Melanie said, holding the infant up. âThis one's Rafe. Want to hold him?"
âMe? Sure!"
âHey, I want one of those,â Deena said.
âYour own, or one of these?"
âBoth, but for now, I'll take this one's brother."
âYou get Gareth. Here, Linda. Be sure to support his head. Like this, see?"
Linda gingerly accepted the precious burden. âOh, he's a heavy little rascal, isn't he?"
Melanie took the other baby and went to Deena. âThey're both gaining weight fast."
Deena expertly enfolded Gareth in her arms.
Linda tickled Rafe's tiny dimpled chin. âHey, there, kiddo.â Not yet cognizant of humorous gestures, Rafe was dismayed.
âThank you!â Melanie called after the nursemaids as they left the room. To Linda she said, âThey eat like lumberjacks. My boobs are always sore."
âYou're lucky to have enough milk to breast-feed,â Deena said.
âBreast-feeding is best for babies if it's possible. But it's hard to nurse twins. By the way, where was Gene off to?"
âNowhere in particular,â Linda told her.
âHe's been looking kind of depressed lately."
âIt really hasn't shown until recently, but he's been unhappy since Vaya ditched him,â Linda said. âHe won't admit it, but she was the love of his life."
âShe must have been something."
âA real bombshell."
With eyebrows arched appreciatively, Dalton said, âI'll second that."
âEver since,â Linda went on, âGene's been traipsing through one castle aspect after another, trying to find something to take his mind off her. As I said, he'd never admit it, but it's the truth."
âWhen did he lose her?â Melanie wanted to know.
âShortly before you came to the castle, I think it was."
âI don't understand you humans,â Snowclaw said.
Linda turned her head. âWhat don't you understand, Snowy?"
âMating. I mean, the way humans carry on about it."
âHow is it handled in your world? I don't think I've ever asked before."
âHandled?"
âHow is it ... uh, you know ... done?"
Snowclaw shrugged. âWell, you just do it. It's something that's got to be done, and you just go out and get it over with, that's all. And then you go back home and sleep for a week."
âI see. Um..."
âMaybe that's preferable,â Dalton commented. âNo fuss, no hearts and flowers."
âMaybe it's the best way,â Linda said, âbut it doesn't sound like very much fun."
âFun?â Snowclaw said dubiously. âWhat does fun have to do with it?"
Linda began, âWell, youââ Then she thought better of it. âUh, Snowy, maybe you'd better talk to Gene about this."
âAnything you say, Linda. Actually, I'm not all that interested in the subject, if you want to know the truth."
Dalton interjected, âSometimes I think the subject isn't worthy of all the attention that's usually paid it."
âAnyway,â Linda said, âI wish Gene would forget about the past. He's been so glum lately he hasn't been much fun at all. One thing he knows how to do is liven things up. When he's in the right mood."
âHe'll get over her,â Melanie said. âJust like I got over the father of these little joy-bundles."
âYou don't still think of Chad?â Linda asked pointedly.
Melanie gave a wan smile. âOh, every once in a while. Sometimes, at night, when the castle is quiet...â Melanie suddenly frowned. âYou know, Linda, for months now I've been telling you all the secrets of my love life, and just now it suddenly struck me that I know zero about yours. Fair is fair."
Linda snorted. âMe? What love life?"
âOh, come on."
âI've been ditched so many times I've thought of buying a backhoe."
âI think you did mention a boyfriend once."
âYeah, I had one or two of those, and even a fiancé. But it all came to zilch zip."
âI feel as though I'm
âMe? Sure!"
âHey, I want one of those,â Deena said.
âYour own, or one of these?"
âBoth, but for now, I'll take this one's brother."
âYou get Gareth. Here, Linda. Be sure to support his head. Like this, see?"
Linda gingerly accepted the precious burden. âOh, he's a heavy little rascal, isn't he?"
Melanie took the other baby and went to Deena. âThey're both gaining weight fast."
Deena expertly enfolded Gareth in her arms.
Linda tickled Rafe's tiny dimpled chin. âHey, there, kiddo.â Not yet cognizant of humorous gestures, Rafe was dismayed.
âThank you!â Melanie called after the nursemaids as they left the room. To Linda she said, âThey eat like lumberjacks. My boobs are always sore."
âYou're lucky to have enough milk to breast-feed,â Deena said.
âBreast-feeding is best for babies if it's possible. But it's hard to nurse twins. By the way, where was Gene off to?"
âNowhere in particular,â Linda told her.
âHe's been looking kind of depressed lately."
âIt really hasn't shown until recently, but he's been unhappy since Vaya ditched him,â Linda said. âHe won't admit it, but she was the love of his life."
âShe must have been something."
âA real bombshell."
With eyebrows arched appreciatively, Dalton said, âI'll second that."
âEver since,â Linda went on, âGene's been traipsing through one castle aspect after another, trying to find something to take his mind off her. As I said, he'd never admit it, but it's the truth."
âWhen did he lose her?â Melanie wanted to know.
âShortly before you came to the castle, I think it was."
âI don't understand you humans,â Snowclaw said.
Linda turned her head. âWhat don't you understand, Snowy?"
âMating. I mean, the way humans carry on about it."
âHow is it handled in your world? I don't think I've ever asked before."
âHandled?"
âHow is it ... uh, you know ... done?"
Snowclaw shrugged. âWell, you just do it. It's something that's got to be done, and you just go out and get it over with, that's all. And then you go back home and sleep for a week."
âI see. Um..."
âMaybe that's preferable,â Dalton commented. âNo fuss, no hearts and flowers."
âMaybe it's the best way,â Linda said, âbut it doesn't sound like very much fun."
âFun?â Snowclaw said dubiously. âWhat does fun have to do with it?"
Linda began, âWell, youââ Then she thought better of it. âUh, Snowy, maybe you'd better talk to Gene about this."
âAnything you say, Linda. Actually, I'm not all that interested in the subject, if you want to know the truth."
Dalton interjected, âSometimes I think the subject isn't worthy of all the attention that's usually paid it."
âAnyway,â Linda said, âI wish Gene would forget about the past. He's been so glum lately he hasn't been much fun at all. One thing he knows how to do is liven things up. When he's in the right mood."
âHe'll get over her,â Melanie said. âJust like I got over the father of these little joy-bundles."
âYou don't still think of Chad?â Linda asked pointedly.
Melanie gave a wan smile. âOh, every once in a while. Sometimes, at night, when the castle is quiet...â Melanie suddenly frowned. âYou know, Linda, for months now I've been telling you all the secrets of my love life, and just now it suddenly struck me that I know zero about yours. Fair is fair."
Linda snorted. âMe? What love life?"
âOh, come on."
âI've been ditched so many times I've thought of buying a backhoe."
âI think you did mention a boyfriend once."
âYeah, I had one or two of those, and even a fiancé. But it all came to zilch zip."
âI feel as though I'm
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