Page 78 of The Gathering
“Trial and error?” she wondered.
“No, swallowing my pride and asking to be taught by the master.”
She smiled, going warm inside. “Awww. You had such a great mom, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did. But it was my father that taught me to cook.”
She stared happily at him about that. “I love that you havetwoamazing parents.”
“Me too, teet pah-trawn,” he said softly.
She grinned. “Pah trawn? What is that? Is that a nickname for me?”
He grinned back, his dark eyes oozing into her. “It is.”
She waited with wide eyes then blurted, “Tell me!”
“It means little boss.”
Oh how funny! And accurate. “Mr. Bishop calls his wife something like that.”
“Oui. Ma Petite.”
“And that means?”
“It literally means My Little but to him it means his little everything.”
She sighed with a smile. “How very romantic.” She wondered then. “Why is mine teet and not petite? Is there a difference?”
“It’s just a lazier version of little.”
She realized too. “So, I’m Little Boss. Without the Ma or my. Is that a cultural distinction? Requires marriage?”
“No, it’s just maybe more endearing, I guess to some.”
She studied him, crossing her arms on the table, wanting to ask too many questions.
He smiled at her. “You want me to say petite and not teet for you?”
“Pfff!” she said with an eyeroll. “I want you to call me whatever you want, ma petite this or ma teet that, it’s entirely up to you. I do believe in freedom of expression and opinion. How do you say apprentice?”
“Ah-pran-tee?”
“So how do you introduce me to others with that title?”
He folded his arms on the table, his smile playful, his eyes on her mouth. “Mah teet ah-PRAN-tee.”
She raised her brows. “Why not just teet ah-PRAN-tee?”
His smile got bigger. “Because you aremyapprentice. You are notmylittle boss even if you want to be.”
She assured him, “I do notwantto beyourboss oryouranything, I’m just wondering about the difference, that’s all.”
“Whatdoyou want from me, teet suhr?” His mouth softened with his voice and gaze. “Little Sister,” he translated.
Mercy. Watching and hearing him speak French like that made it very difficult tothink.“Speak something in French, something longer than a few words.”
He looked out at the swamp, his tongue slowly cleaning up his lips before he eyed her. “Why?”
