“Sshhh… shhh... it’s ok, it’s ok,” Galen whispered as he bounced Ren on his shoulder.
Ren continued to fuss and cry, not showing any sign of stopping.
“Mommy will be right back, Ren, I promise.”
“Is this old man bothering you, little one?” Alice cooed as she approached the table.
Galen chuckled.
“He definitely prefers his mother,” he sighed.
Alice watched as Galen tried again to calm the tiny baby.
“Would you mind…” she said. “Could I try?”
Galen looked at her, hesitating. But Ren was getting more upset at the moment. What harm could it do to let someone else try? He carefully handed him over to her. Alice supported his head and balanced his weight in her arms.
She smiled down at the sweet child.
“Hello, sugar,” she whispered.
Galen felt a strange familiarity in the words. That was the way she had behaved when they first met. Only this time, it didn’t sound so hollow.
Ren was no longer crying, but he still fussed and made sounds of discomfort.
