Manhattanite Catherine O'Mara (Heche) bonds with a young man who has run away from his father. When the father returns to New York a year later to sell his Christmas trees, he and Catherine cross paths.

Widower Christopher 'Christy' Byrne makes his preteen son Danny and daughter Bridget help out on the family tree farm, top priority. His year's highlight is selling their Christmas trees in New York. When Danny is sixteen, he runs away there to pursue his own dream, photography. Museum employee Catherine O'Mara securely helps him with assignments and study facilities. Christy and friendly cop Rip keep looking for Danny. But when contact is finally made, Christy still hasn't learned his lesson and Danny pays another cruel price.—KGF Vissers