The Key

Rose Dooling, a single-mom under financial strain, returns to her hometown of Celebration, to live with her parents to save money. Rose, who lost her husband to cancer a few years back, soon runs into Cole Jackson when his car dies at a red light right in front of her, making her late for her first day of work. Insurance information and harsh words are exchanged before Rose storms off. Hired to help open an upscale-trendy restaurant, she bumps into Cole just minutes later, and he happens to be the head chef at her new job. The unlikely pair is thrown together to create a menu for the grand opening two days before Christmas. Surrounded by her family and a new love interest, Rose imagines opening a family restaurant someday. Rose soon realizes she is developing feelings for Cole when the two get stuck in the restaurant overnight during a blackout caused by a winter storm. They discuss their dreams for opening their own restaurant and she confides in him about coming home to buy her grandmother's old diner that's up for auction. As her relationship with Cole grows, her dreams get crushed when someone else outbids her at the auction and she loses the property. Stressed about spending the rest of her life opening restaurants for other people, Rose considers leaving Celebration and heading back to the city after the opening. The night before the grand opening, she stops by her Grandmother's diner to see who bought it, when suddenly she sees Cole talking with a contractor. The next day at the opening with her bags packed, she doesn't speak to him the entire time. Cole finally gets her attention, begging her to meet him on Christmas Eve so he can explain. She regrettably agrees and meets him in front of the old diner. Cole gets down on one knee and opens a box with a key in it and asks her if she'll be a partner in the restaurant with him. Promising that once she gets ahead in her finances, he’ll let her buy him out. She accepts, they kiss and celebrate their new endeavor. Cue the Christmas music!