Page 62 of Holly and Ivar
A realization tugged at the edge of Ivar’s mind, and while it was too strange to believe, he couldn't dismiss it.He'd just seen a memory.
“You okay?”Chad asked.
“Yeah.Fine.Let’s look around here.”
Chad went to the left, Ivar to the right.With Chad out of sight, he ducked behind a tree.The image of the boy still lingered.What was going on?
He bent forward, hands on knees, drawing deep breaths until the world steadied again.Focus.He thought of his cabin by the pond, Al curled up by the fire, and the steady rhythm of the woods.He thought of Holly, her laughter, her courage, the way she looked when light caught her hair.
And then, unbidden, came the thought of a tree.Theperfecttree for a Kringle.For Holly.It was tall, balanced, and aglow with life.A Christmas tree worthy of her.
When he opened his eyes, the forest felt different.Brighter somehow, even though the sun had set.
“Ivar,” Chad called.He was close.In fact, he was on the other side of the tree Ivar had ducked behind.“Check it out.I think I found the tree.”
He turned slowly.There, right beside him, stood a spruce unlike the rest.Perfectly shaped, its branches dusted in snow that seemed to shimmer faintly.
He walked around the tree, standing beside Chad.
“It’s perfect,” Chad said.“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Me neither.”Except he had.Only seconds ago, in his mind.
They both knew this would be the winning tree.
Ivar pulled a length of red ribbon from his pocket and tied it to the tree’s lowest branch, just as the timing whistle sounded signaling the end of the contest.
For a brief moment, Ivar thought he saw a faint glow pulse through the bark—subtle, like the embers of a campfire.When he blinked, it was gone.
***
The teams were laughing and enjoying cookies courtesy of the Maple Mug while they waited for the judging.
When Holly spotted Ivar, her eyes lit up, making Ivar’s heart thud loudly.The memory of that kiss warmed his cheek all over again.
“We’ve made our decision,” she told him.
“I know we won,” he leaned in and whispered.“Thanks to you.Another bit of Santa magic?”
She didn’t reply.She didn’t have to.Her face said it all.
“You didn’t…?”he asked.
She shook her head.“No.Wasn’t me.”
“But it’s so perfect.Too perfect.”He turned toward her fully now, searching for answers.
Holly reached out and took his hands.
Before he could speak, Liv and Rowan appeared, cheeks flushed, laughing and glowing from either too much cider or George’s special hot chocolate.Liv looped her arm through Holly’s with a grin.“I’m stealing your girl, Ivar.We’ve got a date with the hot tub.”
Holly squeezed his hands once more, her eyes steady.“Trust me,” she mouthed before being swept into the crowd.
Snow lifted in her wake, swirling in a small spiral that danced around his boots before settling again.
Ivar stood still, his palms tingling where she’d touched him.Beneath the snow, the hum deepened.It was no longer a mystery, but a question.
To which his heart answered: Yes.He absolutely trusted her.
