"She's real pretty," he muttered, holding her as gingerly as he could, not wanting to harm her, or break her, or, god forbid, drop her!
The ladies all clucked happily in agreement.
"Don't weigh nothin' at all, do she?"
The ladies all clucked unhappily in violent disagreement.
"Oh no, she is a very good weight!" put in Sally immediately.
"Remember, she is only four months old!" chided Leonora.
"Hey, that's my Great-granddaughter you're talking about there, son!" Granny Miggins warned him.
For these were the days when a baby's weight was synonymous with its health.
"Gah!" said Em, agreeing with the other ladies present.
"I'd better take her back" said Lee rather tersely, and relieved Justus of his infant burden.
"... and I reckon she'll put on even more weight when Clara goes to visit with Emeline Pike and the Little General" the old lady posited "A rest from looking after this place will do 'em both a world of good."
"Clara has asked me to run the place while she is there... well, me and Miss Staub there." Leonora said. Granny looked surprised, but after Jacob's diatribe about her making trouble, held her tongue, except for a tremulous and slightly self-pitying little mumble of "Oh, well... I guess I can cope at home on my own for a week..."
[OOC: I think Wayfie is keen to wrap this thread up so Clara can visit 'Big Em']
Constance smiled as Justus had the baby thrust upon him, it was plain he had not been expecting that move. So he had little recourse in the matter but to gingerly hold the infant.
"She's real pretty," he muttered, "Don't weigh nothin' at all, do she?"
Constance was about to say 'true' but all the other ladies jumped in horrified so she diplomatically kept her mouth shut. However she could not resist one remark.
"Someday you could well be holding one of your own, you look like a natural with her." The last part was obviously an exaggeration at his expense.
Just then another customer called, "Excuse me, miss! Can you come over here once?"
Constance had other customers of course and couldn't just hover about this table so she turned and replied, "Be right there, sir!"
Then she faced the others, "Duty calls."
And with that she hurried off.
Justus was glad to be relieved of his burden, and equally as glad that the Lutz/Miggins' ladies conversation brushed right past Constance's comment about him being 'a natural'. There was a conversation he didn't want to hear from Granny Miggins!
He nodded to Constance as she moved away, then glanced at the other ladies. "It's good Mrs. Lutz was able ta make arrangements, I know Mrs. Pike'll be happy ta see her."
Standing, he dropped a few coins on the table, enough to cover everyone's food and leave a little for Constance. "I'd best be gettin' back, let Mrs. Pike know what's goin' on. It was nice meetin' you ladies."
Putting his hat back on, he gave a nod and touched the brim, then gave Granny Miggins a charming smile. "Ma'am."
I'll miss this thread - always look for it first in the pile!
Ah but there won't be any more new posts to read once it's done.