The Farmer's Daughter

Chapter 18

Chapter 18:

                “What are you doing back?” my mom asked, once we were all seated around the table. “Last I heard you were living in San Francisco at the Marine base.”

                “I’m still living there,” Ryan answered, looking back at my mom with an amused smile. “We’re on vacation for a week, and I decided, well now is as good as time as any to visit my family.”

                “Oh my!” my mom gasped. “I hope you stopped by your house before coming here. I know your mother will have a cow if she finds out you stopped here first.”

                He chuckled, laughing at my mother’s ridiculous question. “Yes, I stopped by my house. Beth ordered me to come and say hello to you guys. But it wasn’t such a bad order, considering the fact that you guys are like my second family.”

                My mom flicked her wrist, tears in her hazel eyes; while my dad just smiled at him. I on the other hand, just continued to stare at him, still completely shocked that he was back; sure it was only for a week, but still.

                “Oh honey, we’re just glad you stopped by,” my mom choked out, after taking a sip of her ice tea. Finally deciding to notice me she gave me a stern look, “Skylar you haven’t touched not one bean of your lamb stew,” she scolded.

                I jumped at the sudden attention, as suddenly everybody at the dining table decided at that moment to look at me. I smiled sheepishly, and hurriedly shoved in a huge spoon of stew. I underestimated the size of my mouth because the lamb stew ended up just right back in the bowl.

                “Oh for heaven’s sake!” my mother cried, shaking her head in disgust. “Skylar Lynn Jones we have a guest here, and he’s a Marine, show a little respect.”

                I nodded my head, while taking a sip of water. God, why did I have to always act so stupid in front of guys, I mean, especially Ryan. I know, I know, I sound like I like him, but I don’t know the childhood crush I’ve had on him for years, just came fluttering back.

                “Oh Skylar, how I have missed your eating habits,” Ryan said, his brown eyes twinkling in amusement. They twinkle, like actually twinkle, the kind of twinkle you see in the cartoons; so darn cute!

                I glared at him. “Well, you have to admit I am getting better. I now don’t drink quite as much soda as I used to. However that is my mother’s order. Her reason: Skylar, you are not going to be asked out on a second date, if you show the guy how disgusting you are when you drink pop.”

                True story. At thanksgiving, me and all my other cousins drink soda, since obviously we can’t have wine, not that I would have any even if I was legal. But my guy cousins think it’s pathetic how girly my burps sound, so they decided to ‘teach’ me the proper way to burp, much to my mother’s dismay. I have to admit that I’m not too shabby at burping, very much improved on my skills.

                “Oh I remember those days,” Ryan remarked, his eyes looking as though he actually is remembering the memories. “You could almost beat out my younger sister.”

                I laughed and nodded my head. Those were the days. When I decided to not try and impress Ryan, and act like just one of the family. Those times I had so much fun, and included in their day to day activities. Beth and I were best friends in elementary school, and we still are to this day, almost like sisters.