Page 17 of Forever with the Farmer's Daughter
"Good, I'll check with Aunt Jane about those ice cream churns and get back to you."
"Okay." A moment of awkward silence passes between us as our eyes lock on one another and I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to drown in those complex hazel eyes of his. The sound of a rattling cart approaching jolts me back into the present. "Um, I should probably finish my shopping."
Cameron shifts his stance. "Yeah, I should get these jars home to Aunt Jane before she calls looking for me."
I laugh, because I know he's not joking. Miss Jane is like Momma; both are serious about their canning. "Yes, you better. Bye, Cameron, talk to you soon. "
"Bye, Samantha," he says with a wave before turning down the next aisle to head to the checkout.
I lean heavily on my cart trying to catch my breath once he's out of sight. The last time I felt this breathless was when I met Alan. Then again, Alan and I had an instant attraction. I've known Cameron all my life.And you've crushed on him for just as long.The little voice inside my head reminds me. Growing up Cameron only looked at me as Beth and Christine's little sister. However, that was not the same look he gave me today. There was something different in the depths of his hazel eyes, and it wasn’t the pity I've become so used to seeing when anyone else stares at me. Maybe I'm imagining it, but it looked like interest. Though I'm not sure how to define what interest looks like either.
Returning home,I begin carrying in the groceries. As I make my final trip inside, I find Momma unpacking the bags. “Looks like you got everything on the list and then some,” she teases.
I hoist the bags onto the counter. “One of these days I’ll remember not to go to the grocery store hungry.”
Momma laughs as she places the two packages of cookies in the pantry. “But then we wouldn’t end up with all the snacks.”
“Or maybe we’d end up with healthy ones,” I say with a shudder, making her laugh again.
“You never could stand when Christine had healthy snacks in the house.”
Not being a fan of either, I frankly state, “Carrots and raisins should only be allowed in the house if you are making carrot cake.”
Momma laughs once again. “I remember you telling her that on more than one occasion.”
“Speaking of Christine,” I ask, making the perfect segue. “Do you ever remember her making homemade ice cream?”
“Oh, heavens yes! She and the cheerleading squad made it at least once a week. Why do you ask?”
I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the reaction I’m about to get. “I ran into Cameron at the store, and he mentioned it.”
“Oh?”
I ignore the curiously pleased tone and continue. “He said Aubrey and Miss Jane were making pickles to pass out as samples at the fair. I told him we hadn’t decided what to use as a draw to our booth yet, and he suggested ice cream. Said he remembered Christine making it for the football team years ago and how delicious it was.”
“That’s not a bad idea. I think we still have a couple of churns out in the storage shed.”
“We do? How do I not remember ever making homemade ice cream?”
Momma smiles, her eyes lighting up with the memory. “Probably because Christine and the girls never made it here. She used to provide the milk, but they used to meet at Sally Ann’s to make it since they lived closer to the school. Less travel time to the football field.”
“Well, I guess that explains it then. Anyway, I told Cameron, as good as the idea was, I doubted we’d be able to make as much ice cream as we’d need to pass out as samples at the fair.”
Momma nods. “That’s true.”
I continue, my nerves starting to get the best of me. “He said he thought Miss Jane might have a couple of churns and offered to help me.”
Momma grins. “Did he now?”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t read too much into it, he was just being neighborly.”
“Call it what you will Samantha Nicole, but I think he’s sweet on you.”
“Momma,” I warn. Even as the word leaves my mouth, I feel a blush steal across my cheeks.
“I’ll leave it for now. All I’m saying is, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Cameron around here.”
“Well, if I can find those ice cream churns, you may get your wish.”
