The House Where Love Grows

Chapter Twenty Seven

Sanem offered Mr. Chavez a seat, " Would you like something to drink?" she asked him, her voice a little shaky. Her Spanish was rusty but she could speak enough to be able to extend the basic hospitality. He nodded, "Yes, water please." He replied, as he fidgeted nervously with his hands. She glanced sharply at Can as she turned toward the kitchen. He wasn't sure if he should follow her or not, so he decided to remain there with Chavez. His head was truly spinning with confusion as he realized how the evening had change from just 15 minutes ago.

Sanem returned with three glasses of water on a tray, placing them on the table in front of the sofa. Chavez reached quickly for the water and consumed half of the water in one gulp. She let her eyes lock with Cans, but just for a minute, just long enough for him to know that she had heard the whole conversation he had with this man from the other side of the door. Can had froze in a state of shock, as Sanem began to talk. " So Mr. Chavez, I think you need to fill me in on what brings you here to Turkey. Since my husband has failed to inform me about what is going on." She said calmly, but Can knew this was just the calm before the storm.

Mr. Chavez cleared his throat and looked at Can before he spoke. Can knew it was too late now to keep this secret, he would have to come clean with all the dirty details. Can raised his hand, stopping Chavez before he could say anything, " My love, I know you are upset right now, but if you let me explain I think we can solve this problem." She continued to look at their guest, and even more intently, as she spoke to Can, " You're right I am upset, and I would like to hear about this "problem" from Mr. Chavez. So can you enlighten me." She asked. Chavez then turned to Sanem and spoke the words that she had dreaded to hear for the past seven years, " Ma'am, I have just learned recently that Benicio is my son. I'm sorry that I didn't know about this sooner, but I have been out of touch with life for the last several years."  He announced calmly.

Sanem took a second before she let any emotion show, then she slowly smiled at the gentleman, " I'm sorry as well Mr. Chavez, but you are wrong. Benicio is our son. We have had him since he was an infant. What gave you the idea that he was your son anyway?" She asked tilting her head as she asked the question. She continued quickly before he had a chance to reply, " Yes Beni was our first child. And as far as we were told, he had no living relatives. That's the information from the orphanage. Now, if you think you are going to walk in here and take my first child away from me,.....well, you are mistaken. My husband should have informed you of that fact from day one." She stated, looking directly into the man's eyes.

Can took this opportunity to speak, " Yes my dear, I did tell him, and his lawyer, that would not happen. But they insisted, so here we are." He said. Mr. Chavez was growing increasingly nervous as he sat there listening. " Ma'am, I have presented the necessary papers and I hope we can settle this without incident. I have to leave the country in a very short time and want to take the child with me." He spoke, mustering his last bit of confidence. Can stood up quickly, looming over the man on the sofa, " Look, I told you I will pay you any amount of money you ask for immediately, but you can not have my son." Can answered, his voice sounding loud and gruff.

Sanem stood up, stepping in between the two men, " Can, please. Mr.Chavez, I'm sorry to have to disappoint you, but you have no proof that what you say is true. And just for the record, we will not be giving you a dime just to get rid of you. Do you understand." She stated, in a firm voice. Can was shocked, was she saying she didn't want to give him money to go away. Mr. Chavez stood and bowed slightly to them, " I see, well I shall see you in court on Wednesday. I think you're making a mistake, but we will see when the results are read." He spoke, turning to leave. " Results?" Sanem said, looking at Can. " Yes babe, the DNA results, they will read them in court on Wednesday." Can replied, feeling the heat rise up his neck to his face. He knew he would have hell to pay after Chavez left, but at least she knew everything now.

Sanem walked around the sofa and made her way quickly to the door. She opened the door back widely and then turned and looked at Mr. Chavez, " Yes Mr. Chavez we will see you and your lawyer in court, but rest assured you will not be leaving this country with Benicio. I hope you know the penalty for presenting false evidence in a court of law,...because I do."  She told him, her eyes resembling that of an erupting volcano. Mr. Chavez didn't waste anytime heading to the open door, but he hesitated as he got in front of Sanem, " Ma'am if Benicio is my son, I will be leaving here with him." He stated firmly before walking out the door, down the stairs and she watched as he walked down the long drive way toward the road.

Can felt every hair on his body standup as she shut the door gently and turned to look at him. He wasn't sure if the look in her eyes was one of anger or hurt, it was one he had never seen before. 

She flipped off the living room light and started toward the staircase, breezing past Can as if he wasn't even standing there. He knew his life maybe coming to an end, but he followed her anyway, quietly without saying a word of course. He wondered why she wasn't yelling and screaming at him, or why she hadn't produced any tears of hurt or fear, but he was smart enough not to ask her anything right then.

He followed her at a safe distance as she ascended to stairs and walked down the hallway to their room. She was moving much like a robot, or like someone in a trance, as she entered their room. He continued to follow her inside and then closed the door behind him. He took a deep breath and expelled it forcefully, leaning back against the closed door. She removed her robe, lying it at the foot of the bed, and kicked off her slippers and crawled into the bed, not saying a word. Can rubbed his face with both hands as hard as he could, trying to make sense of what just happened.

She quietly and gently curled up in the bed and covered her body with the blanket.....

His legs felt like huge weights had been attached to each of them as he tried to make his way to the bed. He slide in on his side of the bed, wanting to reach out for her to comfort her, but he wasn't sure if he should.....

He very gently moved over a little closer to her...." Babe, let me explain." He said, his throat so tight the words were barely audible. Sanem didn't moved, but she did answer....

" No Can, you can't explain......because there is no explanation for what you have done."....She gasped, trying desperately to hold back the flood of tears that filled her eyes.

His heart broke into a thousand tiny pieces.....He knew he had made a mistake by not telling her. Would she be able to forgive him?..........