Page 8 of Forever with the Farmer's Daughter
I say goodbye to Kenny and Aubrey’s parents as I walk to my car and climb behind the wheel. With one last wave, I pull out of the driveway and turn toward home.
Alone with my thoughts, Cameron Hutchinson is the first thing to come to mind. Talk about the most changed since high school. As a boy, Cameron was always good looking, with his dark hair and hazel eyes. His athletic build and agility made him one of the best football players Dogwood County has ever seen. There wasn’t a teenage girl, me included, who didn’t appreciate the way he looked in his football uniform. The boy I knew all those years ago is long gone and has been replaced with a man twice his size. It’s fair to say milk isn’t the only thing that does a body good; the Army seems to have been very good for Cameron’s body as well. Broad shoulders, biceps so big I almost felt sorry for the T-shirt stretched around them. When he grinned and winked at me it took all my will to stay upright and not melt into a puddle at his feet. What I wouldn’t have given to have a little of his attention during high school.
I flip on my blinker and turn down the road leading to the farm. Pulling up beside the house, I see Momma and Daddy sitting side by side on the porch swing. I switch the ignition off and climb out of the car. “Hey, you two,” I call up to them as I open the back door to pull out the dinner Miss Jane and Miss Chloe sent home for us.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Mom says from her place beside Daddy. “How was the shower?”
“It went really well,” I answer as I step up onto the porch. “Aubrey was so surprised to have Janine, Dianne, and Lisa there through video chat. She got a lot of nice gifts and so many clothes.”
Momma laughs. “She’ll need all of those and more. Did Aubrey like the quilt we made her?”
“I didn’t take it with me since you weren’t there. I told her we would be over to visit later this week, so we’ll take it then. Aubrey said to tell you she missed you being there.”
“I’d like that,” Momma says with a smile. “She is so sweet, I’m so glad she and Kenny found each other.”
“Me too.”
Daddy points to the bags in my hands. “Whatcha ya got there?”
I lift the bags, and reply, “Miss Jane and Miss Chloe sent dinner home for us.”
“That was nice of them,” Momma says. “I’ll give them a call later and thank them.”
“Well, I’m going to go warm this up, I’ll let you know when it’s ready.”
Once everything is reheated,Momma, Daddy, and I gather around the table. We say grace before we begin filling our plates. “We got a little surprise when I took Aubrey home. Craig’s brother Cameron is home from the Army.”
Daddy places a piece of fried chicken on his plate. “Is that right?”
Momma passes me the plate of biscuits, “Is he home on leave?”
I place one of the biscuits on my plate then set them between us, “I’m not sure, but it was nice to see him. I’m sure Aubrey will fill me in later. I do know Craig couldn’t quit smiling.”
Daddy nods as he breaks open a biscuit and adds a pat of butter. “I’m sure; those boys were thick as thieves growing up.”
“Still, it would be nice if he was home for good, especially with Aubrey expecting,” Momma says. “Kenny will be occupied for the first few weeks.”
I laugh. “Aubrey is going to have more help than she knows what to do with.”
Momma laughs. “I’m sure you’re right. When are her parents moving down?”
“They're in the process of closing down their psychology practice, I think they’ll be fully moved by the end of September.”
After dinner,Momma helps me clean up and put away leftovers, while Daddy checks on the cows one last time. Momma and I stand at the sink, her drying while I wash. “So tell me, is Cameron Hutchinson as good looking as he used to be?”
Her question surprises me, and I laugh as I chastise her, “Momma!”
She swats me with her dishtowel. “Don’t Momma me, young lady. I may be old, but I can still appreciate a handsome man when I see one.”
I shake my head and smile. “Well you could definitely appreciate Cameron then. He’s about twice the size he was in high school.”
“Oh my,” Momma says quietly.
“Yeah, oh my, is right. I was surprised he remembered me.”
“I don’t know why; you all grew up together.”
I hand her the last plate to dry. “True, but he was older than me, and barely gave me the time of day back then.”
