coats as they stepped off the plane into the icy air of northern Iceland. The wind hit instantly—sharp, cold, and biting—but Kat’s eyes sparkled behind her scarf. “This is so different from California,” she said, practically bouncing in place.

Jake pulled his beanie down over his ears. “Yeah… it’s like walking into a freezer. A really scenic freezer.”

They’d been planning this cold-country getaway for months—a snowy escape filled with glaciers, hot springs, and quiet nights in a cozy cabin. But one tough decision had to be made before they left: they couldn’t bring Oliver. The temperature would’ve been way too harsh for their little brown, fluffy dog.

Kat had packed his favorite blanket, left detailed notes for the sitter, and recorded a dozen voice messages for him. “What if he thinks we abandoned him?” she asked on the drive to the airport.

“He’s going to be spoiled while we’re gone,” Jake reassured her. “He’s literally got a heated bed, three walkers, and a gourmet meal plan.”

Now, as they trudged through the snowy village streets, hand in hand, Kat laughed through her scarf. “I still miss him. He’d probably sink into the snow like a marshmallow.”

Jake laughed. “You’re not wrong. He’d disappear in it. Just ears and a confused face sticking out.”

Their trip was magical. They soaked in hot springs under the northern lights, explored glacial caves with blue crystal walls, and drank hot cocoa by the fireplace in their cabin. Kat made snow angels outside their door, and Jake tried—very badly—to ski.

One night, as snowflakes fell quietly outside their window, Kat sat curled up in a blanket, scrolling through pictures of Oliver on her phone. “I can’t wait to hug him.”

Jake smiled, wrapping his arms around her. “Me either. But for now, let’s just enjoy the quiet… before we go home to barking, chaos, and stolen socks again.”

Kat giggled. “Deal. But the second we land—straight to Oliver.”