Derek listened, waiting for her to finish. Sometimes Allison would express three or four seemingly disconnected thoughts before pausing enough to let him speak, and it took him awhile to formulate a coherent reply. She had shared more about her childhood, so he took the opportunity to share more about his own.
"Our pack was large, and my mother loved to have children around, especially babies." He shrugged a shoulder again, then moved to pick up Morgan, who was beginning to fuss as well in his basket. He sat down next to her, shoulder pressed against hers, the two babies cradled against their chests.
"We all took turns, even Laura, but she's even more uncomfortable than you are," he admitted, the corner of his mouth turning up. "For me it was just...natural. Comfortable." He shrugged again. "Babies' needs are simple. They eat, they sleep, they shit. When they cry they want food, or to be changed, or just to be held, to be reminded they're not alone in this. You're not, by the way. Alone in this."