spending

time with you, I have, but I...

I think I'm just looking for

something a little more serious.

Oh.

Oh, I see, um...

To be honest, I'm not sure I'm in a place

to settle down right now.

I mean, I really like you, I do,

I think you're an amazing woman,

but...

I feel like I have so much going on.

I... I feel like I need to focus

right now, I hope you understand.

- Yeah, your projects.

- Yeah.

- Oh, yeah.

Yeah, it's gonna be huge.

I mean, bigger than...

...than the hockey team making it to

the state championship our senior year.

- Wow. Quinn, that is really, really big.

- Right?

Yeah, mm-hmm.

I've... I've really enjoyed

our time together.

If you do change your mind,

I'm down for a dinner.

- Oh.

- Or a heist movie.

Or maybe even a romcom.

- Okay, deal. Good luck today.

- Thanks.

- Yeah. Thanks for this.

Listen, thank you so much for

your help today.

We quite literally could not have

done that without you, Ryan.

I'm happy to help.

Oh, also, I wanted to give you guys this.

- Oh.

That should cover any of the expenses.

I know you said that all the food

and beverages were completely donated,

but I don't want to put anyone out.

We're not doing this halfway,

so anything we don't use,

we can donate to the food bank.

It's incredibly generous.

Oh, sorry, I gotta run. Grace,

this is the Gregsons

about us potentially redoing their

kitchen and living room.

- Yeah, I can come with you.

- No, no, no, you stay, I got it.

Okay. Our samples are on my desk.

Okay, amazing. Thank you. Bye.

You kids have fun!

- Thank you for this.

- It's what my nan would have wanted.

- Yeah.

And you know what?

She'd be proud having all of her

decorations in Town Square on the tree.

Mm-hmm.

She loved it here.

So, what gave you the idea to do this?

Oh. Well, I found this

and I thought it was the perfect blend

tying together the past and present.

Should we get back to it?

- Uh... yeah, okay.

Actually, you know what? I have

a few errands I need to run, so...

Yeah, okay. I don't want to take

advantage of your free labour,

but it has been very helpful.

Listen, if you want to get that

dinner later...

if you're still interested.

Oh... yeah, no, we'll talk

about that tomorrow.

Yeah. Tomorrow, okay. Great.

- Ryan? Hi.

- Jack.

What can I do for you?

I just wanted to drop this off,

Grace left it in Town Square.

Uh... she'll be grateful for that.

She'd be lost without this thing.

I keep trying to tell her to go

digital, but nope.

Sounds like Grace.

You hungry? I was just

about to order pizza.

Oh, I couldn't interrupt.

No, come on, Id be grateful

for the break.

Okay, let's do it.

I do not remember that.

Well, yeah, because you

already graduated.

You were too cool to hang out

with these lowly sophomores.

Well, that's not true!

Okay, that's partially true,

but I was wrong.

Now, I'm married to my sister's best

friend, working for both of them.

And what a pair they are.

A powerhouse dynamic duo.

I'm lucky to be in her orbit.

So, are you enjoying being home?

Yeah, I am.

I was a little nervous coming back,

but... mm-hmm.

Well, you did wait long enough.

I didn't mean to, it's just the years

kept piling on and before I knew it...

wow, yeah, 15 years.

Do you regret any of it?

Honestly, no, because it got

to where I am today,

and yes, I love my job, but...

You want someone to share it all with.

When did you get so sentimental?

I just think that as you get older,

you start to realize what really

matters in life.

I mean, sure, success is great,

but if you don't have someone to share

it with, what does it matter?

A little cheesy, but you're right.

At the end of the day,

it's all about connection.

How's working with your spouse?

It's not for everyone,

I'll give you that, but for us...

she's my best friend,

a co-pilot.

You're really lucky.

But don't get me wrong,

it takes work.

But without her,

none of it matters.

You and Grace seem to be hitting

it off again.

Livs always thought you two

would end up together.

Really?

What makes her say that?

Grace has always been more

herself around you,

plus, I think the best relationships

start as friendships.

Well, I'm happy she found someone,

even if it is with Quinn.

Okay, one, I love that your rivalry

with Quinn is alive and well

all these years later, and two, trust me,

I know my sister,

there's nothing going on with that guy.

She said the same to me,

but when I saw them at the tree...

I don't know, kind of seem like

the opposite to me.

And he's very...

Handsome? Tall? Charming?

I was gonna say kind,

but yeah, that works.

It's been really nice, having him back.

- It is, isn't it?

- Yeah.

Do you know how long

he's staying?

Let me talk to Grace about that.

No, you do not need to talk to

Grace about that.

- Talk to me about what?

- Oh.

- Your love life.

- Gee, thanks.

Hey, Ryan.

What are you doing here?

He stopped by to give you

your sketch book.

Yeah, you...

left this at Town Square.

Oh, thank you so much,

you're a lifesaver.

Okay. Jack, we gotta go.

Remember?

- We do?

- Yeah!

Bye. See you both later.

- Woah...

...did I forget something?

Do we forget... do you have my coat?

- I have your coat, let's go.

Uh...

Okay. Um...

I don't know about you, but I could

go for a sugar cookie, right now.

- Okay, sure.

Alright.

- I can't believe we're doing this.

I mean, we're actually gonna

have cookies for dinner.

- Are you mad at it?

- I mean... no, of course not.

Hey, are you sure everything in

this kitchen still works?

Oh, for sure. I got a maintenance team

here all the time making sure everything

is in working order.

Gotta protect your investments.

- Investments? What does that mean?

You know, yeah, it's my family

house, but it's also an asset.

Oh.

- What?

- Hmm.

Uh... that eyebrow raise begs to differ.

It's just an asset? I mean, come on,

is that really how you see this place?

Thats what owning property

is, right?

- Let's make some cookies, hmm?

- Okay.

Okay, so first of all, if you're gonna

help me with this,

you might want to take

off your suit jacket.

- Um... okay. Yeah, you're right.

Sorry, it's just a habit.

It's your suit of armour, huh?

Exactly, yes, a suit of armour.

Okay, so tell me about your work.

Um... well, basically,

I'm a financial advisor,

I help people achieve their

long-term financial goals

in the shortest time possible.

Oh. Sounds fun. Do you like it?

Yeah, I actually do.

It's really rewarding when I see

the look on my client's face

when I help them reach their goals

and I double their investment.

Great.

Alright, so all you have to do

is just, you're gonna take this,

put a little flour on there and you're

gonna give it some easy pressure

back and forth.

Here you go.

Okay.

Like that?

- Yeah.

Okay.

So, how long are you staying

in town?

I don't know. This fundraiser is keeping

me here a bit longer and to be honest,

I'm not that mad at it.

I'm kind of enjoying being back.

Oh, "Actually enjoying being back."

Well, what were you expecting?

Well, I don't know. I didn't know what

I was walking into, it's been so long.

Well, are you happy with what you found?

Surprisingly, yeah.

Makes me want to spend more time here.

I don't think I'm doing this right.

- I'll take over.

- Yeah.

- Do you have cookie cutters?

Uh... yeah, I think so. Just...

Oh, here we go.

- Perfect.

There is so much junk in this house.

Junk? Listen, I happen to think that

there's a lot of things with sentimental

value in this house.

So, what are your plans for this

house anyway, uh?

I mean, it's such a magical place,

it makes me sad to think about it empty.

Me too. You're right, I'm not doing this

place justice, my nan loved this place.

I know she did.

I should have brought her back

for one last Christmas.

No. Hey, you look at me,

Ryan St. Nicholas, okay?

I know that it was not an easy decision,

moving your nan away from this place,

but I also know you and I know

that you took great care of her.

You know what?

What you're doing right now,

reviving her legacy with

the Ribbons and Bows Fundraiser,

that would make her very,

very proud.

- Thank you.

- Mm-hmm.

You're... you're right.

Yeah. Alright, you want to cut

some cookies?

- Yes.

- Great.

Okay. Ooh, I'll grab this one

right here.

Perfect.

Alright.

How did I do?

Nailed it!

Hopefully, it tastes better

than it looks.

It's the moment of truth.

I can confirm, it does.

A plus on your baking skills and

C minus for my decorating skills.

Hey, no, I would give that

a solid B minus.

Uh-huh, that's generous.

Oh, sorry, it's my tree guy.

- You got a tree guy?

- Yeah.

Hey, Billy. Did you get my

message about the tree earlier? Mm-hmm.

Uh... 14 feet would be ideal.

Oh.

Yeah, no, that's okay,

thanks anyway.

Mm-hmm. Bye.

Tree problems?

I just really wanted a 14-foot tree,

but all the big ones are gone within

a 50-mile radius, so...

...anyway, I didn't realize how late

it was getting.

I have a big day tomorrow,

but this was so much fun.

So...

- Oh, no, no, no, I got it.

What? No, I am not making you

clean up your entire kitchen by yourself.

Okay, I'll make you a deal.

Leave the cookies

and we're even.

Okay. Deal.

So, will I see you at the Christmas tree

lighting tomorrow?

I wouldn't miss it.

Great. Maybe we can get that

dinner we talked about.

Yeah, I'd like that.

Me too.

Alright.

Well, get out of here.

Thanks for a good night.

Okay, party people! We've got

T-minus three hours until showtime!

Hey, Jack and I are gonna grab a pizza

and watch old Christmas movies

after the tree lighting

if you want to join.

Oh, I can't, I'm having dinner

with Ryan.

- Wait, you're what?

- Just as friends.

Okay, you go home,

you do a face mask,

you paint your nails,

you, you give yourself a blowout.

You can just meet me here before

the tree lighting.

But we have work to do!

I know, I've got it covered.

You go, you go!

- Oh, I...

- Wear a cute dress! Wear heels!

Yes!

Oh, we are so close.

Operation Mistletoe is almost a success.

- Olivia...

- They are going for dinner tonight,

for dinner, do you hear me?

I just need to pull more sprigs.

- I think you need to take a breath.

- No, I need more mistletoe.

Do you think Grace will be angry if

she finds out that you're behind

all the mysterious mistletoe that keeps

popping up around town?

No, I think that she would thank me.

I mean, Christmas is the most romantic

time of the year,

I'm just giving them a little nudge.

Love you. Wish me luck!

Love you.

Hey.

Hi.

Should be any minute now.

Is it weird that I kind of feel like a

little kid right now?

- No, not at all.

I get excited every time I go to

a Christmas tree lighting.

I mean, especially when we're

the ones in charge of decorating it.

Yeah.

Do you think Sami likes it?

I think we'll have to wait for

the tree to be lit up to know that.

Hey, do you remember when we bet

that you couldn't make it

to the top of the Town Square

Christmas tree?

I can't believe you actually tried

to do it.

I made it halfway up that tree before

Mayor Dodds started to call my parents.

Yeah. Please don't do that

tonight.

No promises.

Wow! Look at that, the whole

group's here!

Go Polar Bears!

Come on, go Polar Bears!

Go Polar Bears.

- Hey, Grace.

- Quinn.

It's great having Santaman back, huh?

Yeah, it is, actually.

Gather round, everyone, it's

time to light the tree!

- Okay.

Merry Christmas!

Oh, it's so beautiful! I don't think

I've ever seen one prettier tree

than this Christmas tree.

- Oh, I think that Sami likes it.

- I think she loves it.

- You guys did a beautiful job.

- Thank you.

And huge thanks to you for all your help

and letting use your grandma's

decorations.

- I'm happy they came in handy.

- Yeah.

Oh, the volunteers are gonna drop by

the house tomorrow to decorate

based on Grace's designs.

Did she mention we're gonna leave

the old decorations up?

I want them to be part of it so we can

build upon Mrs. St. Nicholas legacy.

- I love that. I'll let them know.

- Okay.

You know, I think I forgot how much

I missed Christmas here.

Oh yeah?

- So, should we go eat?

- Yeah, I'm starving.

Oh, man, I'd love to,

I would, but I've...

I've got this investor thing I need to

finish, but let's talk soon.

I've got some things

I want to run by you.

Bye, Grace.

- Sure.

Bye, Quinn.

- Shall we?

- Yeah.

You did not say that.

I did. It was my first board meeting,

I had no clue what was going on.

Oh, come on! Even I know that you

don't comment on your boss's lunch order.

I thought it was helping.

- You can get that if you need.

No. That is business,

it can wait till business hours.

I'm sorry, who are you and what have you

done with Ryan St. Nicholas?

Well, it is Christmas time and since

I've been back here

and staying at the St. Nicholas House,

it's made me realize that maybe over

the past few years, my priorities have

been a bit out of whack.

Yeah, I can relate to that.

You know, my parents actually invited me

on their Christmas European backpacking

tour and I said no because I had to work.

I mean, who does that?

At least, Jack stayed back

with you.

Yeah. Yeah, but he's gonna celebrate

with Olivia and her family, so...

How about this? Next Christmas,

we'll plan it out,

we'll have a work-free

Christmas.

So, does that mean you're

coming back next Christmas too?

What?

To be honest, I was actually thinking

about selling the St. Nicholas House.

You what?

You were right, it's sad that it's just

been sitting there vacant all this time.

Yeah, but...

I mean, come on,

you can't just sell it.

Oh, I know that now.

I think I was just avoiding it because

of what it meant, that without my nan...

I'm alone, so...

You're not alone. Listen,

you have your friends and...

Ryan, no matter how far away you are,

how much time has passed

or wherever life takes us,

you'll always have me.

You know that.

I missed you, Grace.

I missed you too, Ryan.

We're not technically under it.

You're right. Technically,

the bar is under it.

Yeah.

Can I walk you home?

Sure, I'd love that.

Hey, can you do me a favour?

Of course.

Can you promise not to wait so long next

time before you come back home?

- I won't.

- Okay, good.

Alright, if you had to watch one

Christmas movie

for the rest of your life,

what would it be?

Easy, A Christmas Carol.

Really? Why?

Because it has a lot

of important lessons in it.

What, like, "Don't count your money

every day, all day,

or your Christmas

spirit will be zapped?"

More like, "Anyone can change their life

and no matter where you are,

choices you made, you can pivot."

Wow! Says the boy who thought

his life would be over

if he didn't make valedictorian.

Well, thankfully, I didn't

peak in high school.

Speaking of high school.

- Mm-hmm.

When is the last time you went

pranking?

You mean like what Quinn

and Olivia used to do

with the giant ornaments in our yard?

I can safely say it's been

years, why?

Because it's my favourite

thing to do during the holidays.

- Oh yeah?

- And I think we should do it.

Are you in? Are you... yeah? Okay.

Oh, Quinn has done a lot with

his parents' old place.

You know, he is a real estate

developer.

I know, but I always thought he would do

something in high school

so he'd never have to leave.

You know he never misses a game?

Yeah, that makes sense.

You ever go with him?

Yeah, the homecoming

a few times... a bunch of us.

Hmm.

Do you remember when we TPd

his house seven nights in a row?

The last night, his dad was waiting

for us, sitting in the window.

Quinn told me he loved it,

made him feel important.

- Really?

- Yeah.

That's so cute. Oh.

I'm sorry Olivia is missing this.

I don't know, I kinda like

that it's just the two of us.

(nervous chuckle

Okay, let's go.

- Shush! Gotta be quiet.

Shush!

Shush.

- It's magnificent.

Oh, I wish I could see his

face in the morning.

- I know he's gonna feel so important.

- Sssh.

Let's get out of here,

we have to go!

Run!

Okay, thanks. Bye.

- What was that?

Still no dice on the 14-foot tree

for St. Nicholas House,

but I stayed up all night last night

and I was able to finalize the design.

Oh, it looks like something

from A Christmas Carol.

Thanks. It's going for a Charles

Dickens' Christmas,

Ribbons and Bows edition.

Tall order, but I love it.

I just want it to be special

for his nan.

Not for him?

- Hey!

- Hey.

Hi.

I was just about to head over to

your house. The volunteers will be there

any minute to help us decorate.

Oh, okay. Well, I'll give you a ride.

I have another surprise for you.

Great.

Okay, you don't need to gloat.

I'm not gloating, this is good.

This is good.

I need mistletoe.

Okay.

What's all this about?

- It's your surprise.

You said 14 feet, right?

How did you...

where did you...

You're not the only one with

a tree guy.

Oh!

Okay, but you're sure

it's 14 feet?

Better be.

Gosh, I'm gonna cry.

11, 12, 13, 14! It's perfect.

Perfect!

Oh, my goodness.

- You guys nailed it.

Okay. They will help you put

it wherever you want.

Uh... how about on the sun porch,

where nan used to put it?

Yeah.

Um... if you put it on the sun porch,

pretty please. Thank you.

I can't believe you did this.

Oh, you know, always happy

to help.

Now, we just gotta decorate the thing.

Okay, so I was thinking, A Christmas

Carol is your favourite movie, right?

So I used that to finalize my design

last night

and I was thinking that's the perfect

blend of old and new.

It signifies change, but also...

- How some things stay the same?

Yes.

But the real question is,

"Can we pull it off?"

Um... oh, I think we can, Ryan

St. Nicholas, yes.

Hi! Hi, everyone. Oh, thank you

so much for coming.

We'll meet you right inside.

- Thank you, thank you.

- I think we can do this.

- Thank you guys.

- Okay.

- Let's go.

- Let's go decorate this house.

- After you.

Alright.

No, no, no. We... yeah, we got this.

The Mayor approved the plan, so we can

move forward with the deal.

I'm closing on the land any day, now.

Oh, yeah, it's gonna be great.

Go Polar Bears!

This one...

Right...

I think you got it.

Oh, thank you so much for your help.

Can't wait for you all to

celebrate with us tomorrow.

I couldn't bribe you with dinner,

could I?

Yeah, dinner would be great.

Alright. I'll find us some

takeout menus.

By the way, everything looks perfect,

but I'm not surprised at all.

Thank you.

Okay.

Where are you going?

I'm just gonna swing by St. Nicholas

House on the way home.

Why?

- To hang decorations.

- Olivia...

Grace said that they haven't kissed yet

and by my calculations,

they've been under

the mistletoe three time,

still no kiss.

We're running out of time!

I think it's time to give

Operation Mistletoe a rest, my love.

Okay. I just want to try one more thing

and then, I will, I promise.

Hes leaving, Liv.

No, not if I can convince him

he has a reason to stay.

Wish me luck.

- Good luck.

- Hello.

- Hey.

Wow!

This place looks great!

Thanks.

Really.

A little old school for my taste,

but still pretty nice!

- What can I do for you, Quinn?

Is Ryan around?

I sent him a text about some papers

I need him to sign.

Oh, what kind of papers?

sh**t!

Between you and me, I think...

I think it's time this place got a little

bit of a facelift, don't you?

I wasn't under the impression

he was selling.

Oh, no, he's definitely gonna sell.

Everybody has a price and

I think I might have found his.

Thank you for the ornaments on

the lawn, by the way.

Such a blast from the past.

- Olivia, are you okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

What are you doing here?

And what is all this?

- It's just...

- Mistletoe?

I can explain.

Wait, are you the one that's been

putting it all over the place?

- I was just trying to help.

- Help with what?

Oh, hey, Olivia. Were

you in on the lawn gag too?

The what?

- Hello, I'm back.

Oh, there he is.

Oh.

- What's going on?

- Can we talk for a second?

I want to run something by you

about the sale.

I don't know,

I haven't decided if I'm gonna...

What? Come on, man!

This place has sat vacant for years.

Sami already approved the plans.

Wait, Sam...

your project was Ryan's house?

You didn't think that was an important

detail to share, Quinn?

Picture it, okay? This place

completely demolished and its place,

a brand new state of the art world-class

high-end condo complex.

I can't wait to see your bid to decorate

the place,

I think it's gonna be a great

collaboration.

And Sami has already given us

the green light to start demo

at the top of the new year.

Bro, this place will no longer

be your burden.

- Okay, I'm just gonna...

- What is that?

Oh. You know, the mistletoe

that keeps popping up everywhere,

that was Olivia.

What mistletoe?

- That mistletoe, Quinn.

Wait, are you two...

is that why you cut things off

with me?

Grace, he's not sticking around.

He's about to run back

to his life in New York.

He's too good for Ivy Glen, remember?

That's why he hasn't lived here

in the last 15 years.

So, whatever little fantasy

he's had you wrapped up in

the last couple days, it's not real.

I bet you anything he's already

booked his flight

for first thing Christmas morning.

I mean, the only reason he came

back here was to sell the place.

Is that true?

No. Yes...

I don't know.

I just wanted to see if there

was anything left for me here.

Is there?

Okay.

Grace.

Let her go, man. Let her go,

you've done enough.

Let's just sit down, have a cup

of hot cocoa and discuss these numbers.

I think you're gonna be very happy.

My investors are presenting

a very generous offer,

all you have to do is sign the papers

and we're good to go.

Come on, man! This is the best

thing for everyone!

I should have told you about

Operation Mistletoe.

I should've told you about

Operation Mistletoe.

Yeah, you should have.

I'm sorry, I was just trying to make

this Christmas special for you

and I was hoping if I got

you and Ryan together,

that would be enough

to make him stay.

Guess I was wrong.

Listen, it's not your fault, okay?

I'm the one who got wrapped in the idea

of what it would be like

if Ryan St. Nicholas actually

stayed in Ivy Glen.

Both of us know that would never happen,

Operation Mistletoe or not.

I can't believe he's selling

to Quinn.

I can.

- You don't mean that.

- No, I do. Quinn was right.

I got swept up in a fantasy.

Listen, you're a really good friend,

but lay off the mistletoe for me

for the foreseeable future.

I kind of need a break.

- I can do that.

- Okay.

How much mistletoe did you have, though?

So much.

It's not too bad.

Okay.

Oh, still coming.

And full disclosure, there is some

hanging in your apartment,

just to be safe.

- Great.

Are you gonna be okay?

Yeah, I'm gonna be fine.

I think.

Yeah.

You will.

Good morning. You can setup

the catering in the kitchen.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

There is a row of lights in the sitting

room that still needs to be hung.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Alright.

Oh, good morning.

- Morning.

Oh, Olivia, wait. Have you

talked to Grace?

'Cause she's not answering her phone.

I think she needs a moment.

You know, I didn't mean to

lead her on, I just...

...I didn't realize how much

I enjoyed being with her.

- Hmm.

- And I know, selfish, guilty.

Because you're leaving.

I feel like no matter what

I do, it's the wrong choice.

Okay. Well, I'm gonna start

setting up for tonight.

Sorry about the mistletoe.

- Well,

I should have realized

it was you.

(gentle music

Right there is perfect, thank you.

Thanks, guys.

Okay.

Wow! Looks great, thank you.

It's all Grace.

Well, we're almost done, so if you want

to head out, I can take care of the rest.

I'm almost finished.

You think she's gonna show tonight?

It's not like Grace to bail

on a commitment.

I hope you're right.

You know, if you decided to sell,

I don't think anyone would blame you,

but just for the record,

I think we all really enjoyed

having you back.

Wow.

Uh...

Who's there?

What were you planning on

doing with that?

Uh... nothing, I don't know.

I just thought it would...

look better there.

Okay. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you,

I was just making a few last tweaks.

I wanted to put one more ornament

on the tree.

Doesn't really go with

the design aesthetic, but okay.

Well, it happens to be a very

sentimental ornament

and that's the key to any good design.

Ryan, I...

- Grace, I...

Go ahead.

These last few days have been

amazing.

It's made me realize how much

of myself

I've shut off since I've left this place.

Spending these days with you has kind of

been like my ghost of Christmas past.

It's made me realize what I want

in my life for my future.

Which is?

A life with balance.

A life spending time

with people I love.

In a place that...

feels like home.

Well, Grace, I...

I gotta say, I knew you would pull

it off.

- Pull off what?

Oh, the event hasn't even started

yet and there's a lineup

outside of people ready to donate.

You know, reviving the Ribbons and Bows

Fundraiser

was a very good plan,

if I do say do myself.

Oh, and nice tie-in with the tree

in the Time Square, mm, perfect.

I'm sorry, I'm just so thrilled

that everything is working out perfectly.

So, you're not mad about

losing the condo complex?

What?

Oh, uh...

I'm not selling St. Nicholas House.

You're not?

No. You were right, it's more

than an asset, it's my legacy.

I mean, luxury condo complexes are

great to bring in to new residents,

but I feel like it's more important to

focus on building up

the community we already have.

I couldn't agree more,

and if things go smooth today,

I want to sit down and talk with you about

doing an official partnership

with Ivy Glen and the St. Nicholas House.

Oh, now that is something

I could really get behind.

Oh!

Oh, Olivia! Grace, I spoke to

the town council and they all agree.

The example you're setting here

with this fundraiser

has everyone blown away.

- Oh.

So, I look forward to hiring Keene

and Rankin

for all of the city's upcoming

decoration needs.

Thank you so much!

Oh, honey, can we check if the greeters

are in place?

Thank you so much,

because I think it is five o'clock.

Should we let everyone in?

- Yeah.

- We got to get this show on the road!

- Let's do it.

Ladies and gentlemen,

thank you for coming.

We wouldn't be here if it weren't

for the generosity of Ryan St. Nicholas.

So please, Ryan,

would you do us the honours?

- Of course.

And first off, big thank you

to Mayor Hoffman for helping convince me

to do this and all of you for making

this possible.

As you know, this was

my grandmother's house,

and in her honour,

I invite all of you into the Ribbons

and Bows Christmas Fundraiser.

And none of this would have been

possible

if it wasn't for the beautiful

artistry of Grace Rankin.

Oh, and the help of my friends,

Jack and Olivia. Give them a hand.

Alright, merry Christmas!

Come on in!

Thank you guys.

Merry Christmas, thank you.

Merry Christmas.

I'd say that was a success.

Yeah, I mean, we raised enough to cover

the food bank,

the kids after school arts program

and the community centre seniors events.

That's amazing!

And a huge thanks to you.

Well, thank you for being

my ghost of Christmas everything.

Oh, that's a title I will

gladly accept.

Okay, I'm gonna go tell Sami.

Mayor Hoffman.

- Yes.

- Just call me Sami.

- Oh1

It's weird having my friends

call me Mayor Hoffman.

- Thank you so much because honestly,

I don't know if I was gonna

be able to stick to that.

Sami, will you please meet me outside?

I just want to take some formal pictures

while the photographer is still here.

Absolutely.

I know that we agreed

Id lay off the mistletoe,

but that doesn't mean you have to.

Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.

So...

...what was it you were gonna

say to me earlier?

I probably should have told

you this back in high school, but...

What's that?

I'm in love with you.

I always have been.

And you know what? I think

I might stick around for a while.

Keep my feet on the ground

and who knows,

maybe wear a t-shirt and jeans

a couple days a week.

How does that sound?

Well, what about your clients

in New York?

Well, I can fly back to New York,

take meetings and do the rest from here.

- Okay.

- Yeah.

Then, I just have one last

question for you.

- What?

- Can you do me a favour?

Can you hold this up for me?

I'm kind of short.

- I got you.

Like that?

- Yeah. You know, apparently,

it's bad luck if you don't kiss someone

you love under a mistletoe.

Oh, really?

Mm-hmm.

Guess we're gonna have to reinstate

Operation Mistletoe

'cause we wouldn't want any bad luck

around here, would we?

- I love you, Ryan St. Nicholas.

Happy?

Oh, I am just warming up.

For what?

Operation New Years Engagement.

- Yeah.

Seriously?

- Oh, yeah.

- No.

- Yes! Yes!

- I'm not doing that.