Page 38 of A Fowl Match

“So, what do you do with the goat’s milk?” I ask while petting my favorite one some more. Her name is Little Miss. She is a beautiful black, brown, and white Nigerian Dwarf goat. Her fur is soft and smooth to the touch, she’s extremely docile.

“Gram uses the milk to make cheeses, soap, lotions, and even dehydrates some too. She begged my grandpa to get some goats for years and he finally caved. Even though he takes care of them. She uses all of the milk and makes things for us. It’s more of a hobby for them at the moment.” He scoops some pellets and drops them into a trough. “Little Miss has been producing milk for about half a year after kidding. But we have to make sure that she’s milked regularly. So that she keeps producing.”

“She doesn’t sell anything that she makes?”

“No, she just trades it for eggs and gives it out around town. But I’m thinking about breeding some more goats and producing larger batches of milk so that we can expand the farm's business. Maybe I could start selling it at Valley Harvest. They already offer local honey, milk, and syrup. I think the goat cheeses would do well.”

“That’s such a good idea! You’d have me as a customer. I love goat cheese. Also, I need some of this soap and lotion as soon as possible.”

“I’m sure Gram will send you home with a bag of goodies after dinner tonight.”

That’s news to me. I didn’t know I was joining them for dinner. I was not expecting to stay. I really don’t want to step in on their family dinner. But I haven’t had a home cooked meal that wasn’t of my own making in years so the idea is very tempting. “Are you sure I can join? I don’t want to be a bother.”

Looking agitated at my indecision he says, “You are not a bother at all, my gram will be giddy at the prospect of a girl at dinner. Believe me, she will be trying to add you to the family by the end of the night. Anyways, she always makes enough food to feed an army. I called her earlier to let her know you’d be joining us. Hoping you would say yes.”

I would love that. I’ve been missing being part of a family for so long.

“You didn’t exactly ask me, you just proclaimed I was going.” I shrug my arms across my chest. I smirk, knowing I would have gone either way.

“I didn’t want to give you the chance to say no—” He shrugs. “You promised me that favor and I’m cashing in on it tonight.”

Oh no.

It’s five fifty-five and Dustin told me if we aren’t sitting at his grandma’s dinner table at exactly six sharp she will not be happy with us. She’s old-fashioned when it comes to traditions. Dinner has to be religiously on time every night. If you’re late your food will be cold and there is no reheating it. He doesn’t dare show up late when he can help it.

The farmhouse is stunning inside. We enter through the back door straight into a mudroom. The small room houses a washer, dryer, laundry sink, and shoe rack. We scrub our hands and set our boots on the rack. Spending the majority of the day with the goats and cows in the pasture, we wouldn’t dare step foot in the house with them on. The interior is exactly what I’d pictured it would look like, decorated with crisp white walls, warm hardwood floors, antique cuckoo clocks, and scenery paintings. The mudroom leads straight to a dining room with a large oak table, set for four people. The decorating style is inviting and homey.

A woman walks out from the entryway; I assume she’s his grandmother. Her long gray hair is tied up on top of her head, a floral apron is wrapped around her waist tied into a neat bow atthe front. She beams a wide smile, and I instantly feel at ease in her company. Her presence exudes warmth.

“Gram. This is Violet. Violet, this is Gram,” Dustin introduces us.

She wipes her floured hands across the sides of her apron. The dust floats through the air in a cloud. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, honey. I don’t know why we haven’t crossed paths before,” She pulls me into a tight embrace. The pleasant fragrance of parsley, spices, and a hint of rose fill my nostrils. She pinches my cheeks. “Oh honey you are so pretty.”

“Thank you.” I blush. “It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Rhett.” It takes all of my restraint not to rub my sore cheeks. What is it with grandmas and squeezing cheeks? It’s painful; they have an iron grip!

“Oh dear, please call me Gram. Anyways, I will be your Gram soon, I hope.” She winks at Dustin.

I thought I was blushing before.

I was wrong.

Now my face is a thousand shades of red. I sneak a glance at Dustin. His eyebrows shoot up. He gives me a,I told you she’d say thatlook. I try to stifle a giggle, but cough into my arm instead to cover it up. I never was good at holding in a laugh.

“Please Gram. You’re going to scare her away,” Dustin chastises her.

“Oh dear, if she’s here with you right now there isn’t much more I could do. You don’t need my help in that department. You would have scared her away already.” She shrugs as I snort, covering my face again.

Dustin stares at his grandmother, giving her the stink eye, and grunts a reply, “Way to boost my ego.”

“Your ego is big enough for all of us.” Gram claps her still-floured hands. “Okay, pleasantries over. Let’s eat youngins. Ihope you like chicken and dumplings. Because that’s what we’re having.”

My stomach grumbles so loudly. It sounds like thunder booming in the room. I grin sheepishly and look away. Embarrassed by my lack of control when it comes to my appetite. Gram chuckles, seemingly approving of my hunger.

“Where’s Grandpa? He’s late.” Dustin questions her. Dustin pulls out my chair for me and sits to my left. Gram takes a seat across from me.

“He’ll be here any second. I sent him into the canning closet to grab us a jar of my homemade applesauce.” She checks the watch on her wrist. “He’s not late anyway, one more minute until six.” I make a mental note to never be late if I’m invited again. He definitely wasn’t exaggerating about that.

“What did I miss?” His grandpa walks in, taking a seat next to Gram. “Hi Miss Violet, nice to see you again.” He beams a tender smile in my direction.

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