The price of Loving You

Naomi’s POV The door was slightly open. I frowned as I stood outside Room 407. Dave had told me to come upstairs because he had a surprise waiting for me, but the open door immediately made me uneasy. I pushed it gently. My heart stopped. Aquila’s handbag was on the floor. Her shoes were beside the bed. Then I saw Dave. For a moment, I couldn’t process what I was seeing. The man I had loved and trusted was sitting on the bed with my best friend, and the look on both their faces told me that this was no misunderstanding. “Dave?” He looked at me. “Naomi, wait.” I stared at Aquila, hoping she would say something that could make this make sense. She lowered her eyes. That was when I knew. Something inside me broke. Two weeks earlier I still believed everything was perfect. My alarm had been ringing for several minutes when I finally reached for my phone and silenced it. Sunlight streamed through the curtains of my small bedroom, and for once, I woke up with a smile. My phone lit up again. Dave Santos. Good morning, beautiful. Don’t forget tonight. I smiled. Our anniversary was only two weeks away, but Dave had been acting strangely excited lately. I had a feeling he was planning something, although I had no idea what. I got out of bed, showered and dressed before heading down the hallway to check on my mother. I knocked lightly on her door before opening it. “Good morning, Mum.” Lora Hayes looked up from her bed and smiled. “Good morning, my baby.” I walked over and kissed her cheek before she reached up and gave me one on the forehead. “How are you feeling this morning?” “Better than yesterday.” “That is good.” I picked up the glass of water on her bedside table and handed it to her. “But you need to keep eating properly and taking your medications on time. You can’t decide to skip breakfast because you aren’t hungry.” Lora rolled her eyes playfully. “There she goes again. My personal nurse.” “I’m serious, Mum.” “And I’m listening.” “You’d better be.” She laughed before taking the glass from me. “I’ll eat then I’ll take my medication. Happy?” “Very.” I adjusted her pillow and sat beside her for a moment. Her eyes suddenly narrowed with amusement. “So, how is my future son inlaw?” I groaned. “Mum.” “What? Dave is a good man. You should be grateful you found someone like him.” “I know.” “You do know?” “Yes.” “Good. Because not every woman is lucky enough to have a man who is supportive, hardworking and from such a good family.” I smiled. “Are you trying to marry me off?” “You’re already doing the work yourself.” I laughed and stood. “Our anniversary is coming up. Maybe you should tell him all this yourself.” “I will. And make sure you look beautiful for him.” “Mum!” She laughed again. “Before you go, call your aunt. Ask about Dante.” My smile softened. “I was going to.” “Ask if he’s eating well and behaving himself.” “I’ll call her now.” Dante. Even though he wasn’t with me every day, he was never far from my thoughts. I took out my phone and called my aunt, speaking to her briefly before she handed the phone to him. “Hi, sweetheart.” “Hi, Mum.” His little voice immediately warmed my heart. “How are you?” “I’m fine.” “Are you behaving for Auntie?” There was a pause. “Yes.” My aunt laughed somewhere in the background. “He is behaving… mostly.” I smiled. “I love you, Dante.” “I love you too.” “I’ll call again tonight, okay?” “Okay.” “Bye, sweetheart.” “Bye, Mum.” I ended the call and looked at my mother. “Happy now?” “Very.” I kissed her cheek again. “Take care of yourself.” “You too, my baby.” I left the room with a smile. I didn’t know it yet, but two weeks later, everything I believed about my life would change. By nine that morning, I was at the clinic. The morning passed quickly. I helped with assessments, assisted patients through their exercises and spent part of the afternoon documenting treatment plans. I enjoyed the work. Every time I watched someone regain a little more independence, I remembered why I had chosen physiotherapy in the first place. My mother’s illness had changed my life. I wanted to help people the way I had wished someone could help her. During my break, I was sitting in the staff room when Aquila walked in. “You look tired.” I looked up. “Good afternoon to you too.” She laughed and sat beside me. “You know what I mean.” “I’ve been working since morning.” “And you’ve probably been thinking about Dave all day.” I smiled. “Maybe.” “Definitely.” She nudged my shoulder. “So, what are you wearing for your anniversary?” “I don’t know yet.” “You need something beautiful.” “Aquila, we’re not getting married.” “Not yet.” I laughed. She continued, “And don’t spend the entire evening talking about work. Men like attention.” “I know how to talk to my boyfriend.” “I’m only helping.” She leaned closer. “Wear something he likes, be sweet to him and make him feel special.” I raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re not secretly fifty years old?” She burst out laughing. “I’m serious!” “I know.” Her phone suddenly vibrated. She glanced at the screen and quickly turned it facedown. “Everything okay?” I asked. “Yeah. It’s nothing.” She stood. “I have somewhere I need to be. I’ll see you later.” “Where are you going?” “Just somewhere nearby.” She smiled and walked toward the door. “Don’t forget what I told you.” “What?” “Look good,be nice and make Dave happy.” I shook my head as she left. Curious, I peeped at the window to see where she hurried too then i saw her enter a car that almost looked like Dave’s. “That could be anyone on the driver's seat.” I shoved what I saw away from my head. Aquila had always been like that. Protective. Opinionated. Always convinced she knew exactly what was best for me. I returned to work after my break and spent the rest of the afternoon attending to patients. By evening, I was exhausted. But the moment I stepped outside and saw Dave waiting by his car with a bouquet of my favorite flowers, my tiredness seemed to disappear. He smiled when he saw me. “There she is.” I walked toward him. “You waited long?” “Not at all.” He leaned in for a long awaited kiss and opened the passenger door for me. “You look tired.” “I am.” “Then let me take care of you tonight.” I smiled as I got into the car. As we drove, we talked about my studies, my career and the future I wanted. “You’re going to be an amazing physiotherapist,” Dave said. “You really think so?” “I know so.” I looked at him. “You always know what to say.” “Because I mean it.” I smiled. “You’re one of the biggest reasons I’m happy, you know.” He reached over and squeezed my hand. “And you’re one of the best things that ever happened to me.” We drove to a quiet restaurant where we talked for hours about our future. I told him about the kind of physiotherapy practice I wanted to build one day. He told me about his own ambitions, and we even talked about Dante. “I want him to have everything,” I said. “He will,” Dave replied. “And you’ll give him a beautiful life.” I smiled. “That means a lot coming from you.” For a while, everything felt perfect. Then Dave’s phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at the screen. His expression changed. Only for a second. But I noticed. “What is it?” He quickly turned the phone over. “Nothing.” I studied him. “You looked worried.” “It’s just work.” I hesitated before nodding. “Okay.” He smiled and reached for my hand. “Don’t let anything ruin tonight.” I smiled back. I believed him. Later that evening, Dave drove me home. He walked me to the door and greeted my mother warmly before turning to me. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Okay.” He kissed my forehead. “Goodnight my precious Naomi.” “Goodnight, Dave.” I watched his car disappear down the street before closing the door. I didn’t know that somewhere in London, a secret had already begun to unravel. And I certainly didn’t know that the man who had just told me I was one of the best things in his life was already hiding something from me.