It was almost amusing how a mere few months ago, Leah would have yelled at him for slipping into French, but now he could do it whenever he wanted as long as he was willing to translate what he said afterward. There were a few times when he'd said things, things pertaining to how he felt about her, where he mistranslated them. Not because he wanted to lie, but because it was a good way to express feelings that he wasn't ready to express in a way she could understand quite yet. The way she said I believe you, told him otherwise, but he wasn't in the mood to argue.
Her smile, as it usually did, made him smile wider. “De rien, cher,” he started, then shrugged a shoulder. “I was actually considering asking you if you wanted me to teach Marigold some French, too. She's a little smarty,” he said, tapping the girl on the nose with his index finger, “I bet she'd pick it up quickly.”
“That, I don't doubt. I've had severe Leah warnings before and they are not fun experiences.” Another joke. “Probably more dangerous than severe Evan warnings, when you think about it. Most severe Evan warnings involve tripping over oneself and looking like a fool.” He grinned wryly. If he couldn't make fun of himself, it'd be easier for everyone else to make fun of him.
Marigold had Leah's smile. Of that, Evan was certain. “Which Disney princess is your favorite, hm?” he asked her. He wondered what she'd seen; what Disney movies they'd 'allowed' her to watch in that facility. Evan made a face when Leah insisted that Marigold was more royal than she was. “You both look pretty royal to me, in the good Stone kingdom. But I'm a little bit biased, I guess.”
Evan was a patient person. And he absolutely understood the concept of family coming before everyone else. Marigold was Leah's top priority. Yeah, he'd had a stretch of promiscuity after his wife passed away, but when he fell for someone, he fell hard. Leah, as far as he was concerned, was a part of his family. He held her and Marigold above most everyone else, the obvious exceptions being George and Danny.
“Yeah, it's hard not to think about,” he agreed. “But I think Brandon and the others can hold the fort down.” At least he hoped so. Knowing his luck, the moment he put his trust in that nemesis of his (who also happened to be his girlfriend's brother), he'd come back to a destroyed compound and everyone blaming him because he'd dared to step away. “He's done pretty good with helping lead so far.”
Mouth quirking into a pursed-lipped smile when Leah brushed his face clean, Evan chuckled a little bit. “Life's not complete without some naughty sand now and then,” he joked. “I think this is the point when I make a joke about cleaning it out, but it would cheapen the moment, wouldn't it?” he chuckled lightly.