In The House That Love Built

by grannydew, posted in The Real Thing Series

Chapter 1

” Sanem, my love, wake up we’re about to land.” Can whispered in his wife’s ear. She moaned, shifting around in her seat, ” What?” She mumbled, reaching for his arm. She slides her arms around his, hugging it and wiggling closer to him. He smiled as he looked at her, she made him feel like he was the only man alive, he thought, as a shiver ran down his spine. He kissed her on top of the head, ” Hey, you need to put your seatbelt on, babe.” He said a little louder. She opened her eyes,” Oh,” she said, ” sorry I was having a delightful dream,” her eyes dancing with desire. He looked into her eyes, ” Really, was in your dream? He asked, letting his imagination start to run wild. She squinted her eyes, ” No, it wasn’t you, it was someone much younger, and smaller than you.” she said, teasing her husband. She laughed out loud, ” I was just dreaming about our family, our child and what they would look like, be like.” She said, closing her eyes, and letting her mind drift back to her dream. Can sighed, ” You can be sure they will be handsome, and smart.” He replied, but his thoughts were of how this said child would come to be. ” She sat up and fasten her seatbelt, ” Do you have us a place to stay here in Rome, or do I need to call for a room somewhere?” She asked. ” No, everything is already setup for us, in a hotel close to the magazine office. He said, having a hard time of banishing that image. He felt feverish and nervous, as he watched her smooth down her hair and adjust her clothes, as they made their approach to land. 

She never liked the landings, so she held his hand tightly, and closed her eyes, as the plane made its landing. He watched her, his heart full of love, he would never let anything happen to her, he thought. He would lay down his own life for her in a heartbeat, he knew the country they were going to could be dangerous at times, so keeping her safe would be his main objective. He hadn’t told her yet, but he had hired 2 men to act as protectors for them while they were there. One for her, to accompany her wherever she went, when he wasn’t with her, and the other to act as an assistant for him as he explored the countryside. He really didn’t anticipate anything bad to happen, but to be careful was the main thing. It took an hour to get their luggage and find a taxi to take them to the hotel. The meeting with the ad group was set for later in the afternoon, so they had time to rest a bit, but if he knew his wife, she would want to eat somewhere first. The hotel was beautiful and more than acceptable, with the wonderful carvings and etchings though out the lobby area. The antique chandeliers that hung in the middle, had caught her attention. ” Can, look at that.” She said her eyes wide and mesmerized by it all, but all he could see was her. He loved to watch her as she discovered new things, he got this feeling deep down inside him that he couldn’t explain, and she unlocked so many things within him, it made him feel like he was blushing.  

Their room was overlooking the city. and had a small balcony. Sanem stood there, gazing out at a place she had never seen before, but had dreamed about many times. she swung around, her face illuminated from excitement, ” Can let’s order room service, and eat out here on the balcony.” she said, twirling around like a child. He laughed, ” If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do. Your wish is my command, my love.” he said, bowing to her. since they more than likely would head out the next day for Peru, there wasn’t much reason to unpack, and Can wanted to spend as much time with her, alone, as possible. They had four hours until the meeting, so they ordered their lunch and settled back to get comfortable. But the pressures of the job were already beginning, with the ringing of his phone, ” Hello, yes this is Can Divit, what can I do for you.” he asked. The lady on the other end of the phone introduced herself as an assistant from the magazine office, and she explained there had been a situation with the transportation from Cusco, Peru, to Aqua Calientas, where they would make their main housing area. The office had arranged for a private car to drive them to Aqua Calientas from Cusco, but the plans fell through. she asked if they would like to travel by train. Can didn’t feel comfortable traveling that way, especially with Sanem, so he declined the offer, but he suggested to possibly rent a car for him to drive there himself. So the arrangements would be made for a car for them to have while they were there. The assistant confirmed the meeting time for later in the afternoon and ended the call. Sanem asked, ” Is there troubles already?” she said, feeling a wave of regret. ” No, not at all, we will just rent a car for our stay there, everything will be fine.” He stated. She smiled, ” So we can drive anywhere we want, we can explore on our own when you’re not working?” She said, her eyes dancing with excitement. 

The lunch had been wonderful, as they lounged on the sofa, holding each other. Just the closeness of her could drive him crazy, as he gently ran his hands down her back. The silkiness of her skin caused an eruption of desire within him. She felt the quickness of his breath, as she laid in his arms. Her inner desire for him had always been hard to mask, as she felt her body willing to open herself to him. The look of his eyes into hers was all she needed to feel that need for him, as he gently but quickly removed her clothes. His movements were always as sensual as his touch, making her expectations of what was to come a welcomed union. He made it special, would it be like this every time, she wondered, as her eyes filled with tears of joy. He turned her over, and positioned himself on top of her, his eyes burned her as they begged her to love him. They never needed words to ignite those feelings, or to make the other one feel loved, it came from the touch and the looks. So without a single word being spoke, they united as one, satisfying the hunger they had for one another. The time had slipped away, as he held her in his arms, breathless from the experience. She was the first one to notice the time, ” Can, you’re going to be late for your meeting.” She shouted, trying to wiggle out of his hold. Can glanced at his watch, ” Oh damn, you’re right. Come on let’s shower and get dressed.” He spouted, picking her up in his arms as he got up. She squealed with delight at he carried her to the shower. 

” Can, this isn’t a good idea, she said, ” You know what happens in the shower.” I think you should go first, then me.” She said, winking at him.

He smiled, ” No, I think we should do our part in helping to conserve water, don’t you.” He whispered, leaning in close to her, his lips softly gliding across her cheek and down her neck. She gasped, the feel of those lips and the roughness of his beard against her skin, made her forget all about the time.

Chapter 2

They rushed to grab a taxi, both out of breath. She slipped into the taxi, with him following, she glanced at her phone, ” Can, you have 10 mins to get there, I told you it was bad idea, but you didn’t listen.” She spouted. Can smiled a half smile, ” There wasn’t anything bad about what made us late, so don’t even go there.” He said, his voice low and gravely. She took a deep breath, ” You are so bad, you really are.” She said, shaking her head. He loved to make her lose herself a bit, and embarrass her, but he knew when to stop, ” Ok my love, I will behave for now, but just because I know what’s gonna happen later, when we get back to our room.” He stated, leaning back in the seat, with a contented look on his face. Before she could reply, the taxi stopped in front of a large building, ” This is your address, sir.” He said, looking in the rear-view mirror. Can paid the driver and helped his wife out of the taxi, with the driver watching every move she made. Can started to say something, but decided against it, he would have to get use to this type of attention shown to her, as he put his arm firmly around her waist and they walked to the office. 

As they walked in the office all the heads turned to look at them. They did make quite the striking couple, with Can used to the woman always looking at him, Sanem wasn’t at all use to it, so instantly became self-conscious. He looked at her, giving her smile and a wink, ” You look beautiful my dear, that’s why everyone’s looking at you. Don’t be shy.” He said, smoothing her hair around her face with his fingers. The older gentleman came out of his office at the back of the room, ” Can Divit, it’s good to see you, and this must be your gorgeous wife.” He said, reaching for her hand. She smiled, but in a nervous way, not knowing the language, she wasn’t quite sure what he had said. She looked at Can, ” Oh sorry, Mr. Moretti, my wife doesn’t speak italian, so I’ll translate for her. Can relayed the compliment to Sanem, with pride, and Mr. Moretti again reached for hand and gave it a kiss. Sanem nodded to him with a smile. The rest of the meeting was handled by Can, with her just listening, trying pick up on some of the words. They had all the paperwork done and a complete itinerary mapped out for them. They had been booked on a flight leaving Rome the next night, and arriving in Lima, Peru the following day. With the flight being lose to 20 hours, they chose to take the overnight flight, so they would be able to sleep most of the way. With everything planned and all the necessary documents in hand they got a taxi back to the hotel. Sanem was anxious to see a little of the city, since this the first time she had been to Italy, so Can promised to show her some of the sights.

They changed clothes and started out, Sanem’s excitement had amused him, but it made him love her more, if that was even possible. She wanted to see everything, and they took a hundred pictures, laughing and loving this time together. She had to buy something in every store they went into, so the bags were beginning to be quite a load, ” Sanem, where are you going to pack all these things, we don’t have much luggage space now.” He pleaded, as they entered another store. ” I promise sweetheart, this is the last store, but I really need to but a couple more notebooks for writing, and some pens.” She said, ” I will have to document every step we take for the next few months, so I’ll need lots of paper.” She assured him. ” I think that they may sell notebooks in Peru, I’m not sure, but I think they might.” He said, jokingly. She smiled, ” Oh, these are just for Italy,” she replied, ” I’m sure I’ll need a few dozen more, before  we’re done with this trip.” She announced. It was late in the day, when they made it back to the hotel. Her anticipation hadn’t subsided any at all, but Can was completely exhausted. The desk clerk caught them as they started on the elevator, ” Mr. Divit, will you and your wife be ready to dine now, your dinner has been ordered and will be delivered to you in your room.” He said. Can looked at Sanem, a little curious, ” Who ordered our dinner?” He asked. ” A Mr. Moretti, sir, he asked for us to prepare a lovely dinner for you both, so when you’re ready, just ring me and we will bring it right up.” Sanem clapped her hands, ” Oh Can, I bet it will be delicious, and I’m starved, aren’t you? She said. Can nodded to the clerk, ” Thank you, if would give us a few minutes then you can bring it.” He said, looking at Sanem. 

The next day, they rushed around to pack everything in their luggage. Can was sure they would have to leave some of their things behind, but she managed to fit it all in. The flight would leave at approximately 7:30 and arrive in Madrid about 10:00pm. With a two-hour layover there, they would be ready to sleep when they departed for Lima, on the second leg of the journey. The trip would be long, but this was the way they would start their lives together. Can held her, watching her sleep on the plane, planning out their lives in his head. He would call Emre as soon as they reached Lima and get a report on how the house was coming along. Their house that he intended to fill with love, as much love as it would hold. He knew she wanted babies, but he hoped they could wait just a while before they grew their family. He wanted to spend as much time alone with her as he could, but if that didn’t happen, then he was sure their hearts would welcome children when they came, and it would make their love stronger. Sanem shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable. She opened her eyes and saw him watching her, ” Are you ok? ” she asked, running her fingers through his beard. He smiled at her, that smile that made her melt, and her heart flutter, ” Yes, I’m better than I’ve ever been, and it’s all because if you.” He whispered to her. She pulled him down to her, kissing his lips, lingering there tasting the deliciousness of his mouth. 

He felt that fire flame up, deep down in his soul, it wouldn’t take much for it to become a raging inferno, if she kept that up, he thought, but for him to pull away from her would be impossible.

” Sanem, you do remember we’re on a plane, don’t you? He asked her, his voice barely heard.

She laughed slightly, ” And when did that ever hold you back, my dear husband.” She whispered, sliding her hand inside his half-unbuttoned shirt.

Chapter 3

Her body seemed to be working against her, as they waited in the airport in Lima, Peru. She ached in every spot possible and there was still several hours before they would arrive at their apartment in Aqua Calientes. Can was leaned back in the chair with his eyes closed, ” Can, sweetheart, are you asleep?” She asked, whispering in his ear. He moaned, ” How could I possibly sleep, my body is racked with pain.” He stated, shifting his body in the chair. He took her hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it tenderly, ” You really need to try and sleep, it’s still hours before we will get to our house.” He explained. She sighed, ” I am hurting so badly, there’s no way I can rest” she said. He opened his eyes, “Are you ok? You’re not getting sick are you.” He spouted, quickly sitting up to inspect her. She rolled her eyes, ” No, I’m not sick, just tired, I had no idea the trip would be this long.” She remarked. Can stroked her face, ” I’m sorry my love, I forget that you haven’t traveled much and you’re not use to the long flights and these ridiculous lay overs.” He said. She stood up, ” I’m going for a walk, maybe that will help.” She stated. Can jumped up, ” No, I don’t think it’s safe for you to be wandering around here by yourself, I’ll come with you.” He spouted, grabbing arm and pulling her close to him. 

They took a short walk around the waiting area, not wanting to leave their bags unattended. Can ushered her back to their seats, ” Let me go get some coffee for us, and maybe some fresh bread and jam, that might help.” He pleaded, not wanting her to get disheartened before there adventure even started. She smiled, ” That sounds great, and I think I’m going to write for a bit, while you’re gone.” She stated, giving him a hug. He had seen a cafe a ways down the terminal, so he started there for the coffee.  Sanem dug through her backpack for a notebook and pen, she wanted to record how she felt right now, so when they got to their destination and she was happy and content, she could look back at this as part of her learning period. She would never regret doing this, because she was living a dream right now, but it was definitely a challenge. But she wouldn’t have it any other way, she as with the man she loved with all her heart. The words spilled out onto the paper, all her thoughts and desires released from her mind and transferred to her pad. It was always such a relief for her to express herself like this, it seemed to energize her, renew her, make her want to live the next minutes of her life. She was absorbed into her writing, unaware of the man that had sat down across from her, but soon she felt the stare from him. She looked up, smiled at him, and continued on with her writing. The language barrier always bothered her, making her feel uneasy at any encounter of a stranger, but she was very aware of his presence now, making her fidgety. 

The man was probably a traveler, just like her, but why did he sit down here, right across from her, she thought. She tried not to look at him, but the stare from him had made her feel uncomfortable, she tried to ignore it. Her mind was thinking of Can, and what was taking him so long to get coffee. Her mind was racing, and her inner voice was telling her to get their things and move away, to another seat. With her mind preoccupied, she hadn’t even heard that he was speaking to her, he repeated it, ” Hello ma’am, nice day for traveling, isn’t it? He asked her, in a language she understood. She looked at him strangely, ” Are you Turkish? She asked, surprised at the possibility. He smiled, ” No, I’m from here, but I speak many different languages.” He explained, holding that stare into her eyes. She looked away from him, searching for Can, her heart pounding hard. She wasn’t sure if she was glad or alarmed at the fact he could speak her native tongue, wondering how he knew she was Turkish. She saw Can walking her way, with a look of concern on his face. He saw the man sitting across from his wife, and immediately his defenses were turned on. He could see they were carrying on a conversation, so evidently the man knew Turkish. Can walked up behind Sanem, looking angrily at the man sitting there, just as Sanem turned around to see Can. ” Excuse me, is there something I can do to help you.” He asked the man, positioning himself between Sanem and strange man. The man stood, extended his hand, ” Yes sir, my name is Esteban Cachi, I’m the assistant your hired for your wife.” He said.

Sanem sat watching the two men talking. Can had ushered the man away right after he told who he was. ” My assistant,” she thought, ” why do I need an assistant?” She wondered, feeling there was more to it than that. As they came back over to Sanem, Can smiled, ” Yes, my love, I hired an assistant for you while we are here. He is to accompany you wherever you want to go, when I’m not with you, of course. He knows the language and was born and raised here. I will feel much better leaving you when I have to, if there is someone to help you navigate about.” He announced, his face showing his determination. She had to admit, it did make her feel better to have someone to go with her, when she wanted to go somewhere, and be able to speak for her and relay their language to her. Sanem smiled, and stuck out her hand to shake his, ” Hello Esteban, if I may call you that, I’m glad to meet you.” She said, feeling more at ease than she had since the trip began. Can sighed, relieved Sanem had accepted him, but a little shocked she relented so easily. The gentleman told them a little about himself, that he had traveled around the world practically, and he spoke 7 different languages which amazed Sanem. She wondered if he could teach her Spanish, which was the primary language there. She had always wanted to learn a different language, and a different way of life. He explained to them he would make the rest of their trip with them, helping them get set up in their apartment and that he had taken a room just two doors down from them. Can was glad he had met them there, it would give them some time to get acquainted and for Sanem to get use to the idea of a bodyguard, although he wouldn’t be referred to as one. 

The three hit it off immediately, with Sanem becoming quite comfortable with him. He had come highly recommended, and that was all that mattered to Can, her safety. 

Sanem didn’t realize how quickly the time passed, with something else to occupy her mind now, until they called out that their plane was ready board. They were almost there.

Almost there, to the adventure of a lifetime… she had a strange feeling come over her.

” I think this will be more than just an adventure…. but maybe this will change my life.” 

Chapter 4

The airport in Cusco was quite a large as the one Lima, so the distance to the car rental booth was only a short ways. The SUV was already reserved in their name and ready to go. Sanem was happy to be on the road, not knowing the difficult road there was ahead. It was only 45.5 miles from Cusco to Aqua Calientes, there home away from home, but with the road being less than desirable, the drive would take over 4 hours. Can had already be informed about the drive, so he knew what to expect. The countryside was beautiful, and they both couldn’t believe the uniqueness of it. This was a change for Can, to go to a place he had never been before. He had been to Brazil, Columbia and Ecuador, all neighboring countries of Peru, but hadn’t been to this country. The drive took more than the four hours they were told but arriving at AquaCalientes was something of a fairytale event. The small town was the last thing that visitors encountered, before the mile and a half trek to the marvel itself, Machu Picchu. 

Since there was no cars in AquaCalientes itself, they had to leave the car outside of town and hike the rest of the way in. Not an ideal situation, but just added to the charisma of the trip. Can was thankful for the help from Esteban with the luggage on the trek into town. They found their small apartment, which was actually more than they have expected. It was quite comfortable and very accommodating for what they would need over the weeks to come. Sanem had never felt so out of her element before, but she was excited to experience all that came with her new life. She quickly unpacked their bags and tried to organize the place they would call home for the beginning of the life together. The excitement of the trip had them both running on adrenaline, knowing they should both be more than exhausted they couldn’t seem to calm down. ” Well my love, I think we made it, it only took us 3 days and at lot of pain, but we’re here.” He said, pulling her close to him. Her smell rejuvenated him, making him want her even more. She melted into his body, ” Can I never expected a trip like this, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Will our lives always be like this, the unexpected, the out of the normal experience.” She smiled, ” I have the most dynamic husband in the world, and I love you more than my life itself.” She revealed, snuggling in close to him, feeling the desire to have this beautiful man all to herself. 

The magazine company had arranged for the kitchen to be stocked with the necessary items. With the day close to over, they managed to fix a bite to eat, they each took a hot shower and fell into bed, too exhausted to do more than hold each other tightly in their arms. His internal time clock had been altered so much, he wasn’t for sure what time it was or what day it was when he finally opened his eyes. The sun was already shining bright, he looked at his phone, the best he could tell they had already slept for about twelve hours. But his body was still fighting against him, not wanting to move. He turned towards Sanem, wrapping his arms around her, he snuggled up her again to try and sleep. But the feel of her body against his, made him change his mind. She shifted in the bed, feeling the heat from his body was like an eruption of a volcano, and the lava was flowing down her body, from her head to her toes. It made her heart beat fast, and the need for sleep had taken a backseat to the desire that had awakened Inside her. He kissed her neck, that smell that drove him mad had set him on fire, as he slid his hands down the length of her body, he could feel her skin fill with goosebumps. His hardness pressing against her back, and she felt her breath catch. 

As she turned to face him, his eyes barely open, yet they looked deep into her heart and soul. She couldn’t look away, as he demanded her body to be his, as he moved over on top of her, she felt like her heart would beat out of her chest. He whispered her name, ” Sanem, I want you so badly I can’t stand it.” He said, his eyes roving down her body. She held her breath, mesmerized at his splendor, he made her feel alive in every ounce of her body and she waited anxiously for him to enter her, and claim her most vulnerable spot of her heart. He took control, slowly taking his time, he brought them both together, as they reached the peak of their desire for each other. She was breathless, as he finally slid over to the side of her, each fulfilled completely, and happy. He smiled, looking at her, ” I love you my wife, I want to start every day like this, ok?” He said, sending a tingle over her body. She raised up on one arm, her eyes still full of desire, ” You won’t hear a complaint from me, my love.” She said, kissing his chest.

Sanem had brewed the tea, while he took a shower. That was one thing they had both insisted on, was their tea. They had brought some along with them, and the company had made sure they had a supply there waiting for them when they arrived. With she showered, he cooked they eggs. The kitchen was small, barely room for one, but it was all they needed. They ate, and lounged for the first part of the day, until there was a knock on their door. It was Esteban, asking if they needed anything, ” Mr. Divit, I’m going to the market and just wondered if you might need anything?” He asked. ” And your assistant will be arriving here by the evening, his name is Salvador.” He added. If you would like a tour of the town later, I will be happy to show you both around.” He stated. Sanem was eager to get out and look around, so they agreed to let him take them around. ” I’ll meet you in an hour, at the church in the town square. Put on your walking shoes.” He said, smiling. The only means of transportation in the town were your feet, there were a fleet of buses that took visitors up to the ruins, but they didn’t run in the town itself. Sanem knew she would get her exercise while she was here. They dressed in comfortable clothes and their sneakers, the weather was hot, but the breeze from the river kept it cool. This town was the last point before reaching Machu Picchu, so the town was busy with tourists and adventurist, all flocking there to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 

As they arrived in the town, which was only a five minute walk from their small apartment, Can’s excitement began to come alive. He couldn’t wait to take his trip to the ruins and get started with his work. As they strolled through the town with Esteban, Sanem tried to keep a mental note of everything she saw, so she could record it later in her notebook. The church was beautiful, an old catholic cathedral, but it was the heart of the town. She heard children playing, so she made her way over to the gate, looking in she saw several kids running and playing with a ball. Esteban explained to them that these were orphans of the area, and the church look after them. She was Immediately interested, but he told her they didn’t allow much outside help, in order to protect the kids. They moved on through the town….

He showed them the rest of the town, the unique shops and markets that lined the streets… but Sanem’s mind had stayed at the church, and the sound of the children rang in her head. How sad for them, having lost their families. 

She wondered if they would allow her in to help. What a way to fill her days, while Can was gone, she thought.

Chapter 5

The trip to Machu Picchu was extraordinary. Cans assistant, Salvador had met them at the bus station to accompany then there. They had their paperwork showing him as a photojournalist, and the 48 hour pass to stay within the town. They had tents to stay in and a designated area in which to reside. After the time limit you had to move locations and obtain another 48 hour pass. All of this was very time consuming, and he was glad to representative from the magazine office had setup all the details for them. But the sight of such a wonder was breathtaking. Sanem went with the group on the first trip, just to see the sight for herself, and experience the grandeur of it all. She was amazed by it, for a girl from the historic district in Istanbul, that had never been outside of Turkey, this was overwhelming. Can was amazing, taking photo after photo, she loved to watch him work. She could understand why it was going to take several weeks to capture all the features of the wonder of the world. 

The group had been allotted an area to stay, which was close to the place called The Temple of the Sun. The atmosphere around the ruins was that of a religious sanctuary, and she learning of all its history had her obsessed. Her notebook was nearly full, as her and Can wandered about, taking notes and talking to the other people that where there. After the 48 hours pass, they had to take the bus back to the town to apply for another pass and location. Can was definitely in his element, snapping pictures everywhere they went. She was glad to get back to their little apartment, the tent life had never really appealed to her, but she was happy to be wherever Can was. He had gone to have the photos developed that he had taken there, as she started dinner. Can had planned to return to the ruins the next day with his assistants and would be there for 2 days. So Sanem would be on her own, something she wasn’t looking forward to. But she would get by, after all this was a trip of a lifetime, and with her magnificent husband, who could ask for anything more. His excitement had sparked her interest as well, she was still writing when he returned from town. The dinner was a light one, since she had to cook herself, but they only wanted to spend this evening together, wrapped in each other’s arms, ” Sanem are you sure you’ll be ok here without me?” He asked, holding her tightly. She pouted, ” No, but this is what I signed up for, so I’ll have to get used to it.” she said, kissing him on the neck. He hated to leave her, every fiber of his body wanted to keep her with him, this close, her body molded to his, her smell surrounding him. But he knew he couldn’t. This job had been a lot easier when he was on his own, with no one to care about, no one he was going to miss. But his heart had been filled with this woman, his other half, his everything, and all of a sudden, this work was unimportant. The feel of her skin was all he cared about and her smell was what kept him breathing, ” Would he be able to leave her for as little as 2 days.” He wondered, as he ran his hands over every curve of her body.

He gave Esteban the last minute instructions, ” Dont let her talk you into doing something you know you shouldn’t, she’s really good at that. If you think it’s not a good thing to do, don’t do it.” He ordered. ” Stay with her at all times, don’t let her sneak off from you.” He said, feeling his nerves on edge. He wasn’t sure if would be able to take 2 months of this, having to leave her alone at times, so he was determined to make quick work of his assignment. The goodbye was torture, and watching her standing there at the bus station, waving goodbye to him was agony. He waved back trying to keep his eyes from forming the tears he felt. Sanem felt horrible, as she watched them drive away, 48 hours without him, it wouldn’t be easy. But Esteban had made up a list of things to see and do, so she was looking forward to it. But most of all, she wanted to visit the orphanage again, it had never left her mind since the first day she saw it.

Can took advantage of his time alone to call Emre and check on the renovations of the mansion, ” Emre, how are things going on the house, is it all on schedule?” He asked. Emre was happy to hear from him, he had gotten used to having his brother around in the past few months. ” Abi, it’s going as planned, actually a little ahead of schedule.” He replied. “And the decor is great, Leila is doing a great job. We are working some long hours together, but I’m not complaining.” He said, with a laugh. Can was surprised, ” Whats up Emre, did I fix up more than our home, did I also fix you up with a good woman for once.” He spouted, feeling a bit of relief. Emre sighed, “Well, you might say that I find her very appealing and refreshing. She has peaked my interest, if you know what I mean.” He said. “But with that being said, we have worked very well together, and the job is coming along.” Can urged him to stay on schedule and keep his personal life in check while they finished up the job. The group reached the site where they were to set up camp, it was even more beautiful than the site the day before. He wished Sanem was with to see all these things with him, but he knows he had a job to do and he wanted it to be the best work he had ever done. 

Esteban knocked in the door of the apartment, and waited for her to open the door, ” Hello Esteban, come in, would you like tea?” She asked, motioning for him to come in. He came and sat down, while she poured the tea. He wasn’t so much a tea drinker but he didn’t want to offend her. She was excited to get started, ” So what do you have planned for us today?” She asked him. He gave her a list of places he wanted to show her and a good outdoor cafe he wanted her to try. ” There’s one place I want to go, and that’s the church, I really want to go back to the orphanage, can we do that?” She asked him, her eyes begging him. He could see what Can was talking about when it came to letting her talk him into things, but this was a good thing, but necessarily an easy thing to do. The church didn’t allow tourist to visit the orphanage, so to get her an invitation to visit would be difficult. ” Mrs. Divit, it’s not a usual occurrence, but I will do my best to get you an invitation to visit.” He said, hoping he wasn’t going to get her hopes up.

Sanem was willing to do anything, she just wanted to help. She grabbed her notebook and pen, along with her phone and they started out. The people there were generous and friendly, making her feel right at home, as they made their way through the town. How she wished Can was there, she missed him already, she hoped the next 2 days would go by quickly.

Chapter 6

” Emre, what do you think about this, I really like this.” She said, pointing at the sofa sectional on the showroom floor. She was a pale shade of grey, very neutral, she thought. It would go with almost anything. Emre shook his head, ” I like it, and it’s large, the family room is so big, they’ll need something like this size.” He said, paying more attention to Leila than the sofa. Leila sighed, “Emre please, look at this sofa, I’m serious. If we don’t find the furniture fast, Can and Sanem are going to be home, and the house will be empty.” She spouted. Emre put his arm around her, ” Ok, it really does look nice, I think they will love it.” He agreed. She shook her head, ” Ok good, this one it is then.” she replied, clapping her hands together. So another thing marked off the list, now they needed to concentrate on the bedrooms, and Sanem’s writing room. They searched the rest of the store for what they needed, but nothing satisfied Leila’s taste. They would try again tomorrow, ” Emre, we’ll have to go to another store tomorrow, and find the rest of the furnishings, but it will have to be after the meeting with your dad and they group from the clothing company.” She said, with them both feeling the pressure of finishing this job on time. 

Aziz and Mihriban had managed to get one of the largest children boutique clothing line in Turkey to consider a new advertising platform. Mihriban had worked up a terrific ad campaign, and they would present it the next day. Everyone in the office had worked hard on it and wanted it to be the best possible. With Can and Sanem both gone, the agency had dropped some in their customers, but Aziz had faith in Mihriban, and let her take the reins. Getting this campaign would be a big step in their recovery. Aziz and Mihriban had picked up where they left off, with their relationship, and he couldn’t have been any happier. He was eager for Can to come home so he could get to know her, he knew this was the love he wouldn’t loss twice in his lifetime. 

Can and his assistant, Salvador, had made camp in their allotted area. They had a 5 mile area to explore and photography in the next couple of days. This was some of the most unique and least documented area of Machu Picchu. Can was ready to get started so he could get back to AquaCalientes and carry on with the honeymoon and spend this time with Sanem. The phone call with her that evening did nothing more than make matters worse and cause him to miss her even more. He loved the fact she was so excited about exploring the town, and that Esteban was making sure she was safe, but he missed her touch and the way she felt in his arms. After this outing was over, he was going to insist she come with him the next time. The mystery of the ruins had him captivated, but the desire to be with his wife meant more to him right now. She had changed him, he no longer felt the need to explore and wander about alone, he wanted to be with her. 

The next 24 hours was filled with scenery and discovery, as they hiked around the marvelous wonder, the photos were fantastic, and the story behind it intrigued him. The weather conditions could be a bit uncomfortable there, especially at this altitude. The wind and rain would descend on them without warning and then be gone just a quick. All of this use to be a such a rush of excitement, but as this outing wore on, it seemed more like a job than ever before. Maybe he had finally grown up and the need for exploring the unknown had been replaced with living a life, full of love and contentment. It was hard to concentrate on the assignment, when he kept thinking about the surprise waiting for them when they got home, the beautiful big mansion that would be their home. He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face.  He had taken the last of the photos of this area, and they would pack up and be on their way back to town the next morning, his thoughts of her making him anxious. He decided to call her, ” My love, how are you, I miss you.” He said, as she answered the phone. ” Can, babe when are you coming home, I miss you too.” She said, her voice dripping with emotion. ” We are heading out in the morning, so don’t go anywhere tomorrow, before I get home, I want to touch you so badly.” He whispered into the phone. She giggled, ” I won’t, I’ll be here waiting for you.” She replied with desire. 

She had missed him more than she ever thought she would, as she laid there hugging his favorite t-shirt. His smell soaked into every fiber of it, she sniffed it, releasing the desire for him she couldn’t control. He was the most magnificent thing that had ever happened to her, the thought of how they met crossed her mind. If she hadn’t went to work at the agency, if she hadn’t stumbled and fell into his arms that night of the party? What would her life be like now, no doubt she would have unknowingly married Adin, and would be living the life of a dominated wife. Not blissfully happy, and loved by a man that adored her, that’s for sure. Her life had taken so many turns over the past 8 months, it was hard for her to believe it. But now all she wanted was to be with him, wherever that may be, and give him as many children as she possibly could. She had never really thought about babies before, but the orphanage had opened her eyes to what she was missing. With Esteban help she had been able to visit the church that day and look in on the children as they played. They were such beautiful children, but alone, and that made her sad. But the babies were the ones that captured her heart, one for certain had melted her, and she had a hard time leaving him. There stories were sad, as how they all came to be there, and a couple of them had medical problems. But this one little boy, that she learned was 6 months old, was the happiest baby. It made her cry to leave him that afternoon, but she was only allowed a 2 hour visit. She couldn’t wait to tell Can about him, and all the other children there, she thought, as she drifted off to sleep breathing in the smell of her husband and reliving the excitement of her day. 

Her dreams were of Can… She could feel his touch as she slept.

They were together, as a family, in a big, beautiful house. And children were running and playing. They were so happy.

Chapter 7

The phone blared in here ear, jarring her from her sleep. ” Hello Abla, is there something wrong?” Sanem asked in a panic. The time was 6:15 am, why was she calling at this hour? She wondered. ” Sanem, are you sleeping? Sorry to wake your but, I really need talk to you.” She blurted, hardly able to contain her excitement. ” What is it Leila, is something wrong with dad, or mom.” Sanem asked, bolting upright in bed. Leila sighed, ” No, nothing like that, I just need to talk.” I need advice.” She stated. Sanem rubbed her eyes, ” About what? When did you ever listen to anything I said anyway.” She said, confused at the whole conversation. ” It’s about Emre, she spouted. ” I just got home from a dinner with him, and I’m really confused about what I’m feeling right now.” She said, her voice high pitched and panicked. Sanem was trying to make sense of this, ” Why were you having dinner with Emre, and what feelings are you talking about?” Samen asked, fully awake and curious now. Leila cleared her throat, ” Well, because he asked me, that’s why, and he’s been so nice and attentive lately, I think he likes me.” She said hesitantly. ” WHAT! Emrebey…. and you Leila, you know he’s a lady’s man, he doesn’t seem to be your type” she stated, not wanting to say what she really thought. ” He has a dozen women at a time, you’ve seen this over the years while working at the agency.” Sanem said. ” That’s just the way he is.” Leila remained quiet, ” Abla, are you still there? Sanem asked, ” What do you feel for him, do you like him.” She said. Leila thought for a minute, ” You’re right, he’s not my type, what was I thinking.” She said, with a slight laugh. Sanem sighed, ” Abla, I really don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Hey, I miss you, I miss you all, but you should see this place, it’s fantastic.” She shouted. ” Can will be home today, and I can’t wait.” She spouted. 

They talked for a while about the town and the people, then they hung up, with Leila promising to give their mom and dad a big kiss for her the next morning. Sanem was fully awake now, and could think of nothing but Can. She wondered what time they would be arriving, and if maybe she would have time to be granted another visit to the orphanage but Can had told her specifically to wait at home for him to arrive, so she would make the visit to the church another day. She showered, and dressed, then waited……she wished she could cook, she would love to have something special for him when he got home. She grabbed her phone and called Esteban, “Good morning, Esteban, I need to ask you a favor,” she said, ” what is your favorite dish, but something easy to make?” She asked. Within minutes he was knocking on her door, ” Ok, the most favorite thing for me is, Aji de Gallina. It’s a delicious chicken stew.” He said, waving his hands in the air. Sanem loved the way he explained things, so animated, ” So do you know how to fix it?” She asked. He looked at her, raising his eyebrows, ” My mama, raised us to take care of ourselves, and that meant cooking, so yes, I can prepare you a delicious pot of Aji de Gallina. Sanem shook her head, ” No,no, I want you to teach me how to make it.” I want to cook for Can, he’ll be home later today, and I want to surprise him.” She said smiling at him. 

The little apartment was abundant with the aroma of onions and peppers cooking. She was surprised at how simple the recipe had been, and the effort that she had put forth wasn’t near as daunting as she expected. She was quite proud of herself. Esteban left instructions on how to finish the dish, once Can was home and ready to eat. Telling her to be sure and serve it over rice, and it traditionally was accompanied by the hard-boiled egg, sliced and on the side. But the longer it simmered together the better the taste. He left her finishing the meal and returned to his room down the street. She was carefully watching the pot, making sure it didn’t stick or boil to fast. She always talked to her food as she prepared it, she was busy talking to the pot, and didn’t hear the door open slowly, and Can peeked his head in the door. She was distracted by stirring something in a pot, it smelled delicious, like nothing he had ever smelled before, but he was more interested in his wife than the food on the stove. The sight of her makes him weak, almost unable to move, as he watched her. He moved towards her, his body aching to hold her. She felt his presence as he came closer, she turned around to see her husband there, his eyes said more than his words ever could. She welcomed him into her arms, and felt that rush of desire that always filled her soul when he was there. 

It had only been 2 days but it felt like an eternity to him, as his body felt hers, the softness, the tenderness of her. This was worth everything to him, to be here with her, his wife, his love. How had he lived his life before without her, he couldn’t remember, but he knew it wasn’t with love. She looked into his eyes, ” Can, I missed you so much, I’m not sure if I can do this for 2 months, I mean, be without you for days at a time.” She spoke, softly, slidding her hands down his back. He breathed deep, and closed his eyes, letting her hands feel him, caress him, like only she could. He felt the same way, wishing she could be with him on each of his trips, but the circumstances where different here, so they would have to make it work and be thankful for this time. He was glad it was only for a couple of months.

He watched her as dipped up the stew into a bowl, and brought it to him, ” I’m sure you’re going to love it, I hear this is one of the most favorite dishes of Peruvians.” She said, eyeing him intently as he took the first taste. The flavor was amazing, it was filled with spices but nothing over the top, just a smooth mild taste. He looked at her, ” You made this yourself, it’s wonderful.” He exclaimed, as he dived in to finish the bowl. ” Yes, with the help from Esteban, he’s the one that gave me the recipe.” She said. “But I did most of the cooking myself.” She said proudly. Can had a twinge of jealousy stab him in the stomach, ” So Esteban came here and helped you cook, is that right? He asked. She nodded, ” Yes, and he’s has other recipes he said he would help me cook, if I wanted.” She replied with excitement. ” So what do you think, it’s great isn’t it.” She asked, looking at him for approval. 

Can agreed, ” Yes, it is.” Did you go anywhere, see any of the sights while I was gone.” He asked, trying to hide the jealousy that had reared its ugly head. He was the one that hired the man to protect her, so why was he so upset with him being with her…. he swallowed hard, feeling that knot in his stomach get bigger.

Chapter 8

His stomach was full and satisfied, and he was impressed at the fact she had cooked that delicious meal, but his eyes were still hungry, hungry for her, the sight of her filled him more than any food. She was busy, cleaning the kitchen, and telling him about the last two days. Her excitement always made him laugh, she could get exuberant over anything that peaked her interest. She was going on about the orphanage, telling him how she was allowed a visit. ” Wait, you mean they let you enter the orphanage and visit with the children? He asked, not believing what he was hearing. It wasn’t at all like their government of the town to let visitors or tourist in the church other than to see the architecture. He was shocked they had allowed her in. ” Yes, Esteban talked to them for me, well I kind of forced him to, but he got it cleared for me to go in and see the children.” She stated, her face lighting up just talking about it. ” Oh Can, you should see them, they are the cutest things, they have older kids, some that are 5 to 8 years old, and then they have the babies.” She said, her face changing to a soft loving look as she talked about them. ” They are adorable Can, there’s one little boy, he’s only 6 months old, but he’s the sweetest thing.” She said, coming over and sitting down across from him. He could see a different look in her eyes as she talked, a light that he had never seen before. Like she had been awakened. She smiled, “Can, his name Is Benicio, they told me it meant blessed.”

Esteban was curious as to how the dinner was going, but he wasn’t going to call to find out. He was sure they were doing more than enjoying a nice dinner together, so he wouldn’t disturb them. He wondered if Mr. Divit knew how lucky he was, Ms. Sanem was quite the woman. She had shown him the side of a caring and compassionate person, yet she still had the innocence of a child. The way her eyes sparkled and danced at every new discovery, made him smile. He wanted to talk to the priest at the church to get permission for her to visit again, he knew she would be overjoyed to be able to go there again. He couldn’t help but think about her, but he knew he shouldn’t. She was a client, nothing more than that, and she was a client on her honeymoon, how unrealistic was that, he thought. But her image still remained in his mind, the look on her face the first moment she saw the babies, the look she had when he explained to her about the history of the town, she was interested in everything. He was amazed by her. He knew they wouldn’t need him to watch her today, so he made his way to the church to talk to the priest and get permission for her to visit again.

Can’s phone interrupted Sanem’s description of the orphanage, he looked to see it was Emre, he stood nervously trying to excuse himself so he could answer the phone. He hoped there wasn’t a problem with the house, ” Sanem, baby, I need to take this call, so hold on a minute.” He said, as he rushed to the other room. ” Emre, what is it, is there a problem? He asked in a whisper. Emre laughed, ” Hello to you too, Abi.” He said. ” It’s only a slight problem, but one I need your ok on. It seems they need to reenforce the lower deck on the back of the house to be able to build the upper deck off the master bedroom. It will cost approximately $10,000 to do.” He explained. Can sighed a sigh of relief, ” is that all Emre? Of course, go ahead and do it, I want the deck off the master, that’s really important.” Can said. Emre agreed, ” Ok, I just thought I should check before ok’ing that much money.” He stated. ” How’s things going there, are you still camped? He asked. ” No, got home earlier today, so you are butting into the honeymoon part of this trip, so I’ll say goodbye Abi.” He spouted. Emre laughed, ” Ok, oh, dad said to tell you hello, and Sanem too.” He’s anxious for you to get back home.” He stated. ” Why, what’s going on?” He asked. ” Well, he wants you to get to know Ms. Mihriban a little better. I think he’s gonna pop the question to her soon.” Emre said, with a laugh. Can had expected it, but not quite so soon, but if his father was happy, he was happy. ” Oh, that’s great. So what do you think Emre?” Can asked, just as Sanem walked into the room. ” Think about what?” She asked, tiptoeing to whisper in his ear. Can smiled and held up his hand to her, ” Emre, I’ve gotta ok, but that sounds great and tell dad I’m happy for them both. We’ll talk later.” He told him. Emre sighed, ” Ok Abi, go make me an uncle, or at least try, that’s more than half the fun.” He spouted. Can hung up quickly, so he didn’t have to answer him. Sanem looked at him, waiting for the explanation of the conversation, ” Well, what did he want? She asked, wondering if he was talking to Can about Leila. Can smiled, ” It seems my dad and Mihriban have become quite serious, and he may be ready to pop the question, so says Emre.” Can said, wrapping his arms around her. Sanem squealed, ” Oh my god, really, they have to wait until we get home Can, tell them that.” She ordered, as she buried her face in his chest, giving him a thousand kisses. She stirred every inch of his manhood with just a simple touch or slight kiss, this woman was magic for him. He scooped her up in his arms and placed her on the bed, climbing up on top of her, ” My love, do you have any idea what you do to me, how much you bring me alive with desire.” He said, his voice low, and filled with love for her. She looked deep into his eyes, ” Yes, my husband, because you do the same to me.” She whispered, grazing his lips with hers.

Esteban had spent a while talking with priest that ran the orphanage and had convinced him that this special woman could make a difference in their small home there for the children. She had been given permission to come back and work with them, although the language barrier would be a problem, Esteban assured him he would be with her as interpreter. He was excited to tell her the news, so he hurried to their apartment. It took a few minutes for Can to answer the door, “ Esteban, hello, oh I didn’t tell you we wouldn’t be needing you today, you know since I  home now, I’ll take care of Sanem.” He said, his eyes narrowed. Esteban nodded, ” Of course, Mr. Divit, I just wanted to deliver some news to Ms. Sanem, if that’s ok? He said, meeting the look in his eyes. Sanem walked to the door dressed in Can T-shirt, ” What news Esteban….

He looked away quickly, but Can had already seen that look from him. ” Sorry ma’am, it’s just about the orphanage, but we can talk later.” He stammered, moving nervously away from the door. 

Can knew that look, he had seen that look on his face the day at the airport, when he first met him. This had been a mistake, so he would have to handle it. He would have to confront him and make things perfectly clear…

Chapter 9

Esteban felt the stare from Can, as he stood there in the door, ” What about the orphanage Esteban, what were you going to say.” She said with excitement. ” Oh, uhh, I managed to get permission for you to come on a regular basis, I mean if that’s what you want, they will let you come back and work with the children.” He stated, trying to avoid the look of questioning from Can. Sanem squealed, ” What!! Oh Esteban that’s fantastic.” She spouted, clapping her hands. ” Thank you so much.” She said, pushing past Can in the doorway to throw her arms around Esteban neck. This completely surprised Esteban and Can for that matter, but Sanem couldn’t control her emotions. She stepped back quickly, realizing that her actions had embarrassed him, and then she saw the look on Cans face. ” I’m sorry, she said, moving away from him and, standing beside Can who was still in the doorway. ” That’s fine Ms. Sanem, I know you’re excited about it and Mr. Divit did you enjoy the meal that your wife prepared for you?” He asked, forcing himself to look directly into his face. Can smiled, ” Yes, very much so, thanks to you, so I hear.” Can spewed, not ready to relinquish that dominate stare into his eyes.

Esteban felt uneasy, ” Oh well, I just gave her some ideas on some of the favorite dishes from here, and she did the rest.” Trying to minimize his involvement in the process. Sanem was quick to disagree, ” You did more than that, and you know it.” She piped up, trying to give him his praise. Can wasn’t amused, and Esteban could see it, so he excused himself and quickly hurried back towards his room. Sanem of course didn’t have a clue, ” That was weird, she said, looking out the door as he walked away. ” Oh, Can, I can’t wait for you to meet the babies,” she spouted, dancing around. Can smiled, he loved to see her so excited, but he wasn’t so excited that it was because of Esteban. She was talking nonstop, telling him everything they had done, and all the wonderful things he had shown her. He hadn’t planned on these feelings when he decided to hire someone to protect and see after her while he was doing his job. But now this was something he would have to compete with. She stopped mid-sentence, ” Can, what’s wrong? You’re not even listening to what I’m saying.” She stated, peering into the eyes. “Well, I’m a little tired of hearing about how great Esteban is, for one thing, and that he’s the one showing you all these places you never seen before.” He said, getting that, little boy lost, look in his eyes. She smiled, ” Can Divit, THE Can Divit, are you jealous?” She asked, feeling quite proud of herself. He looked away, ” I wouldn’t say jealous, but I’m having a hard time hearing about you and some other guy, OK.” He replied, not believing he was even saying that. He was normally a very self-assured man, quite sure of himself and could always handle any kind of competition. But he had never been in love like this before, had never experienced this type of confrontation with his feelings. She was his and no one would interfere with his desire of his wife. Sanem was shocked, ” But Can, you hired him to do exactly what he’s doing, watch after me, and show me around.” She smirked, shaking her head. ” And now you’re jealous, of what? You think I could possibly look at any other man than you,” she said, crawling toward him on the bed, ” I think you’re crazy, is what I think, and I think I love you more right now than I ever have.” She whispered, crawling up his body and straddling him, pinning him to the bed. He swallowed hard, a thousand things running through his head, ” I think you’re trying to kill me,” he said, his mouth dry and his body beginning to sweat. ” But don’t stop, please, I’m yours to do with what you want.” He growled, his voice low and breathless. 

The room was dark, with just the light from the corner, shining through the window, when she opened her eyes. She felt his body next to her, and she remembered what had happened an hour or so before and she smiled. He was jealous, how funny, she thought, what an utterly ridiculous thing for him to worry about. This man was more than her husband, more than her best friend, he was the person that made her whole, that let her live. She would be no one if it wasn’t for him, she thought, remembering the first day she realized she loved him. It was the day she figured out he had made up the whole ” reorganization of the archive room” scenario. After Adin had accused her of having feelings for her boss and ran to her parents with a pack of lies. Can was ready to fight for her right then, that’s when she knew, she would never be able to leave him. How could he think she would even entertain the thought of another man, well she hoped she had dispelled any fear that could ever happen. He smelled so good as she snuggled up close to him, content and happy. Yes, so happy her heart may not have room in it to love a child, but the thought still was so present in her mind. They had spoken about it a couple times, he always said he wanted kids, lots of kids. But how soon, she didn’t know, they never took any kind of precautions, so he must not have any reservations about it being sooner than later. She drifted off to sleep again, lying next to him, hearing him breath steadily and strong, it made her feel safe and loved. 

The smell of food woke her, then the light blinded her as she tried to open her eyes. She felt for him, but he wasn’t there, ” He must be cooking, she thought, ” It smells so good and I’m starved.” She rolled out of bed and headed to the kitchen, ” Good morning my love.” she said walking up behind him and sliding her arms around his waist. He loved her feel, it made him have goosebumps. ” Good morning, did you sleep well?” He asked, turning around to face her. She looked up into his beautiful face, ” Yes, wonderfully, and you.” She asked, he kissed her cheeks, then her mouth, then he traveled down her neck, ” I had this most magnificent dream. This beautiful woman had turned into an exotic tigress and had trapped me in her claws, forcing me to do things I’d never dreamed of before. Then I woke up famished for food.” He said, smiling down at her. ” Can, will it always be like this,” She asked him, delving into his dark eyes, ” I want it to be like this every time, every day of our lives.” No jealousy, no proving our love for each other, just living it. Because my love for you will never leave.” she said, smattering his bare chest with kisses. 

” Yes it will be, I will make sure of it. We will live our dream of happiness.” He said.

His mind going to the beautiful home that they would go back to, thinking of the love, and children he intended to fill it with.

Chapter 10

The rebuilding of the mansion had been a big job, it had thrown Leila and Emre together in the most demanding way. It had forced them to make decisions that should have been made by a married couple. To design a home for a family, a large family, you have to think like a family, and they were far from a family. Leila knew her sisters style, she was simple, uncluttered, and nostalgic, which she found to be the easiest design to follow. She loved a soft color palette, like the color of the wildflowers she gathered for her creams, anything that was natural. The work renovations were in full swing and Leila had Emre had already done most of the shopping for the furniture. She was the one in charge of furnishings, but Emre insisted on making all the decisions with her, trying to find any excuse to be with her. She was someone, he found out, he wanted to be with, much to his surprise. Her honesty and kindness had captured his heart, it changed him over this time, he was ready for every morning to come so they could be together….  and she felt the same. So where was this going, he didn’t have a clue, but he just knew he wanted it to go somewhere. The final blueprint had been adjusted, to accommodate the top floor balcony, and the paint for the writing/library room had been selected and ready to go, now just a few final selections in decor and their job would be done, but neither of them were happy about it.

With the presentation to the children’s clothing boutique only days away, the agency was in an uproar. But Mihriban had taken the role of creative director and formed it into a positive position. Insisting that everyone take part in the developing of the campaign, she made the working environment the best it had ever been. Aziz was so proud she had returned to the agency, and he was ready to let her be the one to carry them to the next level. He had his plans of waiting until Can and Sanem returned home before asking her to marry him and make him the happiest man In the world. Since his divorce from Huma, he hadn’t had a relationship with any other woman, he threw himself into his work and tried to forget the vile woman she had turned into. But Mihriban was still in his heart from all those years ago, if he was honest with himself, she had been the only woman in his heart.

Sanem leaned back in her chair, she closed her eyes, ” Hmm, you are the best cook ever.” She sighed, licking her lips. ” Those were the best crepes, really the very best, I’ve ever had.” She exclaimed, reaching for his hand. He smiled, pleased he had made her happy, ” I guess Esteban’s not the only one that can cook,” he said, ” I’m good for something.” Sanem looked up quickly, ” If you want, you can let Esteban go, I’m fine here but myself. I don’t want him to be a problem with you.” She stated, searching his eyes. ” He was your idea, not mine, but I tried to make the best of it, because I thought that’s what you wanted.” She said, pushing back her chair to stand. Can jumped up and stepped around the table to grab her, “Whoa, I’m sorry, I was just kidding, you’re absolutely right. I just have a hard time with other guys being close to you.” He said, pulling her close to him. ” Don’t be mad at me, I can’t take it when you’re mad.” We only have a few days together, so let’s not waste any of it arguing.” I’m sorry babe.” He whispered, kissing her forehead. She couldn’t stay mad at him, he melted all of her defenses, ” Well for your information, he’s not close to me, he’s just trying to do his job. What you hired him for, to protect me.” She stated, wrapping her arms around him. ” Come on, let’s go out, walk around and meet some people.” I can show you around a little, maybe the orphanage, if you want.” She spouted. There was that look again, he thought, studying her face, that place must be very special for her. He agreed, so they quickly cleaned the kitchen, dressed, and took off to tour the town. She did a replay of all the places Esteban had shown her, even the boutiques that she had loved. “Look Can” she said, holding up a handmade woven scarf, ” My Abla would love this, do you think we could get some things from here and send back to them as souvenirs?” She asked, her eyes wide with anticipation. He nodded, ” I don’t see why not, I think they would love it.” They picked out a few things for the family and the shop owner offered to ship it out for them. They stopped at the outdoor cafe for a drink and a rest, ” Can, don’t you just love the town, it’s so unique and different than Istanbul. And the people are so kind here, just like the priest at the church, giving me permission to come there and visit the children.” She stated, her eyes dancing. ” Come on let’s go there, let me show you how beautiful it is.” She spouted, jumping up from her chair. Can smiled, and followed her down the street, as she held his hand leading him towards the church.

Her excitement had somehow transferred to him, as they got closer to the church. He had learned enough of the language before they left home for a basic conversation. When they entered the church, one of the workers of the orphanage greeted them, ” Welcome, come in.” She said, motioning for them to enter. Sanem smiled and walked in, and Can followed, ” Thank you,” He said, nodding to her. They recognized Sanem from the time before, and welcomed her in. The director of the orphanage was an older woman, very passionate about the children, and glad when someone showed extra attention to their facility. Can was impressed, the older children were in the classroom, which was nicely equipped with everything they needed. It seemed more like a boarding school than an orphanage. Sanem held his hand, as they walked down the hall toward the nursery. He could feel her grip tighten as they got closer, and see her face get brighter, he knew this place had captured her heart. The worker opened the door, and let them come in, the rooms was full of everything a baby would need, nothing looked old or used. The smell was of baby lotion and powder, that special smell of a baby that was addictive. Sanem went straight to the crib by the window and picked up the baby for the crib. The bond had already been made, as he watched her kiss him on the cheek, but what a beautiful sight it was. The baby was laughing and playing, happy to see her, as she talked to him, it was like he remembered her. She turned to Can, her eyes gleaming, ” Can, this is Benicio, but they call him Beni for short.”

Can’s heart was in his throat, what a beautiful baby, he thought.

Sanem walked towards him with the baby, he was mesmerized at the sight. This was something totally unexpected for him, but they both seemed to glow. 

He could see why she wanted to come here.

Chapter 11

The time had passed so quickly, he thought, looking at his watch. He had watched his wife play with these babies for 3 hours, and the sight of it warmed his heart. She feed, changed their diaper, and rocked them to sleep. There were 3 babies, and she doted on all of them, but the closeness was more than evident, when she tended to Benicio. Even the nursery workers were whispering about it among themselves. He was proud of her every minute of his life, but to see her with these babies had made him feel it more. His phone rang, disturbing the quietness of the nursery, so he stepped out in the hall to answer, ” Yes, Salvador, what is it?” He asked. It seemed there was a lot of rain moving in over the next few days, making it dangerous to travel to the ruins. It could possibly be enough rain to flood, so the next phase of the assignment would have to be pushed back a few more days. The news wasn’t good, he had hoped to keep the assignment on schedule, and running smoothly, but these things couldn’t be helped. That would give them more time together, he thought, as he went back into the nursery and his eyes found her again, cuddling with Beni in the chair. “More time to keep trying to make one of these babies of our own.” He thought, stirring up his desire of her. 

They walked home, after touring the rest of the orphanage and the church. Can felt different, so relaxed and calm, not the way he normally felt while he was out on a shoot. But this place was so serene, and Sanem was always relaxing to him, he couldn’t help but feel that way. Sanem couldn’t get Beni off her mind, as she cuddled in bed next to Can. She listened to him breathe, that slow breathing of being asleep. It made her feel safe, to be here in his arms, like nothing could touch them, or make their life sad. Then she thought of how the children must feel in the orphanage, so alone, with no one to make them feel safe, or to keep them from being sad. She drifted off to sleep, her mind full of what she could do to help these children. How would she become their slow steady breathing, that feeling of being safe and loved. She awoke early, even before Can, she brewed some tea, and found her notebook. While the thoughts were still fresh in her mind, she described the orphanage and each of the children. Although the only communication had been through a translator, the feeling she had for them was relayed with her eyes, as she spent time with them. A couple of them were shy and didn’t respond well as she tried to help with their school, but the others were more than happy to get to know them. They had only spent a little time with the older children, but she was looking forward to getting to know them better. The babies had certainly been the reason for her to go back there, especially Benicio, they had opened her heart up to a whole new feeling. 

She had filled half of her notebook with words, before Can had even woke up. She felt his look as she was writing, his eyes could ignite her soul with love, and make her lose all sense of thought. He sat down beside her, ” So, what are you writing about?” He asked, leaning into her, smelling the sweet smell of her. She shivered, just at his touch, her heart seemed to skip a beat feeling his breath on her neck. She stammered, ” Just writing down my thoughts,” she said, her mouth feeling dry. ” Would you like tea?” She asked. ” No, I wouldn’t, tea isn’t what I have in mind.” He said, sliding his hand up her leg and under his t-shirt she had on. She dropped her notebook, and turned to look at his face, his eyes half closed and unfocused. She felt that churning in her stomach, he made her feel excited like nothing else could. He had the t-shirt off and on the floor with one hand, and had laid her down on the sofa, moving over on top of her. He was breathing heavy, as he looked into her eyes, ” I want you, and only you. I crave your smell and the way you feel in my arms.” He whispered, his beard grazing her lips as he spoke. She couldn’t breathe from excitement, as he ran his tongue over her lips, wetting them. He slowly took control and covered her mouth, firmly and with demand, letting his tongue search for hers. He felt her body jerk as she was brought to life, begging him to make her want him more. His desire of her had grown to its max, and she welcomed him as he brought them together. That union that always made them want more, yet the satisfaction of it was almost more than they could stand, as the climax of their love left them breathlessly fulfilled. She was in a fog, her mind was racing to catch up with what had just happened. This had been a feverish display of desire, that made her feel like it was a dream. A dream she was willing to have every day. Can held onto her tight, not wanting to let go, this woman had changed his life in every way. He was willing to surrender all the reservations he had had as a man willing and eager to devote himself to one woman, she was his one woman. 

As the rain set in for the day, they relaxed together, her writing and him reading a book. By afternoon, he was tired of reading, ” Sanem, let’s get our umbrellas and go for a walk, maybe to the cafe to get something to eat.” He said. She agreed, ” Ok, but can we go to the church for a while, I’m sure the kids would like a visit.” She said. He smiled, ” I thought we might do that, and I think I’ll take my camera. What do you think?” She could tell he was getting just as excited about that place as she was. ” I think they would love it, and I think I love you so much.” She replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. They packed up everything and headed out, the rain had slowed down to a drizzle, so they made their way to the cafe for a bite of lunch. He loved this time with her, so natural and free. He was happy and in love, what more could you ask for. By the time they made it to the church, they children had finished their classes, and were in the small makeshift gym at the back of the church. That was where they played when the weather was bad. Can watched them as they played soccer, taking picture after picture, until he could resist any longer, and joined them to kick around the ball. They kids loved it, and so did Sanem, as she looked on, seeing him having fun. In a while she made her way to the nursery, and the babies. She went in to find Benicio, still asleep in his crib, but she picked him up anyway. He snuggled up against her, as she rocked him, his smell making her feel different than before. 

Can watched from the door… his heart full. He snapped a few pictures, as she held him. 

He knew this would hard on her, especially when it was time to leave. But she wanted this now, so he would be with her.

Chapter 12

The rain hadn’t stopped all day, the walk back to their apartment from the orphanage was a mess. He was afraid if it kept up like this, his trip back to Machu Picchu would be pushed back even further. The next day had started out the same, with the rain pelting down, but the weather report was looking up, with the possibility of the sun by mid – afternoon. Sanem and Can had decided to make their trip back to the orphanage. ” Can, let’s take some presents with us this time, just something simple, like some hair bows for the 3 girls and a toy truck for each boy.” She said, her eyes lighting up. Can smiled, ” Annnddd, what about the babies, I know you are dying to buy them something.” He replied. She tilted her head, ” Well, I thought maybe a new crib blanket for each of them. I noticed they were pretty worn.” She said, giving him that smile. He couldn’t refuse her anything and she knew it. ” Ok, we better get started if we’re going to shop first.” He spouted, while packing up his camera. 

They had to visit three different shops before they filled the list she had, but Can was more than willing to get whatever she wanted. If she knew how happy she made him, she may want to buy up the whole town. The priest welcomed them, impressed they had seemed to make their visits a daily routine. Most of the children were happy to see them, but the 2 little girls that were sisters, were not as open to them. The hair bows helped a little, but it didn’t last long, and they retreated back to themselves again. It made Sanem want to do even more for them, but the lady that worked there told them it would be better not to play favorites, just to try and win them over. They had been through a lot in their short years and preferred to stick together. A couple of years earlier, the sisters had lost both parents in a torrential flood, that had ripped through part of the region, and they had been there at the orphanage since it happened. The presents were welcomed by the staff, especially the baby blankets, they never had enough of what they needed. Sanem was eager to get to the nursery and see Benicio. The other babies also, but he was her favorite. Can stayed behind for a while to play with the boys, a little soccer and then the trucks. He was having more fun than the kids. By the end of the day, she was more infatuated with Beni, and Can had been played out. The sun did appear, and the warmth was a welcome relief. 

Salvador had made all the arrangements for the next trip and had all the supplies ready to go. All they were waiting on was the 48 hour pass for camping. They had moved their location to a little further north of the ruins, it was a bit more isolated and the trails weren’t used as much, but the wanted to draw attention to that area. It was this trip and then a couple more, and the assignment would be finished. The magazine was more than pleased with what Can had already done, so the finished product would, no doubt, be a success. The next morning they headed to the train station, Can already dreading the goodbye. Esteban had arrived to take over for Can, after he departed, but the thought had made Can a little uneasy. He would have to trust the situation, and him, he needed for her to be safe. He watched out the window as they pulled away from the train station, she was wiping the tears that rolled down her face, and he was trying to keep that lump in his throat from becoming any bigger. It had been too dangerous for her to come with them this time, with the location and all the rain, anything could happen. So it was better if she stayed in town this time. She wanted to spend more time at the orphanage anyway, but Esteban had another place he wanted her to see. As they walked back to the apartment, he could see she was too emotional to take off on an excursion right away so he might save it for tomorrow. ” Esteban, I think I want to lie down for a while, do you mind?” She asked. ” We got up so early this morning, I think I could take a nap.” He nodded, “Ok, whatever you want. I’m ready to go whenever you are. We might look at something different today, if you’re up for it.” He said, as they reached her door. ” Oh? What did you have in mind, but I have to go to the orphanage, I think the kids are getting use to my visits.” She said, her eyes twinkling. ” Of course, we’ll go there, but I thought we would go to the natural hot baths, maybe it would help you relax.” He stated. She had heard about them, they were supposed to have healing powers, and the tourists flocked there when they came. ” Ok, that sounds great. I’ll call you when I get myself together.” She replied, as she opened the door and went inside. He stood there for a minute, he hated to see her upset, so he would do anything to bring a smile to her face. He needed to stay the course, she was nothing more than a client, and he never got emotionally involved with them but something about her made him weak, and that wasn’t right. She had a husband, a good husband, that he liked and admired. He had to get his mind back on his job of just protecting her and nothing else. 

The trip up to Machu Picchu didn’t take long on the train, but the hike to their camp location was the problem. They were in a more remote area, but it was far more beautiful than what he had already seen. The hiking trails ran along the cliffs that overlooked the river, and with the fog that rose from it, made it even more unique and mysterious. A lot of the history of this place was still unknown, with the town suspected to have been built for an Inca emperor around 1450, and housed hundreds of people, it was well known for its elaborate construction. Can was in awe of every aspect of it, and each location had its special meaning. The next few days would be a challenge for him, but one that he was excited to take. He just wished he didn’t have to be away from Sanem during this time. She always made things more exciting, more vibrant, more meaningful than they really were. But the conditions were harsh up here, and her safety was the most important thing. Even with the reservations he had about Esteban, he couldn’t have picked a better person to make sure she was safe while he was gone. But the thought of her kept his heart warm and his mind clear to concentrate of his job. 

She was all he thought about as they setup the tents, “three nights this time,” he thought, as he unpacked his camera and supplies from his bag. As he rummaged through the bag he saw a scarf, her scarf, the one she had worn around her head the day before. She had stuck it in his bag without him knowing, he held it in his hands, then he lifted it to his face. The smell of her flooded his mind.

He smiled, ” This will help me make it these three nights without her,” he whispered.

Closing his eyes, he relived the last night they spent together…

Chapter 13

Sanem had curled up in the bed with his sleep shirt, she was sure she could still feel the warm from his body heat. The feel of it made her miss him more than ever, but it was also a comfort to her. She just needed some time alone to be able to adjust being without him. She didn’t mean to fall asleep, but she did, and it was a deep sleep. She dreamed of Istanbul, her family, and a house that they had decided to buy. Can was arguing with her about the size of the house in her dream, ” But Sanem, we don’t need this much room, at least not right now,” he said, waving his arms around as he stood in the middle of a huge living room. Sanem frowned, ” But we do,” she demanded, ” It will be for the children, you know we’ve talked about having a lot of children.” Her mom and dad were laughing at them, as they went from room to room of this house that seemed to go on forever. Her mom turned to her and said, ” This house is so big, the children will get lost from you in here.” She stated, shaking her head. Sanem twirled around in the center of the room, ” No, they won’t, this is perfect, perfect, perfect.” She jumped, waking up from her dream. She looked around quickly half expecting to see them, it had seemed so real, her mother being there, laughing and having a good time. She sat up in the bed, still holding his t-shirt. She really wanted to talk to them, but with the time difference, it was pretty late at night there, so she decided to wait. She laid back on the bed, her mind thinking of the dream, that house was perfect, but where was it. It resembled the old white mansion by the park that she loved so much, but it was all fixed up like new. She shook her head, “ That would be impossible,” she thought, ” She remembered someone had already bought that house before they left, and was fixing it up.” She covered her face with his shirt and breathed in deeply, ” That would have been the perfect house for us, but Can would have never agreed.” 

It was nearly 2:00 in the afternoon before she finally got herself out of bed. She wanted to go to the orphanage and see the babies, but Esteban had these other plans. She really didn’t feel like going to the hot baths today, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, he was trying to make her visit there as comfortable as possible. She dug around in her bag for the one swimsuit she had brought, and the large towel. She rolled her hair up in a bun on top of her head, put her things in a backpack and called Esteban, ” I guess I’m ready if you are,” she said when he answered his phone. ” Great, meet me outside, are you hungry? We can eat first if you want.” He said. She wasn’t in the mood for much of anything, and she wasn’t even hungry, so she declined his invitation for lunch, ” No, I’m not hungry, let’s just go to the baths and then to the orphanage, if you don’t mind.” She replied, her voice sounding empty. ” Ok… whatever you want.” He said. She stepped outside to meet him, and they made their way into town to the bath house. The building was old and made of stone, and inside these were a couple of dressing areas and 3 large pools of water. The stream was rising from them like fog, and the smell was a horrible pungent rusty smell. She had to hold her nose, ” Oh Esteban, what is that smell, does it always smell like this?” She asked, making a face. He laughed, ” Yes, it’s the minerals in the water. It’s like their magic ingredients, it’s what makes it work.” He told her. ” You can undress in there,” he said, pointing to a small room with a curtain. ” And I’ll meet you in the pool.” He said, giving her a smile. She wanted this to be over, so she quickly put on her suit and wrapped the large towel around her. Esteban was already in the water when she came out, he waved her over, ” Come on in, it’s just right.” He said. She still couldn’t get past the smell, so the look on her face was less than joyful. ” You’ll get use to the smell, don’t worry,” he said as she stepped down into the water. She emerged herself, letting the hot water cover her body. It felt so good, the temperature of the water was almost too much, but she quickly got used to it, but the smell…. no. 

Salvador had mapped out the first hike for them to go on. If was probably a two mile hike from their camp, but the terrain was rough. They stayed along the cliffs above the river, with Can snapping photos from every angle. This place seemed like another world, or like a place that time forgot, he thought as he wandered along the trail. He was happy with the shots he was able to take, it definitely was something unusual. By the time they made it back to camp, the light was fading from the sky, making the stars shine brighter than ever. They had gotten a good start today, he thought as he reviewed the pictures, excited to see what tomorrow would bring. Of all the places he had been, this was the most exotic, so unpredictable that’s why it made it one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The total silence of this place made it deafening, as he lay there in his tent. No noise, other than the sound of him breathing, it made him uneasy. He had gotten use to the sounds of living over the past year, the noise of Istanbul and the office. They seemed to bother him when he first arrived back home, but that seemed like such a long time ago. He had been used to this, this sound of nothing, the sound of being alone. But now it scared him a little, just to think of being like this every day, without her. He had changed, or maybe had he returned back to himself, whatever it was, he was happier with her than he had ever been in his life. Maybe he didn’t need the sense of adventure anymore, this wandering in nature, trying to find peace…. she was his peace. 

After the hot baths, they went to the orphanage. She had to admit, the effects of the hot pools of water were noticeable. She seemed revived, and full of energy as they walked toward the church. Maybe it was just the anticipation of seeing Benicio, but whatever it was, she felt great, even happy. She missed Can, that still didn’t change, and she wished he was going with her to the orphanage, instead of Esteban. Maria, one of the workers in the church, welcomed them in. ” The children are waiting for you.” She said. Esteban relayed the words to her, she smiled, “thank you” she replied, nodding her head. She stuck her head in on the older kids, as they were finishing up their schoolwork. She waved to them, all but the two sisters returned her wave, they only stared at her. She went on to the nursery, her heart aching to see the babies, but she went straight to Beni. 

His face beamed as he saw her, and he let out a squeal. She laughed, ” Well hello there my little man, I see you’re happy today.”

She picked him up, and he clung to her. She could feel the tears burn her eyes, as she held him tightly. Her heart was happy… if only Can were here.

Chapter 14

At some point during the night, Can had finally fell asleep. When he opened his eyes, the first sign of light was visible through the foggy mist coming from the river. He sat up, noticing he was holding her scarf in his hand. He smiled. She knew what she was doing when she put that in his bag. It had been his lifesaver during the night, it was just enough of her to let him sleep, but the thought of her filled his head and his desire for her started to rumble deep inside him. He wondered what she was doing, was she awake yet, was she still sleeping, maybe in his t-shirt. He shook his head hard, ” Ok, get you head on straight, this is no place to be distracted.” He said out loud. If you didn’t have a clear head in these situations, an accident was just waiting to happen. He grabbed his jacket and went out to find Salvador, he was ready to get started. The quicker they got started, the quicker they would be finished, and he could get back to her. He found Salvador at the fire, the smell of coffee strong in the air. He had me ever been a big coffee drinker, but it did smell good to him right then. Tea was his preferred drink, it was “their” drink, and she brewed the best tea he had ever drank, he thought, letting his mind fill with the thought of her. ” Mr. Divit…. Mr. Can, are you ok?” He asked, trying to get his attention. Can snapped around, ” Oh, yes, I’m fine, just trying to wake up. What’s on the agenda for today?” He asked trying to clear his head of her.

The hot mineral baths have seemed to work wonders for Sanem, as she felt her body become weak and weightless as she drifted off to sleep that night. Her mind was still filled with Can, and how much she missed him, but she couldn’t hold her eyes open. She knew the phone reception up there around the ruins, was spotty to say the least, and he had told her they were camping in even a more remote area than before. A phone call from him was probably not gonna happen so she surrendered to the sleep that had taken her over. She didn’t dream that night, she just slept hard, and woke startled, feeling like there was something wrong. The light was already shining in the window, as she sat up in her bed. Why had she felt like this, just a twinge of concern, not a fear, but more of a dread. She shook it off and got up out of bed, a good hot shower would do the trick, she thought, as she stepped in under the hot water, letting it run over her. She relaxed as she leaned against the wall and wished for Can to magically appear. Her heart was begging for him. She dried off and threw one of his t-shirts on over her bare skin. The feel of it touching her made her shiver, she closed her eyes and let the feeling envelope her. She needed him so much, and she couldn’t wait until he was home. She made her tea and wondered how he was getting along without his, as she sipped the hot drink. She should have brewed his tea to take with him in a thermos, then he could have warmed it up over the campfire, she would do that next time. She reached for her notebook, as her thoughts begin to overwhelm her, she had to write them down so he would know how she felt while he was gone. How much she missed him.

She wrote for a while, not even noticing the time, until her phone rang, ” Hello Esteban, how are you this morning?” She asked. ” Well it’s not morning anymore, but I’m doing fine.” He replied, with a slight laugh. She looked at her phone, ” Oh my it’s already 1:00, am so sorry, I’ve been writing and lost all track of time.” She said. ” Writing? What are you writing?” He asked, curious about it. She cleared her throat, ” Oh it’s just a pastime, you know, like a diary of my feelings and thoughts.” She explained, getting a little embarrassed talking about it. ” So what do you have planned for today, I hope we can go to the orphanage.” She stated, with a certainty in her voice. Esteban suggested they go to the cafe for lunch and then to the orphanage, “I’ll drop you off there and come back later to see that you get home safely, I have a couple of things to take care of.” He said. He knew he needed to keep a safe distance from her, for the rest of his time working for them. Just do the job and nothing more, was playing around in his head as he listens to her talk. Sanem was glad he was just dropping her off at the orphanage today, she knew that Can was a little jealous, ” Oh, that’s fine, let me dress and I’ll meet you in 15 minutes.” She answered. She still didn’t know why Can felt like he needed to hire a bodyguard for her, the town seemed perfectly safe to her, the people where so nice and accommodating. The only thing she was grateful for was him being her interpreter. She quickly dressed, putting on one of her sundresses she had brought. The temperature was warm and the humidity was even worse, making it feel sticky. Her hair went up in a ponytail and she grabbed her sunglasses. He was already standing at her door when she opened it, making her jump and him laugh. They headed to town, with him telling her a funny story along the way, ” He did make her laugh, and she was thankful for the company.” She thought, wondering why Can had felt jealous of him. 

The lunch had made her feel better, she food was always delicious, and she loved discovering new dishes. But she felt anxious to get to the orphanage, as soon as she entered the door a feeling of worry came over her. Maria met her in the hallway, ” Ms. Sanem, Beni is very sick, so it might not be a good idea for you to see him today.” She said, holding Sanem’s hand. Esteban relayed the message, but Sanem already felt what she was saying. ” What, whats wrong with him.” She asked, feeling frantic. It seemed he had a problem with his lungs from birth, and at times he would develop bronchitis, causing him to have a hard time breathing. They gave him breathing treatments just trying to keep him comfortable. Sanem wasn’t about to leave, she shook her head, ” No, I want to be with him, I will help you with him, just let me in.” She begged. The priest agreed to let her in the nursery, and when Beni saw her, he smiled that big smile that melted her heart. Her heart cried as she picked him up from the crib and he grabbed onto her. She could hear and feel the struggle he was having to breath, but he still smiled and laughed with her. 

She tried desperately to keep her emotions in control, as she helped them with his treatments. “What would she do if something happened to this little boy.” She thought, fighting back the tears…….

All she could think of was Can, Can would know what to do, he would make it all better.

“He had to.”

Chapter 15

Salvador had taken Can to a different place that day, when they loaded the gear in their backpacks and started off. He took him to one of the temples that had been used by the inhabitants of the city, so many thousands of years ago. It was a small worshiping room, but it held so much power it made him shiver. Salvador gave him a rundown on the history of this part of the ruins, it had housed the commoners, the people that farms the terraced fields and took care of the livestock. At one time the population had been as many as 750 people, not counting the family of the emperor that the Inca city had been constructed for. Can was engrossed in the history of it all, and how advanced the building of the city was for its time. They ventured further into the unknown, what laid on the outside of this Seven Wonder of the World, and what had caused the people to abandon it. Before they knew it, it was time to start their hike back to the camp. He would spend a couple of hours going through the pictures to edit them, eat whatever Salvador and the others would fix, and fall into bed. He was alone in his tent, going through the pictures, when he got a feeling of something being wrong. He couldn’t shake it, and began to imagine all sorts of things, he wished he could call, but the reception was so spotty, it was hard to get through. He pulled out his phone, he had two bars, maybe he could send a text, that would be better than nothing, he thought, as that feeling kept weighing on him.

Sanem was lying back in the rocker, with Beni stretched out along her chest. The treatment had helped, letting him be able to sleep for a while. His breathing was still labored but the struggle to breath had lessened. She was tired but refused to lay him down in his crib. Esteban had left to go home for a while and would wait for her call to let him know she was ready to go home. She closed her eyes, just to rest them, she knew she had been there for quite some time by the absence of light that was shining in through the window. The ping of her phone startled her, making her jump, she quickly grabbed it, looking to see it was a text from Can. Her heart filled with happiness just being able to read a message from him. It read, ” Are things ok my love, have a feeling somethings not right. Are you ok? Love you.” She smiled, he had the same feelings she had, but just didn’t know why. The replied, ” I’m fine babe, but it’s Beni, he’s very sick. I’m here with him now. I wish you were here. Love you too.” And she sent the message. Can waited for her reply anxiously, hoping things were fine and he was just being paranoid, when his phone alerted him of her reply. He read her words and his stomach tied in knots, “how sick was he?” he wondered. He knew she must be frantic, so he texted her back to try and calm her down. He typed,” Is it serious or just a normal sickness that babies get? Try not to get to upset, ok. I’m sure he will be fine. Don’t make yourself sick trying to care for him” he sent the message. His reply angered her a bit, it wasn’t her that needed to be worried about, but Beni, she returned a reply, ” Can he is very sick with a lung problem, he has had it since birth, he can barely breath and is very weak. I’m very worried for him, please try and understand.” She sent the message. Within seconds Can was feeling the twinge of anger from her through her words. A lung problem, it sounded more serious than he had anticipated, and he knew she was probably worried beyond belief. 

Should they cut the trip short and get back to town? She needed him, he knew that, he knew how attached she had become to that baby. What if something horrible happened and she was there alone to deal with it. She waited for a minute for his reply, then it came. ” Let me find out if we can get a train out tonight, if not it will be first thing in the morning. I want to be with you and Beni. I’ll let you know soon.” Her eyes filled with tears, she loved him so, what would she do without him, she thought then quickly typed her reply, ” I hope you can come quick, I really need you, and so does Beni. I love you so much.” She sent it, hoping for the best. Can had already found Salvador in his tent, and explained, ” Is there a possibility for us to cut this trip short, there is an emergency with my wife, well actually with a child at the orphanage we have been looking after, and my wife is very upset. I feel like I need to be with her right now.” He stated, with the knot in his stomach growing bigger. Salvador told him the trains back to the town wouldn’t run again until the morning, the first one being at 7:00, so they would start packing up. Can was relieved, so he sent back a text, ” I’ll be there in the morning my love, please try to stay calm, and you must get some rest yourself. As soon as I can, I’ll be there. I love you.” She read the text and she felt like a weight had been lifted. He was coming, she knew things would be ok as soon as he was there. She was exhausted, and ready to try and sleep, so she sent back a quick text, ” Thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️.”  She closed her eyes and together they slept. As he looked at his phone, those two words from her meant the world, but it was him that was thankful. Thankful for all the love she had opened up in him, thankful for the love she filled him with each minute of his life. She was his heart and soul. 

He began to pack his things in his backpack, he wanted to be ready to leave first thing in the morning. Sleep didn’t come for him that night, as he held her scarf tightly up against his chest. Her problems were his problems, her fears were his to calm, she never needed to go through anything alone again. He prayed for the first light of day to streak across the sky, and the morning to begin, so he could get to her. Salvador had stated to break camp, but Can was anxious, so Salvador told him to go ahead and catch the 7:00 train and he would come on the next one. Can rushed to the train depot, climbing on and finding a seat, the trip was only a 30 minute ride, but if seemed the longest of his life. He arrived at the station to see Esteban waiting for him. He immediately thought the worse, but he assured him things were fine and he was there only to escort him to the orphanage. He dropped his bag at the apartment on their way, but he didn’t take time to change, they just hurried on to the church. Maria welcomed him with a huge smile, ” I’m glad you’re here, she needs you and so does Beni.” She remarked, leading him to the nursery. 

His eyes found her there with the baby still sleeping on her chest…. the tears stung his eyes..

She was his world and now, it seemed, this baby had become a bigger part of their life than either of them had expected. 

She opened her eyes to see him and that smile of love filled her face.

Chapter 16

They stood over the crib, watching him sleep. He still struggled to breath, which concerned Can, but the doctor that visited him and said his lungs were sounding better and to keep up the breathing treatments on a regular basis. Sanem was relieved, but still refused to leave, even for food. So Can made a trip to the cafe for breakfast for themselves and the staff at the orphanage. Everyone appreciated the thought and loved them for being there. After breakfast Can went to the school while Sanem took a nap. Beni was still sleeping, which was the best thing for him, the doctor said. Rest was the best thing for his lungs and it let him gain strength. The older kids had their classes and Can sat in, just watching them. They had found a spot in his heart as well, which was something unexpected for him. He loved to watch them and they seemed to like him being there, and their outside time was just as much fun for him as it was for them. One of the boys, his name was Luis, was much better at the sports than the other boys, so Can played soccer with him while the other boys watched. They both were exhausted by the time their free time was over and classes were ready to start again. Can laughed, giving him a high five as they returned to class. These children were beginning to welcome them, they were something constant in their lives and they needed that. 

He was able to convince Sanem to go home for a while, after Beni woke up feeling much better, and responding more to the treatments. ” Let’s just go shower and change clothes, then we can come back for the night, if you want.” He suggested, hoping she would agree. It was early in the afternoon, when she finally agreed, so he whisked her off to their apartment. She was glad to be home, or this home away from home, as she called it. She relaxed, snuggling up in her husbands arms, this is what she needed… him… his touch, his smell. This was it, he just made her better, and she wasn’t ashamed to let him know how much she needed him, as she lead him to the shower. He loved it when she took control, showing him what she wanted, making him feel like he was the only man in the world for her. He was weak for her love, as she joined her body to his, with the water running over them. It was electrifying, and he never wanted it to stop, this feeling of being as one. She needed him, more than wanting him, what more could a person want in a lifetime, he thought, his mind running wild with desire of her. 

The shower lasted longer than the supply of hot water, as the cold water suddenly broke their spell. They both reached to turn off the water, squealing from the shock of the blast of cold water. He grabbed a towel for her, wrapping her up like a mummy, ” Well, that was quite a shock, certainly did kill the moment.” He said laughing. She smiled, seeing him there in all his splendor, ” I’m sure this moment isn’t dead, my love.” She replied, scanning his naked body with her eyes. He never knew he could blush, but the heat rose though his body, as she looked at him. ” No, I don’t suppose it is, my beautiful wife, i think it’s just started.” He whispered, releasing the towel from around her, feasting his eyes on the beauty of her. This passion was unstoppable, there was never an ending to it, it was there forever. As they lay together in bed, satisfied at this moment that their lives were just where they wanted them to be. The silence was broke with the ringing of her phone, ” Yes Esteban, what is it.? ” she asked, with Can giving her a quick look. It was a message from the orphanage, ” I just wanted to let you know Maria called and said Benicio is much better, he has eaten some soft food and had some milk. It looks like he’s on the mend.” He stated. She jumped up, ” Oh I’m so glad, thank you for calling me, and let Maria know we’ll be back there soon.” She spouted, excitedly. She threw her arms around Cans neck, ” He’s better, he’s eating and drinking,” she said, with tears in her eyes. Can was happy to see her so happy, and relived Beni was better, but he knew when this assignment was over, her heart would break when she had to leave him. They would take one day at a time, and he would love her through it. 

It had been days since Emre had heard from Can, but he wasn’t sure if he should call. The house was ahead of schedule, with everything almost done, with the exception of the landscaping. They were due home in 5 weeks and he was sure Can would want everything finished when they arrived. But the agency had taken a lot of their time recently, with the new account and the newfound love he they had fell into. What a surprise it had been for both of them, so unexpected, and so totally unrealistic. But there they were, both of them enveloped in feelings so strong they didn’t know what to do with them. He really needed to talk to his brother, he needed advice. He was one that never expected to fall in love, not with just one woman anyway, but his desire to be with anyone else he been so far removed it scared him. She had taken on his heart and made it hers, in the most profound way. His father had seen the change in Emre over the past few weeks, and sure it was the work of a beautiful woman named Leila. He couldn’t have been happier than to see his two sons find the kind of love he had found with Mihriban. It only came around once in life, and he himself had missed the opportunity to be happy with her then, but now he was ready to make up for lost time. Leila was just a shocked as Emre, at the feelings that had captured her heart. For one, he was her boss, and second, he was quite the ladies man and had never been discreet about it. But the more time they spent together the less time he spent out and about. In fact, she hadn’t seen him with any other woman in weeks, and the whispers around the office of the many women he was associated with, had stopped. So maybe there was hope for them yet, she thought. She needed someone to confide in, and with Sanem so far away, and on her honeymoon, she hated to involve her in her love life. And then again, she may be suspicious as to why they had been spending so much time together, so the less said the better, she figured. 

Emre decided the need to speak to his brother about the final phase of their house was more important than ever when he received the news that the irrigation system that been installed years ago was completely shot and would need to be replaced. Which meant an ok for another $8000 dollars. He knew what the answer would be, but he needed to hear it from him. He wanted a definite date they would be home, so he would be sure and have everything ready. He was glad to hear the sound of his brothers voice. ” Hello Emre, how are you?” he asked, smiling at Sanem as she listened. Emre asked, ” Is Sanem there with you?”  ” Yes,” Can answered. ” It’s great weather here, how are things at the agency?” he said as he walked outside. ” Emre, what is it, I really can’t talk right now.” he whispered. Emre told him the problem and Can ok’d the extra money. ” Now, Abi, I need a date you will be home so I can get it all finished up.” He stated. ” It looks like we should be home in a month, but I can’t give a definite date but I’ll keep you posted.” He said, as he told him goodbye. 

” Why does he want to know when we will be home?” Sanem said, making him jump. 

She smiled, ” What going on? Are you keeping secrets from me?”

Chapter 17

Sanem was staring at him from the doorway, waiting for an answer. ” Can, why did he need to know when we were coming home?” She asked again. Can looked away quickly, to gather his thoughts, ” Well, it seems that dad is ready to ask Mihriban to marry him and they want us to be there, so Emre wanted to know the date, that’s all. It’s going to be big event, I guess he’s having some big party….so it seems.” Can stammered, trying to make it sound like the truth, but thinking up things on the spur of the moment was not his best trait. He smiled at her as he finally turned to look at her, hoping she didn’t see the uneasiness in his eyes. Her eyes lit up, ” Oh Can, thats fabulous, don’t you think so! What’s wrong? You look upset. Do you not want your dad to be happy?” She said, stroking his face with her hand. He hated lying to her, but this was for the sake of the surprise, the surprise he had to much invested in already to tell her the truth like this. He had it all planned in his head, how he would take her there as soon as they arrived back in Istanbul. Playing out how everyone would be there, waiting for them, as they drove up in the long circle driveway. He knew she would be confused as to why they were there. He could just see her face in his mind, as he thought about it. Then the big reveal… the Divit Mansion, their home, the place to live their lives, full of hope and love, until they grew old and grey. Everyone would be clapping and cheering as they got out of their car, and he would scoop her up in arms a and carry her through the door. The thought made him so happy, he almost had to tell her about it. 

All those thoughts raced across his mind within a second as she looked at him, waiting for a answer, ” Yes I’m happy for him, so happy, it’s just the timing. I hate he has to wait until we get home, that’s all.” He finally explained, hoping she didn’t he was hiding the truth. She smiled, ” Another wedding, how romantic,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself. Can let out a sign of relief, she had believed him, that’s all that mattered. Can needed to change the subject, ” Hey are you ready to go back to the church, if Beni is feeling better, he’ll be looking for you.” He said, to get her mind off of home. She nodded, ” Yes, I’m ready,” she said, sliding on her sandals, and grabbing her bag. Can picked up his camera, and they headed out, with Sanem relived he was feeling better. Can always took a hundred pictures of the kids while they were there. Luis especially liked for Can to take his picture as he was playing soccer, to show off his skills, he said. Can was more than happy to do so. As they got to the nursery, they could hear the laughter, she looked at Can, ” Is that Beni, he sounds so happy, he must be feeling better.” She said. Can smiled, ” Sounds like it.” He said, as they entered the door of the nursery. Sanem started towards Beni’s crib, but stopped, she saw another couple there, holding Beni, playing with him, making him laugh. Her heart dropped to the depths of despair, as she watched the couple kiss his cheeks. She was almost too weak to walk, but somehow she managed to make it across the room to them. Maria turned as they walked toward them, ” Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Divit, welcome. As you can see Beni is feeling much better.” She stated. Sanem tried to smile, but it wouldn’t come, so she just stared at the couple. Can extended his hand to the man for a handshake, ” Hello. Can Divit and this is my wife Sanem.” He said, his head swimming with thoughts. Why were these people here, playing with Beni, making him laugh, that was what they were supposed to do. His thoughts running fast and furious as he tried to steady Sanem. She had grabbed onto his arms and he felt her body start to go weak. 

The woman quickly turned to Maria and said, ” Has this child been sick?” She asked, turning to give a glance to her husband. Maria told the couple of Beni’s lung condition, ” Beni has a lung condition, so from time to time he will develop an infection, but it is very treatable.” She said, nervously wring her hands. ” The doctor has told us that he would most likely outgrow it over time.” She added. The woman handed Beni back to Maria, ” Are there any other babies for us to look at?” She asked, looking around the room. That’s when Beni saw Sanem and Can, he squealed with delight, reaching out his arms for her, and Sanem snatched him from Maria’s arms. She hugged him tightly to her, as Can held on to her. She breathed in his smell, that smell that had become addictive to her, and he patted her cheeks with his small hands. She watched the other couple as they scanned over the other two babies, as if they were looking for a new car to buy, or something. Sanem wanted to scream at them to get out, but her voice had left her, all that matter was that she was holding Beni, and he was better. As the couple continued around the room, Can watched them, thinking how cold and unfeeling they were, inspecting each baby. The woman came back to Beni, as he played with Sanem, ” He seems so happy and healthy, it’s a shame he has a disease,” she said, shaking her head. Sanem stood, not sure of what she had just said, but she knew this woman wasn’t going to take this child. Her eyes stared at her, full of fire. Can knew exactly what she said, and the anger filled his body as he watched the couple walk away with Maria. Sanem looked at Can ” What did she say Can, tell me what she said.” She ordered. Can knew better than to tell her, so he lied, ” They said they weren’t ready yet to make a decision on a baby.” He spouted. 

Can told Sanem he was going to see the other children, but in fact he went to find Maria. She was in her office, and she motioned him in as he knocked on the door.  ” Mr. Divit, how may I help you?” She asked. ” Who were those people, can you tell me that?” He said. ” Are they looking to adopt a baby, or were they shopping for new furniture?” He spouted, his voice quivering with anger. She smiled, ” Unfortunately we do have couples from time to time, like them, that come in looking to find something to hold their marriage together. Then there are people like you and your wife, that are here because you have compassion. It’s hard to see but this is what we do here.” she replied. ” We have to open our doors to all couples, for the sake of the children.” She said. Can was blinking back the tears, ” My wife is very upset right now, and that’s something I don’t like to happen. Are they considering taking Beni?” He asked. She looked down, avoiding his eyes, ” They will make their decision, and let me know tomorrow, that’s all I know.” She said.

Can left her office, his heart hurting, ” What if they chose Beni, what would he do.” He wondered. ” Sanem would be devastated and so would he.” His mind spinning, as he walked back to the nursery. The sound of their laughter made him stop and listen, it sounded so pure, so full of love. He looked in the door and saw the pair, and his heart was immediately so full of love for her, it took his breath.

 This beautiful woman, his life, his everything, how would he help her through the heartbreak of losing this baby…..his eyes burning with tears

He hoped he wouldn’t have to.

Chapter 18

Can let her have her time with Beni, and he went to find Luis and the older boys. They had just finished their schoolwork for the day and was headed outside to play. The boys grabbed him and pulled him outside with them, making him laugh, as they begged him to play soccer with them. They put him through a vigorous work out, especially Luis, be it was the most fun he had all week. He was breathless and tired, but the feeling was great, as they all sat down to rest. Getting to know them was even exciting, they were all such happy boys, even with all they had been through. Luis’s mother had died from cancer and his father refused to take care of the children, so he left Luis here at the church and the other son, which was older, ran away to take care of himself. That was four years ago, when Luis was 5 years old. They hadn’t heard from either of them since. These children are the hardest to place in a home, and it gets harder as each year goes by, Maria told him. His heart was breaking for these children, what kind of life would they have, if no one opened their hearts to them. After a round of high fives, with the boys, he went to the nursery for Sanem. 

Sanem had played with Beni for a while, until the other babies woke up. Then she took all three of them and put them on the floor, in the middle of the thick plush rug they had in the middle of the room. She loved them all, but Beni was her favorite, and he was the oldest of the three. The other two were only four months old and, and Beni was 6 months old. So he was able to sit up alone, and was trying desperately to crawl. They were all so happy, and content, she was so thankful for the care the orphanage gave them. She knew the couple from before was searching for a baby to adopt, and she hoped beyond hope, they didn’t choose Beni. Maybe it was a good thing he had an illness, she thought, they didn’t seem to want a baby with any problems. She shook her head to try and throw out any of the bad thoughts she had against those people. “Just good thoughts,” she told herself, ” Just happy thoughts, that they will chose one of the other babies, and make them a wonderful home.” She laid down across the rug, pulling all three of the babies up close to her body, ” I hope each of you will live in a home full of love, and become kind and loving people.” She whispered to them, as they cooed and kicked on the floor.

Can had snapped probably twenty or more pictures of her there, lying In the middle of all the babies. He watched from the door, so amazed with this woman. She was even more than what he had known her to be, more than that beautiful and sexy woman he married, she had more heart and love inside her than any other person he had ever met. He walked in the room, ” Well, what’s this, is this playtime.” He said, plopping down on the rug beside her. She smiled, ” Can, aren’t they wonderful, each one of them.” She said, her eyes glistening with tears. He kissed her on the forehead, ” Yes they are, but you need to be prepared for the possibility of one of them leaving.” He stated. ” That’s what they do here, you know, is find these babies homes to live and grow in.” She turned around, looking him in the eyes, ” I’m fully aware of that Can, but they need to go to a home that has love, don’t you agree.” She asked, her black eyes dancing furiously. He nodded in agreement, and smiled at her, he knew he had said to much making her defensive. She turned back to the babies, while Can watched, ” She was so special, she loved everything so much, but sometimes having such love for things could bring the worse kind of heartbreak.” He thought. 

They stayed and helped with their feedings and getting them ready for bed, there was no talking her out of it. He was also being pulled into the routine of caring for a baby, he had to admit, these babies were growing on him, especially Beni. She took such care with them that it made him see what kind of mother she would be. The kind he had never had, he had almost been like one of these babies. His mother had turned over the care of him to a nanny when he was only a toddler, and then when Emre came along, she immediately relinquished her duties as a mother, so she could remain in the social status she had grown accustomed to. Neither of them had been shown the love of a mother, not even the degree of love he was seeing from Sanem towards these babies that she didn’t even know. He knew their children would have a life full of love and happiness, with them as parent. With the last baby down in their crib, full, dry, and sleepy, he finally got Sanem to leave and go home. They walked towards their apartment, her smiling and happy. He hoped the couple didn’t make a decision that would cause his wife to be heartbroken, and him too, for that matter. 

They had a light snack, then Sanem took her notebook and curled up on the sofa to write down all her inner most thoughts of the day, like she did almost every day. He watched her as she wrote, smiling and reliving the day on paper. ” Sanem, Maria said that couple would be making a decision about the baby tomorrow, I want you to  be ready for that,…ok.” He said, watching for her reaction. She continued to write, not looking at him, ” Sanem, you have to be ready for that to happen.” He said again. Her eyes darted towards him with a fiery glare, ” No, I don’t have to be ready for that, because that’s not going to happen, they don’t deserve any of those babies.” She sniped, her words stinging him. ” Do you want them to take one of them, what if they chose Beni.” She spewed, throwing her notebook down and hurrying into the bedroom. Can was scared, but he followed her, ” Sanem, my love,” he said through the bathroom door, ” I don’t want them to, but we won’t be able to stop them if they do.” He replied. She opened the door and brushed past him, ” Well, not you maybe, but I can sure try.” She spit back and him, crawling into bed. He slid in beside her, ” My love, please don’t let this break you, be happy for the baby they chose, they will have a home, and parents to love them.” He whispered in her ear. She jerked around, looking him in the eyes, ” So you think those people would give anyone of those babies a happy and loving home.?” Is that what you’re saying? She spouted. She turned her back towards him, ” Good night, Can.” She said. He hugged up to her back, slid his arm around her, she felt so good in his arms. He kissed her neck, his hands sliding over her body, he wanted her like crazy. They had never been upset with each other before, and he didn’t like it, as he slowly followed the lines of her body with his hand, ” Sanem,” he whispered, his voice full of desire for her, ” You mean more to me than anything.”  She didn’t move, she said, ” Good night Can, I will sleep now.” 

He turned to his back… his heart in his throat

He wouldn’t let this come between them. He knew she was hurting, and he would do whatever it took to make it better. He knew that with all his heart.

Chapter 19

The next morning brought a whole different Sanem. She got up before him, had fixed the tea, and was in the process of cooking eggs and toast when he came in the kitchen. She was humming and happy, ” Good morning, my love.” He said, cautiously. She turned with a smile on her face, ” Good morning sweetie, are you hungry?” She asked, pulling him close to her, giving him a kiss on the lips. He relaxed, ok, I guess it’s over, he thought, as he ran his arms around her waist. He had never pretended to know the workings of a woman’s mind, least of all this spectacular woman, so he would just move on as if nothing happened. She dished up the eggs, and poured the tea, ” Let’s go to the hot baths today,” she said out of the blue. He had heard of them, but he didn’t know she had, and it surprised him for her to suggest it. ” Ok, so have you read about them or did someone tell you about them.” He asked. ” No, Esteban took me there the other day. They are very relaxing, it’s quite therapeutic.” She said, not looking up. He swallowed his bite of food, trying to reign in those feelings, ” Esteban… I see, and you got in the baths?” He asked, his mind swirling at her admission. ” Yes, we did, that’s the whole purpose of going to the baths.” She stated. ” They are fantastic, so relaxing.”  Can had lost his appetite, but she seemed unfazed by it, as she chatted on about the outing. 

 Can was giving himself a stern talking to in his head as she babbled on, ” Then we can go to the orphanage, and see the babies.” She said, looking at him. ” Can. Can, are you listening, what do you think?” She said. ” Oh, that’s great, but I need to touch base with Salvador first, to see about the next trip.” He said, trying to bury those feelings of jealousy. She reached for his hand, ” I hope you will have a couple more days here with me, before you take another trip, I miss you so much when you’re gone.” she said, lacing her fingers through his. Her touch made him weak sometimes, made him lose all sense of reality, she was definitely the weakness within him. He smiled at her, ” I feel the same, but it will soon be over and we will head home, and there won’t be any more time apart.” He said, kissing her hand. He saw the change in her eyes, but she didn’t say a word. The thought of going home, leaving the orphanage and the babies would be the hardest thing she would up have to do, but she knew she had to. She insisted on doing the cleanup in the kitchen too, so he could make his call to Salvador. “Mr. Can, how are you,” Salvador’s asked as he answered the phone. ” I hope things a good with your wife.” he said. Can assured him things were fine and the emergency had been short lived. ” So when do we make the next trip, I’m anxious to get this assignment done so we can return home, we have some pressing issues back there. Can had agreed to take at least a collage of 500 pictures, and from those they would select the ones to go in their article. This was to be the feature of the magazine, with about a ten page spread. So the most exquisite shoots were what they were looking for. Salvador explained the next outing, they would move inside the ruins to capture all the hidden secrets. It would be a three day trip and then one more after that and he would have more than the required number. 

They decided to leave out the next afternoon. Get to their camp spot, setup and be ready to start the following morning. There would be two full days of shooting, then the packup and return to town the third day. Just a few more days of being away from her, and they would be done, he would whisk her away from here, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy. But he couldn’t say he would be sad to see Esteban go. She was ready to go to the baths when he finished his call, but anxious to hear their plans. She grabbed their bag and they walked toward town, as he filled her in on the next trip. ” So tomorrow, you’ll be leaving tomorrow.” She said, her voice dripping with sadness. He knew the feeling all too well, the feeling of being apart, he didn’t like it but that was the was the way it would have to be. The baths had been a welcomed distraction from all the worries he had. The orphanage, Sanem’s devotion to Beni, and of course the disturbance he felt from Esteban. They all seemed to melt away as they floated there together, in the hot steamy water, their body’s seemed to recharge and come closer together. They stayed there for an hour, then they dressed and started to the orphanage. Can felt so much better, so relaxed and more focused. The hot springs were definitely full of healing powers, he thought, but if Beni had been chosen by the couple from yesterday and taken for adoption, there wouldn’t be enough power in the world to heal his wife’s heart.

The priest welcomed them at the door, ” Hello Mr. Divit. Mrs. Divit,” he said. Can nodded to him, somewhat surprised that he was the one to greet them. The priest explained, ” I’m afraid we will have to ask you and your wife to come back another time, we have a guest couple, who is reviewing the children for home placement.” He said. Can didn’t understand, ” Excuse me, but we went in yesterday when a couple was here.” Whats different with today?” He asked. The priest smiled, ” I know, but the couple has asked for privacy, while they make their decision.” Please understand.” He stated. Sanem hadn’t made out the whole conversation, just the part of not being able to go in, and her stomach had wrenched into a tight knot. Can asked if it was the same couple from yesterday, and the priest confirmed that it was. Can felt his relaxed and calm demeanor slowly fade away, as he tried to explain the situation to Sanem. Her eyes turned from loving to fearful in an instant, as he relayed the message. ” Babe, come on let’s go back to the apartment, we can come back later.” He said, trying to lead her out the door. She held there, not willing to move, ” No Can, I will wait.” She said, moving away from him and walking toward the sanctuary. She took a seat in the last row of benches, so she would have a view of the hallway leading to the nursery. Can looked at the priest, begging with his eyes for him to allow them to stay there. The priest nodded an approval to him, and patted Sanem on the shoulder as he passed by. She focused her eyes on the hallway, waiting for the couple to appear. If they had Beni, how would she be able to handle it, how would her heart not keep from breaking. It’s felt like an eternity before they heard voices coming from the hall and the couple appeared, not with a baby, but with the two sisters in tow. Sanem was confused, they had chosen the older girls, the sisters that had the most problems. She looked at them closely, they both had smiles on their faces, and they looked happy to be going with the couple. The husband was carrying the bags, while the woman was doting on the girls. They stopped at the door so they could give Maria a hug goodbye, they seemed so happy. Sanem and Can both breathed a sigh of relief, as they watched the goodbye from a distance, the sisters spotted them through the open door and waved to them. Can and Sanem waved back, as the man opened the door and ushered them out.

Can felt Sanem’s body relax, as he put his arm around her shoulders. Maria smiled at them, motioning for them to go to the nursery. The stress had made Sanem weak but Can helped her down the hall to the nursery door. As they entered the door, he noticed the change in her, the calmness, the love that oozed from her soul. She went to Beni’s bed, picked him up, and held him tightly. The sight had brought the tears to his eyes instantly.

Were they tears of relief or were they tears of sadness? Sadness for the pain his wife would soon feel.

Chapter 20

It was a few days later, as Salvador and Can were finishing up the final shooting for this trip. They would be heading back to town on the morning train, but not before they had selected the next site to visit. The temples, that was the last place to explore, so they would come back in a week, setup camp and record the magical history of this spiritual wonder. This was the most mysterious area of the ruins, located high on the cliffs, above the other dwellings. He wasn’t sure if he was more excited about capturing the essence of this holy place, or the fact it would be the end of his assignment. This had been the most difficult job he had ever taken, one being the separation from Sanem, and the other, the discovery of the orphanage and the deep feelings he had developed for the children. It would be hard leaving them, Luis, Beni, and the other boys as well. His heart was already aching, and it was still a couple of weeks away. Salvador brought him back to his senses, ” Mr. Can, do we want to return in a couple of days or a week? I need to tell the officials.” He asked, studying Cans face. Can cleared his throat from the burning of the tears that were forming there, ” Let’s do a few days, the quicker we can get through this the better.” He suggested. Salvador gave him a nod, ” Very well, I’ll get the paperwork.” He said. 

Sanem had all but lived at the orphanage, over the past days. Without Can to ease her loneliness, all she had was the babies. Esteban tried to steer her to other things but her heart and mind was always on the orphanage. His job had become just an escort of her, to and from the church. But he would not let her walk the town alone. At times it was well into the evening before she was willing to leave. As he walked her home that evening, she was more excited, because Can was coming home the next morning, so she was open and talkative, ” You know that Can will be here tomorrow, so you will have a few days off.” She said, smiling at him. He shook his head, ” Yes ma’am, I do know that.” I can tell by your happiness.” He replied, smiling back at her. This woman showed so many emotions with her eyes, he was always in awe of her, but he had forced himself to bury all those feeling that she brought out in him. This was his weakness, it wasn’t anything she had done, so he had to remain professional. He opened the door of her apartment and switched on the light for her, just as he always did. She thanked him and said goodnight, closing the door and locking it. He turned and walked the short distance to his room, sad that this job was almost over.

She did her nightly routine, as always, with a cup of tea and her notebook. She wrote until she fell asleep and dropped her pen, making her jump.  Her thoughts had filled her notebook, but the deepest thoughts were still hidden deep inside her, the dreaded thoughts of leaving this place, going home, never to see the children again, never to see Beni again. She couldn’t even think about it yet, the pain would be too great, and she only wanted to feel that pain once. So she would wait to think about it until the time came for them to leave. She closed her eyes tight, holding back the tears, ” Not now Sanem,” she told herself, ” It’s not time yet, so just be happy that Can’s coming home tomorrow. She missed him so much when he was gone. She didn’t want to be apart again, when they got home, if he went back to work at the agency, then she would to. Whatever he did she wanted to be by his side. She hugged his t-shirt to her chest, trying to go to sleep, but her feelings had been stirred and her mind was floating with expectations. ” I wonder where we will live we when get home?” She said out loud, ” Maybe with his dad and Emre for a while until we can find a good home.” She said. She smiled, thinking of Aziz and Mihriban, how exciting to find the love of your life again, and be able to rekindle that flame. She couldn’t wait to get to know her. As the thoughts eased her mind, she drifted off to sleep, thinking of searching the real estate market in Istanbul for a home might not be a bad idea. She would do that first thing in the morning. 

Can was up at first light, gathering his things together for the trip back to town. The coffee was good, but this taste buds longed for his tea, the best drink in the world. And his wife brewed the best tasting tea of all. Salvador had enlisted of couple of the workers to help them carry their supplies to the train station, to keep them from having to make two trips. Can waited for the train, excited to get home to Sanem, he missed her more and more with each trip. His phone alerted him of a text, it was from Emre, a picture of their house. His heart stopped, as he looked at it, it was beautiful. He stared at it, they had done a fantastic job, more than he could have imagined. He read the text, ” Your home Abi, it’s 95% done and waiting for you and Sanem.” His eyes filled with tears, he was getting soft these days, he thought, but the realization was just hitting him. He sent a text back, ” Emre, it looks beautiful, thank you so much.” She would be so surprised, he knew she would love it. With everything loaded on the train, they started towards town, 30 minutes and he would be home. Maybe not home physically, but home in every other way, she was his home. Her heart and love was all he needed to live, and that could be anywhere. 

She woke to the brightness of morning, she looked at her phone and jumped up. He would be home soon, and she wanted to have breakfast ready. She showered quickly and twisted her wet hair up in a bun on top of her head, put on a loose fitting sundress and sandals. The temperature there was quite warm most of the time, so anything cool was best. She hurried out of the bathroom, but stopped quick, there he was lying on the bed, ” I don’t know why you dressed,” he said, looking at her with eyes of fire, ” when you will just have to take it off.” She smiled and jumped in the bed, smothering him with kisses. ” You’re home, I missed you so much.” She squealed. She kicked off her sandals and climbed into bed with him. He electrified her, charged her with emotions that made her go crazy, as he rolled over on top of her. ” My love, you could not have missed me more than I missed you.” He whispered, his mouth hovering over hers. The scent of her had already peaked his want for her, and the feel of her skin against his was more than he could stand. The desire to have her, engulfed his body, much to suddenly and before they both knew it, it was over. She smiled at him sheepish, ” Is that what they term as a “quickie” my love.” She said, her voice almost a whisper. He fell to the side of her, ” I’m so sorry,” he said, breathing hard. He turned to look at her, ” I can do better, I promise, and you won’t be disappointed.” He stated. 

She opened her eyes wide,” Oh, I wasn’t disappointed, not at all. But I do know you can do better.”

His heartbeat quickened; she always knew the right thing to say…. this woman of his dreams.

Chapter 21

The embarrassment from the morning had finally gone away, as they sat together, drinking her tea. Sanem was chatting nonstop about the orphanage, telling him that Luis and one of the other boys had gotten into a fight about who was the best soccer player. She laughed, ” Can you should have seen him, he was furious, he kicked the ball so hard it almost knocked Jose to the ground. But of course, they had to punish Luis which made him even madder.” Maria told Esteban that Luis was yelling ” I can almost beat Mr. Can, so that makes me the best.” She said, smiling at him. Can threw his head back and laughed, ” You know he’s almost right about that, he is very good at soccer, and he does give me a good run.” I’ll have to talk to him about that, when we visit today.” He stated. Sanem glanced at him, so Can is becoming just as insistent on seeing the children as she was, she thought, she was glad. Within a second she changed the subject, ” Ok listen, I’ve been thinking, she said, sliding her body up next to his, and laying her head on his shoulder, ” I think I should start looking for a house for us to live in when we get back home, unless you want to live with your dad and your Abi.” She said, waiting for him to answer. Can swallowed hard, ” Well, I hadn’t thought much about, to be honest with you, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to start looking.” He said, trying to sound convincing. She jumped up and clapped her hands together, ” Oh good, because I have already found a couple I want to show you.” She shrieked, making him cringe. She grabbed her laptop to open up the app where she found the houses, ” See, look at this one, I know it’s a bit far away from the office, but I wasn’t sure if you plan on going back to the office or not, and then there’s this one, it’s a little closer, and a lot closer to you dad’s house.” She rattled on, so excited. Can had to go along with it, or it would blow the surprise of the house he had already got for them. ” Oh, yes, I like that one, but isn’t it to big,” he asked, looking at the sprawling home. “I knew you would say that. No it’s not too big.” She replied, shaking her head, a little put out with him. He was smiling to himself, thinking of the picture that Emre had just sent him of their home, and how big and beautiful it was.

She showed him a couple more homes, and he looked, pretending to be impressed with her finds. ” I not sure if price is a factor for you or not, but this house seemed to be fairly priced, if you want me to message a real estate agent, I can.” She said, looking at him with excitement. He had been backed into a corner, and wasn’t sure what to do, so he stalled. ” Well, we still have about 2 weeks here before we start home, and then another week of traveling before we reach Istanbul, maybe we should wait until closer to time to leave.” He stated. She was disappointed, but agreed reluctantly, ” I guess you’re right, but I would like to have some properties lined up to look at when we get home, if not my mom and dad will want us to stay with them, and you know what will happen there.” She exclaimed, her eyes growing big. Can smiled, he loved her parents, but the neighborhood not so much. They were a bit too much for him. He kissed her on the forehead, ” I promise we won’t have to stay with your parents, or my dad and brother when we get home, we will find that perfect place.” He replied, his heart happy to know that was the truth. She seemed to be pacified with his answer, for the time being anyway, as they got dressed to go to the orphanage. He was glad he was almost done with this assignment; he was ready to start their lives together. He was ready to make her happy in every way, staring with their home. The knock on the door brought him back from his daydream, he opened the door to see Esteban there, ” Esteban, hello.” He said. He was surprised to see that Can was home, ” Mr. Can, you’re home I see, so you won’t need me for a few days then.” He said, trying to hide his disappointment. ” Yes, I’m home, and no, we won’t. I’ll be her for a day or two before we head back up.” Can replied to him. ” I’ll let you know before I leave.” Esteban nodded, and turned to walk away, ” Uhh, Esteban…. can I request something of you?” He asked. ” Of course, what is it?” He asked. ” If you would not take my wife to the hot baths again, please, I don’t feel like it’s appropriate. Do you understand?” Can said, tilting his head a bit to the side. Esteban felt the heat rise to his face, ” Of course, I understand, but I assure you I meant no disrespect to your wife, or to you.” He stated, taking on the glare from Can. The line had been drawn, an understanding had been formed between the two men, with just this one look, as Esteban turned and walked away. Can felt like he had just fought the fight of a lifetime, and won, as he watched him go to his room. 

Sanem came out from the bedroom, ” Who was at the door babe?” she asked. ” It was Esteban, he didn’t know I was home but he does now.” Can said, turning to her with a smile. She grabbed his hand, ” Are you ready to go to the orphanage, I bet the children are wondering where we are.” She chattered, pulling him about the door. They were welcomed happily as they came in, ” Hello Mr. Divit.” The priest said. ” Glad you’re back and I’m sure the boys will be too.” He stated, raising an eyebrow. He filled Can in on the encounter that Luis had with his friend, ” It was quite humorous, but we had to be strict with him you know.” The priest replied. Can agreed, following him to the classroom. He stuck his head inside the door, ” Hello everyone, I hope you all are learning all you can. But I’ll be waiting to play some ball as soon as you’re done.” He said, winking at Luis, who had a big smile on his face. He walked down the hall to the nursery, he could hear the baby laugh as he got closer. He stepped in the door and there was Sanem on the floor, tickling and cooing to Beni, who was completely engrossed with her playing. The sound of his laughter had already become a sound of joy to him, it made him want to laugh, it made him want to play, it made him want to hear it for ever. And the look of love on Sanem ‘s face told him more than any words could possibly say. 

She loved this child as if he was her own and Beni loved her.

He turned, swallowing down the lump in his throat…….She saw him there…

” Can” she said, ” Come play with us, he will love it.” She said, holding out her hand to him.

Chapter 22

He stood on the steps of the train station, holding her, letting the love from her sink in. Another trip, but if things went well, it may very well be the last, although he hadn’t informed Sanem of that. She sniffed back the tears, ” I will miss you so much, every minute. Will it be three days?” She asked, tightening her grip on him. He felt like the luckiest man in the world right now, she wanted him, she needed him, that’s all he wanted in life. ” I’m hoping just 2 days, but you never know, but you know I’ll not be gone any longer than I have to.” He said, breathing in that special smell from her. His stomach churning with anticipation of his return. She lifted her head and kissed his neck, ” I know, but a second is to long for me to be without you.” She told him, as he covered her lips with his. The kiss lasted longer than they both expected and stirred their emotions almost to embarrassment. He broke from her, ” Sanem, there are people watching,” he said, ” And I’m in the verge of losing control.” She smiled, ” Me too, she whispered, but mine won’t be as visible as yours.” She answered, her body stuck to his, feeling every curve on his hard and fit body. She giggled, her face turning a bright crimson red, ” Can, I’m sorry, I had no idea.” She said, remaining there for a minute to camouflage the evidence of his desire. ” I love you,” he said, as he quickly boarded the train. 

Esteban had been waiting for her inside the station, not wanting to interfere with their goodbye. The last encounter with Mr. Divit had been an uncomfortable one, so he knew he needed to keep his distance. She walked in, her eyes red from the tears, and her face flushed. She looked at Esteban, ” I just wish this would be the last time, but that would mean going home and leaving Beni. Either way my heart is breaking.” She stated, barely holding herself together. He nodded, not offering any comfort for her, but he too was feeling that broken heartedness of goodbyes. They walked back to her apartment, when they arrived at the door, he knew she would want to be alone, so he suggested a day of rest, ” Shall we just stay in today, it’s so hot and humid, maybe a quiet day at home will be the best.” He said. She agreed, ” I think that’s a great idea, I need to just lounge around, and try to rest.” She replied. The thought of not seeing Beni made her anxious, and she wasn’t sure if she could do it, but she would have to try. They said their goodbyes and he went back to his room. The little house seemed so foreign and empty when Can wasn’t there, with silence from his voice ringing in her ears. She had brewed some tea for him this time and sent it in a thermos, so she took the remainder and poured it in her cup. Settling down on the sofa for awhile, she decided to finish writing in her notebook. She had stopped her writing the day before after they had returned from the orphanage. She had noticed a change in Can yesterday, she wrote, his mood was solemn, like he was thinking hard about something, but was having a hard time excepting it. She asked him what was bothering him, but she didn’t get a straight answer. She hoped it was about the job and he hadn’t wanted to bother her with it.

The morning passed quickly as he and Salvador set up camp. The temple area was as sacred as any place in the world, as far as the Incas history went. He felt like he was intruding on the traditional footprints of that era, with the beliefs of the people that lived there all those thousands of years ago, being invaded. Salvador had already mapped out their agenda, paying close attention to the main temple, the Temple of the Sun. They went about on a short hike that afternoon, with Can snapping hundreds of pictures around the Intihuatana Stone, which was one of the many ritual stones in South America. The history of this all piqued his interest, as Salvador explained the lives of the people that had lived there. By the end of the day he was ready to fall into bed, exhausted from the hiking. With the altitude, any type of exertion was magnified 10 times. He ate and started to review his photos from the day, but his mind keep seeing Sanem and Beni sitting on the floor playing, an image he couldn’t forget. He managed to finish the review, and he poured a cup of the tea she had sent with him. After tomorrow, his job would be done, he had more than enough photos for the magazine, and most of them were worthy of printing in the article, so the task of returning home would be next for them. He missed her more tonight than any other night, her scent, her touch, they all seemed so far away, as he held on to her scarf. He woke sometime in the middle of the night, to the sound of wind, it was dark so he knew it was still early. He stuck his head out of his tent and felt the force of the winds blow hard against his tent. He didn’t see anyone else, so he closed the opening and tried to go back to sleep. His tent flapped with the battering of the wind, and he wondered if it would withstand it. The howling sound was deafening, and quite eerie, like nothing he had heard before. The first thought to his mind was they had pissed off some god, by trampling about in their religious ritual ground. But he knew that was just his imagination going wild, but something was definitely changing up here on top of the world. The sound of Salvador yelling at him through the tent opening kind of scared him, until he recognized what it was, ” Salvador, get in here,” he said, as he opened the flap on his tent. ” What’s going on, the wind is so bad.” He asked. Salvador shook his head, “There is a storm moving in, I didn’t realize it would be in so soon, but we really need to move to a lower spot.” He said excitedly. ” Just grab your personal belongings and let’s move to a lower place.” He said. Can jumped up, stuffing his camera and his change of clothes in his bag, along with her scarf. ” Where are we going to stay, what about the tents?” He asked, trying to hide his excitement. He had been through a lot of mishaps like this before, in all of his adventures, but he had never had another person in his life to worry about. The fact that Sanem would be alone there if something happened him, was more than he could bare. His mind was racing, full of thoughts of her, and her safety. He had to get back to town, to hell with the assignment, all he could think about was Sanem. Salvador was rushing him along the trail, trying to get to the shelter structure at the entrance of the ruins. The hike was difficult in good conditions, but with this wind it was challenging all his strength just to stay upright. The normally 10 minute hike had taken them almost 45 minutes, but they had made it safely. They would wait there until first light, then go on to the train station. The remains of their gear would be left behind and cleared out later. His mind couldn’t think straight, for the first time in his life he was scared, scared he wouldn’t see his wife again, smell that scent that had made his life worth living, see those eyes that had filled his soul with a love he never thought possible. 

He closed his eyes, he saw her there, smiling at him. He was done, this was the last trip, the last assignment, the last adventure in his life.

He would never jeopardize being with her again, he thought, his heart beating fast…. she was the reason for his life.

Chapter 23

She had resisted for most of the day, to go to the orphanage to see Beni, as the light began to fade from the sky, her desire to hold him and hear that laugh overwhelmed her. She didn’t want to bother Esteban just to walk her short distance to the church, so the grabbed her bag and her shawl, just in case the weather turned bad. There had been talk of a storm that was headed their way, but the predictions where for the storm to hit the next day. She walked quickly, the 3 blocks to the church, trying to convince herself she would just look in on him and then head back home. She had become so accustomed to seeing him every day, it had left her feeling empty when she didn’t. She hurried into the church, and down the hall to the nursery door. One of the workers was just coming out as she reached for it. ” Oh,” she said jumping back, ” Beni?” she asked, pointing toward to nursery. The worker smiled and motioned her into the room. He was entertaining himself by playing with his feet, fascinated with his toes, he hadn’t noticed her at first. She closed her eyes and drew in the smell of him, that clean, sweet smell that touched every inch of her heart. He saw her and squealed at the sight of her and reached his arms to hug her. She gladly scooped him up in her arms, and Beni buried his tiny face in her neck, the feel of him in her arms had made her happy as she enveloped him tightly against her chest. 

The woman came in after some time and relayed to her that it was the babies bedtime. She nodded and started to help get him ready for bed. She loved that ritual of preparing him for sleep, the way he loved for her to stroke his face, and hum quietly to him. She saw his eyes start to flutter and his breathing get slower and deeper. He fought against closing his eyes, as he held that gaze of her. She smiled at him and he smiled back, then slowly his eyes closed, not able to resist it any longer. She leaned over the crib for a while, just watching him sleep, how peaceful and innocent he looked. She knew that his mother had gave her life for him and had wanted him to have an opportunity to live a full and happy life. Sanem wished deep down in her heart, the situation was different, that they had found each other under better circumstances. But the facts were there, Can’s assignment would be over soon, and they would return back to Istanbul, and Beni would have to remain here. She felt a tear run down her face, as she stared at him, her emotions stuck in her throat, she would have to come to terms with it, and soon. She stayed for a while, watching him sleep, until she heard the sound of the wind rip through. The sound grew and became deafening, as it whipped around, making the shutters of the old building flap and bang. The priest hurried in, shocked to see Sanem there. He was checking in the babies, making sure the windows were closed and secure. The suddenness of it startled Sanem, so she grabbed her bag and was going to get home before the worst of the storm got there. The priest stopped her, telling her it would be too dangerous for her to try and walk home in this. The language barrier was a problem, and she wished she hadn’t come alone, Esteban was always her interpreter and without him she felt disconnected. The wind was raging, and in the distance she could her the thunder. She was worried about Can, she wasn’t sure what type of emergency shelter they had up there and the storm would be much worse at that altitude. She closed her eyes, hearing the destruction of the wind, she prayed, ” Please, keep him safe, please.” She said as a whisper. Her heart beat hard, making her body shake, as they hunkered down in the middle part of the church, away from the windows and doors. 

Can was pacing, as he watched the minutes tick by. It was still and hour before they could board the train, then came the word that the train wouldn’t make its first run into town because of the weather. The lightning and thunder had increased, and the rain was so heavy, it was difficult to see. They would have to ride it out there, and hope the rain slacked off, not causing a flood. His head was pounding, ” She must be terrified,” he thought, ” As much as he didn’t want to think it, he hoped that Esteban was with her, keeping her safe.” The storm raged on, it was like nothing he had ever seen before, the lightning and rain, and the wind that was the worst he had ever encountered. The guard had radioed from the train station and told them the storm had damaged part of the town and most of them were out of power, so it would be awhile before the train could bring them down the mountain. Salvador hated to relay the message, ” Mr. Divit, it seems that some the town has been damaged and the power is down, so it looks like we are stuck her for a while.” He said, bracing for his reply. ” What, so we’re stuck here. What part of town Is damaged?” He asked, his body feeling weak at the thought. Salvador told him the situation, and that he didn’t have that information, but he would try and find out. Can was helpless, he felt like his world was being destroyed. He had promised to protect her, keep her safe. He would give his life for her but he never knew how true those words were until now. The need to get to her was more than he could stand, ” Salvador, I’m hiking in, the trail is only 3 1/2 miles, I can get there before they restore the train service.” He said, reaching for his rain gear. Salvador refused to hear it, ” No, Mr. Divit, it’s way too dangerous, the trail is most likely washed out and it’s still dark, not to mention the wind. It’s even hard to stand out there.” He said, trying to reason with him. ” I can make it, I don’t expect you to come, but I’m going and there’s no way you will stop me.” He said, his eyes full of fire and determination. He put on the rain suit, and strapped his backpack on his back, his heart racing. The strength of the wind had grown, as he stepped out the door of the shelter, he grabbed at the wall to steady himself, as the force from it almost blew him down. Salvador knew he couldn’t let him go alone, so he quickly suited up in his raincoat and went after him. The pair felt there way along the trail, the rain not letting their flashlights be of much use, but Can wasn’t stopping. Salvador took the lead about halfway down the trail. Weaving around the places that had been made into trenches by the rain. The hike normally took about an hour and a half, but they had been fighting there way down this trail for over 2 hours and Salvador wasn’t even quite sure where they were. But he kept moving south, that’s all he knew to do. 

The power had been knocked out, leaving the church in total darkness, so the workers and the priest had lit the many candles that were everywhere. It made the scene even more eerie, with the wind and rain still crashing against the old building. She held the babies, trying to control herself, this was the worst storm see had ever seen, and her fear for Can had surpassed any fear she had for herself. It seemed like the storm had been going on forever, would it ever stop, she wondered, closing her eyes, and breathing deeply trying to control her nerves. She knew he would know how to take care of himself, but what if he couldn’t…

” What if he couldn’t,” those words rang in her head. Her heart was aching to hear his voice.

She closed her eyes and listened to the rain, ” This is the worse day of my life” she thought.

Chapter 24

Can had never been this cold in his life, the rain had penetrated the raincoat and soaked every inch of his body. Salvador had stopped for a minute to try and get his bearings, Can felt bad that he had pulled Salvador into this situation, and it wasn’t his intent, he was more than ready to make this trek alone. He was determined to get to Sanem. Salvador turned to him, ” I think we’re on the right trail, let’s just keep going,” he yelled, trying to be heard over the sound of the storm. Can’s legs had gone numb and weak, he wasn’t sure how he was even walking, and the trail was rough, full of washed-out holes and debris, that had traveled down the side of the mountain with the rain. They walked for another half hour, when Salvador stopped quickly, shining his light though the rain, ” Look Mr. Can, it’s the shelter at the start of the trail, we’re very close to town.” He said. They had made it, the worse of the hike was over. The trail leveled out and they seemed to be on flat ground, so they could pick up their pace. Within minutes they were passing the train station, and he was on his way to their apartment. He had a burst of energy as the door to their little home came into view, he all but ran to open the door, only to find it locked. He banged on the door, ” Sanem, babe open the door,” he yelled, as the rain pelted him. He knocked again, but she didn’t answer. Salvador grabbed him, ” Where’s your key?” He asked. Can remembered he had left the key in his other bag, and it was at the shelter. His head was spinning, ” Maybe she’s with Esteban, he said, running on down the walkway to his door. He knocked loudly on his door. Then again, yelling his name. He wasn’t there either, his stomach tied in knots and his strength depleted, he leaned against the wall of the building, feeling the tears of frustration fill his eyes.

Sanem was so scared, as she listened to the storm rage on. Just as she was anticipating the worse, she felt a touch on her arm, she opened her eyes hoping to see Can, but instead it was Esteban, ” Ms. Sanem, are you ok, why did you come here alone? You should have told me you wanted to come here.” He stated. She was glad to see him, at least he would be able to tell her what was going on. ” How did you make it here in this storm? She asked, ” You shouldn’t have came, it was too dangerous.” Esteban knew the definition of his job, ” To protect and look after my wife” were the very words that Mr. Divit had used when he hired him and shielding her from a storm would definitely fit within those guidelines, He thought. He smiled at her, ” It is my job and I take my jobs very serious.” He stated. He sat down on the floor beside her, it was then that he was able to see how frightened she was, her face showing the tears that were falling from her eyes. He wanted to comfort her, but his feelings for her stopped him, ” Don’t let yourself get to close, be professional, this is just a job.” His head was saying. She looked at him, ” Esteban, I’m afraid for Can, what if something happens to him, do they have a place to go there for a shelter? She asked. He assured her that Salvador had made sure they made it to the shelter at the entrance of the ruins, ” They know how to take care of themselves ma’am, I’m sure of it, and they will be back her as soon as the storm lets up.” He stated to her, his voice full of confidence. His words made her smile, letting her heart calm down a bit. Esteban took his place on the floor, next to her, waiting for the storm to calm down. The minutes turned into hours as they waited.

Can relived his life, it all flashed before him, as he leaned there against the building. It all seemed so meaningless now, all the exotic places, all the fame and glory he had received for putting himself in danger, all for the sake of ” getting the best shot.” And for what… he was nothing without her, she was all that mattered in his life. That smile that made him weak, the touch from her that could heal his soul. She was his breath to live. He shook his head to clear it, thinking where she might be. The church. They had to be at the church, he thought, yelling at Salvador, ” They must be at the orphanage, that’s the only place she would go in something like this.” He said, heading off down the street towards the church. The water was gushing through the streets, making it hard to walk, or even stand, but he had found a surge of strength and willed his body to keep going, to withstand whatever the forces of nature had put in front of him. He would find her, and he would take her home. They struggled through the street, to the door of the church. It was bolted to keep the wind from ripping it off the hinges, so they banged on the door with all their strength. It took a minute, but the door finally swung open and the priest motioned them inside. ” My son, how did you make it here, the rain and wind are so bad.” He asked. Can didn’t take the time to answer, he just rushed down the hall to the nursery.  The priest hurried after him, ” Mr Can, your wife is in the sanctuary with the children. We put them there for their safety.” He explained. Can made his way back to the sanctuary, his heart pounding in his chest. He swung open the door, trying to get his eyes adjusted to the darkness. It took a second, but as soon as his eyes found her, he felt a wave of emotion that he had never felt before. It was more than relief, more than happiness, it was a rebirth of his soul. She opened her eyes and smiled at him, ” Can I was waiting for you, I was so scared.” He fell down next to her, the stress and pain of the last few hours engulfing him. He needed to touch her, feel her skin against his. He let the tears come, the release of it all surprised him, but his love for her didn’t. 

Esteban moved away quickly to the other side of the room with Salvador. ” How did you make it down the mountain?” He asked him. Salvador smiled, ” It was by the grace of god, and the power of the strongest love I have ever seen.” He stated. Can and Sanem snuggled there together with the babies for a while, then Can asked about the other children. ” Father Francisco, where are the boys, I’d like to check on Luis.” Can said. He nodded, ” They are in the dining room, let me take you.” He said. They entered the dining room and Luis came running to Can, ” Mr. Can, I’m so glad you’re here. We were all so scared.” He hugged him tightly to him, “ There’s nothing to be frightened about, it’s just a little rain and wind.” He stated, trying to calm him. 

What was happening to him, he thought, as he held the small boy. Why was he so full of emotion. These children had touched his heart, made him relive his childhood. He had been much like these boys, so lost after his mother left, so deprived of love. He stayed there for a while until the storm began to pass, and the boys had fell asleep. Sanem was taking Beni back to the nursery, and as she passed the entrance to the dining room she saw Can and Luis, and her heart smiled. 

This man she loved so much, could impress her more and more each day…. he had more to give than anyone else she knew.

Just when she thought she couldn’t love him more… she did.

Chapter 25

She let him sleep for a while, knowing the ordeal he had been, just to get to her. Luis looked so sweet there being comforted by her husband, she didn’t want to disturb them. Salvador filled her in on the events that happened, and his overwhelming determination to make back to town, to her and the children. The storm had lasted for hours, causing a great deal of damage to the town, but everyone had survived. They had made it through one of the worse storms to pass by in years. Her body was tired and weak, but sleep deprived her, as she watched Can. He was more important to her than anything or anyone in the world, he was indeed her rock, the person that she depended on, but even more than that, he was the person that made her whole. She would be nothing if not for him, and this had proved it beyond any doubt. As if it had all been a dream, the morning brought the light of a new day, with the sun shining its rays of thankfulness that they had weathered the storm. He opened his eyes to see her there, waiting, and the storm had been replaced with a welcomed return of the sun. He reached for her hand, ” My love, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you, I knew you were scared and all I could think about, was getting to you.” He said, his eyes tearing up. He picked Luis up and carried him to the bedroom, and tucked him in his bed, without him even knowing. He watched him for a minute, so glad he had been able to help him through his fear. Sanem slid her arms around him, ” I’m just glad you made it back here ok, but you took such a risk, you could have been hurt.” He smiled, ” No, I wouldn’t have allowed it, I knew I could make it.” He said, kissing her on top of the head.

The rushing water had washed out part of the street from the church to their apartment, making the walk a bit more difficult. They were glad to reach their house, all he wanted was a hot shower and clean clothes, well maybe not all. He stood with the hot steamy water soothing the sore muscles that had developed in his body. He had always considered himself to be fit, but what he had just been through had pushed him past anything he had endured before, even his fingers ached. He recalled the first sight of her, sitting there hold the babies, in his mind. How he felt when he knew she was ok, that was all that mattered. He took a deep breath, ” This is it. I’m done.” He thought. ” I’m ready to go home, take her out of here, take her to our beautiful home that she knows nothing about.” He smiled, ” Yes, I’m taking her home.” He said. Sanem was exhausted, barely hanging on to consciousness, waiting for him to get out of the shower. Her mind going over and over the possibilities of what could have happened, ” I wish it was over. I wish it was time to go home.” She thought in her head. She missed her parents and her sister, more than she thought she would, she was ready to live a normal life. She wanted to just live, work, write, and maybe start a family, that’s all she wanted. Without realizing it she slipped off into a deep sleep, again dreaming of their return home. The dream of a huge house, with lots of rooms, still stuck in her head. But she didn’t know where this house was, it was just a blur. She just knew it was big, and full of all kinds of rooms, almost like a maze. She wandered through it, trying to find a way out, but it kept going on and on. It reminded her of how she felt as a young girl and she would go to the big white mansion by the park and wish the house would someday be hers. 

It was late in the day when they both woke up. Can had laid down next to her after he came out of the shower, and he immediately fell asleep. His body and mind exhausted, but thankful he had found her safe and sound. She was up first, and brewed the tea, ready to enjoy it with a good dinner. He joined her in minutes, wrapping his body around hers, he kissed her on the neck, ” Did you sleep well, babe.” He asked. She smiled, ” Yes, I did, I always do when I’m next to you.” She replied, feeling his breath on the side of her face. She turned to face him, ” Do you have to go back to the ruins again?” She asked, scratching his beard with her fingers. He kissed her on the nose, ” No, I won’t go back, I’m talking to the magazine office today. I think we have more than enough photos for the layout.” He stated, his eyes melting into hers. ” We are going home, Mrs. Divit, I think it’s time for us to start living our life.” He said. Her heart was glad to be going home, but yet that meant leaving the children. She would have to say goodbye to Beni. She blinked back the tears, ” Are you sure?” She asked, searching his eyes for a glimpse of regret that would have to leave the children. He answered, ” No, I’m not, but we have to, we have to return to our lives…do you agree?” He said, keeping his emotions in check. She swallowed down the knot in her throat, ” I know Can, but…….” He held up his finger to her lips, ” No buts Sanem, we must go home. We can keep this time in our hearts, we know we both will be ready for children when they are ready to be given to us.” He whispered to her. ” Your right, she said, shaking her head, ” We will have our own babies, lots of them.” She stated, giving him a shy smile. Her head knew the logic, but her heart was breaking, crumbling into a thousand pieces as she listened to him in the phone with the office. ” Yes sir, the photos I took on the last outing will be the last of the assignment. My wife and I would like to take the train back to Cusco as soon as possible.” She heard him say. 

It seemed the arrangements had been made, and the flights back to Rome had been booked, all within a matter of hours. She tried to be excited, to hide her disappointment that they would leave the children and return home, but that feeling of emptiness was surging through her like that storm from the day before. But she smiled as she packed their things, he was talking to her, but she didn’t hear what he was saying, her mind was filled with the sound of Beni laughing, and that unique smell of him had clouded her head. They would take the train to Cusco this time, eliminating the rental car, and then a flight out to Lima. They would be in Rome in 3 days, a quicker journey home than they had experienced getting there. Can was busy, making sure all the paperwork was in order, the next morning. They had an hour before the train departed for Cusco, and he wanted to say goodbye to Luis and the other boys. His mind was full of regret, he hated to leave the young boy. He almost knew how he would be feeling…. abandoned, unwanted, unloved. But if he only knew how untrue that was, how he wished he could take him with them. Luis and Beni both had opened Can’s heart and healed it from his own heartache. 

They walked their last walk to the orphanage, to say goodbye to the children, “Just do it quick, fast, and don’t think too much.” He said in his head. He looked at Sanem, her face was solemn and sad, a look that broke his heart….

“Would they be able to walk away from here without being broken, and unhappy.”

She smiled a slight smile at him, with tears in her eyes…….” I Love You, my husband” she said as they waited for the door to open.

Chapter 26

The train ride was long and rough, as they wound through the mountains. Sanem had barely said a word since they left the orphanage, with Can talking nonstop to hide his heartache from their tearful goodbye with the two boys. He had buried his feelings, when they walked away from the church, only tryin to support Sanem with her sadness. She wasn’t letting it out, it was like she wasn’t excepting it yet. But she would, she had to, he thought, watching her as she stared out the window of the train. In Cusco they had a short wait or board the plane to Lima, and he did get Sanem to eat a late lunch, which seemed to up her spirits. She visitied with an elderly woman as they waited for their flight, coming out of her depression a bit. He wanted to call Emre to let him know they were on their way home, so he made an excuse and walked away for a minute to make the call, ” Emre, sorry to call so late, but we are on our way home, we are waiting for a flight to Lima now, then on to Rome.” He explained. ” We should be home within the week.” Emre was glad, ” I’m glad to hear that, your home is ready, I made them put a rush on it, because I knew you would just show up on day without warning.” He said laughing. Can breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the house was all ready for them to begin their life together. 

Sanem had begun to return to herself as they boarded the plane for Lima, with that excitement of getting home to her parents and their life, seemed to emerge from  her. ” Can, we didn’t find a house, so I guess we will stay with your dad and Emre for a while.” She said, hugging his arm after takeoff on their way to Lima. He smiled, ” We’ll see, you never know what might happen my love.” He replied, happy to hold on to the secret of their home. The flight arrived on time and they had a short lay over before boarding the flight to Rome. Just enough time to grab a bite and get to their gate. Esteban had made the trip with them this far, but they would say goodbye to him here. Can was thankful for all he had done for Sanem, but to say he would miss him wouldn’t be entirely true. Sanem gave him a hug, ” Thank you so much for being my voice while I was there. And for the cooking lesson.” She said, laughing. He bowed, ” It was my pleasure, Mr.and Mrs. Divit, have a safe journey home.” He said, waving as he walked away. 

THREE DAYS LATER

” Mr. Divit, the photos are excellent, better than we hope for.” Mr. Moretti stated, rummaging through the hundreds of photos that has been delivered to his office. ” We would like to have a dinner party, and maybe display a few of your more impressive shots, that is if you don’t mind.” He said. Can lowered his head, ” Of course, that is, if my wife is ok with it, she is quite anxious to get home to see her family.” Can said. Sanem could only smile, not having a clue as to what was being said. Can explained the request to her, letting her make the final decision. They decided on a luncheon for the next day, that would still allow them to make their afternoon flight home. Can’s nerves had peaked, they were cutting it close, the flight was at 2:55, the luncheon was set for 11:00 am to 12:30. That meant they would have to bring their bags with them and go directly to the airport from the luncheon. Emre and Leila had made all the plans for the surprise, and the time had been set. It had all been well choreographed by the couple. Emre would pick them up from the airport in Can’s car, proceed to make a series of stops along the way, while making their way to the house. Her family would be waiting there along with Aziz and Mihriban, for the unveiling of the Divit Mansion. Their families had even moved all their personal belongings to the house as well, the surprise had taken everyone to pull it off. 

The luncheon was a spectacular event, and Sanem felt out of place, but Can took her along with him to introduce to everyone. They were a tight schedule, so they didn’t take much time to mingle, but the magazine did, display some of his work and showered him with praise. The party was going on, well past the 12:30 time, but Can made sure they made their exit and a taxi was waiting to take them to the airport. His mind was whirling, ” Three hours and we’ll be home my love, are you excited?” He asked, as they buckled up for takeoff. She smiled, ” Yes, so excited, I can’t wait to see everyone.” She said, trying to hide her feeling of emptiness. She had dreamed of Beni the night before, but she didn’t let Can know. They had been going over the photos for the magazine and the pictures he took at the orphanage popped up. She felt like a sharp object had stabbed her, as he quickly forwarded on to another picture trying to cover up the hurt. He was stuck in her head, and she couldn’t get him out. The flight seemed quick, as they landed right on time. Emre was waiting for them at the gate, truly excited to see his brother. ” Abi, welcome,” he said, giving him a huge hug. He reached for Sanem, ” Welcome Abla, glad to have you both back in one piece.” He said, hugging her. A couple of winks between the two brothers and Can knew the plans had been followed through and the surprise was ready. 

Sanem was wondering when she would get to see her parents and her sister, as they started to drive towards Azizbeys house, ” Can will it be possible to go visit my parents after we are settled in the house, I’m really anxious to see them.” Can agreed, tryin to keep a straight face, ” Yes my love, we see them very soon, don’t worry.” He replied. She relaxed, enjoying the drive and thinking about Beni and wondering if he was missing her. She didn’t notice they had made a turn in the other direction and was headed to the park. She had closed her eyes, as her mind thought of Beni, she could hear his laughter, and it made her smile as they turned onto the long drive down to the house that was to be their home for years to come. Can looked at her, he had a feeling she was thinking of Beni, with the smile he saw of her face, and he prayed that she would overcome the sadness of leaving him soon. The car came to a stop, and she opened her eyes, expecting to see Cans home, but instead they were parked in front of the big beautiful house that she had dreamed about for years. Her eyes opened wide, ” Can, why are we here?” She asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. The big wide doors opened and her whole family came out, Can was so happy, his heart so full, he felt like he might burst, “Sanem, welcome to our home, our mansion of a thousand rooms,” he said, his voice quivering with excitement. ” This is where our life begins, here,” he said, waving his arms around. ” We will fill this home with our children, just like you wanted, do you love it?” 

She threw her arms around her neck, her face beaming with joy, ” You are the most magnificent man in the world.” I can’t believe you did this.” She said, trying to take it all in.

She showered him with kisses, ” So this is what you were whispering about with Emre. You have made me so happy! Shall we get started on making those babies?” she whispered in his ear.

Chapter 27

She was overjoyed to see her parents and Leila. Aziz was proud that Mihriban and Can were getting along so well, as they talked about the new clients at the agency. Aziz was anxious to know if Can has thinking about returning to the agency, ” Son, are you coming back to work, I think with you back we could be the powerhouse agency that no one could compete with.” He stated, slapping him on the back. Can shook his head, ” I don’t know dad, I would kinda like to have some time with my wife, you know, to continue that honeymoon.” He said, looking across the room at her, as she talked to Leila. She was glowing, her face had finally taken on that look of contentment. He was feeling that rumble of desire start to fire up, that heated feeling, like he was embarrassed, was traveling up his body and encircling his head. She could do the most unnatural things to him, so he had to look away, focus on something else. She had felt him staring at her, and she smiled, Leila was telling her something that she couldn’t even hear, as her mind had already moved to the raging, desired filled christening of their bedroom that she was picturing in her thoughts. Leila was so excited to tell Sanem about her feeling for Emre, but Sanem was skeptical, ” So Emrebey has given up all his women, are you sure?” She asked, squinting her eyes at her. Leila smiled, ” Yes, he had spent all his time here with me or we have been at his house. It’s been like a dream.” She said, hugging herself. She hoped her sisters feeling weren’t being played with, this would be one of the first relationships for her, and Sanem didn’t want it to end badly.

It seemed like hours since they had arrived at their new home and Can and Sanem both felt exhausted from the trip. Can gathered everyone in the huge family room, ” I want to thank Emre and Leila, and anyone else that took part in pulling off this surprise for my wife. I couldn’t have wished for anything better.” He said, giving Emre and Leila both a hug. ” Now, if it’s ok with everyone, we would like to get some rest, the trip home was very long and emotional, but we will have a party for everyone in a few days.” He said, waving his hands in the air. Everyone made their way to the door, her parents saying their goodbyes. She hugged Leila as Emre walked up, ” Are you ready, my love?” he said, wrapping his arm around her sister. Leila smiled, giving him that look of infatuation. Sanem would have to reserve her feelings and thoughts about this new relationship of her sisters, she needed proof that Emre had relented from that old Emre and had chosen just one woman for his life. The last person was gone and Can closed the door. With the turning of the lock, she knew in her heart she was home, this was the place she had longed to be all of her life. He turned and looked at her, ” Well Mrs. Divit, how did you like your surprise?” He said, his voice low and demanding, as he walked towards her. Her body had released a thousand butterflies inside her, as his eyes devoured her. She felt her mouth go dry, and her body was torched with a fire, as he touched cheek. She tried to smile, but she was frozen in this state of yearning for this man. 

He led her to the room at the top of the stairs, this was the room he had chosen for the master bedroom. It took up the entire back half of the second floor, with a wall of glass doors that opened up to a huge balcony, overlooking the back lawn. He didn’t care about the decor right now, in fact he didn’t even care about the furniture, all he wanted was to lay his wife down on the bed and make this night be the most meaningful they had ever had. They were in their home, it may be empty and quiet right now, but they would fill it with love and the sound of children running and playing. Sanem was mesmerized by him, as he slowly covered every inch of her body with his eyes. It was like he was looking at her for the first time, the desire for her was just as strong as it was then. He pulled the t-shirt off over his head, throwing it to the side, exposing his tanned, muscled chest. His muscles jerked with anticipation, as he focused on her, unzipping her dress in the back. She was locked in his eyes, barely able to breath, as she felt her dress fall to the floor. Her skin had been invaded with thousands of goosebumps and she felt that involuntary shiver as he unhooked her bra and discarded it to the floor. The rest had been a blur. How he had done it all with such fervor and want, was an utter amazement to her. He had taken her to the height of her desire with just a touch, her body was reacting as fast as it could be his was faster and more forceful. As they reached that climax, he looked into her eyes, ” I am yours forever, and you are mine… I love you.” He whispered. 

The sun flooded the room, as she tried to open her eyes, squinting and blinking. He was still sleeping, sprawled out on his stomach, his massive body taking up more than half of their king size bed. She felt that gnawing in her stomach by just looking at him, she would never get tired of him, she thought, he was embedded in her soul. She couldn’t imagine anyone else making her feel like this, so complete and in control. She slipped out of bed and looked at the clock, 10:30, they hadn’t slept this late ever, but they did take full advantage for their first night together in their new home. If she recalled correctly, the last time she was able to glance at the clock, it said 3:10am, and things had not been over at that point. She felt so happy and fulfilled, this was her life now, happy and fulfilled, there weren’t any better words to describe her right now. She showered, and slipped into her favorite outfit, his t-shirt. She was blow drying her hair when he stumbled into the bathroom, ” Good morning my love, why didn’t you wake me.” He said, slipping his arms around her waist. ” We could have showered together and took up where we left off last night.” He whispered in her ear. He nibbled at her ear lobe as she tried desperately to remain in composure. She cleared her throat, ” Excuse me, last night, I think you mean this morning. And I’m starving, you’ll have to feed me first.” She said, turning to face him. His eyes drew her in, making her weak, his lips brushed against hers, his tongue glazing over her lips. The sensation sent chills up her spine, as he held her tightly against his bare chest. 

Her mind was in a fog, and she felt her lungs release all the air they had inside. How would she survive being Mrs. Divit, the woman that he loved.

She wasn’t experienced enough for this, she thought, as he lifted her onto the counter. Her heart had already skipped enough beats to make her pass out.

But…. here we go again….

Chapter 28

They both were searching for their breath, as she fell back against the bathroom wall. The weight of Can against her had hampered her breathing, as he pushed himself away from her, she gasped for the air she so desperately needed. He turned and steadied his body with the wall, he turned looking at her, as she sat upright on the counter wiping her face with her hands. ” Where did that come from? He asked, In total admiration of his exquisite wife. She was barely able to smile, ” Well, I was just following your lead babe, you’re the one with all the experience.” She said, giving him a that look of being coy. He laid his head back against the wall, rubbing his face with both hands. She had definitely mastered the art of satisfying him, she had taken it to a whole new level, he thought, watching her slide down from the bathroom counter. She stood in front of him, so close he felt the breath coming from her nose, as she ran a finger all the way down his chest that was covered in a thin layer of sweat, ” You know I’m a quick learner and I do have a good teacher.” She whispered, letting her tongue follow the course that her finger had traced along his firm muscles. His eyes rolled back in his head, as he held on to the wall, his mind swirling with hunger for her. But she had other ideas, as her mouth traveled along his body. She could see the effect that her touch had in him. He moaned, as she revealed how skillfully she could bring him to the brink of unconsciousness. His moans slowly turned to a cry of release, as she reduced him to a weak and wasted man.

He came out of the shower, still in shock at the series of events that taken place there just a short time before. He paused while drying off, his mind reliving it, picturing it, wanting it again and again, but she had gone downstairs to make them some tea, so his fantasy of her would have to wait till later. He heard his phone ringing so he hurried into the bedroom to answer, ” Hello Emre, what can I do for you.” He asked, still reeling from the assault of his beautiful wife. ” Abi, we wondered if you and Sanem were coming to the agency today? There’s a new client that we could use help with, the children’s clothing line.” He said. That was the last thing on his mind right now, all he wanted was to be here, alone, and at the mercy of his wife. He rolled his eyes, ” Why do you need our help Erme, I kinda had other ideas for today.” He stated, making it clear the honeymoon was still going on in full gear. Emre sighed, ” Come on Can, we need a fresh idea, we are stalled and need you and Sanem to breath some live into it.” He expressed. He knew she would agree, so he told him they would come to the agency for a while, just to lend an idea or two and that was it. They hung up, he dressed and followed the sound of Sanem’s voice to the kitchen, where she was talking profoundly to the eggs she was frying, ” Now I have asked you very nicely, to keep yourself together and cook perfectly for my husband.” She stated, bending down, looking closely at the skillet. He covered his mouth with his hand to keep from laughing, as he watched her. This woman and her quirkiness had captured his heart completely, he really didn’t know how he had survived his life until now, without her. 

The eggs had done their job, cooking perfectly and deliciously for him. She had not been a cook when they married, but she was improving more and more each day, but if she never touched a pan the rest of her life it would be fine with him, she was all he needed. She had agreed to go with him to the agency after breakfast, so they cleaned up together and she dressed. He so wanted to stay home, snuggled up with her the rest of the day, but they had to come back down to earth from their marital bliss at some point, so he guessed it was today. They were met with a room full of cheers as they walked in and down the hall to this dads office. Sanem waved to her close friend CeyCey, blowing him a kiss as they went by. She wanted to visit with him and catch up on things, but that would be later. They entered his dad’s office, to see the rest of them already there. He nodded to Emre, and reached for Mihriban to give her a hug, ” Dad, how are you?” he asked, looking around the room at all the children’s clothing on display. Sanem was right behind him, giving a hug to Emre and Mihriban, ” Hello dad,” she said, still trying to get use the sound of that, ” What’s all this, is this the new client, children’s clothes?” She asked, her heart skipping a beat. ” Welcome back kids, and yes this is the new clients.” He stated proudly. The clothing line was one of the top in the country, with only a few brick and mortar stores, but the online business had blown all their projection out of the water. ” Yes, ‘Lil’ Ones’, they have made a name for themselves with their online business, but it seems the stores have suffered some, so they want us to reinvent their image, bring the people back to the store.” He explained. Sanem walked around the office, looking intently at all the clothes displayed. They all looked so beautiful, so fresh and new, they were definitely all one of a kind. 

She stopped and picked up a small boys outfit, holding it up she saw Beni’s face flash by in her head. Her heart ached for him, she had tried so hard to push that feeling down deep inside her, to bury it. That’s the only way she could get through the sadness of leaving him. But this had brought him and the other children back to her, front and center, filled her mind with the remembrance of them. Can watched her as she held the little outfit close to her chest, he knew she was thinking of him, so was he. He had thought of nothing else since they started home over a week ago. Luis and Beni had set up residency in his heart and he wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to move on. She turned and looked at him from across the room, her eyes full of those tears of regret at leaving that small baby behind. She smiled at him, to let him know she was fine, but sad, and he returned the look. They had both been changed by their trip to that little town of AquaCalientas, Peru, and the thought of a family was even more prevalent in their minds. He knew she was ready, but he thought he still wanted a little more time with just them, together, to mold their lives into one. But if this woman wanted to start their family this very moment, that’s what he’d do.

His eyes followed her around the room, as see inspected the clothes. It was almost like a ritual, she was indeed the picture of his happiness….

His heart could only be happy if she was, and if babies made her happy, then……..?

Chapter 29

Mihriban had put of lot of work in on the campaign, but it seemed to need a little touch of finesse. Can had been looking over the project and had a few ideas that might bring everything together. Sanem was still infatuated with all the clothes, and each one of them reminded her of the children at the orphanage, so much so she felt like she needed to step out of the office, just to clear her head. This reminder of Beni had sent her over the edge, she so wanted to call the orphanage just to check on him and Luis. But she thought that Can wouldn’t approve, so she locked those feelings up, and went to find CeyCey to catch up on everything around the agency. He made her a cup of tea and he poured his coffee, and they sat down to talk, ” Sanem, how are things, you seem to have a lot in your mind.” Did the trip go ok, was it everything you hoped it would be.” He asked. She smiled, ” CeyCey, it was the best thing that’s ever happened to me, other than meeting Can of course.” She stated, leaning her head back against the chair. Her eyes had that far away look that she use to get went she was contemplating something wonderful. Her friend wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what she was thinking, but he was sure she was going to tell him, ” I found something there I never even knew I wanted that much,” She said, her eyes penetrating his, ” CeyCey, I found a little baby there that has touched my heart so much, it’s unbelievable.” CeyCey hadn’t expected that, not in the least, anything but that. A child, that’s the reason for this glow about her, the wonderment in her eyes and the explosion of happiness that was in her voice. ” A baby? Where did you find this baby?” He asked, wondering what “found” meant. She gladly told him the story of the orphanage and described each child to him, as if they were standing there in front of them. But the mention of a baby named Benicio brought out the fireworks in her eyes. “CeyCey, he is the sweetest thing, and he loved me as much as I loved him.” She explained to him how he came to be at the orphanage, the horrible details of the death of the baby’s mother, and the absence of a father had forced them to put the child in the orphanage. 

Can was finishing up the ideas he had on the campaign, and was ready to get back home. He knew Sanem was with CeyCey, and he found them in the conference room, deep in conversation. Sanem was telling him every detail about Beni, and how much she would have loved to bring him home with them, but that she was sure that Can would have opposed the idea. He listened to her talk, hearing the happiness in her voice. He had thoughts of Beni and Luis also, and his heart was heavy with the thought of leaving them behind, but what could they do? He popped his head around the corner of the door, ” There you two are, CeyCey, has my wife been boring you with stories of our honeymoon?” He asked, reaching for her hand. CeyCey quickly stood, ” No, no not at all, I’m just really glad you’re both back. Are you coming back to work?” He asked. ” I’m not sure, we’ll see how things go. Sanem, are you ready to head home?” He said, giving her that ready to escape look….

The ride home was quieter than he expected it to be, she stared out the window deep in thought. ” Hey there, how about I fire up the grill tonight and I’ll fix us a great meal, ok. He said, waiting for her reply. She smiled, ” That sounds good, do we have what we need” she asked, pulling herself back from her daydream. Can took her hand, ” Sanem, where were you, where had you gone in your mind?” He said, kissing her fingers. She smiled sheepishly, ” Don’t get mad, but I was thinking about Beni. I know you don’t want me to think about him, but seeing all those baby clothes just opened up the memory gates.” He sighed, ” Sanem, I didn’t say I didn’t want you to think about him. I think about him, I just don’t want you to make yourself sick missing him, that’s all.” He explained, peering into her eyes. ” I’m not, I promise, but it would be nice if you would call the orphanage and talk to Maria, just to check on him. Can couldn’t refuse her, and besides he also wanted to see how they were. ” Ok, let me check the time there when we get home and if it’s not to late there, I’ll call.” He told her, anxious to see that sparkle back in her eye. 

She still couldn’t believe that this was their home, as they drove up the long driveway to the house. ” Can, this house if so beautiful, she said, reaching across to stroke his face, “ Thank you for this surprise.” Sanem had wanted to write down in her notebook, all her feelings and thoughts about their trip home, so she took her book and got comfortable on the back patio, while Can checked the time in Peru. Within minutes he had Maria on the phone, ” Sorry to call so early in the morning, but me and my wife were wanting to check in Beni, is he doing ok?” Can asked. Maria was glad to hear from them, but hesitant to give them a report on Beni, ” Mr. Divit, the baby has had another bout with his lungs, but he seems to be fine now, other than missing your wife that is. He has definitely realized she’s not here.” She replied. Can asked about Luis, ” Well, it’s about the same with him, he’s fine, but there’s a sadness about him since you’ve been gone.” She said. His heart sank, knowing the feeling the young boy must have. Sanem was quick to ask what Maria had said, but Can let out the part of Beni’s sickness, just telling her he had been missing her. She looked down, ” I knew he would, but he’s so tiny, he’ll forget about me soon.” She said, fighting back the tears. Can felt like it was time to start planning for a child of their own, it might be the only way for her to come to terms with losing Beni. The dinner was great, and the time alone was just what they needed, as he held Sanem in his arms, but he felt a distance from her that only meant, she still had Beni on her mind. 

Sanem had tried to sleep, but as the night wore on, she found herself sitting on the balcony, looking out over the huge backyard. She worried deeply about Beni, and the trouble with his lungs. She wanted to be there for him if he had another bout with his infection, but she was here and he was there. How would it be possible? Maybe they could bring him here, her head was overrun with thoughts. Would Can allow them to take Beni, move him here with them. They had more than enough room. They had enough room for all the children at the orphanage. Her head spinning, she wanted to wake him up right then and talk to him about it, but she knew better. 

She smiled, what a fabulous idea to bring him here, and Luis too.

She already had their rooms decorated in her head, when she heard him call her name.

” Sanem, babe where are you?” He said. “I’m out here on the balcony. Come, I have a great idea.”

Chapter 30

6 MONTHS LATER……

” Can, they will be here in an hour, please let’s wait until tonight for this.” She said, as he was kissing her neck and nibbling on her ear. He whispered, ” You know, you just can’t plan these things, when the feeling hits, there’s nothing I can do about it.” And it’s really hard for me to control myself around you.” He said, letting his hands slid down her silky skin. He felt her inhale, and hold her breath, as that tingle from his touch made its way through her body. ” Can, I need to get dressed,” she said, feeling her defenses slowly drift away. He pushed her against the wall in the closet, his breath coming quickly, as the towel that was wrapped around her dropped to the floor. His eyes scanned over her, and with that slight, halfcocked smile that always got him what he wanted, she closed her eyes and succumbed to the feeling that he had stirred in her. He lifted her up to meet him, as his desire for her had become full blown, she held on, her arms wrapped around his neck, as he entered her. She felt so good, he had to fight against the urge to release to quickly. But the sound of her saying his name, in that low and sultry voice had always proven to set him off.  He struggled but managed to hang on until she could release with him. It was the best when that happened, the satisfaction was overwhelming as she called out his name, breathless and consumed with desire. He held her there for a minute, braced against the wall, ” Well, that was worth even minute of it, don’t you think my love.” He said, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. She smiled, ” Yes, I think” she said kissing his chest. The sweat had left a shimmer over his body making him glisten. She would never get tired of this, of him, this man she loved. 

She rushed downstairs to get the refreshments ready, ” Can aren’t you ready yet, they will be here any moment.” She yelled up to him. ” I’m coming, what’s left to do?” He said as he hurried into the kitchen. She stopped for a second just to admire him, he had put on his suit jacket over a t-shirt, and his hair was put up neatly in a bun. He would make any woman stop in her tracks, and he was hers. She smiled, ” You look nice, and smell good too. Is this adoption liaison a woman? If it is, we have this in the bag.” She said, giving him a wink. He helped her with the drinks and the snacks that she had prepared, carrying them to the table out on the patio. The weather had cooperated, giving them a warm and sunshiny day, just perfect to help them pass the test of becoming parents. This was the second stage of the process, the first being a meeting in the lawyer’s office that had happened a couple of months earlier. She hoped it would be the same person, but there was no way to tell. This meeting was to see the home life of the prospective parents, and to see if there was ample room to accommodate 2 children. Sanem knew they had that part for sure. They had already met all the criteria as far as financially being able to care for 2 children, so this step was the most important. 

 The doorbell rang and she hurried to answer. The woman on the other side of the door was not the same woman they had met with in the lawyers office, and she seemed a bit stiff. Sanem smiled, ” Hello, welcome to our home, Ms..” The woman nodded, “Ms. Aksoy.” She said as she brushed past Sanem. Can was waiting for them on the patio, a bit nervous at the whole process. The woman stepped out to the patio, ” Hello, I’m Can, so pleased to meet you.” He said extending his hand. She smiled, ” Ms. Aksoy, it’s a pleasure.” She said as she looked around the back lawn. ” This is very impressive; I do have to say and it’s just the two of you living here?” She questioned, eyeing the couple. Can nodded, ” Yes, Sanem and I, we bought this house in anticipation of having a large family.” He told her. She strolled around the patio, ” I will need to see the rest of the house, later though would be fine. Let’s sit and talk a minute.” She stated, setting at the table. Sanem had a huge knot tearing at her stomach as she tried to answer all her questions. ” So, are you not able to have children Mrs Divit?” She asked, her eyes penetrating straight into Sanem’s mind. She knew they were going to ask that question, ” Yes, we just haven’t been lucky enough to conceive yet, but we are still trying.” She said loudly. Then realizing she probably had said too much. But she just smiled at her and asked the next question, ” Why a child from Peru, why not a child from Turkey? There are many deserving children right here in your home country.” She stated, with a firmness in her voice. Sanem’s mouth had gone dry from nerves, and her head was full of emptiness, so Can spoke up, ” We had taken a trip to Peru on business, and it also doubled as our honeymoon. And that’s where we came across the church orphanage, and we fell in love with the children. We developed a special bond with one of the babies there and one of the older boys. So that’s why we want to bring them here and make them part of our family.” 

Ms. Aksoy listened intently, then asked, “ Mrs. Divit, do you work outside the home?” She asked. Sanem blinked hard, trying to make her mouth form the words she wanted to say, ” Umm, not, not now, but I do go to the agency occasionally to consult, but nothing on a regular basis.” She stuttered, feeling the heat rise to her head from embarrassment. ” Mr. Divit, and you, what do you do for a living?” She said. Can cleared his throat, ” Well, I work as a consultant from time to time at my father’s agency, as well, and I’m a freelance photographer.” He explained, realizing how unstable that sounded. She nodded, ” I see, so childcare wouldn’t be a problem, if it was necessary?” She asked, holding that look of questioning in her eyes. Sanem closed her eyes, her heart beating hard, ” Please just let this be over” she said in her head, as the woman stood and asked to see the rest of the house. Can lead here from room to room, describing each area, and when they came to Sanem’s library/writing room, he proudly explained to her that Sanem was an avid reader and was in the process of writing a book, ” This is the best room in the house.” He said, smiling. The upstairs bedrooms had impressed her and even the fact they had already prepared rooms specifically for the two children had not gone unnoticed. With a total of 7 bedrooms, there was definitely room for them and for Can and Sanem to expand their family. 

Ms. Aksoy extended her hand to Can, ” I think I have what I need, I’ll present my report to the adoption board, and they will be in touch.” She explained, nodding towards Sanem. He closed the door behind the woman as she left the house, placing his head against the door. Sanem clapped her hands together, ” Bravo, bravo, I think we just talked our way right out of being able to adopt those babies.” She stated. Can shook his head, ” No, don’t think like that, it will be fine.” He said. She buried her head in his chest, the tears ready to flow, ” Can, we can’t lose them before we even get them” she cried. He felt her pain. His heart had accepted the fact they should have these children, but now it seemed they had another hill to climb.

She clung to him, shaking from the tears. He wouldn’t let this happen.

They had to be able to adopt them, she had to have seen how great a mother Sanem would be.

Everything had to be ok….

Chapter 31

It had been 2 weeks since Ms. Aksoy’s visit, and Sanem was on pins and needles. She begged Can to call the lawyer that was handling there case, to check on the status of their paperwork. She stood in the hallway outside Cans office waiting for the call to be over. Cans end of the conversation hadn’t offered her any consolation, with him only replying, ” Yes Sir,” and No, Sir, I understand.” She entered his office, ” Well what did he say?” she asked wring her hands. ” It seems the application had just been delivered to the board for review, apparently she had a family matter and was out of her office for a few days, so the paperwork just arrived to them. Sanem rolled her head back, closed her eyes, ” So they haven’t even looked at it yet.” She asked, disappointed. Can shook his head, ” Not yet, but Mr. Yilmaz is positive we won’t have a problem.” He said calmly, stroking her face with his fingers. She fell into his arms, that was her safe place, the place that could heal her heart, and take away all her fears. ” Come on let’s go for a walk, let’s take our minds off it for a while.” He said, pulling her towards the door. 

Their backyard was adjacent to the park, though their yard itself consisted of 3 acres, the park seemed to be an extention of it. She had placed bird houses all along the fence line between their yard and the park. Can had a gate installed so they could access the park from the back. The park sat on a sprawling 40 acres, with nature trails and running trails. She loved this place, as they walked along the trail. It was lined with wildflowers, which resembled the scent of her cream. She picked a variety of the flowers as they walked along, to put in a vase at home. The walk had seemed to help relief some of her stress, making her feel a bit better about the process. Can was reassuring, ” Look, Mr. Yilmaz has done many of these types of adoptions, and if he’s not seeing a problem, then we shouldn’t borrow trouble.” He said, trying to ease her stress. She smiled, ” You’re right, as always.” She said, laying her head on his shoulder. 

By the time they had made it back home, Can’s phone had several messages on it from the orphanage. The first message was just that, a message, ” Mr. Divit, when you get this, give me a call back please, thank you.” It said. The next one sounded a bit more urgent, with the last message pleading with him to reply. Sanem had went to the find her vase for the flowers, so he called the number quickly, ” Maria, it’s Can Divit, is there a problem?” He asked, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer. ” Oh, Mr. Divit, I’m glad you called. Beni has taken sick again and we had to bring him to Cusco to the hospital.” He needed oxygen and more advanced care than we could get him at the clinic.” She replied. ” But he is responding well to the treatment and isn’t in any danger, but I just wanted you and your wife to know.” Can’s voice was strained and hoarse as he tried to ask a question, ” Umm, I don’t, umm, I don’t know what to say, should we come, I know Sanem will want to…. are you sure he’s not in danger.?” he asked, his voice breaking up from emotion. The tears formed quickly in his eyes, as he listened to her, trying to concentrate on what she was saying. ” I can’t make that decision for you Mr. Divit, and as far as life threatening, the doctors here have assured me, that it’s not.” But the decision is entirely yours.” He was still holding the phone in his hand when Sanem came in, ” I can’t find the vase your dad got us………Can…..what’s wrong?” She asked, seeing the fear and the tears in his eyes. She yelled, ” Can, what is it, tell me.” He closed his eyes, ” It was Maria, Beni is sick again, but more serious. They have taken him to Cusco to the hospital.” He said, his voice cracking. Sanem nodded, ” Ok, call the airlines, get me a flight out as soon as possible while I pack.” She turned and ran up the stairs. She tried desperately to stay calm, but the fact was… she was scared. 

Can had to pull some strings and give them the story about the sick child, but he got them 2 seats for the flight out at 3:20. That would barely give them time to get the airport, but he knew he would have to get them there. She had stuffed anything she could think of in her bag, when Can came in telling her they needed to leave now in order to get to the airport in time, ” Are you coming to?” She asked, as he grabbed his duffel bag, from the closet and cramped some clothes in. He looked at her, his eyes still red and swollen from the tears, ” Yes, why would you think otherwise. We are in this together, that little boy is our son, so I have to be there with him.” He said, wiping the tears from his face. She felt more for him right now than ever before, as they grabbed their bags and headed to the airport. She called her parents and Aziz, to let them know where they were headed. As they boarded the plane, her heart stayed strong, and in control, ” He will need me when we get there, so I have stay strong.” She told herself. Of course the flight was long and the layovers in Spain and Lima tested her sanity, 19 hours later they departed the plane in Cusco. It was 3:00 in the morning when they arrived, but a hotel was out of the question for Sanem, ” No, let’s take a taxi straight to the hospital.” She demanded. Can had called Maria to let her know they had arrived and was on their way to the hospital. Can was a mess, his heart breaking, but Sanem had yet to shed a tear. She was determined to be ready to take over when she got there. The ride in the taxi was the longest she had ever seen, ” Can do you think he’ll remember us?” She asked, gripping his hand tight. ” What if he doesn’t? I think he will,” she said answering her own question. 

Maria met them in the hallway, ” Mrs. Divit, I’m so glad you’re here, I think he has been looking for you.” She said. ” He’s a little weak, but the doctors are pleased with his progress, come.” She motioned to the couple. The room was dim, and the web of tubes and wires were massive compared to the size of this small baby. She froze for a second, letting her mind catch up with what she was seeing. Can stood behind her, holding her steady, ” Beni, look, we made it, we came.” She said. His eyes opened and a smile crossed his face as she smiled at him, ” Hey there my big boy, how are you?” Maria was in amazement, ” Thats the first smile from him since we got here.” She said to Can. Can relayed the message to Sanem, making her smile even bigger.  

The change had been remarkable, the doctors said. By the afternoon, he was sitting up in his crib, wanting desperately for Sanem to hold him. ” Mr. Divit, I think the worst of it is over, his lungs are functioning almost at full capacity now.” You and your wife may have arrived just in time.” He said, watching the pair play. 

Sanem was glowing, she was happy and content, he thought, looking at her face. 

This was her meaning, to take care of this child. 

And it was his job to make sure she was able to do just that….for the rest of her life.

Chapter 32

Can was arguing with Sanem about finding a hotel room so they could get some rest. “Can I don’t want to leave him. He’ll be scared if he wakes up and we’re not here. And besides I’m not tired.” She said, focusing her attention back on the baby sleeping in the crib. Can sighed, ” Why are you always so stubborn?” He asked, shaking his head. ” You need to get some rest, to be better for him.” he stated, grasping her arm and turning her around to face him. ” What if you get sick, then what, you won’t be able to come in his room and see him, you’ll have to stay away.” He spouted, trying to make his argument as convincing as he could. She frowned, ” They wouldn’t, you just want me to go get some sleep.” Ok but we will get a room close to the hospital and it’s just for a couple of hours.” She announced, seeing the relief on his face. She knew he was just worried about her, but she wasn’t the one to worry about… it was Beni. Can got on the phone, calling the closest hotel to the hospital to book a room. ” Ok, I have our room, it’s just across the street.” He said, watching her as she stood guard over the sick baby. She looked at him, her eyes red and swollen, ” Can, babe, what if something had happened to him, he would have been all alone here. You have to call the attorney. Do something to speed up the paperwork.” She said, standing up straight and delivering her ultimatum to him, ” Because I’m not leaving here without taking them both back home with us.” She stated, her eyes telling him more than her words.

Can told the nurse that he was taking his wife to the hotel across the street to get some sleep, while Beni was sleeping, ” When he wakes up, call us.” He said. ” But she really needs to get a few hours of sleep, so try not to call unless it’s necessary.” He told her. Maria had taken a room in the same hotel, to get some rest herself. Sanem whispered to him, ” We’ll be back soon, you sleep and get better.” She said, gently rubbing his cheek with her hand. He led her out of the hospital and across the street to the hotel, ” I called for a room, Divit is the name.” He told the clerk. Sanem was all but out on her feet, feeling the stress and jet lag of the past few days hit her like a brick. Can was carrying their bags, trying to help her make their way to the room, unlock the door, all at the same time. He opened the door and got her inside, with just the sight of a bed her body began to shut down. She didn’t know she was that tried until her head hit the pillow, she couldn’t keep her eyes open. Can went to the hallway to get their bags. By the time he came back in the room, she was asleep. He smiled, looking at her, his heart so full of emotions, emotions he didn’t even understand. He sat down in the chair next to the bed, reliving the last hours, and the fear he had. He always had to be strong for Sanem, be positive and sure of everything, but deep down inside he was scared. Scared for that little baby that had come to fill his heart with love and scared for Sanem if something would have happened to him. The release of that fear came fast and hard, as he let the tears roll down his face. 

At some point, Can had fell asleep, he didn’t know how long he had been out. The ringing of his phone made him jump and he fumbled around trying to answer it before it woke her. ” Yes, hello.” He said rushing into the bathroom and closing the door. ” Yes this is Can Divit,”, he said. The call was from the nurse, ” Beni is awake, but he is crying and has been since he woke up. We think he is looking for your wife, or you. There doesn’t seem to be anything physically wrong with him.” She said. ” I hated to call but this has been going on for over an hour now and Maria suggested we call.” Can’s heart was breaking, but he hated to wake her. He washed his face, brushed his teeth and left her a note, saying, ” I’m taking care of Beni, will be back soon.” He rushed across the street to the hospital and to Beni’s room. He heard him before he ever got to the room, the sound of him crying echoing down the hall. He opened the door and walked in, talking to him, ” My my, what seems to be the problem little one?” He said, his voice low and soothing as he leaned over the side of the crib. Beni’s eyes lit up and the crying stopped as he studied Can. ” You are causing quite a disturbance up here, what has you so upset?” He asked, like he was expectant answer from him. The baby giggled and kicked his feet as Can continued to talk to him. The nurse smiled, leaving the room to let Can and Beni have their time. The doctor arrived sometime later, relived that the baby had calmed down. ” Well, it seems the best medicine for this child is you and your wife,” he said, checking the baby over. 

Sanem woke startled, not sure where she was. She looked around, ” Can. Can, where are you?” She called out. She looked for her phone to get the time. She had slept at lot longer than a couple of hours she thought as she started to the bathroom. The saw the note on the table, ” I’m taking care of Beni” she read, “now what does that mean?” She thought, her heart skipping a beat. Had he gotten worse and he didn’t want to wake me. She grabbed her phone and bag and started to the hospital, her feet barely touching the ground. ” If something has happened and he didn’t wake me, he’s in deep trouble.” She mumbled as she crossed the street. She saw Maria down the hallway talking to the nurse, her heart racing with anticipation as she came closer, ” Maria, Beni?” She said looking at her with fear. Maria smiled and opened the door of Beni’s room for Sanem to see in. The room was bright with the curtains open and the sunlight filling the room and there was her husband and Beni, playing patty cake together. They both were laughing and Can was overplaying the whole thing making it even more adorable. The sight of it made her happy, happier than she had been she they arrived there. ” Well, here you are” she said. ” And how’s this adorable little guy?” she asked as Beni squealed with delight at the sight of her. Can looked around at her, a smile on his face, ” Good morning my love, we were just having a man-to-man talk, you know, one of those serious ones.” He replied as she took Beni from him. Her faced changed just looking at him, it took on a glow he hadn’t seen in a while. He felt it too, that connection, that blending of hearts.

This was the way it was supposed to be, he thought as he watched them together. She was his savior, and he was her heart. He knew this was meant to be. 

He felt complete, as he looked at her, so happy and content.

Chapter 33

Can had gone to the hospital cafe to get some dinner for them. Sanem and Beni were having their time together, as usual she had him laughing and playing, like nothing was wrong. As he walked down the hall with their food, the doctor met him, ” Mr. Divit, Beni is so much better now. I don’t think we will be able to keep him past tomorrow. I know the situation you’re in, but he may have to return to the orphanage if you haven’t gotten his paperwork by then.” The doctor stated. Can winched at the thought of having to tell Sanem. He knew it wasn’t what she would want to hear. ” Ok, thank you for all that you have done for him, I’ll take care of it.” Can said. He put on a smile and went into the room, ” Dinner is served my lady,” He announced, as he bowed down to her, spreading the food out on the table. She laughed at Can, which in turn made Beni laugh. Can had come to love that sound of his laughter and would do anything to hear it. Sanem was starving so she dived right into the food, talking incessantly about all the plans for the children once she got them home. Can had to wait a couple of hours before he could call the lawyer because of the time difference, making it almost almost bedtime for them. But he couldn’t wait any longer, he would have to do everything in his power to make this happen.

Beni was fighting sleep again, doing anything he could not to close his eyes. Can overheard one of the nurses tell Maria, ” I think he doesn’t want to go to sleep, because he’s afraid they won’t be there when he wakes up, he’s a changed baby since they arrived.” Can smiled to hear the comment, but wanted to cry at the same time, if a small twinge of doubt lurking in the back of his mind, ” What will happen if they don’t give him to us, how are we both going to move on.” He discarded the thought almost instantly, he had to be positive, ” Don’t let negativity get to you.” He thought, looking at the clock. Sanem was going through their nighttime ritual of stroking his face and humming to him, he fought as hard as he could to stay awake. But after a few minutes his eyes slowly closed and his breathing became deep and slow. She attached her hand to his fingers, not wanting to let go, loving the feel of his skin. It was so soft and inviting, and even with the smell of medicine and disinfectant heavy in the air, the scent of this child made its way to her heart. She would never forget this smell, his smell, the smell that had stayed with her since they had returned home. She noticed that Can had stepped out of the room, she was alone with him, and she felt like they were the only ones he could depend on and she was going to make sure she didn’t let him down. After a minute she started to the door, when she heard the sound of Can’s voice on the phone, ” Mr. Yilmaz, we don’t have a lot of time here. Yes, we are here now with him. I will pay whatever it takes to speed up the process, we have to have those papers ASAP.” Can said, his voice sounding urgent. He ended the call by saying he would call back in an hour, then he turned to see Sanem standing there, staring intently at him. ” What did they say, is it just a bunch of red tape, or what?” she said, squinting her eyes at him. He took a deep breath, ” Yes, the timeline is screwed up, and they have to summit these papers to the court and then send them to us.” He said rolling his eyes. Sanem smiled, “But we get them, right? They are going to let us have them, is that what you’re saying?” She spouted, her eyes lighting up. Can smiled slightly, ” Yes, I guess that is what I’m saying,” he said, taking the time to let it sink in. He had been so worried about getting the paperwork, he had completely overlooked the fact they were actually going to get the boys. She threw her arms around his neck, ” I can’t believe it Can, we will get to take them home with us!” She squealed in his ear. 

Maria had been listening and watching the couple and the relief of knowing they would be able to take the boys made her happy. She had hoped they would since the first day she showed up at the orphanage. The scene was a happy one and it touched her heart, but the fact they would still have to leave the hospital the next day and return to the orphanage with Beni hadn’t been addressed yet. Sanem hugged her neck when she approached the couple, and there was no need for translation for the two women. Maria could see the pure delight in Sanem’s eyes. Can had to tell her that they would have to take Beni back to the orphanage the next day if they didn’t get the papers that would allow them to take the boys out of the country. Sanem went back in Beni’s room, she just wanted to watch her son sleep, she said, the words touching Can heart. He took Maria aside, ” What will we do if you have to take him back? She will be devastated.” He said. It was time to call the lawyer back so Can moved down the hall, away from the door. ” Mr. Yilmaz, I hope you have good news for me.” Can said, holding his breath. ” Yes Mr. Divit, I was able to get an emergency decree of guardianship so that will allow you to leave the country of Peru and enter the country of Turkey with the boys. And the permanent paperwork will follow in a week or so, along with the official adoption papers.” He said. Can’s head was swirling, with his trying so hard to listen to what he was saying. A fax number, they needed a fax number, the lawyer said, as Can looked around for some help. With the number delivered to the lawyer, all he had to do now was wait for the paperwork to come in. He leaned back against the wall, he was trying desperately to control himself. They were his, he had two sons. His head was trying hard to grasp it. He stood guard over the fax machine at the nurses station, waiting, with the nurses watching him, giggling at how nervous he was. Within minutes he heard the machine click on and then he watched as the paper feed through the machine…there it was…the paper that would make the rest of his life full and happy, he thought, as he gathered up the sheets of paper from the machine. He quickly scanned over the documents, ” Yes, this was it.” He said, as he turned and hurried down the hall to Beni’s room.

Sanem had closed her eyes for a minute, her body feeling tired and weak from the ordeal. But she was happy, happy that she would be able to take the boys home with them, happy that their home would be full of their sounds of laughter. She felt his presence and opened her eyes.

He smiled, ” Are you ready to go home?” He asked, holding the papers up in front of her.

She focused on the paper, her eyes reading it quickly, ” Are they ours Can?” She asked, her voice in a whisper. She collapsed into his arms, holding onto to him as the tears of joy streamed down her face.

Chapter 34

Sanem was too excited to sleep. Maria had gone to her room for some rest before her trip back to the orphanage. Can was on the phone getting their flights all booked for the trip back to Turkey. He glanced at his wife, who seemed to be glowing as she leaned over the side of the crib, watching the baby sleep. She let all the thoughts run through her mind, ” I hope our parents will accept them,” she thought, but why wouldn’t they. He looked so precious as he slept, so innocent and giving. She closed her eyes, thanking the powers that be, for making it all happen. Can startled her as he spoke, waking her up from her daydream, ” Ok, we’re all set, it took some doing up. I got us a direct flight to Rome, with just an hour and a half layover, then the flight home.” He said, sounding exhausted. The first train would leave for AquaCalientas at 5:00am, and him and Maria planned to be on it. It would arrive there at 10:15, barely giving them enough time to get things together for Luis and Beni and for Can to catch the return train to Cusco at 1:30. He would have to leave Sanem and Beni alone there while he made the trip, something he wasn’t too keen on, but the rough train ride would be too hard on Beni. 

Maria was back at the hospital at early, eager to get the train, but the goodbye to Beni was harder than she had anticipated. She had taken care of the baby since he was a week old and she had grown to love him. She knew this was the best thing that could have happened to him, the love the three had for each other was more visible every day. Can had made arrangements for a crib to be delivered to the hotel room for Beni when he was discharged from the hospital. Sanem would take him to their room and wait there for Can to return later that evening with Luis. It still seemed like a dream to her, she was now the mother of two boys, just like that. It probably wouldn’t sink in until they were home and she had them safely tucked into their beds that first night. Can and Maria hurried off for the train, with Sanem left to take care of checking Beni out of the hospital and getting him to the hotel. The nurses put together a care bag for her, filled with baby bottles, milk, some diapers, and a couple of outfits for him, just enough for them to get by until they made it home. She thanked them wholeheartedly and one of the nurses even helped her get everything carried to the hotel. Then she was all alone, just her and Beni, she felt so powerful and whole, like this is what she was meant to be. The day passed slowly, with not a lot to do there in the room. Beni did keep her entertained while they waited. 

Can was excited to see Luis and wondered if he would just as excited. Maria had already called the priest to inform him of their arrival. He was more than happy to tell the young boy what was going on.  The train arrived in AquaCalientes on time and Can and Maria made their way to the orphanage. Can walked the hallway down to the school room, his feet barely touching the floor and his heart beating fast with anticipation. He opened the door and his eyes scanned the room, looking for the young boy that had captured his heart. Luis jumped up from his chair and ran across the room, ” Mr. Can, you’re here! I’m so glad!” He yelled, throwing his arms around Cans waist. Can picked him up, holding him tightly in his arms, ” Yes, I’m here to get you. You’re going with me this time.” He said smiling at the boy. It took a while to gather his things and for him to say goodbye to his friends. They were the only family he had known for the past several years, so this would be a big change for him. Luis held his hand as they walked to the train station, ” So I will live with you now?” he asked as they took their seats on the train. Can nodded, ” Yes, is that ok with you?” he asked, looking at the boy. ” My wife is waiting for us in Cusco, along with Beni and we will fly to Rome tomorrow and then on to Istanbul.” He explained. Luis looked out the window, seeming to be deep in thought, ” So, are you my papa now, and your wife will be my mother?” He asked, his eyes full of tears. ” Yes Luis, I hope this is what you want, because we want you to be with us forever, you and Beni.” Can said, fighting to hold back the tears. The young boy smiled, ” I dreamed about it and I wished for it, usually those things never come true for me, but this time it did.” He said, wrapping his arms around Cans neck.

Beni’s energy had been regained and he was crawling everywhere, in the hotel room. She was following after him, trying to keep him out of harm, but he thought it was a game, so he only crawled faster, making them both laugh. She looked at the clock, seeing it was almost time for Can to be back with Luis. The excitement of having her family together was almost more than she could stand. She had phoned Leila to tell her the news and give her their flight time, ” We’ll be there to pick you all up, I’m so excited for you both.” She said. Sanem asked, ” Will Emre come with you?” Leila giggled, ” Yes, Abla he asked me to marry him, and I said yes. But he still has to ask for my hand.” She replied, the excitement oozing from her voice. Sanem was happy for her, and it seemed she had tamed the elusive Emre Divit, the most eligible bachelor in Istanbul. ” I’m so happy for you both,” she said, ” and you’re now an aunt to 2 wonderful boys. I can’t wait for you to meet them. Tell mom and dad that we’ll be home in a couple of days with a big surprise.” The train ride was long and rough, and Luis quickly fell asleep, his head leaning on Cans shoulder. The sight of this boy made his heart happy, and he made a promised to himself to take care of him and love him for as long as he lived. Luis would never be lonely or feel like he wasn’t loved, as Can thought back on the years he spent alone in boarding school. How unworthy he felt all those years, even when his father would come or he would go home for holidays, that feeling of home was always missing. His family, Sanem, Beni and Luis were now his home, no matter where they were in the world, they were his home. 

Sanem stared out the window, watching for Can and Luis to come down the street. The train station was only a few blocks away so it shouldn’t take them long to get there. Within minutes her eyes spotted them, first Can, then Luis, they were on their way. She grabbed Beni, pointing out the window, ” Look, her comes your daddy and your Abi,” she said, her heart loving the sound of those words. She opened the door of their room and wat has they walked down the hall, ” Can, did everything go ok?” she asked. He nodded, ” Yes, I think we’re all ready to go home.” Luis hugged Sanem so tight and so long Beni began to cry and tried to force his way between them. They all laughed.

Later as she watched the two boys play on the floor, the feeling of having her own child, a child that is carved from the love she has for Can, surfaced again, with a deeper meaning than ever before. It had been a year, maybe it wasn’t in the cards for them to have their own child, but she hoped that she was wrong, as she watched the man she loved.

Chapter 35

The trip home had been a long one, but neither of the children complained. It was an adventure of a lifetime for Luis and Beni was still too young to know the meaning of it all. There was a longer delay in Rome, so the arrival time of Istanbul had been pushed back by an hour. The plane landed at 7:30pm and with an hours drive from the airport to their house, it was going to be a late night for both the boys. Leila and Emre met them at the gate with open arms, just as excited as they were to meet the children. ” Sanem, Beni is adorable,” Leila said, hugging him tightly to her. Sanem smiled, ” I know, I just can’t get enough of him.” She exclaimed, her face filled with love. Luis had never seen a place this large before, as they drove through the city towards their home. His eyes were wide and full of wondering. ” Dad is this all just one town?” He asked, making Can smile. He had accepted the change of events and the new order of his life very quickly, as calling Can dad had rolled of his tongue with ease. ” Yes son, it is, and this isn’t all of it either. We’ll take a tour of the whole city very soon.” Can said. The two exchanged a glance that warmed Sanem’s heart, as they acknowledged their new titles. 

The arrival at the Divit Mansion was low key, the rest of the family would wait until tomorrow to meet the boys. Luis was taking it all in as he walked the rooms on the first floor with his mouth open. ” So this is just our house, just for us?” He asked staring at Sanem. She smiled at him, ” Yes Luis, this is our home, your home, for the rest of your life. Beni had already adapted to it all, scooting around on the floor, exploring everything at ground level. Leila and Emre delivered the news of their upcoming marriage and the proposal of having the wedding there. ” It’s seems only fitting to have the wedding here, since this home is what brought us together.” Emre said, looking into Leila’s eyes. Sanem squealed with delight, hugging her sister tight. ” Yes, yes, yes! That would be perfect!” She said, turning to give Emre a hug. She was seeing a different side of Emre Divit, a softer side, a side that she was beginning to love, as the couple said their good nights and left. Leila and Sanem would get together to plan the wedding as soon as they got settled into their new lives. 

Luis loved his room, ” This room is bigger than the room at the orphanage and it was for all 4 of us.” He said, his eyes tearing up. He hugged them both and got ready for bed. ” This is your bathroom, just for you, so you don’t have to share.” Can said showing him around. Within minutes they had him tucked in bed and he was drifting off to sleep. Beni’s room was the one closest to their bedroom, just so they could hear him in the night. He had already fell asleep in Sanem’s arms so they tucked him in and watched as he snuggled down in the blankets, looking content and happy. ” Can how did we get so lucky? We managed to find two perfect children for us.” She said, as they stood in the doorway of the nursery. Can kissed the top of her head, ” It was meant to be,” Can said, ” We were supposed to find them and bring them here.” He stated, his heart full of love for her. 

Over the next weeks, the new family settled into a routine. Luis quickly got used to the huge home and yard. Can had fixed part of the backyard up with soccer goals so they could play anytime they wanted, which was all the time for Luis. Can loved playing with them, even Beni would try and kick the ball around. Only days after getting them home, Beni had decided that crawling was just a waste of time and took his first steps while watching Can and Luis in the backyard. Life had become magical for the couple, as the two boys adapted to their new family. Her parents as well as Aziz, had welcomed the children into their hearts, with the boys feeling the same, especially with Nihat. They had bonded quickly with the soft-hearted grandfather. Both Can and Sanem fell into bed each night exhausted and happy with their new life, but the desire for his wife was never overshadowed by the feeling of being tired. She gave him that energy he needed, that revival of a lust for her that would never die. 

Leila and Sanem had planned a perfect wedding in 3 months. It was outside, under the stars, with lights strung everywhere. The magic of this place had touched the couple, bringing them together for the rest of their life. That was something Can thought would never happen for his brother. But he couldn’t have been happier for them. Sanem knew how special this place was, even from a young child when she came here to dream, she felt the mystical aura that surrounded it. It had brought her the love of her life and the family she wanted so badly. But as the timed passed by the hope of them having their own children became more definite and demanding in her thoughts. Another 6 months had gone by and their lives had molded into happiness, with each day being filled with laughter and love as they watched the boys grow. Luis had found a lot of friends in the new school and become quite the social butterfly, as he got involved in soccer in school. The language had been easy for him to pick up, Can worked with him intently to make it easy for him. Luis was a quick learner and school had never been a problem for him as he excelled at everything he did. 

To say their life was perfect was an understatement, but there was still that desire to have their own child, at least for her there was. She hadn’t even spoke to him about it, but at some point she knew she would have to. It had been a year since they had brought the children here to their home. Beni was 2 years old now and thought for sure he didn’t need her anymore, as he became more independent and strong willed. Can told her she was being ridiculous, ” Babe, this is what your supposed to do. Raise them to be strong and able to take care of themselves.” He said, trying to ease her fears. The act of trying to conceive had never lessened and the desire of each other only grew stronger as time went by. 

Can knew she had something on her mind that night, as he held her in his arms, “Sanem, you want to say something, but don’t know how, I know you.” He said, raising her face to meet his. “What is it, are you getting tired of me?” He said, smiling at her, his eyes begging her to talk. “No, not at all my love.” She said, stroking his beard with her fingers. He loved it when she did that, it was so pure and intimate to him. She sat up on one arm, looking at him, ” I think it’s time we start trying to have our own child, it’s what you want…. isn’t it?” She asked. He smiled, ” I thought that’s what we have been doing.” He whispered, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “No. Yes, well I mean get serious about it.” She said, trying to hide her embarrassment. Can smiled, ” Sanem we have been married for 3 years and never once have we used protection. I think we have been serious about it. It will happen my love, when it’s time.” He said, rolling over on top of her. ” But we can get real serious if you want,” he said, sending that chill through her body with just that look. 

“I’m ready whenever you are. What’s that saying” ‘Ready and Willing’.” He said. 

She giggled, ” Ready and willing has never been our problem.”

Chapter 36

Can had taken on a few jobs with the agency, just to help out. The company had taken a growth spurt and were seeing sought after from some of the major companies in Istanbul. His dad wanted him and Sanem back full time but Can wouldn’t hear if it, ” Dad I need to be there for Sanem and the boys, it’s a lot of work and taking care of the house itself is time consuming.” Sanem and Beni would come to the office sometimes, when Can had to work, but he always spent more time playing with Beni than working. Sanem didn’t have much desire to come back to the agency but need to write was still foremost in her mind. She would take her notebook with her then they played outside to record everything they did, she had lost count of the number of notebooks she had stacked in her desk in the library. 

The day started out chaotic as usual, Can was going to the agency, for a few hours and then to school to watch Luis’s game, ” Sanem why don’t you and Beni come with me to then office and then we’ll go to the game together, I know my dad and Mihriban would be happy to see Beni.” He said, as he kissed her on the neck. Both of the boys yelled, ” Yuck, don’t do that to mom.” Snarling up their noses. Can laughed, ” Why, your mother loves it, don’t you mommy?” Can said, intentionally smothering her face with big sloppy kisses. The boys howled in laughter, as Sanem pretended to fight him off. The boys had grown so much since that first day they arrived in their new home. Beni had just turned three and Luis’s 11th birthday was just around the corner. Can shooed Luis to the bathroom to brush his teeth, while Sanem got Beni dressed to go with Can. Everyone in the office was glad to see Sanem and Beni, but Beni was especially glad to see CeyCey. He ran to him, always ready for a hug from him, ” Uncle CeyCey, can I set at your desk with you.” He begged, with CeyCey at the mercy of the small child. Sanem laughed as the two buddied up at his desk together. She went to find her sister, she hadn’t seen her in a while, and she wanted to catch up with her life. She saw her in Emre office and she watched for a minute, the couple looked so happy as he hugged her before she left the room. She came out the door and met Sanem in the hall, ” Abla, how are you?” she asked, hugging her up close to her. Sanem felt something special about her that day, ” Leila, I’m fine, how are you?” She asked. Her sister hurried her into her office, ” Sit down Sanem. I’m so glad you came today,”  she said her eyes filling with tears. 

Emre and Can were in a meeting their dad and Mihriban. A campaign for a major cosmetic firm had them all working hard to deliver the best ad ever. ” Emre, Can, if we snag this campaign the agency will be set for a long time,” Aziz said. ” And Can I would love it if you and Sanem would return to work, as least on a part time basis to manage it.” He announced. Can knew Sanem would be good for this campaign but getting her to agree would be the thing. ” Dad, I’m not sure, let me talk it over with Sanem. That means we would have to get a nanny for Beni in the day, and I’m not sure if either one of them would go for that.” He stated. Aziz was adamant about it, ” We will work around it son, Beni can always just run around here with all of us if need be.” Maybe he could start learning the business.” He said, giving Can a wink. Can knew he had his work cut out for him if he was to convince Sanem to return to work. ” I can’t make any promises dad, but I will talk to her about it. You know we’ve been trying to have a baby, so that has her undivided attention right now.” He said. Emre perked up in his chair, ” Oh really, I thought…” Can looked at him, ” You thought what?……that we wouldn’t want any more children? Well you’re wrong. We both want more babies.” He said, defiantly. Emre shifted his eyes away, knowing he had touched a sore spot with his brother. Aziz spoke up, ” Great…. but you can work and still try to have a baby, right?’ He said, trying to lighten the mood. 

Had she heard her sister right… she was pregnant, she was going to have a baby. The very thing that was in her own mind constantly, and Leila and Emre were going to have it. The jealousy started to erupt in her mind, but she fought it, ” Abla… I’m so happy for you both. When did you find out?” She asked, swallowing back the tears of disappointment that was gripping her heart. Leila’s face was beaming as Sanem stayed focused on the news trying to be happy. ” Oh, Sanem, we just found out yesterday. I went to the doctor to confirm the pregnancy tedt and sure enough I’m pregnant! The doctor said I’m 6 weeks along, so we have a long way to go.” . Sanem saw the love in her face and all the jealousy melted away. She knew that feeling of love for another human, though Beni might not have been her flesh and blood, he was nonetheless a child that had filled her heart with love. The sisters hugged, ” Sanem, I have never seen Emre so happy, he’s so excited.” She said. ” Oh, don’t say anything just yet, we’ll make the announcement to the family in a few days, but I’m sure Emre will tell Can.” She spouted. 

They had done all that could be done with the new campaign, all that was left was the presentation. ” Can, do you think you can come to the presentation, I could really use the support.” Mihriban stated, giving him a desperate look. Can smiled, ” Sure, just let me know the day and time.” He said. He had come to admire this woman so much, she had changed his dad, gave him a reason to live again. But for some reason, she hadn’t given his dad the fulfillment of becoming his wife. He didn’t know the reasoning for it and had never asked, but as far as he knew, there wouldn’t be a wedding. But his dad seemed at peace with that decision, and that was all that mattered. Can went to Emre’s office and tapped on the door, ” Hey Abi, can I come in?” He asked, knowing he needed to apologize for his rude behavior earlier. ” Yes, come in. Hey I’m sorry if I touched a nerve earlier, I just didn’t realize…..” Can held up his hand, ” No, I’m sorry for my reaction, it’s just we have tried for over three years now and…..nothing.” He said, rubbing his face with his hand. ” I hope there’s not a problem, but I’m going to keep on trying.” He said, with a smile and a slight laugh. Emre was never good at hiding his feelings, as he hung his head, wanting to tell his brother his news, but afraid of the effects of it, ” Emre, hey what is it? I know that look, what’s wrong?” Can asked, draping his arm around his brother shoulder. 

” Ok… well, don’t tell anyone, but….and don’t be upset, Leila just found out she’s pregnant.”

“We’re going to have a baby Can, can you believe it?”

Can smiled, but the news stabbed him in the heart… ” Really? I’m so happy for you!” he said, giving him a hug.

Chapter 37

They were both quiet on the way home, Sanem still hearing those words echoing in her head, “I’m pregnant, isn’t it wonderful.” She hated the way she felt, she wanted to be happy for them, but it was clearly not the news she had wanted to hear that day. Can looked at her, that sullen look that he always thought humorous, was very visible. ” Sanem… hey whats wrong?” he asked, reaching over and pinching her cheek. ” What happened to make you so upset today?” He asked. She jerked around to look at him, ” I’m not upset, I just” she stopped mid-sentence, looking away from him as the tears of frustration welled up in  her eyes. ” You just what?” Can asked but knowing the answer before she even told him. She swallowed down the knot that grew in her throat, ” Did Emre tell you, did he tell they are pregnant?” She said, looking at him with those eyes full of hurt and betrayal. ” Yes, he told me,” Can said, looking away from her so she wouldn’t see those same feelings that had festered up inside him too. ” Sanem, it will happen for us. Please don’t worry, I think you worry about it too much, just relax about it.” He said, stroking the soft skin on her arm. Beni had been listening, ” What is pregnant mean,” he asked, making them both blink a few times, looking at each other. They had completely forgotten he was in the backseat, ” Oh it’s just a grownup word.” Sanem said, wrinkling up her forehead. He seemed satisfied with her answer for the moment, but if she knew her son, he would be visiting that word again and asking for an explanation.

Can and Luis were beyond happy with the win of the game and with the fact that Luis had made the winning goal. ” You were fantastic son. I couldn’t have played it better myself.” He shouted as they made their way to the car. Luis had a permanent grin plastered on his face. The approval of his father was what he strived for, always had been, from the days in the orphanage when they played soccer together, he had only one goal, and that wasn’t to score, but to make Mr. Can proud. Now it was to make his dad proud. Beni imitated his dad by giving his older brother a high five, ” Good job Abi.” He said, making Can and Sanem giggle. The boys had a great relationship, even with the age gap Luis always had time for his little brother. All of this should have made her feel fulfilled and satisfied with her life, but still that need to carry his child and nurture it inside her was overwhelmingly taking her over.

They had their routine down to a science, the boys knew exactly what to do, Luis immediately did his homework while waiting for dinner. Which was usually a joint effort between the two parents. Then Luis preferred to read in his room until bedtime and Beni was always full of life, entertaining his parents until the last minute. But by 8:30 each night the pair would be willing to turn out the lights and go to bed. That would leave the rest of the evening for Can and Sanem. Their desire for one another had never been greater, with each night bringing the full recurrence of their love. This night she had been quiet afterwards, he knew she was thinking about Leila and Emre, ” Hey my love, where are you, cause I’m feeling a little neglected over here.” He said, lifting the sheet for her to snuggle in next to him. The feeling of her body next to his was his favorite thing in the world. She smiled and slid across the bed, entwining her body with his. ” Hmm,” he moaned, drawing in the scent of his wife, ” That’s more like it, you don’t want me to feel used do you.” He said with a smile, tracing her lips with his finger and letting it move intentionally down her neck, then on to her chest and letting it finally reach her breasts. She shivered, her mind shifting from her previous thoughts to the movements of her husband. Her body tingled as he started yet another fire within her, and she knew this one would need a lot of water to put out. His mouth followed the same route as his finger, sending her into that place she never wanted to escape from.

It was 3:00am, why couldn’t she sleep? He had given her every reason to be exhausted and physically spent, but her mind was still active and refused to let her rest. She quietly slipped out of bed and went to the library. Her place, her room of solitude and release. She took her notebook and started to write, at first she didn’t even see the words, they were just words. Then the words started to make sense, they were speaking to her like an inner voice. How selfish she had been, how jealous and self-considered that she couldn’t even be happy for her sister. She wrote for hours it seemed, until Can came in, ” Here you are, how long have you been up?” He asked, rubbing her shoulders with his hands. She quickly closed the notebook, ” For a while, couldn’t sleep, so thought I would write for a while.” She said. “Tea?” He asked, starting to the kitchen. She smiled, her heart lighter and less burden than before, ” That sounds good, do you need help?” She asked, watching him walk away from her in nothing but his boxers, his body moving like a smooth but forcefully strong lion. He aroused every fiber in her body and filled every corner of her heart with love. She knew it would happen when they least expected it and she was more than happy to accept the outcome, whether it was to be or not to be. She had been blessed with the man of ever woman’s dream, and he was devoted to making her happy every night, so what more could she ask for. 

She wrote each thought that was going through her mind, her life with and without him, and she couldn’t imagine the latter. Having to live without his love, his desire of her, his respect for her, that was something she wasn’t willing to do. So if the two boys they had would be all that the universe held for them, then so be it. She had the most important thing already.

He came in carrying the tea, ” Hey, dad wants us to come back to work part time, for the cosmetic campaign. He things you would be great for the development of the ad.” I told him I didn’t think you would but..” She turned quickly, ” That sounds great, I think it would be fun. But I thought Mihriban would run the ad?” She said, feeling her heart flutter he just a little at the thought of working again. Can stared at her, ” You want to, really? But what about Beni?” He wasn’t sure if she had taken him into consideration. ” We would have to get a nanny or take him with us. Are you good with that?” He asked. And once again, this woman that had captured his heart, that made him happier than life itself, surprised him, ” I know, so whatever you think will be fine with me. I’m sure everyone in the office would help out with him.” She said her eyes flashing with excitement.

” You’re sure? I want you to be sure.” He said, studying her. 

“Yes, my love I’m sure.” She said, as she walked across the room to him.

She took the teacup from his hand, ” Now, let’s see if we can inspire the next chapter in my story,” she said as she ran her fingers through his hair.

Chapter 38

7 MONTHS LATER

” Sanem, do you have the new graphics ready for the ad yet? They need to go to the printer?” Aziz asked, sticking his head in the office door. ” Grandpa.” Beni yelled, ” I want to get ice cream but mom’s too busy, can you take me?” He asked, clinging onto his leg. Sanem shook he head, ” Beni, I told you later, grandpa is busy too, so just be patient, please.” She looked at Aziz, with a sorry look on her face. Aziz smiled, ” I would love some ice cream. Mother, if you don’t mind, I will take him for ice cream and then across the street to the park.” He said, his eyes lighting up. Beni, screamed and jumped up ready to go. Can walked in, ” What’s going on?” He asked. “We’re going for ice cream, just me and grandpa.” Beni said defiantly. And off they went, hand and hand, down the hall. Can staring after them, ” I think that boy has grandpa wrapped around his finger.” he stated with a smile. Sanem had been so busy she hadn’t heard half of what he said, ” Hey there, Mrs.Divit, your husband is talking to you.” He chimed, waving his hands in front of her face. She looked up, ” Sorry babe, just trying to get these graphics in so they can get to the printer. What were you saying?” She said, leaning in towards him, giving him her undivided attention. ” I say, let’s finish up and call it a day.” He said, staring into her eyes, delivering a message loud and clear. She smiled, ” Sounds good, but what about Beni? He just left with your dad.” She said. 

Before they either one could say another word, Emre yelled down the hall, ” Can, Sanem, come on, Leila just called, her water broke… it’s time.” He spewed, as he started down the hallway. Sanem grabbed her bag and then followed Emre out, trying to calm him down. ” No Emre, I’m driving, just get in the back and shut up.” Can said, starting up the car and taking off. After picking up Leila, the ride to the hospital was pure pandemonium, with Emre losing any and all control at the sight of his wife in labor. They arrived at the hospital with no time to spare as they wheeled her down the hallway. Sanem had called their parents and they were on their way, but they neither one had arrived yet. With Aziz having Beni, he was the last to arrive, after the Aydins. Emre was in a state of shock, vowing this would be their one and only child after witnessing the true sense of the word labor. But within two hours, they had welcomed into their lives a baby girl, happy and full of life. The feeling of emptiness crept in as Sanem walked into the room, looking at her sister and the tiny baby she had just brought into the world, ” Abla, she is beautiful, perfect in every way.” She whispered, leaning in to have a closer look. Leila smiled, ” Don’t worry sister, it will happen for you too, I’m sure of it.” She said, knowing the feelings she was having. Sanem nodded in agreement, trying not to get to caught up in her own thoughts, ” The name, you never told me what you were going to name her.” She said. ” Emira, after grandmother. I haven’t told mom yet but that had to be her name.” She stated. Sanem’s eyes glistened with the tears of joy, ” Emira Divit, welcome to our family and our hearts.” She whispered, kissing her tiny fingers. 

The next hour was a whirlwind of emotion, as Mevkibe, Nihat and Aziz welcomed in their granddaughter. Can was just as taken with the tiny human as her own father, not being able to take his eyes off her. Sanem’s feelings for him shouted with joy as she watched the tenderness that he had for this baby. He was a great father and she so wanted to gift him the opportunity to live this experience. Her heart yearned for it. The choice of the name had met with yet another wave of euphoria, as Mevkibe showered the namesake of her own mother with love and kisses. Emre was beyond happy, but still vowed to never live that experience again as he looked lovingly at his perfect daughter. Leila was sure he would forget the trauma he had just been through sooner or later and the need for a playmate for Emira would be evident. Beni had no idea was going on, ” Momma, why is it so small, and why is it crying so much. I think it doesn’t like it here.” He announced, sure he knew the infants secret. Sanem and Can tried to explain it all without a lot of detail. 

It was late when they got home, Beni was fussy and it was way past his bedtime, so they got him down, ready to sit and relax themselves. They missed Luis, but he had been invited to join a soccer camp for a week and he was overjoyed about it. It seemed Can wasn’t handling his absence as well as Luis was, but he would be back at the end of the week. Sleep was hard for again that night, as she thought about Leila and Emira and how happy they both had been. She wanted that happiness, that feeling of being able to hold her own flesh and blood, something that they had created together. She pushed the feelings away, out of her head, but they refused to leave her heart. She wanted it so bad, so bad it almost made her believe she was pregnant. She took this time to write, the middle of the night seemed to be the magic hour for her. It allowed her heart and mind to speak freely as she described her feelings on paper. She wrote out all of her desires, her fears, the plans she had for the future, and they all included the making of their family.

It was 5:00 in the morning when she slipped back into the bedroom and saw him sleeping there, so peaceful and calm, so accepting of everything in his life. She knew he had changed since their meeting almost 5 years ago. He had been a free spirit, a drifter, a maker of his own destiny, until he met her. Now she knew he had willingly sought her, required her to be in his life, needing her to be with him. And she felt the same about him, but her feelings went deeper, they were begging her to give him that gift of a child, their own child, she hoped she could deliver that to him.

She lifted the covers and slipped in, her body forming to him as he slept. He was always so warm; she loved the feeling of his skin she thought as she let her hand glide down his back. He shifted in bed, rolling over to face her, he breathed deeply, ” Sanem, you smell so good,” he whispered, not opening his eyes, but touching her face with his hand. ” Come here, closer to me, I need all of you.” He said, his voice low. She reacted to him, moving closer to him, letting her skin mold to his. That feeling of being as one was strong and defined as they breathed in sync with one another, riding that wave of desire and passion to the end, pleasing each other as only they could.

This time she felt fulfilled, like she had finally made it as she laid there in their bed. Her body seemed charged with electricity, this time was different, she thought. 

Different, but she didn’t know how different. Changed, but just how much…. She would soon find out.

Chapter 39

Sanem had all but taken over the cosmetic account, putting everything she had into it. Mihriban had been more than happy to step back and let her take the reins. She had always thought of herself as a developer of plans, not so much the person to carry them out. So she was on to another project, producing the ground work for another potential customer. That’s the way she liked to work. Sanem was a planner, detailed, one that looked at what was down the road. She likes the in-depth work, they complimented each other well. Her schedule had been hectic, and with Leila still out with Emira, it was looking like some long days ahead. She hadn’t looked up from her desk all day when she felt him there, that feeling of heat rising that she got when he was close by and staring at her. She looked up, scanning the large room until she saw him. He was standing by his dads office door, leaning over the half wall, his eyes fixed on her, beckoning her to follow him. She felt like everyone was staring at them, but she slowly got up and followed him to the conference room. ” I needed to touch you,” he said, running his hands from her face down her neck to her breasts, ” You feel so good, I just had to.” His eyes roving over her. ” Can, someone might come in, please, be careful.” She said, her voice breathless and unsteady. He covered her mouth with his, pressing hard, demanding more of her. She moaned, as he bit at her lips feverishly, letting his hand slip inside her blouse to feel the firmness of her breasts. The sensation startled her, it felt more intense than before, but yet she couldn’t ask him to stop. 

Her head was spinning, she felt lightheaded, but why. She braced herself against him, ” Can, wait, I….” he hushed her. ” It’s ok, no one’s going to come in.” He whispered, attacking her lips again in demand and pushing the blouse off from her shoulder. She reeled, feeling a weakness travel up her body, ” Can, stop!!” She spouted, trying to get a grip on herself. Can quickly stopped and backed away, ” Sanem, are you ok? You’re white as a sheet” he said. She leaned over, grasping the table with her hands, ” I’m not sure, it feels like I may pass out.” She stuttered. He sat her down in the chair, while he ran to the coffee bar to get her some water. She adjusted her clothes, all the while feeling uneasy and weak. She hoped she wasn’t coming down with something, she didn’t want the kids to get sick. Can came back with the water, ” Here drink it slowly, are you ok? My god I’m sorry, I didn’t know you didn’t feel well, or I wouldn’t have started something.” He said, rubbing her face with his hand. Within seconds of the water hitting her stomach, it was ready to come right back out. The rejection of all that was in her stomach came out violently, leaving her little time to do anything but grab a trash basket. 

Can was upset, ” Come on let’s go to the doctor, there’s something wrong.”  He said, not willing to take no for an answer. She recovered soon after the vomiting incident. She tried convincing him she was fine but he drove straight to the doctors office. The wait time was short, with Can ordering the nurse every 30 seconds to get them in. The doctor talked to her for a minute, ” What were the symptoms? Dizziness, weakness, and vomiting, right. Well lets draw some blood for lab work and see from there, and here, we will probably need a urine sample.” He said. The nurse took her to the bathroom, ” Here honey, let’s just go ahead and take this test, just to be sure.” She said, handing her a pregnancy test. Sanem stared at her, ” Are you sure, do you think?” She stammered. The nurse smiled, ” It’s just normal, with your symptoms, it’s just a precaution.” She closed the door, leaving Sanem standing there in shock, ” Could she be? What if she was, my god, what if she was pregnant.” She thought, as she took the test, her hands shaking. She laid the test on the metal tray on the bathroom sink, opening the door to let the nurse know she was done. Her body quivered as she walked back to the exam room. Can stood quickly, ” You ok, they’re going to come to take your blood in a minute.” He said stroking her arms. ” Sanem, your shivering, are you cold? He asked, his eyes full of concern, ” Babe I’m sorry for what I did, I had no idea you were sick.” He said hugging her tight. She smiled, trying to get her head straight, “It’s not your fault, it came on all at once.” 

The nurse came to draw the blood, followed by the doctor, ” Well Mrs. Divit, you seem fine now, but the blood test should tell us your problem, the only thing is it will take about twenty four hours to get the results. The office will call you with the results.” She looked him, her face blank, wondering what had happened with the pregnancy test she had taken. ” Just go with a bland diet for right now until we see what the problem is. The nurse will call you as soon as the results are in.” He said, patting her on the hand as he walked out. Can called the office, asking Aziz and Mihriban to bring Beni and Luis home on their way home, ” Sanem is going home to bed and l really don’t want to leave her.” He explained. ” Of course son, shall we keep them overnight, it wouldn’t be a problem.” He suggested, worried for his daughter. They accepted his offered and Can got Sanem situated in bed, then went to the kitchen to make some soup. Sanem was worried about the pregnancy test she had taken and why the doctor hadn’t said anything about it. ” I guess it was negative, so that’s why he didn’t mention it.” She thought, feeling her heart break. She closed her eyes, she had gotten her hopes up, she had already invisioned herself pregnant, all within the few minutes it had taken her to take the test.

The soup was delicious and the tea he made for her was her favorite. He brought her notebook and pen, ” Here, you relax, write, sleep, watch tv, whatever you want to do, I’ll sleep in the guest room, so I don’t bother you.” He said, feeling horrible for what he had done. She turned to him, “You will do no such thing, you will sleep right here next to me like you have every night since we have been in this house.” She said sharply, her eyes glaring at him. Then she smiled at him, ” I’m always lonely without you next to me.” He nodded, kicked off his shoes and crawled up on the bed. He was all she needed, all she wanted, and whatever the outcome, they would face together. 

She had scared him, more than what he let her know. He held her tight, letting her sleep in his arms.

She was his world. His everything.

Chapter 40

The next morning, he had made her promise on all that was holy, not to move from the bed until he returned. He was taking clothes for the boys to his dads house where they would spend the day with him and Mihriban. His dad had insisted, demanding to let them help out by entertaining the boys for the day. ” We will have fun and of course we will let them do anything they want.” Their grandpa said, giving them a wink. Sanem was grateful for the way they had accepted both boys and taking them for the day was a big help. She was still on pins and needles, anticipating the call from the nurse. She tried not to break the promise she had made to Can, but the afternoon sun was way to inviting as it shined through the wall of glass doors. She wanted to feel the sun on her face, hear the chirping of the birds that lived there in the backyard. 

She felt fine, much better compared to the day before. She felt he was overreacting as always, so she jumped in the shower to relax and maybe it would relief the tension that had set up in her neck. The shower had helped, she thought, as she dried off and slid on a loose fitting dress, feeling a bit more clear headed. She headed to the kitchen for a cup a tea, as she waited for the water to heat her phone rang. She answered, hoping it was the doctors office, ” Mrs. Divit, this is Dr. Kaan’s nurse, how are you feeling today? I hope you’re better.” She said, ” But we do have the results from the tests we took yesterday, and our suspicions were correct. You’re pregnant. The doctor would like to see you in his office in a few days for a routine visit and to set up the proper care you. Mrs. Divit, congratulations, do you have any questions?” She asked. Sanem was in shock, she had dismissed the possibility from her mind when the doctor failed to mention the test she had taken, but now, ” Uhh, oh, yes, why did the pregnancy test I took in the office yesterday not give these results?” She asked. The nurse replied, ” It wasn’t a clear definite result, so he decided to wait for the blood test, but this is for sure, it’s very positive.” She said. Sanem set up an appointment with the doctor for the next week but just before they hung up Sanem asked the nurse, ” Oh, by the way, do you know how far along I am, is there a way to tell.” She enquirer. The nurse explained, ” Not for sure, so it’s best to wait for your ultrasound, which he will probably order when you visit next week. Anything else?” She asked. Sanem was satisfied for now, so they ended the call and she took her tea to the patio and sat down, letting the sun pour over her. The day was hot, but she didn’t notice, all she knew was she was going to have a child, their child. She leaned back in the lounger and closed her eyes. She felt like a miracle had just happened. 

She heard the door close and heard him walk toward the kitchen and out to the patio, ” I knew you would get up. You are so stubborn.” He said walking around in front of her. ” And why are you out here in this heat, come on let’s go in.” He said as he reached for her hand. Her look had taken him by surprise, she looked so happy, not just happy but ridiculously happy. ” Are you ok?” he asked, giving her a concerned look. She smiled even bigger, ” I’m fine, very fine and I think you will be too.” She teased, piquing his interest. ” Did the doctor call? You got the results. Well……what?” He spouted, sitting down next to her on the lounger. ” Can…..Can,” she stammered, afraid to say those words out loud in fear she may jinx herself, ” I’m….we’re pregnant….pregnant….I’m pregnant.” She shouted, throwing her arms around his neck. He heard the words, but his brain was stuck, making the words stay just outside the realm of reality so he just stared at her. She laughed, ” I know…. crazy right. I felt the same way when she told me.” She stated. “But it’s true. We’re having our very own baby.” He finally felt the words penetrate his mind, then they moved on slowly as he looked at her smiling at him, they moved on to his heart, opening up the feeling that had been closed off for so long. His eyes filled with tears, ” Sanem are they sure, 100% sure, I can’t take it if it’s a mistake.” He whispered, his throat tight from the emotion. He surrounded her with his arms, his heart so full it spilled out in the form of tears, as they both felt emotions they never knew existed. 

He wasn’t sure what to do first, did he tell everyone he knew? Did they keep to themselves for a while?”Sanem, so things are fine though, it was just pregnancy sickness?” He asked, feeling panicked. ” I’m fine, we go to the doctor next week to set up the visit and get on my regular care routine. And there will probably be more sickness, so don’t get all hysterical on me when it happens.” She said, giving him a warning look. He promised, but he knew as he was saying the words to her he wouldn’t be able to keep that promise. The rest of the day was lived in harmonious bliss, with them both carrying around a stupid looking smile on their faces. For her the feeling and the realization of it had found a place within her, it had already consumed her soul, making her feel like she was invincible. But Can was still processing the probability of a child, how long they had tried, and waited for the this to happen. He was looking at her now in a whole different way, she was harboring a part of him inside her, she was nurturing, protecting and giving life to the most precious thing they would have to offer the world. They had agreed to keep the news to themselves for a while, at least until the first doctor visit. But Can so wanted to shout it from the rooftop, to deliver their news to anyone that would listen, but he knew she was right. She always wanted to get all the facts first, map out the plan, see the future of it…. then set it in motion. That was her way and he understood her, so they would wait until they saw the doctor together, then they would let the world know.

The next few days passed quickly, with the sickness setting in immediately. It was like she had given the baby permission to make its presence known at every opportunity. So to keep their secret was going to be harder than they expected. She decided to work from home until she got a handle of the new feelings she was having. Can brought his work home too, the need to supervise her was always foremost in his mind. The boys knew there’s was a difference in their mom, and that their dad was acting strange, but a baby was the furthest thing from their minds. But Beni had a special sense when it came to his mom, he was more than loving with her for some reason, he was feeling a deeper connection to her. The appointment day had come, and Can was visibly nervous as they waited in the waiting room. “Mrs.Divit, the doctor will see you now. Mr. Divit.” The nurse said, leading them to the exam room. The doctor came in within minutes, ” Mrs. Divit, how have you been feeling?” He asked, looking over her chart. ” Well, it seems with the results of the test, it opened up the gates on the morning sickness. It’s almost nonstop.” She replied. He shook his head, ” Hmm, well we have a few things to look at here, it seems your hCG level is very high and that was probably the reason the pregnancy test you took here resulted in a negative result. So we will need to look a little further into things.” He said, as he wrote on her chart. 

Can’s heart shuddered inside his chest, ” And what does a high level of hCG mean, exactly?” He asked holding his breath for the answer.

” Well, the primary reason for such a high level of the hormone is that you wife is pregnant with multiple babies. Mr. Divit, are you ok?” 

The blood rushed to his head, as he looked at his wife. They both stared at each other.

” Did you say MULTIPLE!”………

Chapter 41

The rest of the appointment was much like being in a fog and he was drifting out in the middle of the sea and all he could hear was the sound of the warning horns all around him. It was deafening. Sanem was taking it all in, listening to every word, the word “multiple” had sparked a feeling in her that she couldn’t explain. She had been blessed, she indeed was a walking miracle, there wasn’t any other word for it. The doctor suggested an ultrasound for two days later, ” Let’s do the ultrasound, that will give us the information we need, like how far along you are and if you are in fact carrying more than one baby.” He said. ” Let’s not jump ahead of ourselves on this. Mr. Divit, I assure you we will see if my assumption is correct or not, and then we proceed accordingly.” The doctor said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Two days, how were they supposed to manage their anticipation for two days. 

They trip home was made in complete silence, so Sanem had no idea how Can was feeling about the possibility of more than one baby. She watched him at of the corner of her eye, but the blank stare off into space didn’t offer her any clue as to what he was thinking. It wasn’t until they drove down the long driveway to the house, that he finally uttered his first words, ” You know, I bought this house because I knew how much it meant to you, how special it was and it turned out to be a beautiful home. With us being able to bring Luis and Beni here, the feeling of home was only intensified.” He said looking at her with eyes rimmed with tears. She reached over to wipe the one tear from his face that had escaped, gently and slowly sliding down his cheek. She could tell he was trying to come to terms with what they had heard today, so she would let him talk. ” Then the unexpected taming of my brother, while, by the way, happened under the supervision of this “house”…. this was just as unpredicted as us finding the two boys in a small orphanage in Peru.” He stated, methodically. He smiled at her, ” You, you my love are the next miracle of the house, with the conception of our child being a special gift. We are being blessed with more than one.” I truly believe this home is special and will bless us for the rest of our lives.” He pulled her close to him, her smell was even sweeter to him, her skin was even softer and filled with him with more desire than he thought possible.

The day was finally here, with both of them shaking with nerves as they waited outside the exam room. Can looked at her, he could see the determination in her eyes, the determination to except what she had been given. She was already preparing herself for the news, before it even came. The nurse opened the door, ” Hello parents, come on in and let’s find out what we have here.” She said, smiling a smile of confidence. It took a few minutes for them to get things set up, then the doctor came in, ” Well, Mr. and Mrs.Divit, we will get started. This will give us a good base to start with here and of course let us know how many cribs you will need to buy.” He said with a chuckle. The picture on the screen was shaded and garbled as the doctor ran the wand over Sanems abdomen, they both tried desperately to make out anything that might resemble a baby. Within a few seconds the doctor had honed in on a beautiful sound, a heartbeat. Can felt weak, like he had to sit down, as the sound filled his heart. He found the chair behind him a pulled it up next to the bed, watching closely as the doctor continued his search. The rest looked like nothing at all to them, but the doctor made a remake that jarred them, ” Yes, ok, there they are,” he said as he traveled around her stomach in a circle. ” I know it will be hard to see, but….do you see it?” He asked the nurse. The nurse smiled, ” Yes doctor, I see it.”  The doctor hovered over one spot on her stomach, ” There, right there,” he said, circling the place on the screen with the special pen, ” See, here’s one, and right here, is the other one,” he said pointing out the second slightly detectable mass. ” And here “he spouted, ” is the third one. Unless one is hiding, it looks like you have been given three babies.” He said, smiling at them. 

Sanem had already excepted the gift she had been given, so her tears were those of thankfulness. Can was still in a state of shock, he had thought perhaps twins, which was fairly common, but triplets…… he thought as his mind traveled back a few years earlier to the night they arrived home from Peru, ” Sanem, this is our home, our big beautiful home, that we will fill with our children.” His heart pounded, as he watched her open up her heart and surround their children with love with just her eyes. Seeing her look at the screen with such love, made him relax. He took a good look as the doctor was explaining in detail what all the images were. Ok, now he could see them, he was beginning to realize what was happening. Those were his babies, his flesh and blood, made from love. This had all happened in a matter of seconds, his awakening, his dawning of what love really is. He felt a different kind of love burst open in his heart. He was a father.

The news had staggered the family, but nothing could have been more welcomed as they delivered the announcement at a dinner party a week later. Can had completely, totally, undeniably placed those three children in his heart, along with Luis and Beni. He couldn’t have planned anything better his life any better. To meet the woman of his dreams, the one that had been prescribed for him from their beginning, and now this. This was a plan of a higher being. 

The months that followed lead them on a journey of love that sealed them together so tightly, they seemed to merge into one. And the birth of their babies was nothing short of ideal, with Can delivering the final tally to their family waiting outside the delivery door.

” Well, my family has arrived, my wife has given me the most perfectly beautiful babies.” He said, with tears streaming from his eyes. ” We have two girls and a boy, all healthy and beautiful. Sanem is great, they are all doing fine.” He said, hugging her parents and his dad. Days later, after making sure that all four of them were fine, the doctor released them to go home. Can loaded his precious cargo into the car, and drove home, where they had arranged for some much-needed help to be there. As he drove down that long driveway and their house came into view Can looked at Sanem, ” Well, your dream has come true my love, you have the home of your dream and we have filled it with children” he said, smiling at her.

” Yes, and it all started with a stumble in the dark, and “you” the man that caught me.”

How their lives had changed. Ahh, but for the better. This was love beyond…. this was their destiny.

Thank you everyone for reading this story. I hope you got as much enjoyment from it as I got writing it. ” The Real Thing” series was different from the other stories about our loving couple, and I hope you felt the deep love they had for each other just as much in this story as with the others. There is a strong possibility that I will return to this series with a part 4 at a later time, but first I will be focusing on my next story, the part 4 of “The Memories Series,” titled, ” Lasting Memories….The Ones That Fill Our Hearts” and I hope you will continue to follow me on the journey of Can and Sanem Divit.  Thanks……..please watch for my notifications 

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