Page 72 of Holly and Ivar
“Why?”
“The wind… I heard… never mind.Are you guys okay?”
Holly nodded.“That was Chad.Rowan said no to the development.”
“Well, that’s that then,” Liv said, though her tone was more bewildered than triumphant.“Not gonna lie, I thought it would take more than that.Anyway, I’ve gotta get back to the inn.Enjoy your peaceful victory.Oh, and Ivar?You might want to start jogging again.”
Liv shrieked and ran down the gazebo stairs as a snowball narrowly missed her hat.
Ivar threw another snowball for Al to chase before stepping into the gazebo beside Holly.They stood together in silence, staring down the empty path where Chad had disappeared.
“I know our plan was to change their minds,” Holly said finally, “but this feels… anticlimactic.I guess I’m a sucker for a Hollywood ending, but it’s weird for something to end without fireworks.Why am I not happy it’s over?”
A gust of wind whipped through the town square, knocking over signs and blowing snow.
Al let out a low whine, ears twitching.
Ivar scratched the dog’s head and reached for Holly’s hand.“Because it’s not,” he said quietly.
***
Ivar
By late afternoon, the clouds had moved in and the snow had started.Ivar checked the weather.Heavy snowfall was predicted, but not a storm.Just winter in Vermont.He normally liked days like this, but Ivar couldn’t settle.
He paced between his desk and the window, boots creaking against the floorboards.Al lay nearby, ears pricked, tail twitching restlessly.Every few seconds, he gave a low, uneasy whine.
“I know,” Ivar muttered.“I feel it too.”
He tried to focus on the reports scattered across his desk—trail maintenance logs, updated permit lists—but the words blurred.The forest felt wrong today.Not loud, not dangerous… off.
Al rose suddenly, padding to the window, nose pressed against the glass.A soft growl vibrated in his throat.
“What is it, buddy?”Ivar joined him, scanning the tree line.
He reached for his jacket, the hair on the back of his neck prickling when the door burst open and Chad barged in.
Ivar didn’t know what to expect from the man.
“Ivar, thank goodness you’re here.”
The man’s tone wasn’t angry this time.It was frayed and coated with fear.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Rowan.We were fighting over the land, and we both said some horrible things.She took the car and drove off.Now she’s not answering her phone.I’m worried something happened to her.”
Ivar’s heart dropped.“When did she leave?”
“Two hours ago.Maybe more.I thought she’d cool off and come back, but—” His voice cracked.
“How do you know she’s not simply having dinner in the next town over?”
“She doesn’t have her wallet.It’s on the kitchen table.And she hates driving in the snow.”
Ivar grabbed the phone and called Carla.“We need a search and rescue party organized.Now.”
“Stay by your phone,” Ivar said, moving with determination around the office, assembling gear.
