CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The drive back to Lagos was unusually quiet.
Aisha stared out of the window, thinking about her mother and the years of fear she had endured. She had always believed Grace was strong enough to handle anything.
Now she wondered how much pain her mother had hidden behind that strength.
Daniel glanced at her.
"You've been quiet."
"I'm thinking."
"About the documents?"
"About everything. My mother spent years carrying a secret she couldn't share with me. And now someone is making sure I suffer for it."
Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"I won't let anyone hurt you."
Aisha turned to him.
"You can't control everything, Daniel."
"I know. But I can stand beside you."
His words settled between them.
For the first time, Aisha didn't feel the need to hide how much they meant to her.
When they reached her apartment, she invited him inside for coffee. He accepted, and soon they were sitting in the living room, talking about things unrelated to Robert or their parents.
They talked about secondary school, their old classmates and the ridiculous nickname Daniel had given their mathematics teacher.
Aisha laughed so hard that she nearly spilled her coffee.
"I can't believe you remember that!"
"How could I forget? You laughed for ten minutes and blamed me when the teacher turned around."
"Because you were the one making faces!"
Daniel grinned.
"You missed me."
Aisha rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."
But her smile gave her away.
The laughter faded into a comfortable silence. Daniel studied her face, as though trying to memorise a moment he had once believed he would never have again.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing. I just forgot how easy it was to talk to you."
Aisha lowered her cup.
"It used to be easy."
"I know."
"Then everything changed."
Daniel's expression became serious.
"I can't change what happened, Aisha. But I want to make new memories with you, if you'll let me."
She looked at him for a long moment.
"I don't want to rush into anything."
"Neither do I."
"And I need you to understand that trusting you again will take time."
"I understand."
He didn't ask for more. He didn't try to persuade her with promises.
Instead, he stood to leave.
At the door, Aisha surprised herself by reaching for his hand.
"Daniel?"
He turned.
"Thank you for not pressuring me."
His fingers closed gently around hers.
"You've spent enough time feeling like you had to protect your heart from me. I'll be patient."
For a moment, they stood close enough for Aisha to hear his quiet breathing.
She wanted to kiss him.
The realisation frightened her, so she released his hand.
"Goodnight, Daniel."
He smiled softly.
"Goodnight, Aisha."
After he left, Aisha closed the door and leaned against it.
Her heart was no longer confused about whether she still had feelings for Daniel.
The question was whether she was brave enough to do something about them.