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Title:
The Kitchen Witch --------------------------------------------------------------- [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] -------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1-The Arrival The lighthouse rose high on a craggy cliff, a spear of white against a storm tossed sky. Viggo thought that it looked, as it should. He raised his camera and began shooting from the ferry. He had planned this fall trip so that he could get a grip on his life. So much had changed the last few years after the movies were released; the last one would be this Christmas, what a circus that would be. Hidalgo would follow in March of next year. Viggo looked at it as both a blessing and a curse. Once the light shifted he frowned and stopped snapping pictures. He could see the island ahead, and the small village. Viggo was looking forward to his time on Mount Desert and the surrounding islands. He had been to Maine when he was a kid once, but hadn't been back since. Viggo had decided it was the perfect place to get lost, where no one knew him, and perhaps he might get away with no one recognizing him. His first stop would be the bookstore owned by Maria Martin. She was a friend of his publisher who had rented her cottage on the south side of the island to Viggo. She knew who he was but he had been assured she would keep his secret. Maria was disappointed he refused a poetry reading and or book signing but she understood why and didn't press him any more about it. That was six months ago when he had first signed the rental agreement. He wanted to spend the fall just being himself again...Viggo the artist not the actor. Normally he would want to be home next month for Halloween to spend it with Henry but his son told him he was a teenager now and hanging out with Dad on Halloween wasn't what he considered 'cool' anymore. Once the ferry landed he made his way to Maria's store. The bookstore was small and reminded Viggo of an entirely different time, the Victorian era to be exact. The checkout counter was unique in that it was mahogany not some kind of laminate monstrosity and it was covered in what looked to be hand carved angels up to the counter where a slab of shiny granite topped it. An older somewhat plump woman with short salt and pepper hair sat on a stool behind the counter leafing through a book. She looked up when he walked in. "Morning. Can I help you?" She asked over the top of her gold-framed reading glasses, which were attached to a chain around her neck. "Yes actually I am looking for Maria Martin." Viggo replied walking up to the counter. "Ah you must be the renter she mentioned, just a minute I will fetch her for you." The woman said hopping off the stool with more energy than he would have first given her credit for. The old woman went up a curving iron staircase to the second floor and soon a woman in a long figure hugging black dress came down. She was absolutely stunning, with a mass of black hair that spilled over her shoulders. She wore silver bracelets on both wrists, and walked with a cat like grace. The woman was tall and slender with alabaster skin. Viggo's throat went a little dry, he had seen beautiful women before, but none with such poise, not even the actresses he knew had this woman's allure. "Mr. Mortensen it is a pleasure to meet you finally." She said in a smooth breathy voice her gray eyes sparkled as she offered her hand. He thought for a second should he shake it or kiss it? He decided on shake being the most appropriate. "Pleasure to meet you as well Mrs. Martin." He needed to reaffirm to himself that this woman was most definitely a married woman. She smiled. "Oh please call me Maria." She said looping her arm through his and motioning toward the staircase. He followed her and replied. "Then please by all means call me Viggo." Her gray eyes shifted back to him and she smiled. Once at the top of the staircase he was not expecting what lay before him. It was a small café area as nicely decorated as the lower bookstore area. She continued to bring him to a side door, which led into her office. "Please have a seat, Viggo. I hope the trip out went well?" She asked releasing his arm. Viggo sat down in a rather large Victorian leather chair that seemed fit for a king and replied, "Yes the trip went quite well...I think I shot about ten rolls on the way out." She smiled again and sat behind her large desk that matched the front counter in design. "Well I guess all I need to do is give you the keys and you can sign the last bit of paperwork. I am sure you are anxious to get settled in." She said pushing a manila envelope across the desk. Viggo opened it and dumped the keys onto the desk. There were two sets, four keys total, and there was one final rental agreement. Short and to the point, she knew Viggo was an artist and had added an addendum to the original agreement. The cottage had antique hardwood floors and she wanted to make sure he signed an agreement about no paint damaging them. He smiled at her and then signed the agreement making a mental note to buy a new drop cloth while in town just as a backup. He didn't even want to venture to guess how much those floors cost. He may have made a lot of money the last few years from the movies, but he certainly wasn't ready to part with it for a few drops of paint. She also explained that the kitchen stove had been replaced since he signed the original agreement as well as a new fence installed. "My husband Darren will be taking care of the yard work so you have nothing to worry about there...you will be able to spend your time doing creative things or relaxing and not worrying about the gardens." She explained. "Gardens?" Viggo asked. "Yes the cottage has a rather large lawn with many trees and a rose and herb garden surrounding it. The place originally belonged to my great grandparents, and some of those roses have been there since the 1800's." She explained. "Sounds beautiful, though Dave said it was...he said he and his wife loved the month they stayed there last year." Viggo said smiling. "Yes they seemed to. Well I am sure you want to get settled in...if you need anything please just give me a call...my number at home and here at the office are on the tag on the key rings. It's good to have you here on the island and I do hope you are able to find what it is you are looking for here." She said standing up again. Viggo stood up as well and then said. "That was an interesting way to put it...find what it is I am looking for...I hadn't thought of it that way before but I guess I am looking for something." "We are all looking for something, Viggo." She said smiling and then led him back into the café. "Right now, I am looking for something to eat...do you have anything in particular you recommend?" Viggo asked feeling even hungrier smelling the aromas of the café. "Actually this time of the morning I would say one of Sarah's blueberry muffins...they are to die for." She said smiling fondly. "Have a seat and I will have Sarah bring you one and would you like coffee, cappuccino, or tea?" "Coffee would be fine." Viggo responded sitting down at one of the tables. The tables had books for sale stacked in the center in place of vases of flowers or annoying stand up advertisements. He looked at a few of the books and then saw one he actually had wanted to buy for a while now but hadn't found the time. He grabbed the book and began paging through it when a beautiful blond with long tumbling curls wearing faded jeans and a white apron approached his table. He set the book down as she poured his coffee and set a dessert plate with a rather huge muffin in front of him. "Thank you." Viggo said smiling at the woman. Her hand shook a bit and she smiled at him. Shit did she recognize me? He thought. Maria slid into the chair opposite him and said, "Thank you, Sarah." Sarah nodded and then dashed back behind the counter and into the kitchen like a frightened mouse. Viggo looked at Maria a bit perplexed and she laughed. "No she didn't recognize you I don't believe. Sarah is extremely shy, but she warms up quickly enough. She is a wizard in the kitchen but doesn't do the people skills part of it very well...until she gets to know someone a bit. She is quiet and works damn hard. She just doesn't handle new people very well, she nearly dumped an entire carafe of coffee on the new Police Chief last week when he patted the back of her hand." Maria said crossing her long legs. Viggo took a sip of his coffee...it was probably the best coffee he had ever tasted. "She certainly makes good coffee." "Everything Sarah makes is good, she is a kitchen witch." Maria teased. Viggo laughed. "Kitchen witch...well." Maria looked at the book beside his plate. "You planning on that one?" "Yeah been thinking about it for a while now." Viggo said. "Well then take it...on the house, as is the coffee and muffin. Consider it a welcome to the island. I must get back to work now. See you later...and remember if you need anything just give me a call." Maria said standing. Viggo stood as well and she looked at him a bit shocked. She wasn't expecting such an old fashioned reaction but she smiled anyway. Sarah had been watching the exchange from the kitchen and the whole time she was berating herself for not even being able to say your welcome to the handsome gentleman that was with Maria. She watched the man eat and drink his coffee and read the book Maria had given him. She admired his hands, the way they seemed to caress the pages of the book as he turned them. He had high cheekbones and gorgeous light blue eyes, when he said thank you earlier it wasn't his voice that startled her but his eyes. It was as if he could see right through her. He had shoulder length reddish blond hair and a dimpled chin along with a scar over his lip that made her curious how it came to be there. After a bit the man stood and walked over to the counter. "Umm Miss...uh Sarah...I um I am Viggo. I am renting the cottage from Mrs. Martin...I umm are you back there?" Viggo felt like an idiot talking to air but then the pretty blond popped out from behind a swinging saloon style door. Her face was a bit red but she managed to meet his gaze. She had pretty sea green eyes with gold flecks in them, they reminded Viggo of cat eyes. "Hi again. Maria said I could have these things as a gift but I was wondering if I could buy a couple more muffins to take home with me...you are a wonderful cook." Viggo said softly he didn't want to scare the poor woman she was obviously painfully shy, he didn't need Maria to tell him that. Her eyes went a bit wide for a few seconds and then she flushed red. Viggo had to resist the urge to tell her that she looked pretty when she blushed. A compliment might actually scare her more. "Thank you, sir. Yes I will fix you something to take home with you." She said softly with her head down looking at the counter top rather than him. Viggo leaned down trying to catch her eyes and said, "Thanks." She blushed slightly again and rushed back thru the swinging door. Viggo smiled and shook his head. The whole time Maria had been standing in her doorway watching the exchange. She smiled and went back into her office. "Yes indeed people were always looking for something, and they never know just what it is until they find it." She said to herself. When Sarah returned she had a small basket. "I gave you two of the blueberry and also one of my fudge brownies. I wasn't sure if you liked pecans but if you do I can run back and change it out for one with pecans. Also check your freezer when you get home, I went there this morning and put some things in...figured you might enjoy them." She said softly in a rush as if she didn't say it all at once she wouldn't be able to get the words out. Viggo smiled at her. "Without pecans is just fine. You know I didn't expect such extras, but I certainly won't turn them down. Thank you again, Sarah, and also thank Maria for me won't you?" Sarah blushed again but this time she did look up at him and smiled tentatively. "I will." "So how much do I owe you?" He asked. "Five dollars and twenty-eight cents." She said walking over to the cash register. "Here you go, keep the change." Viggo said handing her a ten. She murmured thank you. "Hope to see you again Sarah...oh by the way what is your last name...mine is Mortensen." He said picking up the basket and book. "Johnson." She replied. "Well it was good to meet you Sarah Johnson, see you later." Viggo said as he walked away. Sarah stood watching the handsome man walk away and then she scurried back to the kitchen. When Viggo got downstairs the old woman was back at her perch behind the counter. "Get your business taken care of sir?" She asked. "Certainly did, and got some delicious food along with it." Viggo said indicating the basket. "Ah our little Sarah is the best...by the way my name is Nellie Avery. Please stop in any time." The old woman smiled at him sweetly. "Thank you Nellie." Viggo said leaving. Go to Chapter 2
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