A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado

In the mountain town of Brooklyn, Colorado, Erin Chambers (Rochelle Aytes) works for the mayor's office as director of community development, due to nepotism. Her father, Raymond Chambers (Peter Bryant) is the mayor. Erin is tasked with planning the town's Christmas festival to promote holiday tourism since the town has experienced an economic downturn due to the loss of two factories the past year. At the end of a city council meeting, it is revealed the chosen Christmas tree for the Christmas tree lighting has root disease and Steve (Mark Dozlaw) the intern is tasked with finding a replacement. While visiting her friend's Phoebe (Laura Bertram) and Tom Tate (Joel Stephanson) in their new home, Erin sees a large Norway spruce. Erin also notices a hunky neighbor named Kevin Snyder (Mark Taylor) and his adorable daughter Claire (Grace Sunar) building a snowman by the beautiful tree in his yard. Claire determines the tree would be perfect for the town's Christmas tree. Erin introduces herself and helps Kevin and Claire add stability to the crooked snowman they are building. That night, Erin accidentally posts a photo of the tree on the city's home page. Everyone at city hall thinks that Erin has found the perfect Christmas tree and is already using it to promote the city. Erin visits the handsome man Kevin, at his place of employment. Kevin is the lieutenant at the fire station. He is confused about why Erin is visiting and wanting to cut down his tree for the mayor. Kevin believes the mayor is poorly allocating resources, as his fire department has just experienced budget cuts meaning they will lose expected equipment and hours. Kevin refuses to give up his tree. Kevin's coworker Mitch Cohen (Matt Hamilton) questions Kevin about Erin's visit and promotes her as an attractive option for Kevin's personal life. At dinner, the Mayor presses Erin on the tree's acquisition and tells her it is her destiny to become the mayor one day. Kevin returns Erin's winter hat she left in his office. He notices a mock-up of the layout for the tree lighting display. It potentially has numerous safety and fire code violations. Erin chases Kevin out the door to hire him as a safety consultant. Kevin agrees to help if he can get a budget meeting with the mayor and Erin drops her desire to use his tree for the town's tree lighting. Kevin and Erin meet the next morning and review the tree lighting sight and adjust the layout to accommodate Kevin's safety concerns. Kevin expresses that he has not found a way to share holiday merriment with Claire. Erin suggests the many varied Christmas events the city has planned. When Kevin has a meeting with Parks and Recreation, he brings Claire along as his deputy. Claire makes snow angel with other kids while Kevin tells Erin how he adopted Claire when she was five and how he was also adopted. Erin injects to teach Claire the proper snow angel technique and even Kevin gives it a try. Then Erin takes Claire to a gingerbread decorating contest hosted by her mother Mary (Liza Huget), the West Brooklyn Elementary School principal. Erin makes friends with Kevin's adopted daughter Claire. Kevin arrives later to help with the gingerbread house. The budding romance is stopped cold in its tracks when Neil Stephens (Jason McKinnon) Erin's co-worker, the city treasurer, hits on her in front of Kevin by betting dinner on the outcome of the gingerbread house contest. Kevin and Claire invite Erin to the firehouse Christmas party. While Kevin and Mitch Cohen shop for supplies for the party, Erin and Neil make a date for Monday night. Erin arrives at the firehouse for the party with many children from the local children's home. Kevin enlists Erin as a mentor for the children's home program. Erin and Claire team up in a three-legged race and defeat Kevin and his partner. The chemistry between Kevin and Erin cannot be denied. Kevin lets Erin sit in the driver's seat of the firetruck. They almost kiss in a firetruck but are interrupted by overzealous horn honking Kevin. Erin stops by Kevin's house as he is hauling in a Christmas tree. Erin, Claire and Kevin all decorate the tree before they are off to visit Santa. Erin features a photo of Kevin and Claire on Brooklyn social media page. Kevin is not happy. He confronts Erin at city hall and she takes him into her office where she explains the financial desperation that Brooklyn is in and is using social media to try to help the children's home and the fire department at the same time. They end up kissing when Neil knocks reminding Erin of their date that night. Erin is nervous at dinner with Neil, not having been on a date in a while, until Neil announces he is gay. The next morning, Erin admits to her father that she has been unable to negotiate with Kevin for his tree and the mayor is disappointed. Erin invites Neil to a caroling event as friends, but Kevin hasn't gotten the memo about Neil being gay. While searching for a new tree for the Christmas tree lighting, Kevin apologizes for kissing Erin, calling it a "mistake". Neil starts hanging out with his co-worker/gay firefighter Mitch Cohen after they meet while planning the layout for the town square. Erin helps kids in the elementary school create ornaments for the town tree while her father and Kevin make improvements to the town square renovation plans. Erin then invites Kevin out for a drink. Kevin offers the advice that Erin doesn't need to follow her father's rise in politics if it doesn't make her happy while Erin thinks it would benefit Claire to see her dad going out and having fun. The local newspaper puts pressure on the mayor and questions his ability to keep his promises for struggling Brooklyn using the Christmas tree as an example. Kevin bumps into Erin out doing late Christmas shopping. She suggests a magic set for Claire's present. Erin agrees to babysit Claire so he can have a night out with the boys. The city sends a letter to Kevin stating they are going to take the tree due to eminent domain. Erin is not involved. While babysitting Claire and Erin make cookies. The night is ruined when Kevin opens the letter and gets angry at Erin for keeping it from him. The next day, Erin gets upset with her dad who is not doing anything to stop the city council s action. Kevin's mom and dad arrive for Christmas. They remind Kevin that use of his tree is an honor and he will be a part of helping Brooklyn get back on its feet. Maggie, the mayor's assistant, comes through and finds a loophole that she shares with Erin. Kevin's land is a historical landmark. The tree cutters stop just in time and the decision to cut down the tree is left up to Kevin. Erin arrives at the town square, sees a heart-shaped marking on the trunk, and realizes that it is Kevin's tree. She tells her father that she is resigning from her position and plans to become a teacher instead. The mayor goes to Kevin's house and explains that Erin was not responsible for the decision to use his tree, and in fact, incited the heritage clause to save it. Kevin watches Erin give a speech on TV about how important it is to spend time with your loved ones at Christmas. He rushes down to the square and apologizes for the many, many misunderstandings the couple has had. Kevin donated the tree and Erin did put the call in in time to stop the tree cutting. Kevin is happy the tree is giving so many people joy. The only thing that gives him joy is Erin. They kiss as the Christmas tree is lit.