It was official for Max: his new best friend is Emma. And honestly, that's a good thing, because he knows they have a very important mission to accomplish. A secret mission. A risky mission. A mission of the utmost importance: to bring their parents together.
Emma : So, what's your plan, Max?
They're sitting on a bench next to the rink, drinking hot chocolate. The adults are a little further away, still talking and laughing. It's perfect: they don't suspect anything.
Max : My plan? Well, we have to force them to spend more time together. Like... a date.
Emma : A date? You mean... like in the movies? Like a candlelit dinner and all?
Max : Not exactly. They're not ready for that yet. But we can start slowly. Something where they have to talk to each other, without watching us all the time.
Emma : I have an idea! What if we faked an argument? You pretend to steal something from me, like my hat, and we both ran to our parents, whining. They'd have to talk to each other to solve our problem!
Max : Meh. Your idea is not bad, but it will make us look like babies. We are worth more than that.
Emma : So, mister genius, what is your idea?
Max looks around, searching for inspiration. And there, he sees it. The perfect solution. An old wooden cabin next to the ice rink, decorated with garlands and filled with benches for tired skaters.
Max : We will pretend to be cold. We ask them to come into the cabin with us to warm up. And once inside, we slip away discreetly. They will be forced to stay alone together.
Emma : You know what, Max? Maybe you are a genius after all.
A few minutes later, they launch the operation.
Max : Dad, I'm cold!
Lucas : But you have a coat, gloves and a scarf, big guy.
Max : Yeah, but... but my toes are frozen! I'm going to lose a foot if we don't do something!
Meanwhile, Emma plays the same card with her mom.
Emma : Mom, I'm freezing! And Max says there's a heated cabin over there. Can we go there, please?
Brooke : It might be a good idea to take a break, right?
Lucas nods. Once in the cabin, Emma and Max sit on a bench while their parents talk. Lucas and Brooke are comfortable, still laughing like at the ice rink. That's when Max nudges Emma.
Max : It's time. Let's go.
They put their hot chocolates on the table and sneak out.
Emma : Do you think they'll notice?
Max : Not right away. They're too busy looking into each other's eyes.
Emma stifles a laugh, and they stay hidden behind a window of the cabin to spy. Inside, Lucas and Brooke continue talking. At first, they don't even notice that their children are gone.
Lucas : You know, I haven't skated in... ugh, years. But today was really fun.
Brooke : I don't think I've ever laughed so much on skates. And Emma too, she can't stop talking about Max. She already loves him.
Lucas : Max said the same thing about Emma. I think they get along well. And that's nice, because it makes this transition easier.
Brooke : Yeah... it's true that it's not easy to start all over again. But... I'm glad I made this decision. And meeting people like you and Max, it... it feels good.
Lucas : It's the same for us. I think coming here was the best thing to do.
At that moment, Emma nudges Max.
Emma : They seem to like each other, don't they?
Max : It's clear.
But then things go slightly wrong. Lucas looks around and frowns.
Lucas : Wait... but where are Max and Emma?
Brooke : Do you think they left?
Lucas : We'd better look for them.
Emma and Max exchange a panicked look before running towards the door and going back inside as if nothing had happened.
Brooke : Ah, you're here!
Emma : We... we were looking at the decorations outside.
Lucas narrows his eyes, but he doesn't say anything. Max thinks he dad understood that they were up to something with Emma, but he keeps quiet. In the end, the operation wasn't a total failure. They got along well, and they shared a nice moment... they were on the right track.
Max : Next time, they won't escape it.
And they already had a few ideas in mind.
After the little cabin episode, they all go back to the rink as if nothing had happened. Emma and Max slide on the ice, laughing and having fun under the gaze of their parents. Well, almost. Max watches them discreetly, just to make sure that their mission is going as planned. His father and Brooke are still talking, sitting on a wooden bench next to the rink. They seem relaxed, but he can see that his father is trying to hide his smile. Brooke, she has this funny little gesture: she fiddles with her scarf, as if she were a little nervous.
Suddenly, Emma brakes abruptly on the ice and turns to Max.
Emma : Max, do you think we should try something else now? Like, another idea for a plan?
Max : No. That's enough for today. We don't want to do too much, or they'll suspect something.
Emma : You're right. We'll let them digest it.
They're still skating a little, but it's almost time to leave. Lucas calls them from the edge of the ice.
Lucas : Max, come on! Let's go.
Brooke : Come on, honey, let's go home.
Emma and Max exchange a knowing look. No need for words: they know they've planted a little seed today. A little awkward moment... but promising.
When they leave the rink, something quite funny happens. Lucas and Brooke find themselves walking side by side, a little too close to each other because of the narrow path.
Lucas : Sorry, I should have given you my place.
Brooke : No, it's me.
They continue walking in silence, thinking for a few seconds. Max, for his part, walks right behind with Emma, and he begins to wonder if they're going to end up saying something interesting.
Brooke : It was really a great morning. Thanks for the invitation.
Lucas : Yes, it was nice. We should do this again sometime.
Brooke : Yeah, why not.
Back at their place, Lucas seems in a good mood. Max watches him as he puts his things away, humming a little Christmas tune. He's so distracted that he doesn't even realize his little boy is standing there, staring at him.
Lucas : What?
Max : Nothing.
Lucas : Max... What are you up to?
Max : Me? Nothing at all.
Lucas shakes his head with a smile and goes back to his business. But Max knows what's going on in his dad's head. He's thinking about Brooke. And that's exactly what he wanted.
Max goes up to his room with a strange satisfaction. Sure, his father and Brooke aren't together yet, but he and Emma have managed to bring them a little closer today. And that's a good start. Emma had promised him that she was already thinking about their next step. And he felt like they were on the right track. Because, even if his father tries to hide it, he knows he has a thing for Brooke. And frankly, he can't blame her: she's very nice. Mission first step accomplished.
But the real adventure is only just beginning.