Page 80 of Holly and Ivar
“Oh, I think I do,” Liv said, filling it generously.“Watching you consume caffeine is basically a sport.”
Holly smiled into her cup.“You always know what people need,” she said softly.
Liv shrugged.“That’s just small-town intuition.Speaking of which—a little bird told me you’re going to the dance tonight.”
“With your brother,” Holly admitted.
“Good,” Liv said.“You should.You two… it’s like you found something most people spend years looking for.”She tilted her head.“But you’ll be heading home soon, right?”
Holly hesitated.“Yes.Eventually.”
“Are you going to do the long-distance thing?You know, I don’t even know where you’re from?”
“A bit north.But I’m not worried about the distance.I have a lot of air miles.”That was the least of her worries with Ivar.
“Well, good.Because I’ve never seen two people connect faster than you two.It was like,” she made a jagged chopping gesture with her hand, “lightning.”
“It certainly was.”
“Well, I better throw another pot on.See you later.”
Holly grabbed a pastry and returned to her room, bucket of coffee in hand.The first thing she did was take a picture of the mug and send it to Rita.
Then, before she could lose her nerve, she called her parents and let them know about Christmas.She wasn’t sure if she’d be here in Winterwood, because if she couldn’t get past the reason for their connection, what future did they have?
Luckily, Henry had filled them in on the whole Giver / Guardian thing, so they understood.Then they just acted like parents.Was she eating right?Sleeping?Staying warm?She answered them honestly.Shewashealthier.Her watch rarely beeped, she was sleeping better, and while she hadn’t quit coffee, she’d at least quit espressos.
As soon as she hung up, Holly switched it to silent in anticipation of a flurry of messages from cousins and siblings.And if Ivar texted, she’d know.
With hours remaining until the dance, she bundled up and stepped into the crisp air, following the sound of carolers through the square.She bought a few small gifts.Maple candy for Liv’s boys, and for Liv, a reindeer that pooped jellybeans (if only).She laughed out loud when she came across a dog bandana that read, “Snack Guardian,” and bought it immediately.
The day was sunny, the town beautiful, the people friendly, but without Ivar, nothing felt the same.Reminders of him were everywhere.
She was sitting on a bench, staring at the Christmas tree Ivar had somehow manifested when she saw Rowan and Chad enter the Maple Mug.
George gave them a wave as he walked by.Winterwood had definitely warmed up to them.
Something stirred in her mind, like puzzle pieces clicking into place, though she couldn’t quite see the full picture yet.Chad.Rowan.Cornelius.Keepers.The Guardian.The Yule Tree.Connection.
If anyone had become disconnected from the land, and from each other, it was Chad and Rowan.
What if this was about more than preserving the land?The Hales had been tied to it for generations.What if…
Her thoughts spun faster now.It sounded wild, maybe even ridiculous, but what if this journey wasn’t only about protecting the forest?What if it was also about healing the family bound to it and helping them find their way back to each other?
She texted Ivar, but there was no response.He was working and was likely busy, but she didn’t want to wait.
Without a plan, she entered the Maple Mug and found their table.
“Can I join you for a minute?”
“Of course.”Rowan smiled.Chad nodded.
“How are you feeling, Rowan?”
“Much better.I can’t believe I got lost.I thought I’d always know my way to the pond, but it’s been so long since I’ve been here.I guess I forgot.”
“That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you both about.”
