Page 93 of Truly, Madly Viking

"They even have a visitors' program six months of the year, when outsiders can come in and tour the place. They're closed November through April," Beth went on. "Maybe we could go there for vacation next year, huh, Mom?"

"Maybe," Mag-he conceded, but her mind still seemed to be elsewhere.

For some reason the computer shut down on them momentarily, and when it came back on, they had lost the Rosestead Web site. But Jorund had seen enough.

"I must needs tell you something that I have just now decided. Methinks it will be glad tidings for you all." Jorund could scarce contain his excitement in making this announcement.

They all stopped what they were doing and stared at him expectantly. Mag-he tilted her head; she was a little suspicious.

He didn't know where the notion had come from, or why he was so convinced that it was the right thing to do. It just felt right.

"We're going to Maine."

Pandemonium broke loose. Joe was jabbering away excitedly. The girls were jumping up and down, thrilled at the prospect of a road trip with their beloved father figure. And Maggie was seething with fury.

"No!" she finally screamed to get their attention. When everyone calmed down enough to listen, she softened her voice. "We are not going to Maine." And she gave Joe a meaningful glower to indicate that it was cruel for him to have made the suggestion without consulting her first.

He just lifted his stubborn chin in defiance. The dunce didn't have the sense to realize his blunder.

"Mom!" Suzy and Beth whined.

"No!" she repeated, more firmly this time. "It's out of the question."

Then to Joe, she said, "Number one, it's too far away. Number two, we have to be here on New Year's Eve—remember, we promised to be at the talent show at Boot Scootin' Cowboy to support Natalie.

Number three, that Rosestead place isn't even open in the winter. Number four, the girls have to be back in school the day after New Year's Day—that's only nine days from now. Number five, it's cold—very cold—in Maine this time of the year."

"We could get a couple days off of school," Beth argued. "They're allowed for educational purposes.

And this would be educational, I bet."

"You never let us do anything," Suzy added.

"Girls, I want you to go upstairs and take your baths."

"It's, Christmas. Why do we have to go up so early?' Suzy protested, tears welling in her eyes.

I thought we were going to watch A Christmas Story on TV tonight," Beth added. "You said we could, Mom. Remember, that's the movie about the kid who wanted a BB gun for Christmas? It was so funny when he got those footed bunny pajamas, and when that kid's tongue got stuck to the flagpole."

Maggie remembered. She didn't need Beth's nervous jabbering to jog her memory. Did Suzy and Beth really think she would be so harsh? She wasn't about to let their Christmas end on such a sour note. "You can come back down after your baths," she said gently, pushing some loose strands of hair off of Beth's face and behind her ears. "Joe and I need to talk... alone."

Once the girls were gone, Jorund knew he was in big trouble. But before he let that trouble hit him smack in the face, he had something important to do. Walking resolutely to the door leading from the den to the hallway, he shoved Rita out with a whisk of his foot, closed the door with a loud bang, then turned the key in the lock.

"What are you doing, Joe?" Mag-he asked, backing up slightly. She was wearing tight black braies, which were appropriately called tights, and a big, loose black tunic, caught in at the waist with a twisted rope belt of red and green. He hoped to hell she was wearing no undergarments, because he didn't have that much time before the girls returned.

"What am I doing?" he repeated, already yanking his Proud to Be a Viking T-shirt over his head. "I'm about to give you the best Christmas present you've ever had."

"No."

"Yea."

"We can't. I told you that I wouldn't do this with the girls in the house."

"Surely there must be an exception for Christmas."

She wavered. He could see it in her eyes. He would warrant she'd missed their lovemaking almost as much as he had.

"Mag-he, you are killing me with all these new... emotions. Not just our lovemaking, or being amongst twin girls again, but the whole Christmas season. I need... I need..."