Page 118 of Native Hawk
“I will go first,” she told him.
She took a small nibble, rolling her eyes as she savored the musky, garlicky flavor on her tongue. “Mmmm.” It tasted like…home. “Now you.”
She watched with amusement as he took a tiny bite. Seeing as it didn’t poison him, he took another. His forehead creased as he considered the taste. Finally, he took a generous bite, chewing and frowning with the concentration of her father’s wine-taster.
“Well?” she asked.
“Not bad. Better than I expected.”
Her brows shot up. Not bad? She took another heavenly nibble. How could he not taste the forests of Ferrara in every bite?
But then she realized that was part of it. For her, it was more than a taste. It was an experience and a memory.
“Tartufireminds me of home, of my childhood,” she said. “What was your favorite food when you were a boy?”
“Mmm,k’itust-dediwilliq’.”
“And this is…?”
“Acorn bread.”
“Then I must try your acorn bread,” she decided.
“That’s a promise,” he said. “O’ course, my mother makes the best. She learned from the other women o’ the—”
There was a knock on the door.
“Miss Catalina?” It was Mr. Parker.
She opened the door,tartufoin hand.
He nodded a greeting and extended an envelope. “It looks like a letter came for you today.”
“Oh.” Two letters in one day?
Mr. Parker gave thetartufoa skeptical glance.
“Would you like to try thetartufo?”she offered. “It is a delicacy from my country.”
“No, thanks, ma’am. I’m more of a steak and potatoes man.”
She shrugged. But as she took the letter with thanks, she couldn’t help but wonder how steak and potatoes would be with little shavings oftartufoon top.
The letter was from Sacramento. She used Drew’s knife to slice it open.
“It’s from Jenny!” she cried when she saw the name.
“Jenny? Our little runaway Jenny?”
“Si.I will read it.” It was good for Catalina to practice reading English. “My dearest Catalina, I cannot thank you enog…”
“Enough?”
“I cannot thank you enough for helping me to escape my woo-reh-ch…woo-reh-ch…”
“May I?” Drew asked.
She showed him the word.
