The House Where Love Grows

Chapter Twenty Four

There always seemed to be a ruckus of some sort in the Divit household, and this evening was no different. Can and Sanem both agree to put their romantic interlude on hold when Beni and Luis decide to hold their almost nightly argument. Their voices echoed down the stairs and into the family room where Can and Sanem had gone to escape the leftover chaos from the birthday party. 

It wasn't long before Beni came barging into the room full of rage, " Dad, Luis says my scrapbook is childish. It's not is it Dad, it's not like a baby book it is?" He raved, as he waved the scrapbook in the air. Can took a deep breath as he sat up on the sofa, " Beni, I'm sure your brother didn't mean it that way. Can you two please get along for just one day, it is still your birthday you know." He relayed to Beni, hoping for a quick resolve to the problem. Luis entered the room, ready to make an appeal and give his side of the story. " Dad, I didn't say it was a baby book, I just said it was childish to keep baby pictures. That's all I said." Luis explained. Can glanced at Sanem, wondering what Luis meant by baby pictures.

It didn't take long to smooth over this confrontation, all Can had to do was suggest that Beni help him develop the pictures that he had taken at the party to add to his scrapbook. Beni jumped at the chance, glaring at Luis as he accepted the offer, " Ok, I'll help you Dad. See Luis, Dad doesn't think this is a baby book," Beni said, as he ran upstairs to get the camera. Can looked at Luis with squinted eyes, " Son, please, you are the oldest, please try to act like it. You know that Beni is very sensitive about the book." Luis shook his head vigorously, " No Dad I wasn't talking about his book, I was talking about the picture he had in that camera bag you gave him."  He explained.

Sanem stood quickly, " Did you see the picture too." She said, her voice in a panic. Luis shrugged his shoulders, "Yes, he showed it to me. I guess he found it in the bag when Dad gave it to him." Sanem looked at Can, who was completely confused by this time, " It's the picture from the hospital in Cusco, when he was just a baby." She told him. Can hung his head, " Oh I completely forgot about it being In the bag when I gave it to him." He replied, knowing that picture would probably be the reason for a lot of questions from the young boy.

The diversion of developing the pictures had taken Can and Beni's off of their problems, but Can was getting worried that his Dad hadn't called to give him an update on his meeting. Beni so loved the process of seeing those photos appear before his eyes, he was totally amazed by it all. Can loved to watch him as they went through each step. With all the pictures hanging to dry, Beni turned to Can, " Dad that picture in the bag, you know the one of me when I was a baby, with you and Mom. Where was that taken, it looks like a doctors office or something?" Can smiled trying to minimize the effect of the photo, " Yes it was, you had been sick and had to stay in the hospital for a day or two. That was the day we were taking you home." Can said the words quickly, hoping he wouldn't have a lot of questions.

It seemed to do the trick, Beni accepted the explanation, without asking anything more. The call from his Dad interrupted their conversation, " Oh  Beni, this is grandpa, I need to talk to him." He explained, as he hurried out of the darkroom and out the back door to the patio. His heart was pounding so hard he could barely hold the phone, " Dad, so what happened. Did you meet with your guy?" Can asked, his voice in a whisper.  Aziz knew this conversation would be hard, but one that had to happen. " Yes I did, but it wasn't good. It seems this Mr. Chavez has the perfect credentials, a good job and a nice apartment. All the reports from Lima, Peru are in order." Aziz relayed, hating each and every word he was saying. 

Can was silent for several minutes, and Aziz let him take his time to digest this new information. He knew his son well, and he knew the battle that was going on inside him. Can cleared his throat finally able to speak, " So what now, what's the next step. Do we offer him money now, or what. Dad, tell me, what do we do now." He asked, his voice cracking as he desperately tried to hold back the tears. Aziz stayed calm, " Can, I already have a call in to Faruk, and as soon as he returns my call we will figure out the next move. But Can you must pull yourself together" His Dad said. " How Dad, how do I pull myself together when this man is trying to take Beni away from us.?" He spewed, his teeth gritted tightly.  Aziz felt his heart breaking for his son, " I know son, but try. I will call you as soon as I hear from Faruk."

Can felt this sadness overtake him as he slammed his hand down on the outdoor table. Those tears that he had trapped inside his eyes were now flowing down his face. His pain was more than he could bear as he let it out. A voice from behind him made him jump and look around, " Dad are you ok?" Luis asked, in a whisper. Can quickly wiped his face with both hands, " Luis, how long have you been standing there?" He asked.  Luis replied, " Long enough to know that something is terribly wrong. Who is trying to take Beni?.....Dad, tell me." His oldest son demanded. 

Can sat down because his legs had refused to hold him up any longer, " Luis, here, sit down. It's nothing you need to worry about, your Grandpa and I will take care of it." Can said sounding confident and strong. Luis shook his head, " No Dad, it's something bad, I can tell....Is Beni's real Dad trying to get Beni? Is he trying to take him away?" Can didn't need to say a word, the answer was written all over his face. Luis stood up and paced back and forth on the patio, " Dad when did this start, how long have you known about this?" He asked. Can revealed a little bit about what had been going on to Luis, but not all the dirty details.

Luis sat down in the chair and pulled it up close to his Dad....." Dad, I need to tell you something,   but please don't get mad." Luis said...

Can looked in his sons eyes, and he saw fear. A fear much like what he felt. " What is it Luis, tell me." I promise I won't get mad." He replied.

" A few days ago when I came home and it was late, there was a man standing out by the gate. I did think much about it, but as I turned into the drive he jumped on the other side of the gate and took off down the road." Luis explained.  Can leaned over close to Luis, " Son why didn't you say anything?"  Luis shrugged his shoulders, " I don't know, but today when I came home he was there again. Just standing there looking at the house. It was sort of creepy. He was a short man with dark hair,....and he wore a hat,...one of those hats that look like a dressy hat, a fedora, yes that's what it was..a fedora.

Can felt a sick feeling sit-up inside him......Chavez had worn a fedora hat that day they met in the lawyers office......

Why was he watching them? What was he up to? 

But more importantly,...what was Can going to do about it?