Under the Christmas Tree

In Maine, on a formal assignment to locate and secure a Christmas tree for the state capital’s annual tree-lighting ceremony, Charlie Freemont — known around town as a diligent “tree whisperer” — teams up with her capable assistant, Rohan, and heads to the charming town of Camden. Their mission leads them to the property of the Beltran family, long-time proprietors of a century-old Christmas goods business. There, they discover the perfect tree, amid a backdrop of wreaths, twinkling lights, and the soft hum of holiday bustle. The Beltrans are excited about the potential windfall, yet Alma Beltran, the family’s daughter, remains wary. A consultant’s report lands with several modernization proposals for the business, and Alma, who is preparing to take the reins as her parents plan retirement, resists every attempt to alter the family’s traditional way of doing things.

The story takes a warmer turn when Charlie formally meets Alma at her friend Marie’s pâtisserie, a cozy, fragrant space filled with sugar-dusted delights and the sounds of friendly chatter. The two women immediately click, sharing a connection that grows as they spend time together. Still, the couples’ worlds remain a bit apart: Charlie and Rohan visit the Beltrans to discuss the tree, not realizing Alma is their daughter, which adds a layer of quiet tension to the encounter. Alma’s family, for their part, are supportive of the idea of using the tree, while Alma herself worries about cutting down a living part of Camden’s landscape.

At Alma’s urging, Alma’s mother shares the town’s annual gingerbread decorating competition, a beloved tradition that draws participants from all corners of the community. Charlie and Alma are paired by chance, and their teamwork yields a win—a sweet, joyful moment that makes the possibility of a future together feel tangible. After the victory, Charlie expresses a hope that Alma might reconsider her position on using the tree, but Alma remains steadfast in her reluctance.

A new spark ignites the following day when Charlie invites Alma to a date at the pâtisserie, and the pair share a tender kiss that signals the beginning of something more. Yet behind the warmth, a more complex picture emerges: the consultant’s recommendations have shifted toward moving the Beltrans’ warehouse to Arizona, while Charlie learns a crucial detail of the tree situation—she only needs Alma’s parents’ signatures to secure the tree. Even as Charlie wrestles with the idea of informing Alma about these developments, she chooses to hold back, preferring to spend time with Alma and enjoy the moment rather than complicate it.

That night, during a lively party, a misstep in communication arises. A phone call catches Sonal — Charlie’s mother and boss — unaware of the full situation, revealing that the tree may be obtained without Alma’s consent. Sonal travels to Camden the next day, and the tension escalates quickly. Charlie protests the pressure to proceed, but after Alma happens to walk by, Sonal insists that Charlie tell Alma that the tree could be taken without her approval. Alma leaves in anger, her feelings hurt and her resolve shaken.

Seeking a solution, Charlie and Rohan retreat to a nearby reforestation project, following the owl’s hoots that Charlie had saved in a previous year. Their journey leads them to a fresh, viable tree, found through a blend of persistence, patience, and a touching reminder of Charlie’s past memory tied to the bird. As they work toward this new option, Charlie and Alma share a tearful farewell, a moment that underscores the depth of their connection even as their paths diverge for the moment.

The next day, a small, hopeful moment arrives when Charlie finds the gingerbread trophy that she and Alma won, a symbol of shared achievement and the possibility of reconciliation.

During the Camden tree-lighting ceremony, Alma makes a decisive choice: she will not relocate the family business to Arizona. Charlie, meanwhile, reveals that she has secured a new tree and announces her plan to apply to be the executive director of the reforestation project — a role that would allow her to blend purpose with her love of the natural world. In that glow of holiday lights, the two women decide to pursue a relationship in Camden, a place that has already begun to feel like home. The Beltrans, moved by the outcome and the shared history, invite Charlie onstage as a member of their family to light the tree, signaling a hopeful new chapter for both the business and the budding romance that started in a small pâtisserie and found its footing among pine and gingerbread in a town that loves its traditions.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:42