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“I can promise you, I don’t know everything,” I said. “When I was your age, I loved nature.”
“Me too!” Cleb said.
“What do you like about it?” I said.
“I like that it’s alive! And it breathes like we do.”
“Well, not exactly like we do…” I said.
“No. They use a process called photosymomsis.”
Okay, so he mispronounced the word a little. Who cares? I was impressed he even knew about it at his age.
“Photosynthesis?” I said. “I didn’t think kids your age learned about that for a few more years.”
“They don’t usually,” Bianca said. “But once Cleb started developing an interest in nature, he couldn’t stop learning about it, could you?”
Cleb nodded his head.
“You know, we study a lot about nature when we’re looking for a new place to mine and dig up,” I said. “Not just plants and animals but rocks and minerals too. Do you think you might be interested in that?”
Cleb’s eyes slid over to Bianca.
“We could study it next, if you like,” she said.
Cleb nodded.
“If you’re interested, I could take you to one of the mines one day,” I said. “A sort of field trip, I guess. Or to a lab. Maybe that will be more interesting for you.”
“Can Bianca come with us?” Cleb said.
I smiled at her.
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving her behind,” I said.
Bianca smiled and leaned her body against mine. She was so warm and soft, I wanted to wrap my arms around her.
“I’ll keep them and put them in my room when we get back, okay?” Bianca said, sniffing the bouquet once more.
“There’s one more thing you should know about flowers,” I said. “They don’t only attract bugs and birds. They attract girls too.”
Bianca gently nudged me with her shoulder.
“Don’t tell him that!” she said. “He doesn’t need to learn about that yet. Let him enjoy his childhood before you corrupt him.”
“It’s not corruption!” I said defensively. “It’s a part of nature too. One of the most important lessons you’ll ever learn…”
Bianca laughed and slapped me on the arm. Her hand lingered a little longer than necessary.
And we looked at each other.
Her lips were full and fresh and red from the chill breeze and the icy water. It would be so easy to lean forward and take them…
But Cleb was watching and I didn’t want to spoil the relationship he had with his governess.
I cleared my throat.
“How about we move on to another spot?” I said.
