Joy Spencer is an overprotective mother to seven-year-old Chantal, who lives with cerebral palsy. They're on the Christmas train to raise money for the Cerebral Palsy Association. She's prepared to do anything to win, except put her daughter in danger.

Seth Mathison is a firefighter on a mission to earn money for the Alberta Children's Hospital Burn Unit. Since his niece's death, he's separated himself from family and friends and isn't great with children. When young Chantal Spencer starts following him around on the train, he doesn't know how to get rid of her. She makes him nervous. He's certain she'll get hurt the way she's lurching around on the moving train. He doesn't need that on his conscience.

When Seth and Joy are thrust together to serve as supervisor and emcee of a local choir's Christmas pageant, Seth suggests that Chantal substitute for a sick cast member. Joy is irate. There's no way on this earth that she'll subject her daughter to possible failure and humiliation.

Will their anxieties ruin everything, or will the miracle of Christmas help them get beyond their biases and fears and find true love?