Page 82 of Holly and Ivar
“You think you know a person,” Liv teased.
Holly raced up to her room and texted Rita.
Holly:I need a favor.How quickly can you get me a Christmas sweater?
Rita:For you?
Holly:Yes.
Rita:Where’s the real Holly Kringle and what have you done with her?
Holly: Very funny.
Rita: I think you know how fast I can get it for you.You wrote the procedure.
Holly: Perfect.Here’s what I want it to say.
Holly finished texting Rita, her smile lingering.
The sweater would say it all.
The answer had come to her as she left the cafe, thinking about wonder and what mattered most.The past few weeks with Ivar had been nothing but wonder.And when it came to what mattered most, it was love.
Ivar was her other half.Steady where she overthought.Patient where she pushed.She needed him.Wanted him.Loved him.
The fear that fate had chosen for her would probably always linger, but she could live with that.What she couldn’t live without was him.
40
the holly and the ivar
Holly
Hollystoodatthemirror, chuckling at her sweater for the hundredth time.It was perfect, and she couldn’t wait for him to see it.
Finally, the inn’s grandfather clock chimed seven.Her heart skipped as she slipped on her shoes, did up her jacket, and stepped into the hallway.Liv’s warm greeting drifted upstairs, followed by Ivar’s deep voice.
Taking a deep breath, she walked to the stairs and paused.
Ivar stood in the lobby below, talking quietly with Liv.The warm light caught in his hair, turning it gold at the edges.A dark green sweater poked out from under his jacket, and in his hand, her broom.
Her breath caught in her throat.Not only did he have her broom, he’d put a tiny hat and scarf on it.
As if sensing her presence, he looked up.
“Hi,” she said, descending the stairs.
“Hi.”
Liv glanced between them, then made herself scarce with her knowing smile.
“Sorry I missed your text earlier.The only place that had my Christmas sweater in stock was in Montreal, and I forgot to toss a phone charger in the truck.As soon as I saw the design online, I knew it would make you laugh, so I had to go get it.”
“You drove to Montreal?”
“I’d do anything for you.Driving to Canada was nothing.”
“Ivar…” was all she managed, but her eyes said the rest.Her throat tightened, and an ache of tenderness spread through her and wrapped around her heart.He’d crossed a border for her—literally.
