Original subtitles

Two down, six to go.

Maggie! Come in!

Come in! What a nice surprise!

I know I said I'd call,

but why do that when I can just drop in announced?

I hope you don't mind.

I put up a few Christmas decorations,

just to make it feel more like home.

Does it feel like home yet?

Well, it's only been a day.

Well, it looks fabulous, already.

When you first mentioned renting a furnished place,

I knew I had the perfect listing.

I made you a little bit of a welcome

to the neighborhood Christmas basket.

You didn't have to do that.

Will your family be visiting over the holidays?

Because Cedar Park shines at Christmas time.

No, it's just me.

But it's fine. It's fine.

My medical fellowship will keep me busy,

and I plan on volunteering for extra shifts.

Yeah, that's very nice.

And, and I do think it's very important to give back

when we can, so.

Oh, oh dear.

Okay, I have to go.

Somebody's expecting me. I can't be late.

- Ta, ta. - Bye.

I have somewhere to be, as well.

Oh, honey! Kevin!

Hello! Welcome home, son!

Come on, come on. It's cold.

- Here, give me your bags. - Are you sure, old man?

You're taller. I swear you're taller.

No, no Maggie, we're just shorter.

- Oh, honey. Come in! - Oh!

Well, I know your first choice

was Northwest Falls Medical in Chicago,

but I'm so pleased you matched with us, Dr. Stafford.

Your fellowship program in orthopedics is one of the best.

Well, we may be a small hospital, but we are mighty.

I certainly believe it.

Well, tomorrow we'll get you acclimated

and you can jump right in.

I look forward to it.

Good, good.

You have good people around you?

- Sure. - Yeah?

Mom, there's barely enough room as it is!

- Oh, honey! - Where're you gonna put it?

You're back home after six years.

I just wanna make all your favorites.

Mom, you could feed an entire regiment.

She had me make three different trips

to the store today.

Well, there still is nothing quite like mom's home cooking.

- I'll tell you that. - You got that right.

And now you can have it anytime you like.

- Thank you. - We're so proud of you, son.

Grandpa would be too,

knowing you followed in his footsteps.

Thanks, Pop. It's nice to be home.

Good to have you home.

Well, first things first,

as much as I would love to have you living with us,

I'm pretty sure you'd like to have a place to call your own.

So, I know a great spot over on Camden.

It's not far from the hardware store.

I could always use an extra pair of hands, you know.

Gets busy during the holidays.

Yeah, and also you could... you could help me out

sometimes when I'm showing my listings.

Okay. Let's just slow down here,

shall we? I just got back into town,

I'm very happy to be here.

Can't we enjoy this nice meal together?

Sure. Just...

I mean I just don't know why

you should sit around waiting for things to happen.

Better to be busy.

- Okay, what's going on here? - Sorry, honey.

It's just that we know that...

you thrive on structure, so we thought that...

The Air Force was good for that,

we just don't want you to... be adrift.

I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me, okay?

Okay.

I will figure out my next steps.

Honey baked ham's ready!

There's more?!

Okay, one regular latte, one almond milk latte,

one soy latte, one vanilla latte, one chai latte.

Which is a lot of lattes.

I started a new job today,

I wanted to do something nice for everyone.

One cappuccino, one mochaccino,

one Americano, and one decaf.

- Hedging my bets. Thanks! - You're welcome.

Watch out!

Coffee train, full steam ahead!

Do-Do you need some help there?

Thanks, I've got it.

- Are you sure? - Positive.

Now you're just trying to prove something.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

You know, it's not the worst thing to ask for help.

Well, if I ever need any, I know who to ask.

- Suit yourself, Kate. - How did you know my... ?

It's written on the cups. All nine of them.

Hi, everyone.

This is Dr. Kate Stafford, our new orthopedic fellow.

- Hi Kate. - Welcome.

As you can see, her instincts are already top notch.

Or it's just my way to try to win everyone over.

I've got a patient waiting,

but Liz here, has offered to show you around.

Great.

- Hi. - Hi!

Liz Warner, nurse,

and manager of Christmas merriment.

Self-appointed.

This is my third year at Cedar Park Hospital.

Really is a wonderful place.

The town, the people, it's all so lovely.

You'll meet everyone, and soon enough,

this place will feel just like home.

For the year, at least. Until my fellowship is done.

Where are you from?

Well I moved around a lot,

so I never really know how to answer that question.

Here, let me help.

Don't you just love Christmas?

I do, yeah.

But it's... it's been a while

since I've had a proper celebration.

We'll have to do something about that.

Yeah.

Here, let me get you another one.

Oh no, that's okay, Mom. I'm alright.

How's your leg feeling?

It's okay, I've just been sitting too long.

Yeah, no. Why don't you have that checked out?

Mom, you don't need to worry about me. It's fine.

I'm your mother, so it's my job to worry,

- so I'm just gonna call the clinic. - Mom! No.

We will follow up next week, Mrs. Jones.

Thank you, Dr. Stafford.

And I will be sure to plant those hyacinth bulbs,

just like you suggested. Thanks for the gardening tips!

Gardening tips?

At this rate, you're gonna win over the whole town.

Hey Kate, your next patient's ready.

Thanks.

Hello, Mr. Matthews. I'm Dr. Stafford.

Kate! From the coffee shop.

- It's you. - I prefer Kevin, actually.

Well Kevin, from the coffee shop,

what can I help you with?

- I don't need any help. - Then, why'd you come here?

My mom made me.

Aren't you a little old for that excuse?

I thought so, but she insisted

- I get my leg looked at. - Well, what happened to it?

Injured it during military service.

It healed just fine. The end. Can I go now?

Shouldn't you be at a VA hospital?

The nearest one is a couple towns over.

This was a lot quicker. I'm a busy guy.

Clearly.

Well, let's take a look at it, since you're here.

- It's fine, really. - Then it should be quick!

So, how did you injure it exactly?

I kicked a shark in the face.

That's funny.

I was para-rescue,

it's a division of the Air Force.

Two years ago, during an airdrop exercise,

my chute malfunctioned.

When I hit the ground,

my leg took the brunt of the impact.

Two surgeries later, good as new.

Any recurring pain?

Every now and then.

Well, this hospital has a great physical therapy program.

I don't need it. I'm all good.

I...

vaguely recall someone telling me,

it's not the worst thing to ask for help.

Well, if I ever need any, I know who to turn to.

Do I get a lollipop now?

Cute.

- Hey, Mom. - Hi, honey. Kate?

I should've realized you'd be working here.

Wait a second, you two know each other?

I helped Kate find her new rental property.

Yeah, Kevin Matthews.

- Maggie is your... - Mom, yeah.

Isn't this a delightful coincidence?

Yes, Dr. Stafford,

would you say our experience together was delightful?

One of many words in the dictionary to choose from.

Did he get the all-clear?

Yes, yes.

But I'm sure, as you know, your son is very...

independent.

Yes, so too, it seems, is Dr. Stafford.

Then I guess you've each met your match.

- Honey. - Thanks.

Doctor.

I just saw the most stubborn patient.

The tall, handsome guy with the good hair?

I suppose his height is statistically above average.

Hey, are you free this Saturday?

I'm organizing the annual Christmas event here.

Sounds fun!

Yeah, I always plan a big event

for the patients and their families.

My first year was a bake sale, then the pageant.

And this year?

A musical performance by the Cedar Park Warblers.

All the holiday hits.

Well, who doesn't love a holiday hit?

Anything I can do to help?

No, just enjoy.

I'll be there.

These extension cables will give your Christmas lights

enough power to wow the whole street.

Thanks.

- Merry Christmas. - Merry Christmas!

It's nice to see another Matthews working

the Matthews Family Hardware, again.

Well, just like weekends in high school.

Yeah, if you're not careful,

you may wind up with the keys to the kingdom.

Well, well, well!

If it isn't the hometown hero himself!

There he is! Hey, buddy!

- Hey. - Good to see you.

Was hoping to swing by yesterday

but caught at the camera shop. But hey,

- better late than never, right? - Don't sweat it.

I see you're not just here for me.

Outlet plugs, edge guards, cabinet locks.

I know you're clumsy, but this seems excessive.

Or perfect baby-proofing a house?

No!

Congrats, man! That's incredible!

You and Carolyn must be thrilled!

Yeah, thrilled! Elated!

Nervous as heck.

Take your pick.

So, you gonna name the baby Kevin?

- Kevin, for sure. Yeah. - Nice!

- That's a great idea. - Yeah.

So, you gettin' your own place soon?

- Keeping my options open. - Okay. Speaking, of,

you've gotta let me introduce you to some

- of Carolyn's friends. - Listen,

dating is the last thing on my mind right now, okay?

That's cool. What's on your mind?

Why is everyone so concerned about my next moves?

I'll land on my feet.

Transitioning to civilian life can't be easy.

I'm figuring it out.

Working here's a good start.

Yeah, I think my dad may want me

to take over the store one day.

That's great!

That's not... great?

I don't really have the heart to tell him

- it's not really my... - Your calling.

- Yeah. - Yeah, I bet he'd understand.

- Not so sure. - What about the VA,

don't they have a job placement service?

Yeah. I've got a meeting with them in a few days, actually.

- Good! - Yeah.

Yeah, but big picture, what do you want?

To find you some cabinet locks

you're definitely gonna have a hard time opening.

Okay, I got it.

"Six letter word for glossy coating. "

Enamel.

What's a nine-letter word

for something I've been avoiding?

Unpacking.

Hello?

We're closed!

"A Journey of Giving unlocks with this key... "

"solve this riddle and you shall see!"

A riddle?

"Letters aplenty, only seven for me,

to Santa they went by air, land, and sea. "

"A tree with four sides

is where you'll find me,

December 16th at 7:30!"

That's tomorrow night.

Dr. Stevens, line one. Dr. Stevens, line one.

Hey, Kate! How was your night?

The strangest thing happened.

Somebody left this key outside my door,

along with a riddle.

That's exciting!

Yeah, but who would've left it for me?

Maybe it's the spirit of Christmas.

I'm sure it's just somebody playing a prank.

Regardless, could be a fun challenge.

Or a distraction I don't have time for.

I wouldn't be so quick to brush it off.

Magical things tend to happen around the holidays.

Hey Dad, you ever seen a key like this?

- No. Where's it come from? - I don't know,

somebody left it outside the store last night.

Well, looks vintage, that's for sure.

Well, they left a riddle along with it, as well.

Must lead to something.

Whatcha gonna do?

Solving some random riddle

is the last thing on my mind right now.

Son, I remember,

you used to have an adventurous spirit.

Hey, did you solve the riddle yet?

Not yet.

Well, what are waiting for?

"Letters aplenty, only seven for me,

to Santa they went by air, land, and sea.

A tree with four sides is where you'll find me. "

What's a tree with four sides?

Maybe it's a topiary?

A very geometric topiary?

You have anything like that in town?

Like a tree in an English manor garden,

perfectly sculpted into a cube

by a groundskeeper named Jeeves?

Not that I know of.

Alright. "Letters aplenty, only seven for me. "

So, it's obviously describing the object I'm looking for.

What has seven letters and has something to do with Santa?

Reindeer.

Reindeer.

That's eight letters.

That's it!

- What's it? - Letters.

The kind that kids send to Santa by air, land, and sea?

And what has letters aplenty?

Mailbox.

M-a-i-l-b-o-x. Seven letters.

This key belongs to a mailbox in town.

But where?

I have until 7:30 tonight to figure that out.

Okay, I know you're a mailbox, but where are you?

Okay, 15 minutes left.

"Tree with four sides is where you'll find me. "

What has four sides?

What trees have four sides?

What thing with four sides has trees?

Juniper Square?

So, tree, square,

tree, square. Tr...

Oh, right.

That's it!

- Kate? - Kevin?

I know this is a small town, but it's not that small.

You got one, too.

Someone left this outside my door last night.

- Along with a riddle? - Yeah, pretty easy one,

- if you ask me. - Of course.

I bet you didn't need any help with it, at all.

No, I didn't. I'm a certified genius.

- Didn't you know that? - Is that so?

- Yes. - Okay, fine.

But why were we both sent to the same place

at the same time with the same key?

Look!

I wonder what's inside?

Only one way to find out!

Ready?

We've come this far.

Well, I guess we know which one we're gonna open first.

- Hey. - Come on!

It's like when you see a door that says do not open,

you just wanna know what's inside the...

Fine, we'll do it your way.

"Congratulations, you found me.

For the first stop on your Journey of Giving,

choose a treasured Christmas tradition

from one of your childhoods,

and help each other re-create it for someone you know.

Help each other, huh?

Well, Dr. Stafford,

it seems you're finally gonna have to give in.

Like you? At the hospital?

- I didn't need any help. - Neither did I.

I seem to remember a near avalanche of almond lattes.

I guess we're both just two people

who like to do things for themselves.

I guess so.

- So... - So... ?

- That's it, then? - That's it!

- Journey ends here. - Guess so.

- Good. - Fine.

So, you just went your separate ways?

Yep.

But the adventure, the mystery,

the riddle that led you there.

The real riddle is, why are men so stubborn?

- I don't think it's just men. - Well, I can't help it

if Kevin doesn't wanna work with me.

Maybe you can get him to reconsider.

Or maybe this little holiday journey wasn't meant to happen.

Speaking of things that weren't meant to happen,

the Cedar Park Warblers got their dates mixed up

- and double booked. - Oh no!

Yeah, it's fine,

I just have to find a new event on short notice.

Well, I'm headed out to run some errands on my break,

but I'll keep an eye out for any ideas.

- Thanks girl. - Of course!

Okay wait, so you both just walked away?

Yep.

Well, maybe she'll change her mind?

I don't know.

Kate seems like the kind of person

who's very set in her ways.

I can say the same about you!

Here to reconsider?

You're the one who didn't wanna work together.

I seem to remember it differently.

- You must be Kate. - Hi.

Hi, I'm Jackson.

And before I excuse myself to let you work out

whatever this is,

Kevin definitely does wanna work together.

He thought you didn't.

Okay, I'm gonna be I'm gonna be back there now.

- Great idea. - Alright.

Thanks.

So, you actually do wanna do this!

Do you?

Well, I'm very busy at the hospital.

It's our busy season at the store, so.

Who knows how long it could take?

- It's a big risk, yeah. - But if we did...

It is interesting.

It's not something you see every day.

Definitely not.

Okay, well I'm game, if you are.

Well, I'm game, if you are.

Are you just going along with this to prove something?

Are you?

I suppose neither of us will ever know.

Fine. I'm in.

Great, I'm in, too.

Now, could you tell me where I could find some sponges?

So you're not just here to see me.

Happy accident.

I just need to pick up some cleaning supplies,

and I didn't even know you worked here.

It's my father's store.

Sponges are over there.

- What else can I help you find? - I'm good, thanks.

I thought we were working together now.

Fair enough. Feather duster?

Next to the squeegees. See?

- We make a great team. - Cute.

So, when do you wanna start?

I could meet after my shift ends.

Great. See you then.

Jackson, a word, please?

- Mr. McAllister? - That's me.

Nice to meet you, I'm Dr. Stafford.

Right this way.

When did the pain in your hip begin?

This morning.

I could barely get outta bed to bring myself here.

I'm sorry to hear that.

We'll start with a physical exam and see what's going on.

I looked my symptoms up online,

and I may have a very rare condition,

and it's called... what was it called?

It begins with an 'L'.

Let's not focus on what might be,

and instead focus on what we learn, Mr. McAllister.

Thank you, that's a good idea.

And before I forget,

my symptoms also match this other condition

that I saw online,

and the photos of it were absolutely terrible!

Now, I'm very concerned about that

because I had an uncle...

who had a very similar situation and you know...

Kevin?

Sorry, I'm late.

One of my patients discovered WebMD.

Say no more. Here you go.

- Thanks! - You're welcome.

Yeah, what've we got?

- You ready? - Yes.

"Choose a treasured Christmas tradition

from one of your childhoods,

and help each other recreate it for someone you know. "

When do we get to open this one?

"Only once you've completed this task,

you may peek inside the second envelope. "

Fine. Okay.

Do epic snowball fights count?

Yeah, I didn't think so anyway.

Yeah.

Okay what were some of your favorite

Christmas traditions as a kid?

I'd always love it when I'd wake up

and my dad's recipe book was on the kitchen counter.

It meant that we were about to bake

some delicious Christmas cookies together.

Well, that sounds nice.

Are you gonna see your folks over the holidays?

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry.

No, no, no. No,

I just, I lost my parents when I was young.

I'm so sorry, Kate.

My grandma raised me after that, but yeah,

I've been on my own for quite a while now.

That must be hard.

I try to remind myself to be grateful

for the times we had together.

But try as I might,

I did not inherit his baking skills.

Well, my mother is an expert in the kitchen,

and all I'm good at is eating.

But I'm like really good at it.

I bet.

When I was young,

my mom and I used to decorate our own ornaments.

We'd buy beads, and glitter,

and water-based paint.

We'd design little landscapes,

or snowflakes, or elves.

It always made the tree feel like ours.

- Why don't we just do that? - Really?

Yeah, why not? Sounds like fun!

Yeah, okay.

But we're supposed to do it for people we know,

and I don't know anyone in town except for you,

and my colleagues at the hospital.

- Like, Liz! - Liz?

She's one of our nurses.

She always organizes the holiday activity

at the hospital, but the Warblers double booked, so...

The famous Cedar Park Warblers.

Great with the holiday hits,

terrible with time management.

Well, Liz needs a new holiday event this weekend.

I think ornament decorating could be perfect.

- So do I! Alright! - Great!

Will you hold this?

- Sure. - I'm gonna call her.

You're gonna call her right now?

- Right now. - Okay.

Hi, Liz? I have an idea I think you're gonna love...

Hi, everyone.

This is a holiday tradition I always did with my Mom,

and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

You done? Alright, everyone,

let's... get... decorating! Come on!

Let's go!

There. Whadda ya think?

Am I budding Michelangelo?

Is that a... is that a horse?

It's... it's a reindeer!

It's Rudolph. Look at the nose!

Right. Dead give away.

Alright, art is not my strong suit.

Let's see yours.

Okay.

I'm gonna chalk that up to you being trained

in surgical precision.

Mom, I can't do this... I can't do it.

- No, I can't do this no more! - You didn't even try!

No! Did you see that? I can't do it!

Just try with this hand. Give it another shot.

It's okay, I can hold it for you.

- Robbie... - I can't do this.

Hi. I'm Kate. What's your name?

Robbie.

Must be hard decorating ornaments

with your arm in a cast.

Yeah, the doctor put it on today.

He was a trooper through the whole thing.

You know, some kids have their friends sign their casts.

Would you like us to sign yours?

Say, is that a C-130 you've got there?

How did you know?

Well, I just got back from the Air Force,

where I was a para-rescue man,

which means I jumped outta planes, just like that one.

- Really? - Yeah.

Except, a couple years ago, I hurt my leg

and I had to wear a cast too,

but I wasn't gonna let that stop me.

I could have fun in all kinds of other ways.

Like how?

Well, just because you can't decorate an ornament,

doesn't mean you can't make one.

That's right! The nice thing about Christmas trees is,

anything can become an ornament.

Like my airplane?

Exactly, dude.

We can just rest it in the branches, you know.

Or you can make it an actual ornament

- by adding a bit of ribbon. - There's an idea.

There you go.

And get your finger right in the middle.

Ready? There!

Finished.

Well, not quite. May I?

Just one finishing touch.

U-S-A-F.

US Air Force.

Can I see?

Of course!

It's official now.

- It's beautiful. - Really is.

But you know, what, it's missing one thing.

Get up there!

Airman Robbie, please report for duty.

Great job, everybody!

Beautiful.

You two make a great team.

Looks like the event was a hit!

What?

No, nothing, it's just,

you were really great with Robbie back there.

Is that a compliment I hear?

- More a statement of fact. - Okay.

Not everyone has good bedside manner.

Well, doctor, it was...

- kinda nice working together. - Yeah. It was.

We're forgetting something.

The "no peeking" envelope.

How could we forget to peek at the...

"no peeking" envelope?

Alright, let's see what we've got here.

Another riddle.

"Christmas clock rewind,

between Then and Now you'll find,

a chance for Christmas cheer,

connecting far and near. "

I wonder what it means?

But it'll have to wait 'cause I have to start my rounds.

Yeah, I've got a meeting at the VA Staffing Agency.

Meet up after?

- Sure. Yeah. - Okay.

And don't solve it without me.

Hey, no promises!

Well, your resume is impressive.

Top grades in college,

knowledge of construction and manufacturing,

experience leading teams.

But what is it you actually wanna do?

You know, I haven't really zeroed in on that, quite yet.

Well, you are well-suited for the majority of jobs

that come across my desk.

I'm not just looking for any job.

I've got one here, and I can continue there if I want.

What I'm really hoping to find is...

What the next chapter of your life is gonna be?

Exactly. Yeah.

Well, that's only something that you can really answer.

- Hey, buddy! - Hey!

If I can't find wooden dowels, can I use nails instead?

Are you building something?

You know, it's all... it's all under control.

If I could just locate the instruction manuals,

I'd be cool.

I'm coming over.

Sure, if you want to.

I mean, yeah, see you soon!

There.

I would've gotten it eventually.

You know, Jackson, you are good at many,

many things.

If I ever need a photographer,

or the latest up-to-date camera equipment,

you're the first person I'd turn to,

- but building of any kind... - Not my strong suit.

No, sir.

What if I'm...

- what if I'm not good at it? - At what?

Fatherhood!

It's a whole different ball game.

My kid's gonna be depending on me.

Listen, I know it's not the same thing at all,

but my first few weeks in the Air Force,

I was terrified.

So, how'd you deal with it?

Well, I just trusted

that even if I didn't have all the answers,

I knew when it came down to it, I'd do the right thing.

Yeah, I hope I can get to that point.

You will, man.

Hey, how's that Christmas mystery...

clue... riddle hunt thing with Kate going?

Is that what we're calling it?

- That's what I'm calling it. - Okay.

You know what? It's...

it's actually going pretty well.

- Kevin? - Hi.

I was hoping to see you soon! Oh, my goodness!

Congratulations in person. Look at you!

Thanks! It feels like it's happening so fast.

So exciting!

Look at this crib!

It's wonderful.

Kevin, can you stay for dinner?

I can't tonight. I'm sorry, I have plans.

- Next time. - I'm so glad you're back.

- Good to see you. - You too!

Now, what else can I fix around here

and give you credit for, huh?

Read me the clue again?

Okay. "Christmas clock rewind,

between Then and Now you'll find,

a chance for Christmas cheer,

connecting far and near. "

"Between Then and Now. "

This is a fun one!

I didn't know you were so into all this.

Well... I owe it to my Dad.

Every Sunday morning we'd do crossword puzzles

in the newspaper together,

and jigsaw puzzles at night.

So you were his little puzzle apprentice, were you?

Yeah, I guess I was.

Sometimes I wonder if it's one of the reasons

I got into medicine.

Getting to the bottom of a challenge.

Examining clues.

Unlocking answers.

What?

Nothing, that's just one of the things I loved

about being in the Air Force -

the strategizing, the problem solving.

It's like, putting together a puzzle.

Maggie, hi! Do you need any help?

Hey Ma!

- Hey, Kevin! - Hi there.

Hey, no, I'm fine honey, thank you.

What've you got there, Mom?

Just a little Christmas shopping.

- For me? - If you're lucky.

You know, Christmas, it's only a week away.

Kate, what are you doing tomorrow night?

Well, I'm not on rotation at the hospital,

- so I'll probably... - Okay, well,

the correct answer is, you're coming over to our house

for dinner. Arnold and I insist.

I don't wanna impose.

A little bit of advice, don't try to fight it.

- Okay, then. - Excellent.

Okay, I gotta run, but I'll see you tomorrow night.

- See you, then. - Great to see you.

Never one to take 'no' for an answer.

Santa's Village looks incredible.

Yeah! It's gonna look even better

once Dad and I put the finishing touches

- on Santa's house, though. - What?

Yeah, Matthews Family Hardware has sponsored

and built Santa's Village every year since I was a kid.

It's amazing to see how much it's grown since then.

I had no idea. Why didn't you say anything?

- You ready?! - You never asked me.

Get set... go!

I used to do the reindeer races

every year, growing up.

Reigning champ four years in a row, don't mind my saying.

Mildly impressive.

Whadda ya say?

With your knee? That's not, not the best idea. No.

Afraid of a little friendly competition, are we?

Oh, please.

I'll hop gently, Dr. Stafford.

- Okay, fine. - Great.

- Doctor approved. Let's go. - Okay!

Do you wanna be... Blitzen,

or Comet?

- Oh please, Comet, for sure. - Yeah, typical.

Everyone always wants to be Comet.

What am I thinking? Oh boy.

Reindeers ready?

Go!

Not so fast!

What was that? Show off!

Well, I had to make up for my ornament-decorating skills.

That's a good point.

Plus, I may have run a bit of track in high school.

Oh my. Oh!

Sorry.

It's okay.

- "Christmas clock rewind. " - Pardon me?

Look! Christmas through the Ages, that has to be it!

- Oh, the museum! - Yeah!

It's not far from here.

If... if we leave now, we can get there before it closes.

- Let's go! - Okay.

Race ya!

Welcome to Cedar Park Historical Museum.

Just to let you know, we'll be closing soon.

Mr. McAllister?

Dr. Stafford! What a surprise.

And speaking of surprises,

Kevin, I heard you were back in town.

- It's good to see you. - You too, sir.

I didn't know you worked here.

Mr. McAllister doesn't just work here,

he owns the museum.

Curator of all things historical in this fine town.

That's incredible.

Actually, while I've got you here,

have you ever heard of Lansjorgen's Syndrome?

- It's very rare. - I will look into it.

Didn't you say that the museum's closing shortly?

Oh yes, that's right.

Well, feel free to have a quick look around.

Thank you. Let me guess, patient WebMD?

So special how your town celebrates

its history like this.

Yeah, my grandfather used to take me

to this exhibit every year. He was very into local history.

Actually... it's still here!

My grandfather built this.

- Was he from Cedar Park? - He was!

But he spent half of his life in the Army Air Corps

stationed all around the world.

I can't believe he built all this!

I know! Every Christmas morning,

he'd let me help him put it together.

We'd lay down the streets and the little trees.

My favourite part was building the houses, of course.

And then when he donated it to the museum,

we'd come here every year and look at it again.

It was like a cute little family thing.

And of course, I was also always here... for that.

Look at that!

Of course, you did! This thing's a classic!

Right?!

Isn't it amazing?

I always wanted to ride in it as a kid,

but McAllister would never let it leave the museum.

God, this sure brings back a lot of good, old memories.

You know, even if we don't solve the riddle,

it was worth it to come here just to see all this old stuff.

Well, hang on, let's not give up yet.

Right.

"Christmas clock rewind brought us here. "

So, what was the next line?

"Between Then and Now, you'll find. "

Okay... let's see.

Could this be it?

Vintage holiday outfits from "back then"?

Well, if it is, I don't see any clues,

and they are closing in a few minutes.

Yeah, well, keep your eyes out.

We can always come back tomorrow.

- Kate, look! - Yes!

Gotta be it, right? Yeah.

Another envelope!

And another thing I can't open now.

- Don't even think about it. - I won't.

"Congratulations! The next stop

on your Journey of Christmas Giving

is to send a message of Christmas cheer

to someone you don't know, someone far or near. "

Well, this is turning out to be quite the little adventure.

Right?

So, your hip is better, but now it's your knee?

Well, you wouldn't believe it, but this morning,

I felt I was walking on hot coals.

So, it's your foot, then?

Don't worry, we'll check for inflammation.

See what we can do for you, Mr. McAllister.

You know, I looked online,

and somebody said, that there's a rare condition

where pain in your hip can migrate to your knee

and then go...

Mr. McAllister, it's wonderful to hear

that your hip is no longer bothering you,

but considering it went away as quickly as it came,

I'm not quite convinced the two are connected.

But don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of it.

Thank you, Dr. Stafford. That's quite a relief.

Of course.

Mr. McAllister, can I ask you an unrelated question?

Sure.

If you were to receive...

a message of Christmas cheer, from someone you didn't know,

would you want a Christmas card,

or personalized cookies,

or I don't know, sky writing?

Christmas is the last thing on my mind right now.

Really?

What about the Christmas exhibit at the museum?

You know, I think the pain has...

has moved to my other foot.

We should get this checked out quickly.

Of course. I'll...

I'll order x-rays, right away.

Thank you, doctor.

So, there's 5-year-old Kevin

telling this elaborate story about

how the dog ate the entire blueberry pie, and meanwhile...

And meanwhile, Kevin's teeth were completely blue.

Okay, how about we put a pause

- on the embarrassing stories? - What? No!

It's half the reason I came tonight.

Okay, fine. How about a different story?

How did you two meet?

- Well... - Well,

I actually came here for work, just for a month.

- Our paths never crossed. - That's right.

And I was actually driving home to Dallas...

Yep, and then and your car broke down.

Yeah, and I had to be towed right back to Cedar Park.

Yeah. Now, at that time, I was working as a mechanic,

you know. So, your mother comes in,

and she's asking me all kinds of questions about,

"How much is it gonna cost?"

And "How long is it gonna take?"

I thought it would be an hour, tops, by the way.

Yeah, well a week,

and a delayed carburetor later,

- the car was good to go. - Yeah. But I wasn't,

because I'd fallen in love with the mechanic.

And we were engaged by the end of the year, huh?

That's beautiful.

We put our announcement in our Christmas card.

- Yeah, we did! - Actually...

here's the card with our engagement announcement.

Look at you two!

Yeah, it feels like yesterday, huh?

- Look at all that hair. - You stop, you.

Yes, mom likes to put these out every Christmas.

- Well, I can see why. - Thank you.

Kevin, look,

it's you and Grandpa.

Yeah.

Look at those frosted tips!

Hey, it was cool at the time, and you know it, okay?

Yeah, well, so were my feathered bangs.

I have no idea why I thought that.

Wait, is that... is that the model of the town

- that we saw at the museum? - The very same, yeah.

Such sweet memories.

Every card is like a little time capsule.

- Grandpa. - Yeah.

You know, I always loved getting cards

when I was overseas.

Made me feel closer to home.

- Kevin, that's it. - What?

Why don't we send Christmas cards

- to the troops overseas? - Yeah.

Wait, well what's this?

The... the next step with the riddles is,

send a message of Christmas cheer

to someone you don't know.

Yeah, we could send Christmas cards

to American servicemen and women.

- That would definitely count. - Absolutely!

That's a wonderful idea.

Or we could take a cue from the museum

and send one from the whole town.

The residents of Cedar Park wishing the troops

- a Merry Christmas. - I love it.

But that is... it's a lot of people.

Yeah, and it's only six days 'til Christmas.

Oh yeah, it's not gonna get there in time.

How about we send a video message?

Like a video collage of people around town

wishing the troops a Merry Christmas.

Jackson would help you with the video equipment.

- Oh yeah! - We can do this,

if we do it together. I'll tell my friends...

Yeah, yeah, I can do the same, yeah!

I can tell customers at the store.

I'm sure I can get a few doctors and nurses on board.

Everybody's gonna be really excited to be a part of this.

Great, and then I can send it to a friend of mine

at Air Force Outreach, who can distribute it.

Great idea.

Okay, check this out. 30. 4 megapixel,

full-frame sensor for superb video quality.

Lithium batteries, to keep you going all day long.

And the built-in mic is not so bad either.

Doesn't this all seem a bit much?

Yeah, man, we don't even know how to work

half of this stuff.

Well, hey, that is why I'm here.

I may not know my way around a crib,

but I know how to make your video look good.

Okay, well...

Liz also said that she wanted to help.

She offered to bring a bunch of festive accessories.

There you go.

See, you got yourself a cinematographer and a stylist.

You're in the big leagues now!

I guess we are, huh?

Alright. What's the first shot, Spielberg?

Okay, so I'm thinking a sweeping shot

of a bunch of kids having an epic snowball fight.

One of them gets hit right in the eye, right?

And then I rush over to the kid, and I help him out.

- You ready? - Yeah, I'm alright.

Thank you for all that you do.

Peace and joy to everyone.

Merry Christmas!

Okay, big smiles, everybody! Okay!

From all of us at Cedar Park...

Happy Holidays!

Beautiful.

Okay, you guys ready?

Alright. And... action.

To all of you over there...

Season's Greetings.

Happy Hanukkah. Feliz Navidad.

That's the spirit. Okay, ready and...

action!

Supporting our troops this Holiday Season,

Merry Christmas from Cedar Park Hospital!

Cut. Perfect!

Come and have a look.

- How do you make this... - Right here.

- You do it. - Alright.

This is gonna be the best Christmas video ever.

Yeah. Cute!

From all of us at Cedar Park...

Happy Holidays!

- The video's really good! - I know!

And underscoring it with a Christmas carol, great idea.

Thanks. I do love a good Christmas carol.

Alright, now we've just got to wait for it to export,

and then we're all good.

- Refill? - Sure, yeah.

I like what you've done with the place.

Thanks. All came with the rental.

You didn't wanna personalize it a bit?

Put your own spin on things?

I know. I know.

Let me guess, the more you commit to a place,

the harder it is when you have to leave?

Yeah,

life in the Air Force, always on the move.

Anyway, if my parents have anything to say about it,

I'll stay right here for good.

My dad keeps dropping hints

about me taking over the hardware store.

What's wrong with that?

Nothing, it's just...

it's his thing, you know.

I mean, he built that place from the ground up.

He always wanted to own his own business.

And what do you want?

Export is complete.

Time to send it off.

And there we go.

- They're gonna love it. - I know I sure would've.

You know what this means we get to do next, don't you?

What?

May I?

- It's all yours. - Okay.

Is that a Codex?

Why am I not surprised you know exactly what that is?

Who doesn't know what this is?

- ... I don't. - Right.

So, how does it work?

Well it's sort of like a bicycle combination lock.

You arrange the six letter wheels

to spell out the correct password

and the cylinder slides open, revealing what's inside.

- What? - Right?

- Cool! - Yeah!

Okay, so how do we guess the password, then?

Maybe it has something to do with this Christmas tree.

Okay. Tree, Christmas tree.

Boughs, like Deck the Halls with...

Boughs of holly. Okay.

The bough breaks.

You know what? Speaking of breaks,

maybe the answer will come to us if we take one.

What'd you have in mind?

Well, it's...

it's actually the town tree lighting tonight,

and I was wondering if...

maybe you wanted to go?

So, we can spend more time trying to crack the code?

- Exactly. - Yeah.

- Yeah. - Meet you there later tonight?

Sounds good.

Hi.

Hey.

I thought you might like some hot apple cider.

It's top shelf stuff.

Perfect balance of cinnamon and nutmeg.

It's all about the spice ratio.

So, codex?

Right. Yes.

- Hey guys! - Hey!

- Hi! - So...

I'm gonna need your opinion on something.

Carolyn and I were

just discussing the theme for the nursery.

Yeah, discussing is one way of putting it.

Okay. Don't you think an animal theme

- would be perfect? - Clouds, honey.

Sweet little clouds with smiley faces on them?

Yeah, but if you really think about it...

Okay, well, what are you both doing tomorrow night?

That's right! I forgot.

So, these guys throw the best ugly Christmas sweater parties.

Yeah, 12 years running.

Started winter break in college.

- That's right. - Well, that sounds like fun.

Actually, some of my classmates at med school

used to throw an ugly sweater Christmas party,

and I could never go because I was always too busy studying.

Well, now is your chance to join ours.

- We're a real tight-knit group. - Oh boy.

- Gimme some. - Terrible.

And on that note, I would love to come.

- Great, let me get your info. - Oh yeah.

You and Kate seem pretty chummy.

I don't know if I'd say chummy, but...

I thought all of this was the last thing on your mind.

What?

Sweetie...

They have homemade gingerbread cookies here...

- we should check out... maybe. - Okay.

Then we'll see you both tomorrow night.

Okay. Enjoy the rest of your evening.

They seem so nice.

They truly are the best.

So, back to the puzzle?

Alright everyone, we're gonna get started.

Come on, everybody!

Merry Christmas, Cedar Park!

Thank you all for coming out to the annual tree lighting.

It's wonderful to see so many familiar smiling faces.

Especially those we haven't seen for some time.

Kevin Matthews, our very own hometown hero.

Alright!

Would you like to do the honors?

- Come on, Kevin! - Yeah, Kev!

I'd love to, Mayor!

Let's hear it for Kevin.

Duty calls.

Come on, Kevin!

The box.

Thanks, Megan.

This is the real hero of Cedar Park.

- Stop. - Okay everybody,

we're gonna start this countdown at five,

- yeah? - Yes.

Five... four... three... two... one!

You'll be happy to know that I

a Christmas tree this afternoon.

- Oh yeah? - Mhm.

Did you go all out and get the biggest one?

You sound like my parents.

Growing up, they'd tell me to pick out

the biggest Christmas tree that I could find.

- Well, did you? - I think so.

But you know, when you're five, everything looks gigantic.

Yep.

And yes, I definitely need a step stool

for the one I picked.

A rather tall Balsam Fir.

Balsam. Classic.

Yeah.

Do you have the codex on you?

- Yeah, what are you thinking? - Balsam.

- Oh... yeah! - Yeah.

Okay.

B-a-l-s-a-m.

Balsam bust.

We'll figure it out eventually.

Yeah.

Speaking of Christmas trees...

do you think your parents would wanna come over

and help me decorate mine?

What, I'm not invited?

No. Yeah, no. Definitely not.

I think you might wanna reconsider.

My height is a supreme advantage.

Alright, fine. You got me there.

Yes, they would be thrilled to come over and help you.

And I suppose it wouldn't be the worst way

for me to spend my evening.

So... are you warming up to this town yet, or what?

It's not what I expected.

Oh, no? What did you expect?

Well, not to be here, actually.

My first choice of medical fellowships

was Northwest Falls in Chicago.

And why Chicago?

It was the last place I lived with my parents

before they passed.

I always thought, if I could get back there,

I could somehow...

Get that feeling of home back, too?

Yeah.

You'll get there eventually.

Just a...

little later than I had hoped.

Right.

I...

I still can't believe that you and your Dad

build Santa's Village every year.

Yeah.

You know, I gotta admit,

when I was a kid, I thought helping build it

would get me some kind of in with Santa,

and he would put my wishes at the top of the list.

Right. Of course.

What was on your wish list as a kid?

Typical boy stuff.

You know, toy cars, comic books.

- Right. - That kinda stuff, you know.

How about you?

- A horse. - A horse?

I'd ask my parents for one every year,

and of course, it was completely impractical,

so they got me a, a rocking horse, instead.

Clever.

But I still do want a real horse.

Someday.

It's on the grown-up wish list.

Yes, the grown-up wish list.

- My own plane is on mine. - Okay.

What else is on yours?

Opening my own practice, eventually.

Maybe some travelling, too.

Actually, hearing about your time in the service

got me thinking, maybe some time

with Doctors without Borders could be interesting.

Yeah. Yeah, you'd be great at that.

I'm glad you asked me here tonight.

I'm glad you came.

So, as you can tell, Mr. McAllister,

we couldn't find anything wrong with your hip or your knee,

but you say that there's pain in your shoulders

and your latissimus dorsi,

which is a scientific name for a muscle in your back,

that I'm guessing you found online?

Well, so you must be as perplexed

about the cause of this, as I am.

Let's take a look at your mobility, shall we?

- Okay. - Here we go. There it is.

I haven't seen you at any

holiday festivities around town.

That's more my wife's thing.

She passed away this year.

I'm... so sorry.

There's no point celebrating the holidays without her.

So, how was the rest of your night?

Well, we didn't solve the codex, yet.

I mean, how'd it go with Kate?

It was a nice time.

That's it?

She caught you by surprise, didn't she?

I'll admit, we are getting along more

than our initial meeting would've predicted.

That's a very practical assessment.

My practical assessment is, she's leaving in a year.

A lot can happen in a year.

You know, I wouldn't be starting a family

with the love of my life

if I let practical assessments stand in my way.

Seriously?

Okay, I'm gonna go get some cider, okay?

Be right back.

Hi!

- Hi! - Hey.

Hi. That is one ugly sweater.

Thanks. Yours is easily top ten.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

So...

how was your day?

Good! Good, yeah. And you?

Was good, too. Yeah.

I had a really nice time last night,

at the tree lighting.

Did you? I mean, I... did, too.

Which is good.

I thought of another possible answer for the codex.

- You did? Really? - Yeah.

Did you solve it yet?

What do you take me for, a rogue operative?

I don't know, can't be too careful.

You remember our first clue that we got?

They talked about our Journey of Giving.

Giving. Six letters. Yes!

- Right? - Why didn't I think of that?

Would you like to do the honors?

- Absolutely! May I? - Yeah!

Thank you.

Okay, g-i-v-i-n...

Yeah, g.

- Yeah. Okay, you ready? - Yeah.

You sure?

- Yes! - Yes!

- You did it! - I did it!

- We did it. - We did it.

- Are you ready? - Yes, what's it say?

"Because Christmas is a season for giving,

donate a gift to the Cedar Park toy drive. "

"Where you'll find a surprise gift of your own. "

Oh well, that doesn't sound too hard.

Kevin?

I... just realized what we're standing under.

Right.

It's a... mistletoe.

Yeah.

Hang on,

my phone's ringing.

- Can you hold that? - Yeah.

It's the VA Staffing Agency.

I gotta take this. I'll be right back?

Yeah, of course. Go. Go, I'll be right here.

- Okay. - Well, maybe not... right...

Right. Okay.

Hello?

Hi, Kevin. I'm sorry for the late phone call.

No problem.

I just received word about an opening

at a disaster relief organization.

- Oh yeah? - It's a real exciting company,

and I think you'd be perfect. I mean,

someone with your moral compass and experience, leading teams.

Yeah, that does sound interesting.

Here's the catch, the position's in California.

California?

During our meeting you said,

you'd be open to relocating if the right job came along.

Right, I... I did say that.

So, can I submit you?

Kevin, it doesn't hurt to take an interview.

Right, right never hurts. Thank you.

- Thank you. - Okay.

Dr. Stafford! I just wanna say...

I'm really impressed with your performance here.

You put your patients at ease.

Your colleagues comment on your professionalism

- and your positive energy. - Thank you.

I really appreciate that, Dr. Reagan.

You can have a real future here,

beyond your fellowship, if that interests you.

I just wanted you to know.

So, that's what we're all about here,

rescuing those that have been affected by natural disasters,

providing humanitarian aid

such as shelter, treatment, and more.

Response, recovery, and mitigation,

it's just like my time in the Air Force.

Exactly why I think you'd fit right in here.

It was nice talking to you, Kevin.

Let me connect with my team. I'll be in touch.

Okay, thank you, Kimberly. We'll talk soon.

- Hi. - Hey!

- Sorry I'm late. - No worries!

What'd you bring for the toy drive?

This is a little toy toolkit.

It's how I got started. How about you?

Wait, let me guess, it's a puzzle of some kind?

Am I really that predictable?

- Yes, you are. - Great.

Okay, so according to the note,

there's supposed to be a surprise gift for us here.

- Kevin! - There it is!

"For Kate and Kevin. Open me. "

Thank you.

Okay.

"Congratulations on nearing the end

of this Journey of Giving.

While Christmas is about giving,

it is also about being open to receiving. "

My turn!

"For your final step,

think back to when you received your favorite gift

on Christmas morning,

and recreate that meaningful memory for each other. "

Meaningful memory.

- That's it! - Did you think of something?

It's not for me, it's for somebody else. I gotta run.

- What... who? - Yeah, I'll see you tonight

at my place to decorate the tree.

Okay.

Mr. McAllister.

Dr. Stafford.

There's nothing wrong with you.

What?

What you've been experiencing,

they're called minor psychogenic symptoms.

- Well, that sounds bad. - No, no, no, it's good!

It means that there's nothing with you, medically speaking.

Well, I don't understand.

Where do all the aches and pains come from?

Well, your discomfort started acting up

the closer you got to Christmas, right?

So?

I remember you told me that your wife loved Christmas.

I'm guessing your most meaningful memories

of the holidays are with her.

What's that got to do with anything?

You miss her.

And that's why it's hitting you the hardest now.

See, sometimes our emotional responses

can translate into physical ones, and...

and that's why you're hurting.

But if you embrace Christmas as a time to remember

all the wonderful things about your wife,

the holiday can be a source of joy for you, instead.

I... I'm sorry.

I know you mean well,

but you didn't know my wife,

or what we had.

And nothing can take away the pain of missing her.

So, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work.

Good day, Dr. Stafford.

Kate, good here?

That's perfect. Yes.

You look just like them.

I remember that photo.

That was when we moved to Chicago.

I remember, I cried the entire drive there.

It was Christmastime, and I just,

I missed my old house and my old neighborhood,

so my mom gave me this locket.

Yeah, it's really sweet.

She said it was a reminder that no matter

where I found myself for the holidays,

I would never be far from home.

- That's beautiful. - Yeah.

Might be the hospital.

Yeah.

Hello?

Kate Stafford?

It's Patricia Lynn, with Northwest Falls Medical.

Northwest Falls.

Yes, hi. Yes.

- How are you? - Excellent.

I apologize for the late call, but it's a timely matter.

There's been a change in our fellowship slate

and a spot has opened up for you.

I've gotta take this. One second.

That's okay.

Hi there.

Kevin, hi.

It's Kimberly from California Disaster Relief.

- Yes, hi, how are you? - Great, thank you.

I spoke to my team, and we all agree,

you'd be an excellent fit. The job is yours!

Thank you!

That's... that's great to hear!

We can work out all the details in the next few days,

but just so I'm clear,

you're able to relocate after the holidays?

I'm sorry.

I didn't... I didn't expect this.

No, it's a lot to take in.

If you still want it, the fellowship is yours.

It would start the first week in January.

Can I give it some thought?

Of course. Of course.

But we will need to know by end of day tomorrow,

otherwise we'll have to release the slot to a runner-up.

Yeah.

Let me look into that on my end.

- Oh, and Kate... - Yes?

We would really love to have you.

Everything good?

Yeah, yes. Yeah, all good.

Son, everything okay?

Hey. Yeah. Yeah, everything's good. Yeah.

Dr. Stafford.

Mr. McAllister, actually I'm... I'm glad you're here.

I wanted to apologize for what I said to you the other night.

There's no need, because you were absolutely right.

Last night, I walked through Cedar Park

and I looked all the houses lit up with sparkling lights.

Evelyn always loved doing that

and I felt close to her again.

And this morning when I woke up,

not a spot of pain anywhere.

That's wonderful to hear.

Well, I know this is a small token of my appreciation,

but candy canes were always her favorite.

I don't know what to say.

Well, how about Merry Christmas?

Merry Christmas, Mr. McAllister.

Merry Christmas to you as well, Dr. Stafford.

- Hey, man! - Hey!

So, whadda ya think?

Yeah, feeling really good about things.

- And I owe you a thank you. - For what?

You know, for what you said

when you came over the other day. You were right.

I was putting too much pressure on myself

to have all the answers. I'll learn as I go.

You're gonna be a terrific father, buddy.

Hey! Take a look at this.

Looks great, right?

The student becomes the master.

So, by the way,

how did the interview go with the folks in California?

- Pretty good, I think. Yeah. - Yeah?

Well, they offered me the job, so...

Way to bury the lead, buddy! Congrats! That's great!

Have you told Kate yet?

- Not yet. - I gotta run.

Carolyn's home. She hasn't seen any of the nursery yet.

- She is gonna love it! - Thanks, man. Talk later.

Bye, bye.

So, a job in California, huh?

Hey, didn't know you were standing there.

Yes...

- I haven't accepted it yet. - Why not?

Well, it would take me out of Cedar Park.

- So? - So?

If it's what you want, you should go for it.

But if I leave, who's gonna take over the hardware store?

Take over the store, what are you talking about?

What are you talking about?

All... all the hints you've been dropping

about how you love having me around?

Well, of course I love having your around, you're my son!

This... this whole time,

I thought you wanted me to take over Matthews' Family Hardware.

Kevin...

this store is my dream.

I never meant for you to feel

like you had to follow in my footsteps.

I want you to pursue your own dreams, your own aspirations,

and if it takes you outta Cedar Park,

then you should go for it.

It's not about what I want, or what your mother wants,

it's about you. It's your life.

Go for it.

Dad, what if I don't know what I want yet?

I mean, what if I leave,

and then I find out that what I actually want

was here in Cedar Park all along?

Well...

I guess you got some choices to make.

Either way, you'll always have a home here.

So, Northwest Falls just offered you a spot.

Your dream job, in your dream city.

I still can't believe it.

- Are you gonna take it? - I don't know.

But it's what you always wanted.

Have you told Kevin about the offer yet?

- No. - Well, you have to.

Kate, Liz, what a surprise!

Carolyn, hi!

I was just thinking about you and Kevin's big news.

Big news?

Jackson told me that the Disaster Relief Organization

offered him the job in California.

- What?! - He didn't tell you.

Yes... right. That's...

that's really great news. It's very exciting for him.

For a second there,

I thought I said something out of turn.

Well, I've gotta get to an appointment,

but we'll all have to get together before he leaves.

I can't believe they want him to start

right after the holidays.

Did you know... about California?

No, Kevin didn't say anything.

Okay, this is exactly why the two of you need to talk.

But if he got a job opportunity,

I don't wanna hold him back.

You don't know if he accepted the job or not.

Carolyn just said that he's leaving,

and he's been wanting to find something like this.

Maybe what he wants is changing.

Hey there,

from all of us at Calusa Air Base,

we thank you for the well wishes and support.

It means so much to us.

Merry Christmas, Cedar Park!

Merry Christmas!

Hi, Kimberly?

Hi, this is Kevin Matthews calling you.

Yeah, listen,

I just wanna thank you for the opportunity,

and for choosing me.

It really does sound like an incredible job.

But unfortunately, I'm gonna have to turn it down.

Yeah, there are just some things that are keeping me here

in Cedar Park.

Thank you for understanding.

Okay, you too. Bye, bye.

Hey!

- Kevin. - Hi.

I'm sorry,

I know that we're supposed to meet tomorrow morning

to recreate a meaningful Christmas memory, but...

why are you packing?

My first-choice fellowship called.

- A spot opened up. - In Chicago?

Yes.

And you're... you're gonna take it?

- Just like that? - It's what I wanted all along.

I thought this place was starting to mean

- something to you. - Look, Kevin, I thought...

No. Were you gonna tell me, or were you just gonna leave?

This is exactly why I don't like

getting too comfortable anywhere.

Just makes leaving that much harder.

I see.

Well, I'll make things easier on you, then. Here.

Safe travels.

Kate, hi! Come in!

What a lovely surprise.

I can't believe tonight's Christmas Eve.

And I know that you're probably busy.

I was hoping that you had a minute.

I have something that I need to ask you.

Of course, but first,

did you hear the good news about Kevin?

- Actually... - He's staying in Cedar Park.

What? Well, I thought he was leaving for California,

for the job.

Nope, apparently, he turned it down.

The news was such a wonderful Christmas Eve gift!

That's great.

Hey Dad...

I had an idea.

You know, when I was researching jobs,

I saw a lot of fundraising organizations

looking for construction partners.

And I thought,

instead of building houses for Santa's Village,

- what if we built them for real? - What do you mean?

Sponsoring a new initiative

and building homes for local families in need.

That's a beautiful idea, son,

- but I don't have the manpower. - Well...

you've got me.

You'd work at the store?

You know, being in the Air Force

wasn't just about finding structure and discipline,

it was about helping people.

And after everything with Kate,

you know, we just brought so much joy to people's lives.

That's what I wanna do with mine.

I'm so proud of you.

Have you told Kate about this yet?

That's a little complicated at the moment.

I'm sure you'll figure it out,

especially after you recreate the Christmas

morning memory for her.

Wait... I never told you about that.

Sure, you did.

No, no, no.

I-I never told you, or Mom, about that.

It was Kate.

Yeah, yeah, she...

she called me and asked me about you know,

Christmas mornings past. Yeah.

Kate called you?

Oh gosh darn,

your mother and I were so good at keeping it a secret.

What? It was both of you this whole time?

Please don't let her know that I let it slip out.

Oh my...

Wait, how did you put all of this together?

Well,

after your mother and I got engaged,

we wanted to move somewhere new.

One morning, we found a set of keys

and a riddle at our door,

and well, you know the rest.

Seems a friend of mine wanted to remind us

of this magical town, and giving back,

and Christmas spirit.

How have I never heard this story before?

Well, your mother and I had hoped that we could...

pay it forward.

So, now you're gonna stay?

Yes, but it's probably too late.

I messed up everything.

I'm sure Dr. Reagan would love to have you back.

And Northwest Falls can find a replacement.

What about Kevin?

Talk about it when you see him.

Don't you have a Christmas memory to give each other?

He already gave me his. It was perfect.

I have no idea what to do for him.

Well, figuring things out is what you do best.

Cheer up! It's almost Christmas.

Mr. McAllister?

I need your help for a little Christmas Eve miracle.

Well, you've come to the right place.

Kate?

How did you... McAllister never...

How did you make this happen?

I may have called in a favor from a friend.

Well, what are you waiting for? Hop aboard!

Okay!

This is incredible.

Thank you.

Meaningful Christmas memory unlocked?

Definitely, yeah.

By the way, my parents were behind all of this.

- What? - Yeah.

How?

I'll explain it all later, but...

I wanted to apologize for yesterday.

No, I should be the one apologizing.

I turned the other fellowship down.

So, you're gonna stay in Cedar Park?

There's nowhere else I'd rather be.

I thought Chicago was the home you've always wanted?

I only decided to leave

because I thought you took the job in California.

My home is right here, with you.