Page 44 of Holly and Ivar
“I’ll send you an invoice!”Holly called back, laughing.
“Good luck getting paid!”Tess shouted.
George thumped his cane approvingly.“Straight enough!Could be a bit tighter, but I’ll allow it.”
Ivar rolled his eyes.“You should really take up a hobby, George.”
“Thisismy hobby.”
Holly smiled, feeling remarkably at home.
The illusion shattered when her phone rang.It was Rita.“I better get this,” she said to Ivar.“I’ve been avoiding them all morning.”
“Hi Rita.Is everything okay?”
“I’m calling to ask you the same thing.I haven’t heard from you all morning.And I know you’re not out in the wilderness.Your father told me about the you-know-what.Is it true?”
She cast a glance at Ivar, who was trying to untangle a set of lights.“I believe so.”
“That’s incredible.”
“Kringle, let’s go.I need your help,” Ivar called out, holding the lights up in defeat.
“Kringle?”Rita asked.
“Can I call you back at another time?I’m helping set up for the Winterwood Christmas Carnival while I wait for updates on the land purchase.”
“You’re what?Wait.Are you being… social?”
“Don’t sound so shocked.Spreading Christmas cheer and goodwill is part of the job description.”
“Well, whatever it is, it sounds a lot like fun.I’ll leave you to it,” Rita said, and Holly could hear the smile in her voice as she hung up.
“Everything okay?”Ivar asked.
“It is.”Holly slipped her phone into her coat pocket and realized, with surprise, that she hadn’t asked for NED updates.
“Good.How about we warm up with a hot chocolate and a scone?Or perhaps you’d prefer hot milk and cookies?Emma has some sugar cookies in the shape of reindeer.”
“You’re a funny man, Mr.Park Ranger.Be careful, or I’ll put you on the naughty list.”
“The naughty list.Are you saying that there’s…” He held up a hand.“No.Don’t tell me.I don’t want to know.”
“Suit yourself, but if those binoculars you want don’t end up under the tree, you’ll be sorry.”
He stopped dead in his tracks.“How’d you know I wanted binoculars for Christmas?”
“Relax.I saw you looking at some on your phone.”
“Of course, I mean… I didn’t really believe that…” He held the cafe door open.
“You make this too easy,” she teased, walking past him into the Maple Mug.
Ivar placed the order while Holly found a table by the fire.He arrived carrying a plate and two forks.
“It’s a maple cranberry tart.We can share.”
“You folks never get tired of maple?”
