The Christmasseason of 1997 was both the best and worst experience of Maggie's life. As a 13-year-old, while vacationing with her family at the "Lake Tahoe Lodge", Maggie meets Kade, who believes in Christmas miracles, experiencing teenage love for the first time. However, during their vacation Maggie's father abandons the family, leaving her mother devastated. 20 years later Maggie is divorced with a young son, Jordan. His father dies, also around Christmas time, leaving Maggie to not believe in Christmas miracles. Moreover, she becomes a workaholic and extremely overprotective of Jordan, not wanting him to be hurt like she and her mother were. Jordan begins failing at school; Maggie is convinced to hire Casey Cummings, owner of a local diner/gift shop who also volunteers as a math tutor through a local charity, to help him. Casey and Jordan hit it off immediately; Jordan's grades dramatically improve. Jordan wishes that Casey could be his dad; he sees a glass etching of a stick figure family while visiting Casey's diner. He also writes a letter to God asking if a man can be a father if he has no children of his own. Casey also begins to fall in love with Maggie. But Maggie rejects his advances, sharing with him the stories of Lake Tahoe and the death of Jordan's father at Christmastime. On Christmas Eve Maggie, her mother, and Jordan unwrap presents. Jordan receives from Casey the glass etching; Maggie receives a snow globe from Casey with a nameplate reading "MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE LAKE TAHOE LODGE". Later Casey leaves Jordan's letter at their doorstep; Maggie reads it and rushes to Casey's house. Casey has one last present for Maggie: a pair of red gloves and a picture of a teenage Maggie and a teenage Kade in a photo booth. Casey was, in fact, Kade ; he did not realize his prior connection until Maggie shared her experience at Lake Tahoe. The two get the last Christmas tree in town and set it up for Jordan.
Cast
Jill Wagner ... Maggie
Luke Macfarlane ... Casey AKA Kade
Lauren Guci ... Jordan
Laura Soltis ... Terri
Viv Leacock ... Billy G.
Lane Edwards ... Tanner
Françoise Yip ... Lauren
Kelsey Kupecky ... Martha
*Kelsey is the oldest child, and only daughter, of Karen Kingsbury.
In the book Maggie's father leaves the family before the family's vacation to Lake Tahoe, and they go to a private home. In the film he leaves during the vacation, which is held at a lodge.
In the book Maggie and Kade meet in the summer, and Kade identifies himself as the son of a minister. In the film the two meet in winter, and nothing is mentioned about Kade's family.
In the book Jordan's father dies but no specified date or season is given. In the film it is depicted that Jordan's father dies around Christmastime.
External Links
http://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/karen-kingsburys-maggies-christmas-miracle Official website
