Always Christmas

Eleven-year-old Lily Kendricks isn’t excited about moving to the small town of Waterbridge right before Christmas. Struggling to adjust and feeling like an outsider, she takes an interest in a peculiar house that stands out from the rest—a home that’s been decorated for Christmas every single day for fifty years. But inside, Ben Nicks, the home’s reclusive owner, is far from festive. Gruff, withdrawn, and haunted by the past, Ben wants nothing to do with Lily—or anyone else. Determined to uncover the mystery behind the house, Lily writes a heartfelt story imagining him as a kind man keeping the Christmas spirit alive year-round. Unbeknownst to her, her well-meaning mother submits it to the local newspaper, turning Ben into an unexpected town legend. However, the attention brings a painful truth to light—Ben is on the verge of losing his home. After taking out a second mortgage years ago, he’s fallen behind on payments, and now, the bank is moving forward with foreclosure—set to evict him on Christmas Eve. As Lily spends more time with Ben, she learns about the deep wound that has kept him locked in the past—his wife died on Christmas Eve, and years later, he had a terrible fight with his teenage son. The next day, his son enlisted in the army. Weeks later, he was killed in combat. Ben has carried the guilt ever since, believing his final words drove his son away. But when Lily stumbles upon a long-lost letter, she uncovers the truth: Ben’s son had enlisted months before their argument—he just never had the chance to tell his father. The burden Ben has carried for decades was never his to bear. With this revelation, Lily gives Ben the gift of closure—and just when all hope seems lost, an unexpected Christmas miracle changes everything. On Christmas Eve, Ben attends the town’s holiday pageant for the first time in decades. He steps out of the shadows and into the light—no longer bound by the past, but embracing the future. And for the first time in fifty years, his Christmas lights don’t just shine for what was lost—they shine for what was found.