Re: Crust & Crumb - Manning / Iris
Iris continued to work as Manning and his very precious carried cargo worked their way farther into the bakery. There were a few people to get through before she could devote her full attention elsewhere, but there were some knowing looks shared between those customers, and a few of them gathered their things and left quickly enough once they'd been served. It was a bustle that Iris didn't even realize, other than to know that people were coming and going (but mostly going) from the bakery.
And then she finally had more of a moment to focus on them (though a few people still lingered in the warm, sweet-smelling shop). She'd never been entirely comfortable being around younger kids, not knowing how to interact with them, but she tried her best with TJ. She would have, even for no other reason than TJ was Manning's daughter, but TJ had always been sweet and, probably due to her age being so close to that child Iris tried not to think too much about, she felt a sort of connection there. Enough that she could return TJ's greeting with a soft one of her own: "Hello, Miss TJ." And a gentle smile.
The smile stayed, just a few moments, when she turned her attention to Manning, looking up even farther than she'd needed to to meet TJ's eyes. She forgot, in between their visits, how tall Manning was, and how broad, and even though he was her friend and had been for so long, in that particular moment she was almost glad to have the bakery counter between them. But as soon as that thought registered, a swift hint of guilt crossed her face. And still, those lingering customers kept her words light and professional. "I'm very well, thank you. And you two? Getting ready for the holidays?"