Holding On To A Promise

Chapter Twenty Five

Can's text came in before she was even ready, " I'll be there in 10 minutes, should I come to the door" It read. She smiled, and yelled down to her Mom, " Can is coming to pick me up, and he's coming to the door, will you welcome him in?" She asked, hoping for a favorable answer. Mevkibe answered back, " Of course my dear. I'll be glad to open the door for him. Are you about ready to come down for breakfast." Her mother replied. In minutes the bell rang and Mevkibe rushed to open the door, " Can, welcome, come in. We are sitting down for breakfast, won't you join us." Can nodded, glancing around for Sanem, " Thank you, I would love to." He answered as Sanem appeared at the top of the stairs. The sight of her took his breath away, as she hurried down the stairs to greet him. " Good morning Can." She mumbled as she gave him a hug.

He knew this was his opportunity to set the day and time to come for the engagement, but not having anyone that was the matriarch of the family to accompany him may cause a problem. He had Emre but he was his younger brother, probably not suitable for such a thing. The breakfast was delicious and both Mevkibe and Nihat were waiting for Can to propose a day to come for the engagement. With breakfast over Can knew this was the time to ask for the meeting, " Mr. Nihat and Mrs. Mevkibe I'm sure you both know of our intentions, I would like to come to ask for Sanems hand. Tomorrow evening at 7:00, if that would be acceptable for you." He replied, his voice quivering and his heart beating fast. He studied their faces as he waited for their answer. Sanem held her breath as well, for what seemed to be an eternity, before Mevkibe finally nodded. " I think that would be fine, will you have someone come with you?" She asked. Can cleared his throat, " Just Emre, he is the only family I have here right now."  Everyone agreed and the time was set, the excitement of what was about to happen was more than they both could stand.

Her smile was permanent on her face as they drove to the office. He reached for her hand, "Sanem I don't want to wait to marry, lets set the date as soon as possible. I'm thinking of going back to the agency to work and I would love to get married before I do, what do you think?" He questioned, his eyes pleading with hers. She wanted the same thing, to marry quickly, but she wasn't sure if her Mom would be acceptable to that. "Can, I can't think of anything better, but I'm not sure my Mom can put everything together so quickly. Let's talk about it after tomorrow night, ok." She leaned over giving him a kiss in the cheek. He caught her before she could move away, " I need something more than that my future wife" He spoke as they pulled up in front of the law office. He held her tight, letting his hand slid down her arm, feeling the softness of her skin and smelling the sweet smell of her perfume had filled him with desire. He gently found her lips, tasting them eagerly and with demand. It was all she could do to break away, "Can, please we are on the street." She begged, looking around at the people walking by. He sighed, " Ok my love, but after tomorrow night, you won't get away from me so easily." He joked. 

A peck on the window startled them both, "Hey, what are you two doing, it's time to go to work Sanem, are you coming." Metin asked with a smile on his face. " Can, you need to find a job too, so you have something to do with your time." He replied with a laugh. Sanem turned quickly opening the door, " Metin good morning, yes I was just getting out." Sanem told him, shifting her eyes away from his. Can held on to her hand, " Sanem pick you up at 5:00, ok."  She smiled, nodding her head. Metin interrupted, " Can don't you remember, we are meeting tonight for drinks, right there at this bar." He replied, pointing at the club two doors down from the office. Can smiled, " Oh yes, I forgot. But can we meet after I make sure that Sanem gets home safely. It won't take more than an hour to drive her home than come back here to meet you." Metin shook his head, " Of course, at 6:00 then. I'm looking forward to it my friend." He waved at Can as they headed toward the door. Sanem looked back at Can, giving him a smile, as she went, feeling that uneasy feeling creeping in like before. There just wasn't something right with these two, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe their meeting tonight would clear up what was wrong..

Can watched for a minute, not at all comfortable with the way Metin had ushered Sanem out of his truck and into the office. He had already decided to surprise her for lunch, the less that Metin knew about his plans the better, so he hadn't said anything to Sanem about it. He was planning a nice lunch together, at her favorite little outdoor cafe on the coast. She had always loved that place and he hadn't taken her there since he had been back, so today was the day, he thought, as he drove to the agency. Emre was glad to see him, " Abi, why don't you just come back to work, we really need you. You can't just lounge around all day." He begged. Can thought about it for a minute, " Emre I'm coming back but not just yet. Look tomorrow evening we are going to the Aydins, I've already made plans to ask for Sanems hand and I need you and Leyla there. You're the only family I have here so I need you to be there for me, and of course Leyla will be there for Sanem." He announced, with a smile that covered his face. 

Emre was in shock, " Tomorrow night, Can I thought you and Sanem had agreed to take it slow. Does Sanem know you're coming, I mean she has to know, but is she ready for that." Emre stuttered around. Can smiled, " Yes she's ready for it Emre. We both know our feelings, there's no reason to wait Abi, I want to spend the rest of my life with her and she feels the same way. I hope you can be happy for us." He told him. Emre threw his arms around his brother, " If this is what will make you happy, then I'm happy. You and Sanem have been through more than most people should be and are still in love, so you can count on me to be there for you." The two brothers had grown to have a respect for each other that would never be broken. 

" So after the engagement you will come back to the agency." Emre asked. Can shook his head, "Yes, but something strange did happen yesterday, a Stephen Rocco called me and offered me a job. It was in Indonesia, heading the new office of a humanitarian magazine." Emre shrugged his shoulders, " Do you know this guy." He asked.

Can shook his head, " No, that's what was so strange about it. I just wondered how he got my number. He even said he had heard I was looking for a job outside of Istanbul. 

" Of course I turned him down....but It was almost like he wasn't going to take no for an answer.....