Page 240 of Cara & Gian: The Guzzi Duet

“Have you been timing it?” he asked.

“They’re ten minutes apart now for two hours, so lots more of this to go yet. Also, that kind of sucks, because if they hurt now, just think, Gian.”

“Think what?”

“Think how much it’s going to hurt when it’s like thirty seconds apart.”

“You’re going to be fine,” he assured.

Cara was strong as hell.

Silent strength.

Steadfast love.

She just was.

“Water?” he asked carefully, mindful of Elena’s presence.

“Not yet,” Cara replied, “but the doctors said it’s not like the movies, anyway. Lots of women’s water doesn’t break until they’re in active labor, so.”

“I’ll head over.”

“Don’t rush, we’ve got time.”

Gian chuckled, and shook his head. “You’re kidding, right? Of course, I’m going to rush.”

“Don’t get yourself killed on the highway or something, Gian. I swear to God.” Cara’s next breath came out stuttered and her voice strained. “All right, I’m going to hang up because another one is starting, and I don’t want to talk through it.”

“I’ll listen to you rage, if that’s—”

“Goodbye, Gian.”

He laughed when she hung up the phone on him. He had zero doubt that Cara would be just fine through labor and birth. If anything, she was too stubborn to get overwhelmed by something as silly as pain. It would likely be him on the floor in a panic, passed out or something equally humiliating.

Birth was not for the faint of heart, or so Gian was told.

“You’re leaving?” Elena asked.

Gian closed down his laptop, packed it up, and grabbed the suit jacket off the back of the office chair. “I am.”

“Congratulations are in order, hmm?”

He shot his wife a look. “I beg your pardon?”

“The only reason you would rush out at night after a phone call like that one is because your goomah is having the baby. Congratulations are in order, so congrats.”

Apparently, Gian had not been as vague as he thought on the phone call. That, or Elena was just very perceptive.

She cleared her throat, and crossed her arms over her chest. She was ready for bed, by the looks of the silk robe she wore, her clean-face, and the messy bun of hair on top of her head. It was rare that Gian saw Elena in a state that was any less than perfect.

“I did try to be discreet on the call,” Gian said.

“I could tell, but I’m also not stupid.”

“I likely won’t be around for a couple of days. Don’t expect me, not that you’ll mind, I’m sure.”

Elena glanced away, her jaw tight and eyes hard. But there was a barely hidden sadness in her features, too. Gian hadn’t expected that at all.