TherehasbeenanelevenmonthfreezeinEmilyandSam'srelationship,eversincelastChristmasasSamdidn'tfeellikehecouldtrusther,especiallywithViolet,withoutEmilyansweringquestionsaboutherpast,questionsshedidn'tfeellikeshecouldanswerforhim.WiththeChristmasseasonapproachingagain,Violet,unawareoftheissuebetweenherfatherandEmily,meiju.ｐro ishintingthatshe'dlikeheroldjobattheMistletoeback.Emilyfeelscompelledunofficiallytolookintothe"disappearance"ofsomeoneimportantinViolet'slife,herEnglishteacher,TimHenley,thedoublequotesasheisnotofficiallymissinginhavingabruptlysubmittedhisresignationtodealwithapersonalissue.Hebecameanevenmoreintegratedpartofherlifeashewasthecoachoftheschool'schessclub,itsstarplayer,KyleGranger,onwhoViolethasbeencrushingandwhoMr.HenleyhadaskedViolettotutorinhefailingEnglish,afailinggradewhichwouldprecludehimfrombeingonthechessteamandthwarthischancesofreceivingascholarship.ButasEmilyinvestigatesandbelievesfoulplayhasindeedoccurred,shehastoconvinceSamofTimtrulyhavingdisappeared,beforeshecaninsertherselfintoanofficialinvestigation.
