"Are you sure you don't want to stay back one more night? Kent says you need rest…"
Florence's voice was gentle, coaxing, threaded with the kind of worry that refused to be soothed.
Gianna shook her head in response, her fingers absentmindedly ruffling Nathaniel's soft curls as he slept against her chest.
Across the room, his sister chattered on about her day at school, animated hands slicing through the air as she spoke to Athena, who sat on the couch with the little one settled comfortably on her thigh, listening with a patient smile.
"I can rest at home, Gigi," Gianna replied softly. "You will do a better job than any nurse… you know that…"
Florence sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. She reached for Gianna's hand and held it between both of hers, her grip firm, protective, worry still etched into the fine lines around her eyes despite Kent's reassuring words that Gianna was very much out of the woods now.
"I know… but maybe medications and health monitoring—"
