Chapter 2

Samantha

Standing in the middle ofthe church fellowship hall, I admire the Welcome Baby banner adorned with farm animals hanging on the wall.

Hearing a gasp behind me, I turn and smile as my best friend, and mother-to-be, waddles through the door. “Samantha, this is amazing!” Aubrey’s eyes widen as they land on the table for the gifts. “Please tell me all those gifts aren’t from you.”

I laugh as I walk toward the entrance to greet her with a hug. “Hey there, little momma, hey Hutch,” I say as I release Aubrey. “No, Dianne, Lisa, and Janine sent their gifts since they couldn’t be here in person.” I turn back to the decorated hall. “I thought the farm theme was a safe choice since you wouldn’t find out ahead of time what you are having.” I see Hutch hide a smile; I’ve been giving Aubrey a hard time about not finding out the gender for months. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today, Hutch”

“Hey, Sam,” he replies as he steps through the door behind Aubrey. “Momma and Chole have the SUV so loaded down with gifts there wasn’t room for Aubrey to ride with them. What space they did have left was reserved for the food.”

Aubrey rolls her eyes as I fight a smile. “And Heaven forbid I drive myself.”

Hutch wraps his arm around his wife and pulls her into his side. “Sorry Blondie, but I’m not letting you go anywhere alone until our little honeydew makes an appearance.”

These two crack me up and I love the way they refer to the baby as fruits and vegetables depending on how many weeks along Aubrey is in her pregnancy.

Aubrey crosses her arms over her chest. “Samantha, tell my husband I’d be fine driving the short distance into town by myself.”

I hold my hands up in surrender. “Don’t drag me into this. Besides, I think Hutch is just looking out for you and the baby so you’re going to have to deal with it.”

“Some best friend you are,” Aubrey replies with a huff.

“Thanks, Sam,” Hutch says as he grins in satisfaction and kisses Aubrey’s cheek. “I’m gonna get going. Call me if you need anything, I love you.”

“I love you too, Country. Be careful driving back.”

“I will. Bye, Sam,” Kenny calls as he opens the door.

“Bye, Hutch.”

I’ve known Kenny “Hutch’’ Hutchinson all my life. Both our families have owned and operated farms on opposite ends of Blossom Creek for nearly a hundred years. Aubrey is the newest member of the Hutchinson family, well for another couple of months or so at least. She and Kenny met and fell in love in New Orleans and began a long-distance relationship, which quickly transformed Aubrey into a Blossom Creek resident once she found out there would be a little peanut joining them on the farm.

“You two are ridiculously adorable, you know that, right?”

Aubrey smiles. “You’ll be the same way one day.”

“Maybe, but I’m not holding my breath.”

“You wait, one day someone is going to ride into town and sweep you off your feet,” she says as she threads her arm through mine.

Her optimism gives me a glimmer of hope, and hopeful is something I haven’t felt in quite some time.

Aubrey squeezes my arm, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Now, tell me what you need me to do?”

“Nothing,” I say with a gentle shrug of my shoulder. “Everything is decorated. Your momma and Miss Jane will be here soon with the food, and the guests should start arriving in about twenty minutes.”

“Good,” she says as she lowers herself into a chair. “It gives us time to catch up. Is your mom coming?”

I shake my head. “No. She wanted to be here, but Daddy needed to help my uncle with a few things at their place before he and Momma head home. I told her we’d come by one day next week after she was back home and settled.”

“Good. You know I expect you and your momma to visit as often as possible.”

I laugh. “Like you aren’t going to have enough people fussing over you and the baby.”

“True, but I will need time with my bestie, and this little one is going to need their Auntie Samantha.”

I smile loving the fact I have been deemed an honorary auntie already. “You know I’ll be there any time I can be for both of you.”

“I know you will be,” Aubrey says as she carefully studies me. “How are you?”

If there is one thing I love most about Aubrey, it’s how she puts others first. Even though I was born and raised in Blossom Creek, I felt so isolated when I moved back. Of course, I understood; I mean what exactly does one say to a twenty-six-year-old widow? Most of my friends were starting families, not burying their spouses. The expressions of pity I received everywhere were too much to bear. I threw myself into work on the family farm and put my degree to use by taking over the business side of the dairy.

I first met Aubrey as she and Hutch walked along Main Street. She immediately bristled, thinking I was her competition, and did not hesitate in making the inquiry to find out. Once I relieved her fears, she apologized, and we became fast friends. When she and Hutch returned from their honeymoon and were settled in, we began having weekly lunch dates.

When I shared why I moved back to Blossom Creek with her, she immediately asked how I was. I wasn’t sure how to respond at first. It had been so long since anyone had asked about me, I started crying in the middle of the cafe. Since then, Aubrey asks about me first, and Aubrey Hutchinson will not accept the polite answer, she wants the honest truth. Once she is satisfied with my answer, she asks about my parents and the farm.

I answer her honestly. “I’m good.” Aubrey huffs as she levels me with a look of disbelief. I’m certain if she were standing, her hands would be on her hips and her head would be tilted. Lucky for me she’s too far along in her pregnancy to move quickly, but I still can’t help but laugh. “Don’t give me that look, missy, I’m tellin’ you the truth. Between taking care of the farm’s books, helping Momma, and planning your baby shower, it’s kept me occupied.”

“You’re sure it hasn’t been too much on you?”

I shake my head. “It hasn’t. If anything, it’s been therapeutic.”

“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.”