Page 72 of Truly, Madly Viking

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, Joe, let's get down to what I really wanted to talk with you about."

"More talking?"

"More talking."

The woman talks entirely too much.

He groaned.

"Joe, we have to discuss the implications of this time-travel stuff. I've been thinking "

The woman thinks entirely too much.

"I don't believe this was a random time traveling."

"Random time traveling? What the hell is that?"

"It's a phrase I came up with myself," she admitted sheepishly. "If it was random, it would mean that it could have happened to anyone who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Like your brother Magnus, for example, who stood right next to you. Also, it would mean that the time traveler could have ended up anywhere and in any time, not necessarily in Galveston, and not necessarily in the year two thousand. Do you see what I mean?"

"I'm beginning to," he answered. And that is not a good sign. "In other words, there must have been a specific reason why I was sent, and where I was sent."

"Right."

"So, what's that reason?"

"I haven't a clue. Do you?"

He pondered the puzzle for a few moments. "All I can think of is that it's too much of a coincidence that I lost twin girls and that I came to a place where there were twin girls."

She tapped her fingers on the table pensively. "I agree. The girls' wishing on a star, or praying, or whatever, must have brought you here."

He nodded. "They seem to have great need of me."

He saw that she would have liked to argue that point. But then her shoulders slumped.

"Of course, you have great need of me, too. Did you perchance wish for me upon a star, too?"

"I did not!" she declared vehemently, but her words were belied by the blush on her fair cheeks. "The most important thing to me isn't why you came, but what will happen to the girls when you leave... as you most assuredly will."

Jorund wasn't as certain of that as she was. "I suspect I will not be returned to my time to complete my father's mission until I have accomplished some mission here. It will not happen of a sudden, without forewarning; I am convinced of that."

"I just don't want my girls to be hurt."

"Methinks you are overly protective."

Her chin shot up in the air, as if he had struck her. "Mag-he, all your life you have tried to control life, which is an impossibility. You tried to control your sensuality as a youthling. You thought you could control a man in your first relationship. I wouldn't be surprised if you avoid men today for fear of not being in control. And you try to control your daughters too much. Part of growing up is being hurt and learning to handle the pain."

Her eyes were welling over at his harsh assessment.

"I do not mean to offend you, m'lady."

"You aren't," she said with a little sob. "Much of what you say I already knew, deep down."

"The bottom line, as you people say in this land, is that you must ask yourself this question: Would your daughters be better off not knowing me at all? Or would it be better for them to have had me in their lives, even for a short time?"

Jorund couldn't believe he was actually speaking of playing a part in those little girls' lives. If ever there was a disaster waiting to happen to his already broken heart, it was Sue-zee and Beth.

"How did you get to be so smart?" she asked, dabbing at her eyes with a tish-you.