Page 22 of Pumpkin Patch Cutie
I finished relieving myself and washed my hands, then shuffled back out. I tried to stop in the kitchen to ask Annabel if she needed any help, but she and my mama immediately ushered me back out.
I sighed, peeked into the living room again to see Dom pointing out things on some paper, then decided to go out back where dad, Tyler and Lee had decided to set up.
“They still discussing the maze in there?” dad asked as I took a seat on a bench.
“Yeah. And I’m still banned from the kitchen too.”
He laughed. “It’s your baby shower. Let your mama and Dom’s aunt handle it if they want. Your job is to relax and enjoy today.”
“You sure it’s not too much?” I asked, glancing over at Lee, who was as pregnant as I was. “A double shower seems like a big party.”
Lee laughed and pointed at a smoker. “They’re fine. Did you see how much meat is in that thing? I think Dom’s uncle is expecting a small army.”
“Or two very pregnant men,” I countered. “Have you tried his smoked burgers? I never knew I needed a smoked burger until I tried it, now I crave them constantly.”
“Didn’t he make them at Easter?”
I nodded, remembering that I’d nearly made myself sick from overeating for the holiday.
Lee groaned. “Damn, yeah, I remember those. Now you’ve got me hungry too.”
I laughed, then smiled as I thought about how quickly Dom’s family had accepted mine as an extension of theirs, even though we had no connections to ranching or farming. It didn’t matter, because family was family, and since I was Dom’s omega my family was theirs too.
“Grandpa!” squealed Madison as she rushed in from a field. “Look what I found!”
She held out her hands to show off several yellow flowers.
“They’re pretty alright,” said a voice from behind us. I looked back to see Robert standing on the porch. “Those ones are from the pumpkin vines.”
Madison looked down at the handful of flowers and her lip quivered. “I picked pumpkins?”
He chuckled. “Not exactly. Those are the boy flowers, so they wouldn’t have become pumpkins anyway. As long as there are enough boy flowers left when the girl flowers start blooming next week or so it’s fine.”
“Ok…” she said, still seeming sad.
Robert patted her head. “It’s ok sweetie. Ya picked some very pretty flowers.” He paused, then smiled. “Actually… how about I go out with ya and help ya pick some more.”
Madison blinked. “It’s ok to pick them?”
“It’s ok if I’m with ya, that way we can leave enough in the right places. Then we’ll bring back the flowers and eat them.”
“You eat the flowers?” she asked, eyeballing the blossoms in her hand.
“Yep. Mighty tasty. Let me let Annabel know we’re coming back with flowers. Ok?”
Madison studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Ok.”
Robert clapped Brian on the shoulder as he came out. “Man the smoker for me. I’m gonna go harvest some flowers with the little lady here.”
Brian laughed. “Go on. I’ll tell mama to expect them.”
“Thanks,” Robert said as he grabbed a basket from the porch and headed off into the field with Madison.
“You can eat pumpkin flowers?” I asked, not sure I believed it myself.
Brian nodded. “Yep. They’re fairly tasty. She’ll probably like them more if she helps too.”
I chuckled, she did seem to like helping.
