The House Where Love Grows

Chapter Eight

Sanem had turned back to her writing, trying to take her mind off of the fire that had been lit inside her. She snickered softly remembering their near miss of embarrassment from the morning before. The call from a lawyer always meant a bunch of mumbo jumbo that she never understood and was more than likely just a formality, so she wasn't very interested in the conversation. 

She continued on writing about the events of the day and the plans for Luis' birthday. This notebook was becoming more of an event planner than a journal of her everyday life. The boys were growing up so fast that it was hard to keep up, so writing everything down was the only way. 

The thoughts in her head always came spilling out on the paper when she wrote, completely immersing her. She hadn't even noticed that the phone call with the attorney was over and Can had sat down at the table across the patio from her. Can had a million thoughts running through his mind, but the most urgent one was Sanem. The words from Mr. Furak we're spinning around so fast in his head he felt nauseous, as he bent over holding his head in his hands. 

Sanem glanced his way, "Babe, you know that Luis's birthday is in a couple of weeks, we need to plan something special. It is his 16th birthday you know. Maybe a party with his friends and we can have it here. What do you think?"  She said, not bothering to look his way. Can was still going over in his mind what this document from a man they never even knew existed would mean. How could this happen, why did this happen? He mind was frantically trying to make sense of it. He hadn't heard Sanem talking at first, until she called his name, " Can, Can, have you heard a word I've said. What is wrong with you." By then she had swung her legs around and sat up on the edge of then lounger. 

Can rubbed his hands over his face trying to erase that look of anguish that he knew she would see when he turned around. " I'm sorry hon, I was daydreaming. What about his birthday." He spoke, trying to hide the quiver in his voice.

Sanem shook her head, " You know sometimes I hate repeating myself. I said, we should have a party for him here." Can smiled, as he walked over and sat down beside her, " Thats sounds perfect my love. He will love what ever you plan for him." He told her, wrapping her up in his arms. " Look, I need to go to Mr. Faruk's office, it won't take long. Then I will fix dinner for us when I get back."  He leaned in giving a gentle but much more than a casual kiss. She examined his face, a face she knew better than her own, she could see that something was bothering him. 

" What is it, why do you need to go to his office." She asked, as she cupped his face in her hands. He closed his eyes, " Oh it's just some paperwork he wants to show me. Nothing to get alarmed about, it's legal stuff." He told her, when he finally was able to look her in the face. She squinted up her eyes, glaring at him, " Can, what legal stuff."  He hesitated for a second before he answered, " I'm not sure babe, but I know it's nothing for you to worry about."  He answered her with as much certainty as he could. 

" You just relax here and keep writing and I will be back before you know it. Start making some plans for that birthday party." He called back to her as he headed off. She smiled and waved as she watched him walk away, as her stomach got a funny little tingle inside, like something just wasn't quite right. But she quickly removed any negative thought from her mind and went back to her notebook. " These Divit men, always so mysterious, but I wouldn't have it any other way."  She wrote in her book, knowing there was more to this visit to the lawyers office than he was willing to say.

Can stood in front of the door leading into Mr. Faruks office for a minute, giving his heart time to calm down. He didn't want too know what those documents were, he didn't want to hear what he was about to hear. But he had to, he knew he had to, for Sanems sake he had to be the one to hear it first. He opened the door and walked in boldly, ready for a fight if that's what it took. 

" Mr. Divit, come on in. I'm sorry to bother you on a weekend, but these papers can't be ignored."  He spoke, motioning for Can to sit down. Can sat, as he tried to control his breathing, " I gathered that, so what does this man want? Does he want money, because if he does I will give him enough money to disappear and live comfortably wherever he wants. But if he want to see Beni, if that's it, I will not let that happen." He spewed, feeling his emotions explode inside him.

Mr. Faruk picked up the paper from his desk, " Can, this is a paper contesting the adoption, Mr. Chavez is seeking sole custody of Beni." The words echoed like beating drums in his ears, but they really didn't make any sense. He couldn't process what he had heard, " Thats not possible, it's just not, because we did all the things that we were supposed to do, and we did them legally. They didn't have any information about the father, so they told us he didn't have any legal rights." He blared,  his heart racing uncontrollably. 

Can jerked the papers from Mr. Faruks hand, his eyes scanning over all the legal words that made no sense to him. " How can he do this? You need to tell me that, how, after all this time. Where was he, do you know where he was while Beni was lying in the hospital fighting for his life. Where was he while Beni's mother was dying giving birth to him? WHERE WAS HE THEN!" Can screamed as loud as he could, throwing the papers across the room.

He kicked the chair as he stood, glaring at the lawyer, waiting for an answer. " According to the document, Mr. Chavez was incarcerated at the time. I mean at the time that Beni was born. He claims he knew nothing about a child, or the fact that Beni's mother had passed away while giving birth to him." Mr. Faruk explained as calmly as he could, trying to defuse the anger from Can. " Look, I know this is not at all what you wanted to hear, but he has a legal claim to the child. This document is a legal and binding request." 

Can pounded his fist on the desk, " What request, what does he want. Just tell me what he wants." He yelled, unable to control himself. 

Mr. Faruk swallowed hard trying to find his courage. " Can, ... Mr. Chavez wants his son back. He wants Beni back. He wants to take him back to Peru." 

Can had never felt like this before, his body tingled and his breathing was short and shallow, as a thousand flashes of light danced in front of his eyes....

He grabbed the edge of the desk to steady himself, " Mr. Faruk, that will never happen......

" I promise you that will never happen".......He whispered, his voice shaking.....

"You can send him a message from me." ......Tell him, he can go to hell"......