Hearing my words

Chapter 53

Can wished the weather was as gloomy as his mood, yes, the morning had a chill to it, fall was just around the corner. But the sun was shining and it would warm up soon. He wished it were raining, that would be more fitting for the way this day was about to start.

He looked over at Aziz, he looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep either. Emre looked a little forlorn himself. Can hadn't had time to speak with his Baba this morning but he wished that none of this were about to happen.

"Emre, I, I don't know how or where to start."

"It is ok Baba, I have an idea of what you are about to tell me."

"What? said Can 

"I overheard your conversation last night. I walked up and could hear you talking with Can, he had you on speaker." he looked over at Can. " When Can started telling you what Polen said, I couldn't leave, couldn't walk away. I wish I had but I didn't"

"Ah, Emre. I wish you had heard this from me."

"How long did you know about the affair?"

"I had my suspicions for about a year, she was always taking trips, going shopping or with her girlfriends. I wondered who these girfriends were since she never really seemed to have any. But, I didn't care. I didn't love her and she never love me. I truly found out the day she asked me for a divorce."

"Allah." both Can and Emre said at the same time.

"She admitted she never loved me and had met Leonardo about a year after we were married. She said he was finally leaving his wife, that she had found out about the affair and now they could be married."

"But, that didn't happen!"  said Emre.

"No, his wife told him to either end the affair or she would divorce him and he would be nothing, seems his money was her family money and he would be left penniless if they divorce, her father had made him sign a prenup, that said he would get nothing but what he brought to the marriage."

"So, what happened?"

"Your Anne left that day, packed her bags and yours, took you and left Can. I didn't know why, it didn't even cross my mind at the time. I was as devastated as Can, both of us for different reasons. Can, because she was leaving him and taking you. And me, because she was taking you. I loved, love you as much as I love Can."

"When did you begin to think that I might not be your son?"

"At first,  she didn't want me to see you, but when we finally went through with the divorce, the court gave us joint custody, she could no longer keep you from me.  When Leonardo didn't leave his wife for her, she had made comments or I would overhear conversations when she was dropping you off. She had threatened someone, Leonardo, it seemed, that she would call and tell his wife about the child, she didn't because he must have told her he was penniless and if she told his wife, he would be unable to give her any support."

"Has she always been this way?" Asked Can.

"I think desperate is more like it." Aziz answered. "I never asked her, never pushed the issue, I didn't care,  because you are my son, no matter who fathered you, you are my son. I love you, never will stop loving you."

"why do you think she was desperate?" asked Can.

"Huma doesn't know this but I had done a background check on her. She came from a mahalla, much like Sanem and Leyla, only her mahalla was a lot poorer. I believe that she did whatever she could to leave that situation. She hated being poor so much, she didn't care what she had to do."

"Is that why she treated Sanem so bad?" said Can

"I believe so." answered Aziz

"So, did I hear you right, is this man deceased?"

"evet."

They all sat in silence for a long time, each reflecting on how Huma had impacted their lives, each one heartbroken and with tears in their eyes. Finally Aziz spoke again.

"I lost the love of my life when Huma entered my world." Both sons looked at him with questions in their eyes but didn't ask him about this statement. They knew he would have to tell that story when he was ready. 

They spent the rest of the morning working side by side, no one disturbed them except for CeyCey to bring tea and coffee. When lunch time approaced the two brothers left to pick up the food they had ordered, each needing to breathe fresh air, neither one addressing the issues of Huma. That would take a little more time.

When the two brothers left, Aziz's phone rang, since he didn't know the number he almost let it go to voice mail but something told him to answer.

"Hello"

"Aziz"

"Evet, who is this?

"Aziz, it." the words stuck in her throat.

"look, I am not in the mood for childish games either speak or I will hang up."

"Aziz, it is Mirhiban."