Page 39 of Forever with the Farmer's Daughter
I throw my head back and laugh. “You’re going to keep it up and my parents are going to like you more than they do me.”
He reaches over and laces my fingers with his, resting our joined hands on my leg. “If they like me half as much as they love you, I’ll take it.”
Upon arrivingat the American Legion, Mrs. Lawrence greets us and immediately begins to instruct us how to use the ice cream machine. Once we have the first batch churning, she shows us where the extra containers are stored and the shelf, she designated for us to store the finished product in the freezer.
With all the ingredients in front of us, I begin handing the correct proportions to Cameron to pour into the machine. “How many batches do we need to make?”
“I’m not sure. We should be able to determine that though once the first batch is ready.”
“True. How many days will you be doing samples?”
“Five. The fair begins on Friday and ends the following Saturday. We’ll do samples the first weekend and then again on the last weekend. If all goes well, we can make a fresh batch for the closing weekend.”
Cameron adds the last ingredient, replaces the lid, and then looks at me and grins. “You want to do the honors?”
Excitement fills me and I nod emphatically. He steps out of my way, allowing me to flip the switch and start the machine. As the motor begins to hum, I squeal in delight and wrap my arms around Cameron’s’ waist. “Thank you, I couldn’t have done this without you.”
He hugs me tighter to him. “I’m glad I could give you this.”
I turn my head, my chin resting on his chest as I look up at him. “Me too.”
Cameron leans down and drops a kiss on my lips. “You know, we’ve got about twenty minutes before this batch is ready. Want to go make out in my truck?”
“As tempting as it sounds, I don’t want a time limit. I want to be able to kiss you for as long as I want.”
He kisses me again. “I like the way that sounds.”
I pat him on the chest and back out of his arm. “But first, we have ice cream to make.”
When the first batch is ready, Cameron helps me fill the containers. Once the machine is empty, we carry them to the kitchen, place them in the freezer and start the process again.
Sometime before noon, the veterans begin to arrive. Cameron leaves me on my own so he can spend time with each one. I watch as he interacts with them, completely in his element as they tell him of their time in the service. As if he has an internal alarm, Cameron is at my side at the completion of each batch helping me put it in containers and then starting the next one.
As I flip the switch for a new batch, I see Mr. Roher step up to the counter. “Samantha, what would it take to talk you out of some of ice cream?”
I smile as I step over to the counter and lean in close. “You have to answer one question.”
He looks at me suspiciously. “Okay.”
“Cone or bowl?”
Mr. Roher laughs and shakes his head. “I’ll take a bowl with some hot fudge if you have it.”
“We do. It will be ready in about ten minutes. Can you wait that long?”
He stands from the stool he was occupying. “Young lady, I’ve got nothing but time.”
His reply makes me smile yet triggers a sadness inside me as well, knowing he recently lost his wife. “Okay, I’ll bring it to you as soon as it’s ready.”
He pats the bar and then walks over to join in the conversation Cameron is having with Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Kerwin. Cameron welcomes Mr. Roher to the group with a handshake and then laughs before looking my way. Catching me watching their interaction, Cameron winks at me causing my smile to widen. As he turns back to the group continuing with their conversation, I turn on the hot fudge warner and set a bowl out to make Mr. Roher’s sundae.
When the ice cream is ready, I pull the lever and begin to fill the bowl. As I push the lever back in place stopping the flow of the ice cream, a pair of large hands land on my hips. “Hey beautiful, need some help?”
I lean back into his warmth. “Not yet, but as soon as everyone else sees this sundae, I have a feeling I’ll be making more.”
Cameron chuckles. “I think you’re right.” He kisses my cheek and then steps around me walking backward toward the kitchen. “I’ll be right back to help you make the others.” He disappears into the kitchen, and I ladle the hot fudge onto the ice cream. Adding a plastic spoon to the bowl I walk the sundae over to the table where Mr. Roher is seated with Mr. Kerwin.
I set the bowl on the table in front of him. “As promised, one hot fudge sundae.”
