The House Where Love Grows

Chapter Seventeen

Sanem fell down into his lap, surprised at his actions, " Can, what are you doing." She asked, with some humor in her voice. He pulled her closely up against his body, so close that she could feel his heart beating against her chest. The look in his eyes was one she hadn't seen before and it frightened her a little. " Can, the children......he interrupted her sentence, " I don't really care about the children right now, I just really need to touch you,...smell your body, that's what I need Sanem." His words striking a feeling inside her. 

She took his face in her hands, gently letting her fingers glide across his cheeks, " What's  wrong Can, I can see it in your eyes, and it scares me." She whispered, as she leaned in close to his face. She so badly wanted to kiss his lips, those lips that always welcomed hers with such desire and openness. He smiled, but the smile seemed to be a forced smile, " Nothing that I can't handle my love. I just need this, this connection with you today." He replied as he gazed into her eyes.

She closed her eyes and let him touch her, breath in that smell that seemed to be his lifeline. His breath felt hot against her cheek as he sniffed her neck, and then his lips touched her skin ever so slightly, but it felt as if a flame had been ignited inside her. She jumped as the feeling surged through her body. He moaned as he let his lips slide down her neck to the crevice of her shoulders, his breathing becoming more labored and hot against her skin. She swallowed hard as she let herself go, her heart quivered with excitement as he became dangerously close to her breasts. 

This time they had been given a minute warning before Beni came bounding into the kitchen, as he called out from the stairs, " Dad, it's time to go, are you ready?" Beni rounded the corner and into the kitchen just as Can released Sanem and she jumped up from his lap. " What are you doing Dad, are you still eating breakfast. We have to go." Beni looked at them with squinted eyes. Can smiled, " Ok son let's go." He replied quickly, glancing at Sanem. She was straightening her blouse and smoothing down her hair and trying to avoid the look from her son. " Ok, Beni have a good day at school, and Can, I will talk to you later. Will you be home on time today? She said, making small talk. Can nodded, still trying to recover from her effect on him, " Yes, I'll try to be home early." He answered awkwardly as he gave her a side glance.

Beni had already made it to the truck and was buckled in by the time Can slide in behind the wheel. Sanem had be able relieve his mind a bit of what lay ahead of him that day, but just being here with Beni, knowing that his life may not be the same by the time he gets out of school, the tears began to cloud his eyes. Beni had been quiet for the most of the trip to school. Can hoped he didn't ask him about their near miss at the breakfast table. Can looked his way and he could see that he was deep in thought about something, " Beni are you ok? You haven't said a word since we let home." He asked. Beni hung his head, " I don't know Dad, something just doesn't feel right today. Have you ever had a feeling like that before?"  The small boy said, staring down at his hands in his lap. 

Cans heart banged hard in his chest, as he tried to find the words to answer his son. " Yes, I have had those kind of days, but usually they were nothing, just your mind playing tricks on you." He told him. Beni nodded, as if he understood, but his mood had definitely disappeared. This was not at all the boy he had know all of his life. This was a boy that was always full of life and joy, he never let himself get down or feel unhappy. So Can wondered what was going on...

By the time they had pulled into the drop off line in front of the school, Beni had put on a happy face. Can wasn't sure if it for real or fake, but nonetheless he had a change of moods. He gave his Dad a high-five and jumped out of the truck, running up to greet his friends. Can wished he had that kind of recovery of moods, from feeling as if something just wasn't right in your life, to a feeling of euphoria, within a matter of moments.

His morning should have been busy, but instead it was draining and seemed to last way to long. But the time his Dad arrived at 12:00 he was sure the whole day  had already passed. Aziz could see the strain that was visible on his face, " Can let's have some tea and talk about what we are going to offer Mr. Chavez. We can't go in there without a plan." Can agreed, as he called out to CeyCey to bring them some fresh tea. His Dad always had a calming effect on him. He trusted his Dad and knew he would be the one to make the difference in this meeting. Can knew how his temper could and probably would get them into trouble with these negotiations.

Can listened as his Dad laid out a plan for their meeting, " Ok, let's not go into this with guns blazing son, let's just see what the man has to say first. We need to sit back and bide our time."     That wasn't Cans style at all,....but he would have to listen to his Dad on this one.....

The drive across town to his attorneys office was another one of those heartstopping times, where you could swear that time had definitely stopped. But finally they arrived and were standing in front of his office door......Can had instantly broke out into a sweat..but he managed to knock on the door. " Come on in Can." Mr. Faruk answered....

This all took on an out of body experience for Can as he opened the door..

Mr. Chavez and his attorney Mr. Soydan had arrived early and were already seated at the table. Can nodded slightly to Mr. Faruk and extended his hand. Aziz stepped out from behind Can and shook Mr. Faruk's hand as well before turning to the two gentlemen seated at the table. Can was at a loss for words, maybe for the first time in his life he felt helpless, as he looked at this man that could have been Beni's father sitting across the table from them. There was no mistaking the possibility of this being that child's father, there was a resemblance.

He looked directly into the eyes of this man, the man that was threatening the very existence of his home, his family, the people he held most dear to his heart,...and he saw nothing. Not an emotion of happiness, or even a look of apprehension. He only saw a look of fear. He thought instantly, "What is this man afraid of?" 

Aziz was the first one to speak, as he spoke to Mr. Faruk, " So what are the stipulations of this claim, and just to let you know up front, this is a negotiation, not a settlement." 

Can was still silent, his brain not able to relay the words that were in his mind to his mouth. Mr Soydan spoke before Mr. Faruk had a chance to speak, " Our stipulations are clear, Mr. Chavez would like to dissolve the adoption decree, and retain custody of his son. 

Can cringed at the words.....and he stiffened in his chair...

Aziz gently touched his sons hand as he answered, " Well I'm afraid that will not be possible. Benicio was legally and lawfully given to my son and his wife several years ago. I think the time of rebuttal has passed."

Can could feel the air in the office change as he watched the fear grow in the eyes of Mr. Chavez.....

Softly and directly, Can spoke,..." You can not and will not take my son".......