Chapter 6

Samantha

I walk downstairs, carrying thelarge, wrapped box covered in little yellow ducks and a matching bow with curled ribbon glued to the center. I set it on the kitchen table and go to check on Momma. I walk back to their bedroom and knock on the door. “Momma? I’ll be waiting in the living room when you’re ready?”

"Okay, sweetheart, I’ll be right there."

I smile as I walk to the living room. Aubrey and I are having our weekly lunch today, only she insisted Momma join us this week. Miss Jane and Miss Chloe will both be there as well. While I’m not quite sure how it’s going to be a ladies only lunch at her home, since she usually cooks lunch for Kenny, Craig, and now Cameron, I’m sure Aubrey has it handled.

Momma walks into the room, keeping my thoughts from straying too far into the direction of Cameron Hutchinson. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t find my earrings. Turns out they were in the jewelry holder on my nightstand.”

“Well, I’m glad you found them. You look great, by the way.” She really does. Living on a farm, we spend most of our days in practical clothing. Today Momma has stepped it up and is wearing a floral summer dress and a pair of white flat sandals. Her chin length brown hair is starting to show some gray, but her hazel eyes are sparkling with excitement at giving Aubrey her gift.

“Thank you, sweetheart. I’m going to let your dad know we’re getting ready to leave.”

“Okay, can you take the present out as you go? I’ll grab the banana pudding and meet you outside.”

“Sure thing,” she says as she picks the gift up off the table and heads out the door.

I open the refrigerator and pull out the bowl of banana pudding I made last night. Aubrey had some at the last church dinner we attended and loved it. She called me two nights ago saying she was craving it and asked if I could make some for our lunch today. I couldn’t possibly tell her no, so Momma and I ran to town the next morning to get what I needed.

I step off the porch and walk to my SUV as Momma and Daddy walk out of the barn. Daddy’s face falls when he sees the bowl in my hands. “Don’t tell me you’re taking all the banana pudding with you.”

I put the bowl in the backseat and close the door, before turning back to face my parents. “Now Daddy, would I do that to you when I know it’s your favorite? There’s a small bowl in the refrigerator for you to have with your lunch today.”

Daddy grins as he hugs me to his side. “Have I told you lately, you’re my favorite?”

I laugh and kiss his cheek. “I’ll be sure to tell Beth and Christine the next time they call.”

He laughs and shakes his head, knowing I won’t really tell them, at least not until the next time I see them. He walks Momma around to the passenger side and opens the door for her. He gives her a kiss and helps her inside. “You girls have a good time.”

“We will. Don’t work too hard, Daddy.”

Daddy chuckles. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

When he closes Momma’s door, I put the car in gear and head down the driveway to the highway.

Momma and I talk about the farm, the upcoming fair, and what we are going to do to draw visitors to our booth. By the time we pull into the drive leading to Hutchinson Farm, we’re no closer to an idea than we were when we left the house.

We pull up next to the farmhouse and park beside Aubrey’s car. Getting out of the vehicle, Momma gets the gift from the backseat while I get the banana pudding. When we reach the steps leading up to the porch the screen door opens and Cameron steps outside. Seeing us, he hurries over.

“Mrs. Kincaid, here let me help you.”

Taking the gift from Momma, he offers her his hand as she ascends the steps. “Thank you, Cameron.” She beams as she takes the final step up onto the porch.

“My pleasure, ma’am,” he replies. Giving me a wink, he graces me with a brief smile, “Samantha, nice to see you again.”

“Hi, Cameron. You too,” I reply honestly, and a little breathy.

Momma’s eyes dart between us before she saves me by starting a conversation. “Samantha tells us you’re home for good.”

“Yes ma’am. Kenny and Craig have already put me to work.”

“That’s good, you know what they say about idle hands.”

Cameron chuckles as he opens the screen door for us. “Yes, ma’am I do.”

Momma steps inside and I follow her. Cameron peers into the bowl I’m holding as he steps inside behind me. “Is that banana puddin’?”

I glance up at him over my shoulder and his nearness catches me off guard as I drag my gaze up from his broad chest to meet his eyes. It takes me a second to remember he’s waiting for an answer. “Um, yes, it is.”

“I haven’t had good banana puddin’ in years.”

“Since you were so nice to help us inside, I’ll make sure Aubrey saves you some.”

“Thanks,” he says with a wink and then sets the gift down on the coffee table. “Aubrey, your guests are here.” He glances over at Momma and then back to me and smiles. “You ladies enjoy your lunch.”

I nod speechless and watch as he disappears out the front door. When I turn back around, Aubrey is grinning at me. “What?”

She shakes her head, her grin widening. “Nothing.”

“Right,” I draw out not believing her. Not wanting to give her an opportunity to voice her suspicions, I raise the bowl in my hands to distract her. “Your banana pudding, as requested.”

Aubrey’s eyes light up as she moves toward me to take the bowl, “Oh thank you. I’ve been dreaming about this since the last church social.”

I glance up at her a little sheepishly. “There’s one little thing. I may have promised Cameron, you’d save him some.”

Aubrey laughs. “Of course you did. Let me put this in the fridge, and then I want to find out what’s in the box,” she says, pointing to the gift on the coffee table.

When Aubrey returns, Momma, Miss Chloe, and Miss Jane are with her. She takes a seat on the couch, me on one side of her, Momma on the other. Momma hands her the box as the others look on, waiting for her to open the gift.

Aubrey carefully removes the wrapping and lifts the lid of the gift box revealing a handmade quilt for the baby. A red barn sits in the center of the quilt with whimsical farm animals stitched in place along the border. Yellow sunflowers with green leaves grace each corner. Aubrey gasps as she runs her hands over the soft material. “Oh, Miss Amy, this is beautiful.”

“Well, I can’t take all the credit, Samantha stitched her fair share too.”

Aubrey’s head whips in my direction. “You helped make this?”

I smile feeling my cheeks turn pink at the attention I’m getting. “I did. The sunflowers were my idea,” I admit with a shrug. “You know, in case you have a girl.”

Aubrey taps her rounded belly. “Did you hear that coconut? Auntie Samantha wants you to be a girl.”

I swat her arm and scold her as she laughs. “Aubrey! Don’t tell them that. I’m going to love them no matter if it’s a boy or a girl.”

“I know you will crazy girl, I’m just giving you a hard time.” Momma laughs along with Miss Jane as Miss Chloe shakes her head at her daughter. “Seriously though, this quilt is amazing. I can’t believe you two made this for our baby.”

“I’m so glad you like it,” Momma says. “I have one for you and Kenny as well, but you’ll have to wait until after the fair to get it.”

Aubrey’s brow creases as confusion settles over her face. . “The fair?”

Miss Jane begins to fill in the blanks. “Amy makes some of the most beautiful quilts in the state. She enters one or two in the fair every year, and usually goes home with a ribbon.”

Aubrey’s eyes widen. “You want us to have one of your award-winning quilts?”

Momma giggles. “Well, it hasn’t won any awards yet, but yes the quilt I’m entering into the fair, I want you and Kenny to have as a wedding gift.”

Aubrey’s eyes fill with tears as she squeezes Momma’s hand. “We would love that. Thank you.” She leans over and hugs Momma and then me. Aubrey sniffles and wipes the tears from her eyes. “Since you’ve already made me cry, I think it’s time to eat because you know, at this point food makes everything better.”

I laugh, not even trying to hide my amusement as I get to my feet. “Then by all means, let’s eat.”

Aubrey links her arm with mine as we walk into the kitchen. “So tell me, Auntie Samantha, can you teach me how to quilt?”