turn.
"I must see you again, that's what I must do,
even if it's only to chat. Surely you will turn my
grayest days to blue sky. And," he said, forcing me to
turn so I faced him, "I will fill your heart with
happiness. I promise."
I started to shake my head, but he brought his
lips to mine to kiss me gently.
I broke away. "I must help Mama," I muttered,
and charged out the front door.
Mama had two couples at the stand, the women
going through our linens and towels, the men off to
the side smoking and talking.
"Gabriel, fetch those pillowcases we wove day
before yesterday, please," she said the moment she
heard me approaching.
"Oui, Mama."
Pierre stepped out on the gallery as I hurried
back and into the house, passing him without a word.
When I returned to the stand, Pierre was conversing
with the men, getting them interested in buying jars of
swamp insects.
"They'll make great conversation pieces on
your desks in your offices. Not something easily
acquired in the city, n'est-ce pas?" he told them. They agreed and bought two jars apiece to add
to the items their wives had taken. When they left,
Mama thanked Pierre for making the sale.
"It's nothing, madame, but it was more fun than
being in the canoe hunting," he added. Mama smiled.
He asked her about some of her herbs and listened as she described how to use them and what they would cure. I could see he was very impressed with her. He