Love Always, Santa

The film opens with young Lilly Banks writing a letter to Santa Claus, not for toys, but for her mother Celia to find her 'light' again after the death of Lilly's father three years prior. Celia runs a literary-themed cafe called 'The Bun Also Rises' and is being pursued by Randy, a local man with a penchant for calling her 'babe' and a singular obsession with potato cannons. Meanwhile, in the city, famous author Jake Granger is struggling with writer's block and the aftermath of a divorce. To make ends meet and find inspiration, he works for 'Santa Inc.,' a service that provides handwritten responses to children's letters. Jake receives Lilly's letter and is so moved that he begins a correspondence with Celia under the guise of Santa. Celia, charmed by the 'classic' feel of the letters and their shared love for T.S. Eliot, begins to open up about her grief and her dreams of traveling to Cuba. Jake's agent, Hank, encourages him to visit Celia's town for a book signing to see if the connection is real. Jake meets Celia and Lilly in person but keeps his identity as their 'Santa' pen-pal a secret. He finds himself in a low-stakes rivalry with Randy, who is preparing for the town's 'Veggie Toss' potato cannon competition. Jake and Celia share a romantic moment on a ferris wheel at the Christmas Fair, but Jake is discouraged when he sees Celia with Randy after Randy wins the Veggie Toss. At a local open mic night, Jake prepares to confess his identity, but he is interrupted by Randy, who makes a public, awkward proposal for Celia to join him on a potato cannon tour in Cuba. Believing Celia has chosen Randy, Jake leaves town in the middle of a snowstorm. Lilly discovers Jake's identity when she recognizes his unique stationery and handwriting. Simultaneously, Celia realizes she doesn't love Randy, telling him they aren't 'each other's new trucks'—a metaphor for the spark of true love. Randy graciously accepts this, realizing he actually has feelings for Celia's sister, Helen. Celia and Lilly head to a local wishing well, a place of family tradition, to make a final Christmas wish. Jake, having been forced off the road by the snow, hitches a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh. He finds Celia and Lilly at the wishing well, reveals himself as their 'Santa,' and the three of them ride off together in the sleigh, singing carols and celebrating the 'magic' of their new connection.