Page 61 of Forever with the Farmer's Daughter
With one minute twenty seconds left to play, Levy County’s offense takes the field and lines up opposite our defense. Our defense blocks a pass making it second down. Their quarterback finds his receiver and converts for a first down. The clock keeps ticking down as the team lines up and the quarterback takes the snap. He looks down the field, finds his target and launches the pass, only to have it intercepted as the clock runs out.
The crowd goes wild and before I know what’s happening, Gatorade is raining down on me. Coach hugs me and laughs. “Now you’ve been officially welcomed.”
We head out to the field and shake hands with Levy County’s coaches and players while making sure our players do the same.
I search the stands for my family and see Samantha standing on the sidelines. I jog to her, and she meets me halfway, leaping into my arms. I lift her off the ground as she winds her arms around my neck. I kiss her, swinging her around in front of the entire crowd. When the kiss ends, I rest my forehead against hers. “Marry me, Samantha.”
She draws back in surprise, her eyes searching mine. “What?”
I set her on her feet, reach into my pocket and drop to one knee in the end zone. “Samantha Kincaid, I love you with all my heart. I want to start and end every day with you by my side. Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?” I present her with the ring I’ve been carrying around in my pocket for the last few weeks.
Tears stream down her face as she nods. “Yes, Cameron, I would love to be your wife.”
I slide the ring onto her finger, leap to my feet, and take her in my arms. I kiss her as our families descend upon us to offer their congratulations.
Samantha
“Okay, we have your somethingold, borrowed and blue. Now we need your something new. Hmm.” Aubrey taps her chin, one hand resting on her protruding belly.
“My wedding dress will be my something new,” I say as I stand in front of the full-length mirror and take in my reflection. Three weeks after Cameron proposed, Christine sent both me and Beth plane tickets to spend the weekend in Atlanta dress shopping. We went to three different shops, and I tried on dozens of gowns before this one caught my eye. A champagne silk slip dress with white lace overlay and a small train. As soon as I tried it on, I could picture myself in Cameron’s arms dancing at our reception.
“That could work, but I think we should use this.” I turn to face Aubrey, wearing a bright smile, as a small gift bag dangles from her finger.
“What do you have there?”
She stretches out her arm, making the bag swing as it beckons me to her. “Cameron dropped it off this morning and asked me to give it to you before the ceremony.”
I take the gift bag, reach inside and pull out a small velvet box. I glance up at Aubrey, open the lid and gasp as I take in the princess cut diamond solitaire earrings. The cut matches my engagement ring perfectly and my heart swells at the thought Cameron gave me this gift.
Aubrey peeks over the lid of the box, eyes going wide. “For a man whose spent the last eight years in the desert, he has great taste in jewelry.”
“Yes, he does.” I smile as I hand Aubrey the bag, remove the earrings from the box and slide them in my ears. I walk back to the mirror and admire Cameron’s gift, thankful I decided to wear my hair swept back.
Aubrey walks up behind me, “Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.” I turn and she hands me my bouquet of burgundy dahlias and ivory roses. “Now, let’s get you married.”
Aubrey and I head downstairs to meet Kenny who’s waiting for us at the foot of the stairs. He offers Aubrey his hand, helps her down the last few steps and brings her into his side. He smiles at me as I descend the last few steps. “Samantha, you look beautiful. My cousin is the second luckiest man in the family.”
I laugh. “Thanks, Hutch. What do you say we get going and make me the second luckiest woman in the family?”
Between the high school football playoffs and making sure the date didn’t collide with the NFL season so Christine and Warren could attend, Cameron and I had two options for our wedding date. Thanksgiving weekend or wait until January. Since we were both so anxious to start our lives together, we opted for Thanksgiving.
Two weeks after our engagement, while having dinner with my parents, they gifted us five acres of land on the east side of the farm. Daddy said since I would be taking over operations of Kincaid Dairy one day, it only made sense Cameron and I build a home on the property. Stunned with their generosity, Cameron and I couldn’t think of a better place to get married than on the property where we’ll be building our life together.
We have a meeting with the contractor next week to discuss building our dream home. Until the house is ready, we’re renting a place in town from a newly retired couple, who want to spend some time traveling.
Kenny pulls the SUV through the gate and into the reserved space. He puts the vehicle in park and comes around to help first Aubrey out and then me. He squeezes my hand and winks at Aubrey. “I’ll let them know were here and ready to begin.”
Kenny makes his way to where the ceremony is set to take place. The beautiful pergola Kenny and Craig built for us to stand under and say our vows will be permanently installed in our backyard once the house is finished. Standing behind the vehicle, I wait for the music to begin signaling the start of the ceremony. As the first notes begin to play, Aubrey lays her hand on the side of her belly and winces.
“Aubrey? Everything okay?”
She smiles reassuringly. “Oh yes, just some Braxton-Hicks contractions since it’s almost time for this little one to make their debut.”
“Okay, if, you’re sure.”
“I am. Now, let’s get moving before Cameron comes and gets you.”
Aubrey begins the processional, makes her way down the makeshift aisle and then takes her place in front of our family and friends. I take a deep breath and make my way to the aisle, eyes solely focused on Cameron. He looks incredibly handsome in his beige suit and burgundy tie. Since Daddy had already given me away once, I opted to walk down the aisle alone. However, Cameron seems to have different plans and meets me halfway.
