Page 56 of Holly and Ivar
Another followed.Then another.Within seconds, the whole square erupted into a good-natured snowball fight.Laughter and shouts rose above the town like music, mittens were flying, and people were ducking behind snowbanks and benches.
Holly laughed, startled by the sudden wave of joy.Ivar’s hand was still in hers, his expression half wonder, half awe.
“Did you…?”he began.
“I don’t know,” she said softly.“I think I did, but I’m not sure.I usually use my magic for more practical things.”
“Like Santas in my latte foam and toy deliveries?”
“Exactly,” she said, grinning, but inside, this felt significant.Like she’d remembered how to breathe.
The snowball flurry lasted only a few minutes, but it was enough to shift everything.The stiffness in the air melted into laughter; strangers smiled at one another, Rowan was laughing with the mayor, and even Chad had a smile on his face as he brushed snow from his coat.
When the mayor finally stepped back to the microphone, his hat askew and cheeks flushed, the crowd quieted on cue, still grinning.“Well,” he said, chuckling, “I can see Winterwood’s enthusiasm hasn’t cooled any this year.And now, before we all freeze solid, let’s officially begin our festivities with Chad and Rowan Hale judging our ice-carving contest.”
Applause rippled through the square, louder and lighter now, carried by true excitement instead of courtesy.Holly squeezed Ivar’s hand one last time before letting go.
“That,” she whispered, “was phase one.”
He smiled.“I’d call it a success.”
Holly stayed near Ivar at first, caught by the echo of magic.Then, remembering the plan, she nodded toward the judges’ stand.“I’ll keep an eye on Rowan.”
“So that leaves me with Chad,” he said, adjusting his hat with a wry smile.
“Exactly,” she teased, and moved through the crowd.
Rowan stood beside the carvers, cider in hand, watching a group of teenagers attempt a bear that looked halfway to becoming a moose.They waved her over, laughing, and she gamely joined them, accepting a tiny ice cup one of the kids had carved and toasting them with mock ceremony.The sound of her laughter lifted something in Holly’s chest.
Across the square, Chad lingered at the edge of the crowd, posture stiff but eyes tracking the carvers.Emma passed by with a tray of cookie samples, her hair tumbling out from beneath her red hat.When she offered him one, he startled slightly, then accepted with a tentative smile.She said something Holly couldn’t hear, and he actually laughed.
Holly smiled to herself.Phase one, indeed.
She joined Rowan, handing her a napkin with a warm cinnamon bun from Emma’s stall.“You looked like you were having fun.”
Rowan grinned.“I forgot how nice this could be.I like Seattle, but nothing beats a small-town festival.”
They watched in companionable silence for a moment.Then Rowan’s voice lowered.“I’m sorry if Chad was at the cabin.I mean, weirder than usual.”
Holly followed her gaze.Chad had moved closer to Emma’s booth, both of them laughing now.
“He told me once the place always gave him the creeps,” Rowan said quietly.“He said it made him feel watched.I think he’s afraid to go back.”
“Afraid?”Holly echoed.
“Not of ghosts.Just… something he doesn’t understand.And Chad doesn’t like not understanding things.”Rowan gave a small, sad smile.“We were never close growing up, and now we’re almost strangers.Once our parents died, we were sent to different schools on different coasts.He’s also seven years older than me, so we never spent summers together.This project was supposed to fix that.First, he convinced me to sell so we could invest in something together.Then he had the resort idea.I never wanted to sell, and I certainly don’t want to touch the forest, but I want a relationship with my brother.I guess I thought being in Winterwood together would help.”
“Then we’ll make sure it does.”
Rowan’s smile warmed.“You sound like my aunt Betty.”
“Smart woman,” Holly said, and they both laughed softly, the sound mingling with the rhythmic chip of chisels.
30
icy what you did there
Holly
