The Moose, the Tree, and the Irish Writer

Viggo watched her walk back to the kitchen again. It seemed that was where she liked to think…as she cooked. Viggo collapsed onto the couch not realizing he was wearing a somewhat goofy grin on his face.

“You’re in love.” Sean said plainly.

“What?” Viggo asked turning his attention to his friend.

“You’re in love with her aren’t you?” Sean asked again.

“I…uh… yeah… I think I am.” Viggo said running his hand through his hair. No sense denying it to Sean he knows me too well. Viggo thought.

Orlando just smiled brightly at him. “That’s great Viggo! She’s a gem.” Sean seemed to second that feeling.

As they sat there together Sean looked at Orlando suspiciously. He knew he was up to something. He was probably arranging in his mind a way that Viggo and Tabby could be alone…from what they could tell the two of them hadn’t been alone…truly alone since they met. Things kept getting in the way…people, phone calls, hell even a death of a friend…it seemed the two of them were forever doomed to bad timing.

Sean and Orlando had made a secret pact that they were going to solve that for them…no people, no phone calls, and most importantly no guests to worry about…namely them.

Viggo looked at them oddly and started to ask what they were up to, but…“Viggo!” Tabby called from the kitchen.

He walked in to find her standing on tiptoe with a wooden spoon trying to drag something from a high kitchen shelf forward.

“Would you stop that, it’s going to fall on your head and kill you…I am right here short stuff.” Viggo said taking the wooden spoon from her and smacking her on the rump with it lightly.

“I wasn’t sure you heard me.” Tabby said laughing and rubbing her rump. She turned and saw that Orlando and Sean were watching the exchange with smiles on their faces.

“Can we help with dinner?” Orlando asked.

“Well I suppose…you want to chop vegetables? I am making vegetable soup.” She responded which earned her a huge smile from Orlando.

The four of them worked, talked, laughed, and drank wine as they cooked. Once the soup was finally going they all went back out to the living room and sat down.

“Oh…what’s this about surfing?” Tabby asked Viggo.

Orlando doubled over with laughter and Sean just grinned wickedly.

“Oh my God!” Viggo laughed. “Please no.” He waved his hands in the air as if in surrender.

Tabby looked at him and turned to the others, “Well then one of you tell me?”

Orlando composed himself enough to relay the horrible surfing outing in New Zealand. Tabby laughed and then patted a hurt looking Viggo on the arm. “Don’t worry…I don’t think any less of you.”

This elicited even more laughter from Orlando. “She’s right…there has to be something you can’t do Viggo you do everything else. Came in speaking a couple different languages and in two days you mastered sword training like you had been doing it for years and the same with horse riding…plus you mastered Elvish…then there is the art, poetry, photography…and last but certainly not least your acting abilities…I mean come on we had to find something you couldn’t do.”

Viggo just shook his head.

Tabby got up to check on the soup and came back out a few minutes later. “Dinner is ready.”

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After they ate and sat around talking for a while longer Sean and Orlando finally headed for bed. A little while later as Viggo and Tabby sat together on the couch he noticed her yawn. “You’re worn out…why don’t you go upstairs?”

“I thought you might want me to sleep in Henry’s room tonight.” She said trying to stifle another yawn.

“What? No…no stay with me tonight…I promise just like last night…just sleep. I liked waking up with you next to me.” Viggo said caressing her arm lightly.

Tabby blushed. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, come on let’s go to bed.” Viggo said standing and pulling her up with him.

He turned off the lights and led her up stairs….they passed by Sean’s room…he was snoring softly and Viggo pulled the door the rest of the way closed.

When they entered Viggo’s room he went into the bathroom to change into sweats and a t-shirt for bed…more than he normally wore but he didn’t want to make Tabby uncomfortable.

She waited until he came out and she went in with her nightgown and changed for bed. When she came out he was already in the bed. She crawled in beside him and he smiled at her. “That’s a pretty gown.”

“No it’s not…it’s prim and proper and practical.” Tabby said scrunching her nose up a bit.

“Prim and proper and practical or not…I think it’s pretty.” Viggo said softly running a finger along the lace at the collar before he reached over and turned off the light.

He curled around her and she snuggled back into his warm embrace. “Oíche mhaith, codladh sámh, mo chroí” She whispered.

“Good night, sleep well, my heart.” Viggo repeated back to her in English.

Viggo didn’t fall asleep right away though. He lay awake thinking. How is it I can call her mo chroí-my heart so easily but I can’t just come out and say something like I know we haven’t even known each other a week yet but I am in love with you. Viggo frowned, God that was awful. You’re a fucking poet Viggo…think of something. He could say something in Gaelic…. better yet Danish she wouldn’t understand him! No fear of rejection there. Then his brain wrapped around a phrase. A piece of a poem by Sorley Maclean, Chaidh mo ghaol ort tha bàrdachd; My love for you has gone beyond poetry. He smiled to himself…oh yes that would do, oh but no it being from a Scottish not Irish writer may offend her. Maybe it’s not such a good idea. Plus he had to figure out exactly when the right time to say it was. He rolled a few phrases around in his head before falling asleep.

Viggo woke up early, the clock said 5:23 but he was wide-awake…one part of him in particular was awake and pressing against a warm, soft Tabby. I better get out of this bed. He thought.

Tabby felt Viggo stirring behind her and could feel his arousal pressing against her backside. I wonder what he would do if I pressed myself closer to him? She thought. Then she felt color rush to her cheeks…damn fine thing it was still dark.

Viggo unwrapped himself carefully from her…he was trying not to wake her…though he didn’t know she was already awake. She pretended to be asleep so he wouldn’t know.

Then he leaned down over her and kissed her forehead and whispered something in Danish. “Jeg elsker dig". She would have to ask him sometime what it meant.

Viggo smiled to himself…well I said it…I said I love you, in Danish and she is asleeplot lot of good that does me but it’s a start. Viggo thought as he got dressed and went down to the barn…best to get this over with early. Once he was done he went back upstairs to his room he snuck in quietly and went to the bathroom to take another icy shower.

When he came back out he had on jeans but no shirt. Tabby was sitting up watching him come into the room. Oh he looked so good without a shirt on. He was lightly tanned and had a nicely muscled chest and back.

“Did I wake you?” He asked going to the closet for a shirt.

“Not exactly…bed got cold.” She said smiling at him.

“Mmmm, I am going to go start breakfast…you enjoy the shower I left plenty of hot water.” He said as he walked out of the room.

She went into the bathroom and started to step into the shower. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” She gasped out loud.

Apparently he was right about no lack of hot water…he certainly didn’t use any. The poor man had taken a shower in ice water…the tub, the chrome were all ice cold. Even after he had been out mucking the stalls in this damn cold weather. Then she laughed to herself and thought wickedly that she didn’t exactly mind having that effect on a man, especially this man. Particularly in that horribly prim and proper looking cotton nightdress… if that turned him on just think what something from Victoria’s Secret would Sh She thought to herself smiling. Then she thought…ah but wait…prim and proper cotton gown…old-fashioned looking, hmmm Viggo liked the innocent look. Oh I do that look quite well. She thought wickedly as she stood naked beside the tub waiting for the hot water to warm it before she got in. Now what was that phrase he said? Jeg elsker dig…wonder if Sean knows any Danish?

Viggo was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when Orlando stumbled in…his hair was standing straight ud Vid Viggo smiled at him. “Sleep on your head?”

“Ugh…you got some caffeine? I need some before I go take my shower.” Orlando said plopping down at the table.

Viggo handed him a cup of coffee…he didn’t make it often but he felt like coffee this morning so he had made both coffee and tea.

“You are a God, Viggo.” Orlando muttered as he slowly blew on the brew.

Viggo just laughed and continued beating eggs in a big bowl. Orlando thankfully was an easy vegetarian he at least took eggs and milk.

“Thought I would find Tabby in here not you…she seems to really enjoy cooking.” Orlando said as his brain started coming out of the fog of sleep.

“I beat her to it this morning.” Viggo said tossing some bread on a plate for toast.

“She is an amazing woman, Viggo.” Orlando said shifting in his chair so he could put his leg up. The boy could never just sit in a chair.

“That she is.” Viggo said grabbing milk out of the fridge.

“So when are you going to tell her how you feel?” Orlando asked taking a sip of his coffee.

“I don’t know…soon perhaps.” Viggo answered honestly.

Orlando smiled. “So Sean and I are going hiking today…what do you have planned?”

“I need to go in to town…the farmers market is open today…I can get some great fresh veggies for you, and I think I want to make rødgrød med fløde tonight for dessert.” Viggo said looking out the window.

“What the hell is that?” Orlando asked.

“It’s a Danish dessert…basically a berry soup…you will love it.” He said smiling.

Orlando just laughed. “I’ll take your word for it. So abbyabby going with you?”

“I haven’t asked her.” Viggo said as he tapped some butter into the frying pan.

“Haven’t asked her what?” Tabby said coming into the kitchen. Viggo just stared at her a moment. She always looked adorable but today even more so. She had on a floral dress with long sleeves that belled around her wrists and was pulled in tight against her breasts but then flared out over her hips with tiny buttons all the way down the front. It was very, very sexy in a sweet innocent kind of way. The muted colors made her eyes stand out even more and Viggo had to remember then to breathe.

She noticed his stare. “I am out of jeans, need to wash. It’s why I asked Janie to send some of my things.” She said as she sat down across from Orlando trying not to smile.

Orlando grinned at her. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you…I guess it’s not exactly muck out horse stall attire huh?” She asked.

Viggo cleared his throat, which had suddenly gotten very dry. “No, it’s not…but it is perfect attire for going to the farmers market with me.”

Orlando grinned into his coffee…smooth Viggo…very smooth.

“Oh, can we stop by the B&B I want to talk to Kate about something?” She asked then as Viggo handed her a cup of tea.

“Sure.” Viggo said wondering what she was doing.

“Hope you aren’t planning on leaving us.” Sean said as he entered the kitchen.

“Oh no…no I just wanted to talk to Kate about some things she brought me. She makes and sells candles, soap, and lotions that sort of thing…I wanted to ask her a few questions research I guess you’d call it. Maybe show me how it’s done if she has a chance.” She said smiling.

“Sounds interesting. You look particularly lovely this morning.” Sean said patting her hand as he sat down and accepted a cup of tea from Viggo.

“Thank you.” She said blushing.

Viggo smiled and turned back around to the toaster.

Once they had breakfast Orlando announced he was taking a shower and Sean got up to help Viggo clear the table. Tabby started to get up but Viggo put his hand on her shoulder. “Relax…you have done enough the last few days…now act like a guest and let me take care of you for a change.”

Sean had his back to them but he smiled. His friend was definitely in love.

Viggo had been writing before he started on the eggs and it was lying on the counter. “Do you mind if I take a peek?” She asked indicating the journal.

“Uh it’s not finished yet…plus I wrote it in Danish.” Viggo said putting cups in the dishwasher. Sean looked at him.

“Here let me translate it for yiggoiggo taught me some Danish when we were in New Zealand and I found it an interesting language. Have been learning it here and there.” Sean suggested noticing Viggo’s frown but ignoring it.

As he leaned over the page and started reading silently before he tried to translate Sean decided no indeed he could not in fact read this to her…well if he did he would be so embarrassed he would be red faced for a we Dam Damn, Viggo…he thought…this is a bit too erotic for before seven in the morning!
sor sorry…I uh…afraid this is a bit beyond my learning…Viggo are you writing in a certain dialect here?” Sean asked trying to make up a good excuse for why he couldn’t possibly translate this for her.

Tabby looked at him suspiciously and then said, “Well what about this phrase, I have read it somewhere before…what does it mean… Jeg elsker dig?”

Viggo dropped a fork in the dishwasher and cursed. Sean just grinned at him.