Chapter 51
As Amber and Luca climbed the stairs to her second-floor apartment, Nico skipped a step ahead, his little hand clutching Amber’s. Behind them, Luca carried the last of their bags, his footsteps heavy on the creaky stairs. The afternoon light filtered through the narrow windows, casting a warm glow on the old wooden bannister.
Just as Amber reached her door and began fishing in her bag for her keys, the door of the neighboring apartment swung open. Out stepped Mark, her neighbor—a tall, handsome bachelor with tousled dark hair and a grin that could charm anyone. His fitted shirt emphasized his athletic frame, and his easy, confident demeanor instantly filled the hallway.
“Amber!” he exclaimed, his smile widening as he took her in. “Hey, it’s been a while! I thought I saw you from the balcony. Glad to see you back. And look who it is!” His gaze shifted to Nico, who beamed at the familiar face.
“Hi, Mak!” Nico chirped.
“And how’s my little buddy? Still into baseball?” Mark crouched slightly, his grin growing.
“Yes! Papa and I watched a game together!” Nico said proudly, his voice full of excitement.
Oblivious to the tension, Mark turned back to Amber, his charm still in full force. “I’ve got to say, I was starting to worry about you. Thought maybe your evil ex-husband had, I don’t know, buried you somewhere in the Alps, and I’d never see you again!”
Amber forced a polite smile, though her stomach tightened. She could feel Luca’s presence like a tangible weight behind her, his silence more menacing than any words.
Before Amber could get a word in, Luca’s voice cut through the air, low and sharp like a blade. “I’d still prefer it if you never got to see her again.”
Amber froze, her key hovering over the lock, and Mark’s confident grin wavered as if someone had just popped his balloon. His gaze darted to Luca, sizing him up.
“You’re…” Mark’s voice faltered,his eyes questing. He blinked at Luca as realization settled in. His face growing a little red, maybe with embarssment.
“Yup,” Luca replied, his tone like the snap of a mousetrap.
“Thought so.” Mark’s forced smile turned into an awkward grimace as he began to backpedal—literally. “Well, uh… bye! Gotta go!”
And with that, the suave, charming neighbor turned tail and darted into his apartment like his hair was on fire. The door slammed behind him with an almost comedic finality, leaving the hallway in stunned silence.
“Wow,” he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, the whole building has a stellar opinion of me. Good to know.”
Amber didn’t respond. Her focus remained fixed on the lock as she finally managed to turn the key. With a soft click, the door opened, and she stepped inside, flicking on the lights.
The apartment greeted them with its cozy familiarity. Luca followed, carrying the luggage. He set it down by the door, then scooped Nico up from his perch in Amber’s arms and placed him gently on the sofa.
Amber disappeared into the kitchen, her footsteps quick and deliberate. A moment later, she returned with a glass of water, her gaze softening as she approached her son.
“Come now, darling,” she said, her voice sweet but firm. “Mummy will give you a bath, and then you can change into something comfortable and take a little nap.”
“Nooo!” Nico protested, crossing his arms and pouting dramatically. “Papa’s here. I get to play when Papa visits. I’m *not* sleeping!”
Amber sighed, casting a glance at Luca, who had paused mid-shoelace. His face tightened, the weight of Nico’s innocent words striking him like a punch to the gut. The boy’s tone was cheerful, but to Luca, it sounded like a quiet rebuke—a reminder of all the times he hadn’t been there, hadn’t shown up as a father should.
But what shone through even more clearly was Nico’s love. It was there, pure and untainted, in the way the little boy beamed at him, despite everything.
Luca managed a small smile, though his chest ached. “Papa’s going to be here *always* now, Piccolino,” he said softly, cupping Nico’s cheek. “So, nothing special about it anymore. Which means you still have to take your bath and nap. How about Papa helps you with that, hmm?”
Nico’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Really? Papa’s giving me a bath?”
Amber blinked, momentarily stunned. The excitement in her son’s voice was heartbreaking. Something as mundane as a bath shouldn’t have been so extraordinary.
“I’ll take care of it,” Luca said, The little boy giggled as Luca knelt to remove his tiny shoes, his movements tender and precise, though his jaw remained tense.
“When’s your doctor’s appointment?” he called out as he untied Nico’s shoelaces.
Amber’s stomach twisted. She hesitated before answering, her voice soft and almost inaudible. “Danny said to come just before his shift ends. Seven in the evening.”
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Luca glanced up from where he was kneeling on the floor, Nico’s tiny shoes in his hands. His eyes met Amber’s, and the fear in her gaze mirrored his own. She looked fragile, her usually bright eyes hollowed by exhaustion and dread.
God, she was terrified. And so was he.
Amber turned away, lost in thought as she stared blankly at the clock. Her mind raced with worries about what lay ahead. She had seen the pictures—hair falling out in clumps, eyebrows and eyelashes disappearing—but that wasn’t the scariest part. It was the weakness, the pain, and the suffocating fear of not getting better.
She didn’t notice Luca until his arms wrapped around her waist from behind, his embrace warm and grounding. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“Do you have someone who can watch Nico this evening while you’re at the hospital?” he asked, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions churning inside him.
Amber turned to face him, her brow furrowed. “I thought *you* were going to do that.”
Luca shook his head. “Oh, no. I’m coming with you.”
Amber opened her mouth to argue, but Luca cut her off with a wry smile. “And I’m warning you now—if anyone else decides to badmouth your *ex-husband*, I *will* punch them.”
Amber blinked, then smiled despite herself. “*Them*. That’s right. Now you’re getting it,” she teased.
The tension in the room lifted, if only for a moment.
Amber watched them as Luca took Nico for the bath, head down the hallway, her heart aching with a mix of gratitude and regret. Maybe, she thought, if she had stayed—if she had fought harder- her son wouldn’t missed out on having father in his life.
Mrs. Talbot arrived promptly at 6:45, her warm smile and gentle demeanor instantly putting Amber at ease. Nico, already in his pajamas and still groggy from his nap, greeted her with a sleepy wave before curling back up on the couch.
Amber adjusted her silk blouse—a soft beige that shimmered subtly under the hallway light—and straightened the hem of her tailored black pants. She wasn’t dressing up for anyone, she told herself. Yet, she couldn’t deny the little thrill she felt when Luca’s gaze discreetly swept over her as they stepped out the door. Once might have been innocent, but three times? She knew exactly what that meant.
“Ready?” she asked, turning to him as they walked toward the car.
“Yeah,” he replied, clearing his throat, though his eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary.
\---
The hospital was as grim as ever. The sterile smell of antiseptics mingled with the faint hum of fluorescent lights, creating an atmosphere that always made Amber feel like the walls were closing in.
Danny, her friend and oncologist, greeted her with his usual professional warmth, though his eyebrows rose slightly when he saw Luca standing beside her.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” Danny said, addressing Luca. “But I think this is good. Emotional support is crucial for cancer patients. It’s one of those things not enough people talk about, but it makes a huge difference.”
Amber said nothing, her lips pressed into a thin line. She appreciated Danny’s concern, but she had no intention of airing her personal life, even to someone she trusted as both a friend and a doctor.
To her surprise, Luca took charge of the conversation. He asked questions—so many questions—that Amber found herself sitting back in astonishment.
“What can she eat? Is there anything she should avoid?”
“How much water should she be drinking daily?”
“What about sleep? Is eight hours enough, or does she need more?”
“Can she do light exercise, or does she need complete bed rest?”
Danny answered each inquiry patiently, his tone professional but encouraging. Amber, meanwhile, watched in silence, her mind reeling. This wasn’t the Luca she remembered—the man who used to be indifferent to such details. Now, here he was, diving headfirst into her treatment plan like he was preparing for an exam.
Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information being exchanged, Luca asked the question that nearly made her choke on thin air.
“And what about sexual activities?”
Amber’s head snapped toward him, her eyes wide with disbelief. *The audacity of this man!*
Danny, ever the consummate professional, didn’t even flinch. “Sexual activity can have several benefits,” he began calmly, addressing Luca’s question as if it were as routine as asking about diet. “For women undergoing chemotherapy, regular sexual activity can help maintain vaginal health, preventing issues like dryness or atrophy, particularly in patients experiencing menopause-like symptoms. Additionally, sexual activity releases endorphins and oxytocin, which can reduce stress and improve mood. These are crucial factors in managing the emotional toll chemotherapy often takes.”
Amber’s face burned with embarrassment, but she managed to keep her composure. Barely. “Nice to know,” she muttered under her breath, her tone clipped and controlled. “Now all I need to do is going to a bar and finding a man to release those endorphins for me.”
“Don’t worry,” he said smugly, leaning closer so only she could hear. “I’ll take care of that for you—numerous times a day, if that’s what you want.”
Amber’s face was red with so much fury that she looked like she was ready to burst. “yea, that IS not healthy.” Danny spoke at last, who was trying his best to ignore the previous words. “No stress please.”
“That means she gets to be on top? Riding m-”
Amber stepped on his foot so hard with her heels, he actually cried.