The House Where Love Grows

Chapter Thirteen

He made sure to help Sanem with the morning dishes, as he normally did. She was already upset with him for running off on a Sunday, a day the was suppose to be dedicated to the family. He rinsed off the plates and handed them to her to place in the dishwasher, " Babe, please don't be upset with me." He said as he passed a plate her way. " I promise I won't be gone long, then we will have the rest of the day together." She nodded as if she agreed and understood, but he knew her better than that. He stepped close to her making her stop and look his way, she took a deep annoying sounding breath and turned to face him. " Ok, so the quicker you go the quicker you can come back, so tell Dad that we all say hello."  She said, with her arms crossed her chest.

He didn't like making her upset, but she was so cute and adorable when she pouted that he could keep from smiling. He gently moved the strand of hair that had fallen across her face as she stared defiantely into his eyes. He bent down and gave her a full mouth kiss, gently at first, but it quickly turned into a hungry and demanding kiss. She was surprised at his spontaneous gesture but answered it with as much hunger as he had offered. She could never stay mad at this man, he made her feel things that were way out of her control, so to ignore a kiss like that, ...well it just wouldn't happen. 

Can felt that kiss, that desire he had for Sanem, even more than ever this morning. His heart was broken and torn over the problem he had been handed the day before, and knowing what would happen to this woman he loved if she found out about it. Protect, ...shield, guard, ...he would all of those things for Sanem and more if necessary, to keep her from finding out about Beni's biological father. As he stepped back from her and he let his eyes look into hers, he knew he had to stop this thing before it destroyed his whole family.

She slowly opened her eyes, " Well that was quite a goodbye kiss, it even made my toes tingle." She joked as she let her hands glide down his muscled back. He smiled, " Theres plenty more where that came from, but that will come later." He whispered, and then gave her another quick peck on the lips. 

He grabbed his keys and hurried out the door, shouting his goodbye to the triplets as they tumbled about on the floor with their older brother. " Be good you little monkeys and I will be back soon." He told them. As he slid into his truck, he groped around under the seat for the large manilla envelope that he had brought from the attorneys office. He stared at it, feeling that sense of helplessness rush through his body. A tap on the window startled him making him jump, " Dad, you never said, but when you get back can we take some pictures?" Beni was standing there with this big broad smile plastered on his face. Instantly that fear went away as he looked at this young boy. He rolled down his window and smiled, " You bet son, we can take as many pictures as you want. I shouldn't be gone long, so help your mother and be a good boy, ok." Can said, fighting back the tears.

Beni shook his head vigorously and ran back toward the door, turning briefly to give his Dad a wave. Can blinked hard, trying to banish the tears that burned his eyes. He found his phone and dialed his Dads number to let him know he was on his way. He tucked the envelope back under the seat as if to hide it. He knew there was no one there to see it but him, but leaving it exposed made him feel like it was real. So he would hide it.....

The 15 minute drive to his Dads and Mihribans house seemed like forever. He went over every scenario in his head, everything the attorney had told him the day before, but it still didn't make him feel better. This had to be a joke, he thought, a cruel hoax brought on by this man just hoping for some money. That was the most logical thing he could think of, so if money was what he was after than the problem was solved. He had already made up his mind to offer him an amount he could not refuse.

His Dad opened the door before Can even had a chance to knock, welcoming him in with a huge hug. The expression on his sons face told him the story, " Son come in, how are you. My dear Can is here." His Dad called out to Cans stepmother. Can was barely holding on to the tears that rimmed his eyes, as he hugged this woman that had become closer to him than his own mother. Her arms surrounded him, drawing him in close to her, " Can my son, welcome. How are you?" She asked. He knew by the way she touched him that his Dad had already filled her in on what was going on. She had become a person for him to depend on, a person that loved him without hesitation, and he would accept any help from her that she was willing to give. 

Aziz motioned for him to sit, " Here have a seat. Lets have some tea. My dear do you mind." He said looking at Mihriban. Can flopped down in the chair, holding the paperwork in his hand, staring at it, wishing it would just disappear into thin air. Aziz gently took the envelope from his hands, " Is this the documents he filed? Here let me have a look." He started firmly. Mihriban came back with the tea, " Here my love, drink this tea. I added a little something special to calm you down a bit. You need to be able to think clearly." She said, stroking his face gently as she sat down next to Aziz. Can immediately felt like a weight had been lifted from his heart, he knew they would find some way out if this nightmare.

Aziz and Mihriban both read over the documents more than once. Going over them in detail, it seemed. Then finally his Dad looked up, " Can this man has been in prison for the past eight years, what makes him think that can give this child a decent home. This is a farce, he's after something more than your son."  He announced with confidence. Can sighed a deep sigh of relief, " This what I told Mr. Faruk, but he said Mr. Chavez has been rehabilitated. Since he was released from prison he had held a good job and a whole lot of bullshit like that." Can shouted, feeling his temper start to flare. 

Mihriban quickly reached for his hand, holding it tightly, " Can, calm down. There would be no way that any court would give a child to a man just because he has a good job. Especially a man that has just been released from prison, biological father or not." She spoke, sounding so sure of it. 

Can closed his eyes.....listening to her words

" So you think he's after money." Can asked as he studied his dads face. " Because if that's the case, then he can have everything I have before I will let him hurt Sanem and my son."