Page 4 of Forever with the Farmer's Daughter
“Good, I’m glad to hear it,” she says as her phone begins to ring.
Aubrey smiles as she answers. “Hi, Mom. Okay, We’ll open the door for you,” she says, then ends the call and starts to rise from her seat. “Mom and Momma Jane are here with the food.”
“Great, you sit, I’ll help them carry it inside.”
“Samantha, I’m perfectly capable of helping carry in a few things.”
“Oh no you don’t. I’m not risking a talkin’ to from Hutch. You might not be scared of your husband, but I am.”
Aubrey waves a dismissive hand as I head toward the door. “You know he’s a big softie.”
“Not where you and the baby are concerned, so sit there and behave yourself.”
As I open the door, I’m sure I hear her mutter something about a bossy heifer, but I let it slide as I greet Miss Chloe and Miss Jane. “Good afternoon, ladies, point me in the right direction.”
“Hi Samantha,” Miss Jane says as she pulls a wrapped gift out of the back seat. “If you could start carrying the food in, Chloe and I will get the gifts.”
“Yes ma’am, I can do that,” I reply as I make my way to the back of the SUV and open the hatch. My eyes widen when I see the amount of food they’ve ordered. I laugh as I try to decide what to carry inside first. “Ladies, there is enough food to feed a small army. There’s no way we’ll eat all of this.”
Miss Chloe laughs as she pulls several gifts from the backseat. “Oh it’s not all for the shower, some of it is to take home for dinner tonight. There’s also some for you to take home as well.”
I shake my head as I pull the first box out of the back of the SUV. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Sweetheart,” she says her face softening with kindness and a bit of concern. “With as much work as you’ve put into planning this shower, it’s the least we could do.”
Momma always told me not to argue when someone wants to do something nice for you because you could be taking away their blessing. It’s a hard lesson for the fiercely independent to learn, but I’m getting there. “Thank you, it was so thoughtful of you both. I’m sure Momma and Daddy will love it.”
“Good,” Miss Jane says as she joins us. “Now let’s get the rest of this inside before the guests start showing up.”
Cameron
Iroll the tension frommy neck as I pass the Welcome to Blossom Creek sign. This is my third day of driving, and I’m more than ready to be on solid ground. A drive through the rolling hills of Alabama with the blue sky above is exactly what I needed.
Getting to spend the last two and a half weeks with Momma and Dad in Arizona was nice, but I basically traded one desert for another. This is what I missed, this is home, and I can’t wait to see my brother and get back to work on the farm.
I pump the brakes on the rented SUV as I take the curve in time to see a tanker truck pulling out of Kincaid Dairy. The truck driver waves as he straightens up the rig and I wave in return as I smile. “Good to see some things never change.”
I drive slowly through town taking in the shops lining Main Street. I see several new businesses along with some favorites from my childhood. The Blossom Creek Diner, hardware store, bakery, and florist, have all been mainstays in Blossom Creek for as long as I can remember.
As I pass the city limits sign, I shift in my seat knowing I’m now only a few miles from home. Fields on both sides of the highway are littered with bales of hay, not the small bales I remember loading onto the trailer as a kid, but the large round bales you need a tractor and bale spear to move.
A white mailbox comes into view, and I laugh as I notice it still stands crooked from taking a hit one too many times. I turn down the driveway leading to my childhood home and catch sight of a tractor cutting through the ground of the northeast field. Even from this distance, I can tell it’s Craig driving. I’m not surprised, Momma and Dad said Kenny’s wife is nearing her due date and he’s not far from her if he can help it.
I pull up in front of the house, turn off the engine, and step out of the vehicle. Closing the door, I take in the house I grew up in, noticing not much has changed since the last time I was here. I climb the steps to the porch, take a seat in one of the rocking chairs, and pull the bill of my hat over my eyes while I wait for my brother to notice me.
No more than ten minutes pass when I hear the tractor stutter in the distance; he’s noticed the car in the drive. Another five minutes go by before I hear the tractor engine quiet and footsteps approach, followed by my little brother’s voice. “Excuse me. Can I help you?”
I grin as I stand to my full height, taking my time to push back my cap and step out of the shadow of the porch. “Hey, little brother.”
“Cam?” A wide smile splits his face as he full on runs from where he stands taking the porch steps two at a time before colliding with me with a fierce hug. When he releases me, he claps a hand on my shoulder, “Damn it’s good to see you. How long are you in for? Have you talked to Momma and Dad?”
I chuckle at his rapid-fire questions, “It’s good to see you too. I spent a couple of weeks with Momma and Dad, but I thought it was time I came home.”
I see his face fall as he asks, “So you’re only here for a couple of days?”
I shake my head, “Well, considerin’ I signed my discharge papers, I was hoping you’d let me stay longer than a few days.”
His smile returns. “Are you kiddin’? Of course, you can stay!” He hugs me again, “Man, it’s good to have you home.”
