Hearing my words

Chapter 28

Saturday had finally arrived and Sanem was on her way to the mahalla. She had been nervous all day but now she wasn't sure she wouldn't need to have the taxi driver pull over so she could throw up. She was clinching her hands together, the driver watching her in the rearview mirror.

"Miss, are you ok?:

"Oh, yes, thank you. I am just nervous about what I need to tell my parents."

"I am sure it will be ok, just be upfront and honest with them. I am sure they love you very much."

"Yes, my parents are wonderful people. Thank you."

As they neared to mahalla, Sanem text Leyla to see if she had arrived and would she meet her outside. Leyla quickly text her that she and Emre were just pulling up and would wait for her outside. That gave her some relief. Leyla sent another quick test that Can's truck was there so he must already be inside. This made her even more nervous.

The taxi pulled up and Sanem stepped out, quickly grabbed into a tight hug by her sister. The taxi driver rolled down his window smiling told Sanem it looked like she would be ok. She smiled and thanked him as he drove away.

"Let me look at you." said Leyla. "You look wonderful, you have color in your cheeks and are not so sickly thin as you were when you left." She hugged her again before Emre stepped in.

"Let me have her for a few seconds, you know when we get inside your parents will not let go of her." He also hugged her tightly "I am glad you are home if even for a short time. I thought Can would go crazy before you let him know you were ok." 

She smiled at him "I'm sorry I was just not in a good place myself."

"Oh, I know and I am not blaming you for what you did. You did what you needed to and now maybe you will be able to have a fresh start." When she didn't answer he added "Either together or apart a fresh start for both of you is needed."  She nodded her head.

Leyla grabbed her hand "Come on, let's go in before the neighbors call Anne and ask why we are standing out here."  They all laughed because they knew that would happen. Leyla opened the door and she and Emre walked in first. Her Anne ran toward the door and couldn't see Sanem.

"Oh, it is just the two of you."

"Well, that makes me feel very welcomed." Laughed Emre. Mevkibe gave me a look that said she was not amused. They stepped apart and she was speechless. There was her youngest daughter with a smile on her face.

"Anne!"

"Ah, Sanem. My baby, I have missed you so." she said as she took her into her arms.

That did it,  Nihat came running to the door with Can close behind him. Each taking turns hugging her. Can whispered in her ear that he was happy to see her and glad she was home. She gave him a smile that did nothing to assure him that she was there for good. 

Her parents pulled her into the kitchen and they all sat down to eat. Everyone asking her questions about what she had been doing, asking about her book tour, anything to avoid what she needed to tell them. Each one afraid that she was going to say she was not returning to Istanbul but just there for a visit. Only Leyla and Emre knew she was home for good.

After dinner, Leyla and Sanem made tea while the rest went into the living room. Can was so nervous that he couldn't sit down and paced back and forth until the two girls returned. After they had passed out the tea, Sanem sit down by Can, he had made sure that every seat was taken and she would have to sit by him. Sanem laughed to herself because she knew he had something to do with this seating arrangement, she even believed he would have physically moved someone if he could not sit by her.

Nihat was also on his last nerve "ok, Sanem, I think it is time to tell us why you wanted everyone here. I know it wasn't just to have dinner."

Sanem took a deep breath, looked at Leyla for encouragement and the other girl smiled and nodded her head.

"I wanted to tell you about my plans for the future." she said.