Kate tells Laura that her first date from the 12 Dates of Christmas program is waiting for her. Laura reminds her of her promise, to give someone a real chance if the opportunity came along.
Laura drags Kate into the café, but Callum reports the guy left after waiting an hour. Refusing to let Kate off the hook, Laura insists she text him. Kate sends a snide message, only to get a kind and thoughtful reply. She can’t help but admit he seems genuinely nice.
At work, Nicola encourages Kate to keep developing her current design project. Meanwhile, Kate continues to receive sweet texts from “Date #1,” a man named Richard. She tells Laura he’s interesting, and Laura insists she has a good feeling about it.
At home, Kate finds her dad, Mac, making a smoothie and focusing on his health. When he mentions putting up the outdoor Christmas lights, she scolds him, reminding him that his balance isn’t what it used to be. He teases her for treating him like a child, saying he’ll wait until she’s free to “chaperone” him through something he’s done on his own for decades.
Richard keeps texting, opening up about his family and life. Kate wonders why he isn’t dating other participants. He says he’s committed to the process and to seeing where things with her might go. They agree to meet.
Soon, Kate heads out for Date #4, an immersive “Christmas Carol” experience where participants dress in period costume. A scheduling mix-up leaves her dateless, which, to her relief, means she gets to enjoy the night alone.
Meanwhile, against Kate’s warnings, Mac climbs a ladder to hang the Christmas lights himself. As he reaches too far, he loses balance and falls hard.
Elsewhere, Kate gives another 12 Dates participant a heartfelt pep talk, encouraging her to stop waiting and take charge of her own love story. Despite her cynicism about forced romance, she feels unexpectedly good about helping someone else.
At home, Laura vents to her husband about how much she just wants to help Kate find happiness.
In the aftermath of his fall, Mac calls Evelyn to help him up. She agrees but only if he promises to start yoga three times a week. Reluctantly, he agrees. Evelyn tends to Mac’s minor injuries.
Outside, Richard finds Kate. She’s stunned that he actually showed up. He brings her a small trinket, a sweet and personal gesture that moves her.
Inside, Sara spots her ex, panics, and tells Kate she has to leave. Moments later, Oliver, Kate’s old ice-skating date, appears, revealing that Sara is the ex he couldn’t stop crying over.
Before things get awkward, an unaware Callum arrives and rescues Sara from having to face Oliver.
Meanwhile, Laura returns home to apologize to her husband for missing their anniversary. They share a quiet moment, grateful to still have each other.
Back at the event, Callum, still unaware of Oliver’s history with Sara, mentions to her that Oliver cried about his ex on a date with Kate. Sara looks mortified.
Oliver tells Kate he wants to make things right with Sara and plans to make a grand gesture. Sara begs Kate to get him out of there, but Kate insists he just wants to talk.
Oliver asks Sara for five minutes alone. She hesitates, then agrees. He tells her he can’t stop thinking about her and that he can’t imagine a future without her. Sara softens, torn between frustration and old feelings.
Nearby, Kate, Callum, and Richard make small talk while Kate tries to distract Callum from realizing what’s happening between Sara and Oliver.
Sara eventually rejoins Kate, saying she doesn’t believe Oliver will ever change.
Kate suddenly notices Richard is gone. She finds him outside, and he admits he came tonight just to see her. Touched, Kate leans in and kisses him.
Through the window, Sara and Callum spot the moment. Sara smiles, but Callum’s expression says something else entirely.