Chapter Fifteen: Samantha

"That was delicious," Henry said as he leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine.

"Does that mean we can go out to the oak tree and show Henry the treehouse plans?" Lewis whispered loudly.

"You don't want dessert first?" Samantha asked as she forked the last of her pasta into her mouth.

"What was dessert again?" Lewis asked, obviously torn.

"Apple pie," Tilly chimed in. "The one we made with Mary this morning."

"Oh, apple pie," Lewis said with a nod, but his eyes roamed to the treehouse plans.

"And ice cream," Samantha added. Nothing usually stood between Lewis and ice cream.

"I'd like dessert first," Tilly said. "I want Henry to try the apple pie we made. We even picked the apples from the tree in the orchard."

"I'd like to have dessert," Henry agreed. "Then we can go and check out the tree and see how your plans size up."

"They're big," Lewis replied helpfully.

"I can see that you've put a lot of thought into them," Henry chuckled with amusement. "So, let's have apple pie and ice cream, and then we'll head out to the oak tree. Sound good?"

Lewis nodded eagerly, happy at the prospect of both dessert and the treehouse plans. "Okay, deal!"

Samantha loved seeing her son's enthusiasm and stood up to clear the dinner plates. "I warmed the pie in the oven. So, I'll just grab it."

"Can I help serve the pie?" Tilly asked.

"Of course. You helped make it. Why don't you grab the bowls and spoons while I get the pie out and you can serve it up?"

Tilly nodded and headed to the kitchen cabinets. "Where are the bowls?"

"Allow me." Henry jumped out of his seat and opened the cupboard containing the bowls. "Which ones?"

"The blue ones." Tilly pointed to some pretty blue bowls with a cracked glaze, and Henry dutifully got them out of the cupboard and passed them to Tilly. "Thank you."

"You are welcome." Henry winked at Tilly before he closed the cupboard and then helped clear the rest of the table.

"Thanks," Samantha said as he stacked them neatly next to the sink.

"Thank you ," Henry said as he stepped closer to her. "I've really enjoyed having dinner with you all."

"We've enjoyed having you," Samantha said, aware of the heat creeping across her skin at Henry's proximity. She could smell the faint scent of his cologne, a woodsy aroma that was incredibly enticing.

"Mom, where's the ice cream scoop?" Tilly asked, breaking the moment.

"I'll get it," Henry said and slipped away from her. "Here we go." He handed the scoop to Tilly. "Shall I grab the ice cream?"

"Yes, please," Tilly said as she set the plates out on the table.

"I'll get the pie." Samantha grabbed an oven mitten and carefully pulled the warm apple pie from the oven. The aroma of cinnamon and baked apples filled the kitchen, making everyone's mouths water.

"Oh, that smells amazing," Henry said, breathing in deeply as he set the ice cream container on the counter.

Samantha cast a proud glance at her daughter. "Tilly has always enjoyed baking."

"And I have always enjoyed tasting ," Lewis said and earned himself a chuckle from Henry.

"I am with you there," Henry agreed. He and Lewis were so similar in so many ways. The thought made her throat constrict. Tilly and Lewis deserved a father. Could Henry fill the gap left by Donald?

Pushing the thought aside, Samantha carefully carried the steaming pie to the table, setting it down on a trivet. The golden-brown crust glistened with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, and the aroma of baked apples and warm spices filled the air.

"It looks incredible," Henry said.

"Yummy," Lewis licked his lips expectantly.

"Can you manage?" Samantha asked as she offered Tilly a serving knife.

"Yes," Tilly said confidently as she took the knife from her mother and carefully cut into the golden crust, revealing the steaming apple filling inside. The aroma intensified, filling the kitchen with its sweet, homey scent.

Samantha watched as Tilly expertly served up slices of the warm apple pie into each bowl. Henry followed behind, adding a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream to each serving. The contrast of the warm pie and cold ice cream created wisps of steam that curled up enticingly.

But her throat tightened further at the sight of her daughter as she placed the bowls on the table and said, "Enjoy."

It was as if Tilly was growing with confidence each day, no each hour, which had passed since they had arrived in Bear Creek.

"Come on Mom, try the pie before the ice cream melts," Tilly said as she sat down and picked up her spoon.

"Sorry, I was miles away," Samantha said and pulled out her seat and sat down.

"This is as delicious as it smells," Henry complimented.

"Mary helped weigh out all the ingredients," Tilly said. "And she helped cut up the apples."

"But Tilly rolled the pastry," Lewis said between mouthfuls. "Mary said Camille might need some help to make her pies when she has her baby. But we're going to be too busy building the treehouse to help make cookies and pies."

"I'd like to help Camille sometimes, though," Tilly said. "Maybe one day I can work for her. I could help create new recipes."

"Camille would love to have your input," Henry assured her. "She is always adding new lines to her baked goods. Maybe you could help her with one aimed at younger people."

"That's a great idea," Samantha said. "You're very creative. I'm sure you could help Camille."

"Really?" Tilly asked, looking from her mother to Henry. "Do you think Camille would let me help create a new recipe like the one Mary tried this morning?"

Henry nodded. "I'm sure she would. Camille loves fresh ideas, especially from young bakers like yourself."

"But after we've finished designing the treehouse," Lewis said firmly.

"After the treehouse," Tilly agreed. "And after we've created a secret garden."

"We could always wait until we move into our house and make a secret garden there," Samantha replied, although she did like the idea of creating one here, with Henry. It would be something for them to remember their stay. And maybe he'd let them visit whenever they wanted.

"Why can't we do both?" Lewis asked.

"Because what's better than one secret?" Tilly asked.

"Two!" the children chorused.

"They are not wrong," Henry replied.

"I believe I am outnumbered," Samantha said.

"I believe you are," Henry agreed. "And my mom would love to see the grove transformed into a secret garden. My parents always encouraged us to be diverse in how we used and enjoyed the ranch. Although, that doesn't mean it's a playground."

"Did you tell that to the horses?" Lewis asked. "They were playing in the fields when we went on our tour."

"That's different, Lewis," Samantha warned her son.

"I know." He flashed her a cheeky grin. "I was joking."

"It's all right to joke sometimes, as long as we understand the dangers of the ranch." Her mouth turned down at the corners. Was she overreacting? Losing Donald in such a way had made her overprotective at times, something she had worked on, but it still reared its head at times.

"We can work on spotting dangers and how to keep safe," Henry said.

"While we build the treehouse?" Lewis asked longingly.

"While we build the treehouse," Henry confirmed with a nod. "Safety is an important part of any construction project."

Lewis beamed, clearly thrilled at the prospect. "Can we go look at the tree now? Please?"

Samantha glanced at the empty bowls on the table. "I think we're all finished here. Why don't you two go get your jackets while Henry and I clean up?"

"Race you!" Lewis called out to Tilly as they both scrambled from their chairs and dashed out of the kitchen, their excited voices echoing through the house.

"That's a good sound," Henry said.

Samantha stood up and began gathering the empty dessert bowls. "Those two have boundless energy."

Henry chuckled as he stood up to help. "It's great to see them so excited. They seem to be settling in well."

Samantha nodded. "They are. Better than I'd hoped. Thanks to you."

"Oh, I cannot take the credit for a tree falling on your house," Henry said as he collected the bowls and ferried them to the sink.

"When I first saw it, I thought it was a disaster," Samantha admitted, moving to Henry's side by the sink. "But now, I'm starting to think it was a blessing in disguise."

Henry turned to face her, their shoulders nearly touching as he placed the last bowl in the sink. "Sometimes the unexpected turns out to be just what we need," he said softly, his eyes meeting hers.

Samantha could not agree more. Henry had been totally unexpected. And he might be just what she needed. She opened her mouth to respond when Lewis's voice called from the hallway.

"Mom! Henry! We're ready!"

Henry grinned and stepped back. "Duty calls," he said with a wink. "Shall we?"

Samantha nodded, grabbing her jacket from the back of a chair. "I don't think Lewis's patience will hold out much longer."

Samantha and Henry made their way to the front door, where Tilly and Lewis were pulling on their shoes, ready to go. If one thing had come out of all this, it was that they had grown closer. The treehouse plans gave them a common goal, a reason to come together that they hadn't had before.

After Donald's death, Tilly had retreated into her books, while Lewis had become more exuberant, pushing boundaries, as if he was testing Samantha to see if she would leave him, too.

"Are we ready?" Henry asked and opened the door as Tilly and Lewis nodded.

The children tumbled out, perhaps fueled by a sugar rush from their apple pie and ice cream. Or maybe it was just the excitement of showing Henry their treehouse plans. Either way, their enthusiasm was contagious.

"This way!" Lewis called, racing ahead down the path that led to the grove and the old oak tree.

Tilly followed close behind, her longer legs easily keeping pace with her younger brother. Samantha and Henry brought up the rear, walking side by side in comfortable silence.

As they walked, Samantha marveled at how quickly her children had taken to Henry. There was an ease in their interactions. Henry's willingness to share his knowledge of the mountains and the natural world around them in an easily accessible way had endeared him to them.

And, if she were honest, to her.

She glanced at Henry, noting the gentle smile on his face as he watched the kids run ahead. "They really look up to you, you know."

Henry turned to her, his eyes dark pools of emotions. "I'm glad. They're brilliant kids. And I want to be part of their lives. If that's okay with you, I mean."

His words took her by surprise. But her reply did not. "I think I'd like that." She met his gaze. Tilly and Lewis needed a male role model, and Henry was perfect for the job.

But did he want more? She was confused by their exchanges. Unsure of whether he was being kind or whether he wanted to be a bigger part of their lives than a role model.

Before Henry could respond, Lewis's excited voice called out, "We're here! Come on, you guys are so slow!"

"No, you guys are so fast," Henry replied.

Henry and Samantha quickened their pace. When they reached the oak tree, Tilly took the plans for the treehouse out of her coat pocket and placed them on the ground beneath the tree.

"What do you think?" she asked, staring down at her hard work.

"I think these are fabulous," Samantha said. "The question is, are they something you can build?"

All eyes turned to Henry, who rubbed his hand over his chin. "I think they might need some tweaking." He looked up at the tree and then at Tilly and Lewis's expectant faces. "But I believe anything is possible if we work together."

"Yay!" Lewis said, jumping into the air and clapping. "We're going to build a treehouse, we're going to build a treehouse."

"There's no backing out now," Samantha told him.

"Don't worry," he replied. "I'm not going anywhere."

And in that moment, Samantha knew for sure she did not want him to.