The entire Turnbull clan, Jessie, Kat and her brood and JC rounded out the big family table…

The entire Turnbull clan, Jessie, Kat and her brood and JC rounded out the big family table with one chair empty next to JC. Of course it wasn’t really empty; Buck was under the table with his head resting on the seat. He wasn’t taking his eyes off JC. The conversation was a lively mix of cobbler recipes, peanut crop talk and Kaylie’s adoration of the “cutest lil’ baby pig in the whole wide world she ever saw.”

Jessie was taken a bit off guard when JC turned to her and said, “So what are you doing?”

Jessie looked back at her plate and her fork full of black eyed peas that were strategically impaled on each tine of her fork. She was trying to break her record of 16 peas on one fork when JC had asked that question. She blushed and held her fork up, “Well since I was little I’ve always tried to get as many peas on my fork as possible – no squishing, and as you can see…”

JC held up a hand, “Um, I meant in Chancy.”

“Oh!” Jessie quickly ate the non-record breaking fork full of peas and gulped.

“I’m trying to re-open my family’s bed and breakfast,” she said as she reached for some tea.

“And it’s going to be fantastic sugar!” Claudette chimed in with a wink from a few seats down.

Jessie smiled a little weakly and took another sip of tea. She was still mentally kicking herself for talking about pea piling her fork. How lame can you be Hathaway? Like he cares about your peas? Now he’ll think you’re some nutter and totally dismiss you. Who knows what he’ll say to his cousin or Lord help me his Aunt and Uncle. The whole town is going to think you’re touched in the head by next Tuesday!

Her mental diatribe was cut short by a wave of Kat’s hand in front of her face. “Anybody home?” she asked.

“Hehe,” Jessie took another scoop of peas and looked at Kat.

“JC asked you something,” Kat said while giving Jess a quizzical look.

Jessie turned to JC, “Sorry…what did you say?”

JC opened the second box to show Claudette her platter…

JC opened the second box to show Claudette her platter and three large serving bowls to match her 12 place settings. By this time Kat, the kids, Percy, Peter, Paul, Jessie, Claudette, Buck and even James were in the living room to see Claudette’s surprise.

“I didn’t know boys liked dishes,” said a befuddled Kyle.

That got a good chuckle out of everyone and had JC actually blushing. Or so Jessie thought.

Claudette leaned down and tousled Kyle’s hair, “JC is an artist sugar, he made all of these beautiful things.” She looked up at Percy with a look of adoration, “He made ‘em just for me I suppose.”

Percy grinned as he hooked his thumbs into the belt loops of his jeans and just said, “Yup.”

Claudette jumped up to hug Percy’s neck one more time as Kat and helper Kaylie began to repack the dishes.

“Oh no!” Claudette called, “We have to use them for lunch! I can’t think of a better group of guests to break them in on.”

“Well hopefully you won’t be breakin’ any,” Paul teased as he pushed up the sleeves on his long-sleeve John Deere t-shirt, “Already had to listen to Percy for a good solid month about how he hoped you’d like your anniversary gift.”

Claudette paused in the doorway to the kitchen causing the choo-choo train of helpers behind her to pile up. “But sugar,” Claudette said as she leaned her head back into the room, “Our anniversary was two months ago.”

“Yup,” James chimed in, “But I told him you probably didn’t like the new dish towels he got ya.”

Claudette gave James a wink, “Good call brother, GOOD call.”

As the group trotted off to the kitchen Jessie realized she was still eyeing JC as he passed through the screen door out to the front porch. She shook her head to clear her mind. She heard Claudette order “the boys” outside to go show the kids the pig pen and the hen house. Jessie walked to the front door and hollered out, “I think Claudette wants you to stay for dinner.”

It was then she realized JC had left his SUV running. “Yeah hadn’t planned on that,” he said as he reached through the window to turn off the car. “But from what I hear you can’t really turn down Claudette.”

Jessie wasn’t quite sure how to take that comment given it was said so bland and bluntly. This fella was obviously absent the day they handed out charisma. Jessie went to hold the door open for him as he made his way past the geraniums on the front steps. JC stopped and stared at the lush plants and made a “tsk” sound, “Wish I had a green thumb.”

Jessie looked at his potters hands lightly tinged with what she assumed was some remnant of green glaze. “Looks like you do,” she said with a grin as she nodded to his hands.

JC just walked past her and through the front room.

“Your hands, kinda green…” Jessie trailed off in exasperation as he just headed on towards the kitchen and the oohs and ahhs coming through the doorway. “Okay…”