Page 46 of Holly and Ivar
“You keep your tablet with you at all times?”Ivar asked.
“Yes.You never know when you might need it, and I believe this is one of those times.”
“You got me there,” he said.
“Okay,” she said, channeling all her strategic planning skills.“Ideas.”
Ivar leaned forward, elbows on the table.“Town hall meeting.The city council needs to get involved right away.”
“Good,” Holly said, typing fast.“But Chad Hale’s group will argue it’s good for the town, bringing in jobs, tourism, and growth.”
“I’ve already looked into similar projects,” Ivar said, rubbing his thumb along the rim of his mug.“When it first went up for sale, I wanted to be prepared.The land’s too far out of town; people won’t drive into Winterwood.They’ll stay at the resort, eat there, shop there, ski there.A few budget travelers will come into town, but it won’t make up for the traffic or the environmental damage.”
“Perfect,” Holly murmured, her fingers flying across the tablet screen.“We’ll compile that into a brief listing economic losses, environmental impact, and anything else we can think of.”
“We already talked about zoning.”
“If there’s a loophole, Chad Hale will find it.”
Her phone buzzed on the table.Dadflashed across the screen.
Dad: Just heard from a Gwen Brooks.
Holly: Me too.
Dad: If that is indeed the Yule Tree, we must do everything we can to protect that land.
Holly: We’re already working on a plan.
Dad: We?
Holly: Ivar Nilsen.Park Ranger.Call you later.
She hesitated, thumb hovering over the screen.Then she opened another thread.
Holly: Rita, I need you to research Rowan and Chad Hale.Start with property records, permits, business filings—everything.And dig up anything on Betty Hale and the whole family history.My father can fill you in if he hasn’t already.
She slipped the phone back into her bag.“I’m getting us help,” she said.
Ivar tilted his head.“Magical help?Because I’d take a Christmas miracle about now.”
“No,” she said with a small, determined smile.“Research help.The next best thing.We need to know everything about this project.What if…” she hesitated.“What if I go in posing as an investor?”
His brows lifted.“As in?”
“As in someone who’s interested in funding the resort.I could get access to details and see what he’s really up to.”
Ivar considered it, eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned back in his chair.“Not bad, Kringle.Not bad,” he said slowly.“We could say you had the same idea for the land, and you still want in.He’ll talk to you.”
Holly nodded.“Exactly.”
“It might upset some folks around here,” he said gently.“Liv, Emma, Eli, if they think you’ve changed sides.”
“I know,” she said quietly.“But if it saves the land… it’s worth it.They’ll understand eventually.”
Ivar studied her, something soft flickering behind his eyes.
“Then we do this together,” he said finally.“For the forest.For Winterwood.For the Yule Tree.”
