Chapter 45
"Thank you Mrs…Evelyn and please be sure to thank Kim for us too," Jordan told her.
"Oh I will, but they will all be home when you are there so you can thank them yourself. Now this next one is from Marla, who will be a junior at Lakeland College. She is going to be a journalist when she is out of school."
The box she handed over was a bit smaller, but its thickness made up for that. It turned out to be a snuggly to carry the baby in. Jordan was about to say how great she thought it was when Evelyn said, "I told her that was a very weird gift! For heavens sake it looks like a backpack to put a baby in! Why in my day it was good enough to carry your baby in your arms!"
"But mom, think how much easier it would be to get your groceries in the car if you had your hands free to carry them?!" Woody protested.
"That is what bag boys are for Woodrow! Or don't you have those here in the big city? I mean even at home the only store that still does, is Old Pop Roberts store! Over at the Piggly Wiggly you have to ask them to get someone to help you and then when they are done they stand around like they are waiting for you to give them money!"
"That is shocking mom!" Woody replied, tongue in cheek.
"I know!" she agreed in all seriousness, as she pulled out the next gift and handed it to them. "This one is from Teresa, who will be a sophomore at Georgetown University of Nursing. She is going to be a nurse!"
This gift turned out to be a baby monitor system. Again Evelyn had something to say about it, "I told her you wouldn't need something so sill as that in an apartment! It's not like you would have to leave the baby in the house and go out to the barn!"
"That is true, mom, but I am sue we will still be able to put it to good use."
With a sigh, Evelyn handed them an envelope, "I am not sure if Daphne was being thoughtful about me having to take the gifts on a plane or if she just couldn't afford more than a card. Although she is going to Mount Mary College on a full scholarship in the fall she is already up there working this summer to make extra spending money. I've offered to make sure she has enough money, but she wants to do things on her own. She is my baby and is planning on being a pharmacist."
Jordan opened the envelope and found the card Evelyn had talked about. But tucked inside that card was a gift certificate for a stroller. She showed it to Woody who took it from her and passed it to his mother.
"Oh," she said softly. "Ummm, that was nice of her."
"Yes it was, mom. We will thank them all when we come to visit, but please tell them that we love all the gifts when you get home."
"I will," Evelyn replied, getting up. "But I still have a few things from me." She left with the suitcase and returned with a different one. Opening it up, she pulled out a blanket. "That is a quilt that I made for Woody when he was a baby. I would have made a new one for your baby, but there wasn't time."
"It's lovely, Evelyn, thank you," Jordan told her after opening the quilt on her lap.
"Yeah, thanks mom."
"Oh, I have more!" she reported and brought out an aged teddy bear with a new blue satin ribbon around his neck. "This used to be Woody's too."
"Aw mom!" he protested.
"Well since I seem to be embarrassing my son anyway I may as well bring out his Christening gown. I was hoping that you would use it for your son when you are in Wisconsin."
Jordan looked at Woody, unsure what to do, but Woody had been ready for this, "Mother, I told you that we hadn't discussed having the baby christened or not. That is a decision Jordan and I will make on our own!" Woody informed her sternly.
To be continued…