Chapter Forty – The Next Twist

"From the moment we arrived, Giancarlo was a bundle of nerves. He kept asking the nurses if everything was alright, if I needed anything, if the doctor was sure we shouldn't do a C-section." Eloise's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Eventually, a kind nurse suggested he take a walk to calm down. That's when the pacing began." She tapped the photograph gently. "This hallway became Giancarlo's personal racetrack. He'd walk from one end to the other, muttering to himself, checking his watch every few seconds. The nurses started taking bets on how many laps he'd do before the baby arrived." Amelia couldn't help but smile, imagining the usually composed Giancarlo in such a state. "How long did this go on?" "Hours," Eloise replied with a soft laugh. "My labor lasted nearly 18 hours, and I swear Giancarlo didn't sit still for more than five minutes at a time. He'd come into the room, hold my hand, tell me I was doing great, then dash back out to resume his pacing." She shook her head fondl