The House Where Love Grows

Chapter One

This huge home had always been surging with activity by 7:00 am each morning. The older boys getting ready for school, making sure their schedules were confirmed and the homework tucked away in their backpacks. Luis was involved in every elected activity that he could find, all of course revolving around his passion for football. There always seemed to be a football camp, or practice or a clinic of some sort that he was invited to attend. His potential had been noticed by everyone that had any interest in the sport, and that included his father.

Luis called out from the living room, " Mom I will be home late today, so please don't  wait dinner on me this time. Just save me back a plate and I will eat when I get home." He told her, sounding so in charge of his own life. Sanem smiled as she listened, barely recognizing this young man that he had grown into. " Ok, but what time will you be here, you know you don't get to come and go as you please around here. So what's going on after school today."  She asked, as she filled a baggie with his favorite trail mix. " Here, put this in your backpack for later, it's your energy and you know you will need it." She said as he walked into the kitchen. 

He smiled and stuffed the bag in his backpack, " We are practicing with one of the other schools today, so it may run late." He informed his Mom.  " Hey where's Dad, I would like to talk to him before I leave." Sanem looked at him with her eyes narrowed, " He is up stairs getting ready. But you can always talk to me about what ever you need." She said, tucking the sides of his long hair behind his ears. Luis would never hurt his mothers feelings, not for anything, but he knew the answer to his question would only come from his father. " Mom I know, but this is something that Dad and I have already talked about, so I need to follow up with him." Luis replied, shifting his eyes away from his mothers.

Sanem knew the subject already and was more than happy to let Can take care of this request. 

The triplets had somehow blossomed into very active and rambunctious almost 3 year olds. It seemed to have happened overnight, with Sanem hovering over these blessings from God, protecting and shaping them into tiny replicas of Can and herself. They loved Luis, and would do anything to get and hold his attention, but the age difference had made it hard for that to happen on a daily basis. But Beni, they adored, and the feeling was mutual. His goal of the day seemed to be making each one of them laugh and run around hysterically as he chased them. Yes, they completely and wholeheartedly adored their brother Beni...

All three of the babies were corraled in their chairs at the table, happily shoveling the favorite cereal of the day into their mouths when Beni came in. " Mom, do we have oatmeal, I would really like some this morning." He announced. Sanem turned and looked at him with one eyebrow raised, " Good morning to you too son, and this morning we have cereal and fruit. This kitchen doesn't have a menu, but if you would like oatmeal tomorrow then I would be more than happy to fix oatmeal for everyone." She spoke with authority. Beni knew he had said too much, so he smiled his charming little smile and nodded his head, " Yes Mom, if we could have oatmeal tomorrow I would like that very much." 

Immediately all three of the babies started asking for oatmeal, " Mama, mama, we want oatmeal, no cereal, no cereal." They chanted, shoving their bowls of cereal back, spilling the milk all over the table. Beni quickly jumped up and grabbed a towel, " Little ones, no we will have our cereal this morning, it's very good for us." He told then as he sopped up the milk from the table. Sanem took a deep breath and watched as Beni convinced them to finish their breakfast. He could get then to do anything, if he said it, they would do it. Beni quickly looked at his mother, giving her a wink and melting her heart. She shook her head, these Divit men, she thought, they all make me lose my mind....

Luis had bounded up the stairs two at a time calling out to his Dad, "Hey Dad, Dad, can I come in?" He asked as he knocked on bedroom door. Can opened the door, " Good morning son, what are you yelling about so early this morning." He said trying to mask the fact that he already knew just what he wanted. Luis and Can had that special, father son relationship. Luis had yearned to be just like his father from the very beginning. From that first day that Can and Sanem came to that little church that doubled as as orphanage, and this man spent an hour playing football with the boys there, he knew that was the kind of man he wanted to be. A genuine, an honest and loving man, those were the words that came to mind when Luis thought of his father. 

Luis fidgeted with his hair, his hair that was black as coal and as long and luxurious as his fathers. He had never wanted to cut his hair, he marveled at the thought of him being just like his Dad in every way. Can watched his son as he fumbled around with his words, " Well, do you, ...uhh, well, ...remember when I talked to you about the motorbike that I found for sell." Luis hesitated waiting for a confirmation from his Dad. Can smiled, " Yes, I do remember, I remember that conversation very well." He said, holding back his urge to laugh. Luis placed his hand on his hips, mustering up every ounce of courage he had, " Ok good, because I would like to buy it, well not all of it, I don't have all the money, but I do have part of it. If maybe you and Mom would put in the rest." He stammered, fighting to hold that look of confidence as he faced his father. 

In just those few seconds Can relived those first few weeks in Peru, going to the orphanage, getting to know and love this boy that was standing in front of him. How did they grownup so quickly, how did they become so independent and certain of their own path in life. He knew he was being dramatic, but that was the way he felt. He didn't know how to let go, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to, but he knew he had to. This was what he had always wanted for Luis and for Beni....opportunity.  This was part of that opportunity, this was trust, trusting that your child had learned what was important and what wasn't, how to be responsible for your own actions...

Can nodded slowly, " The motorbike, ok, we will talk to your mother about it this evening. You know she is not a big fan of such things. And you will have to take your course in safe driving, but don't think that this is a done deal, not yet...

Luis smiled, " Yes sir, I understand, but I was hoping to be able to have it by my birthday in a couple of weeks. What do you think?"  

Can raised his eyebrows, " Well I think you will need to turn on all your charm to your mother if that's what you want".......

Sanem cleared her throat, .....Can and Luis turned to see Sanem standing at the bottom of the stairs. Can knew that look from his wife, and he wished he could take back his last comment.

" Luis, babe, come on you are going or be late for school. We will talk later." She said her eyes focused only on Can......