He hadn't meant for her to take the coffee first. He had hoped for an even exchange. He offered her a reassuring smile as she settled the baby in his arms. Setting his own coffee down on the banister. He shifted Katie against his shoulder so that her head lay against it. Carefully he patted and stroked, whispering soft little baby things in her ear until she was quiet. Once she was he continued stroke her back.
"My daughter had colic for the first two months after she was born. My wife couldn't console her, she would get mad at me because as soon as I picked Kelly up, she'd go quiet." He usually didn't offer anything as far as his late family went. But he figured offering a little bit to Marian, who didn't know him, didn't hurt.