The Art of Love

The Ring

Leyla drummed her fingers against the tabletop as she waited for Emre to finish the call with his brother. She still resented having been left out of the secret and everything that followed. She was his wife and supposedly they were as one. Right now however all she wanted to know was how Sanem was. She swore that if her sister was ailing in any way she was on the first flight to her and be damned their charade. She stood up and paced while Emre looked at her pleading with his eyes for her to be patient. She in turn narrowed her deep turquoise blue eyes at his own and frowned. Letting him know unequivocally that she was not going to go easy on him. Not by a long shot.

Emre turned to his wife after ending the call with Can and smiled his best smile at her. Showing all his pearly white teeth while he approached her tentatively. He knew she was still upset with him and although he couldn't blame her he was ready to do anything to be back in her good graces. "Leyyla....first let me say that Sanem is very well and that Can is aware that you have been told everything, annnnnd...that you are angry at both of us annnnd that you would like to see Sanem as soon as possible". He watched her take in all the information but before she could utter a word he walked up into her personal space, giving her no more room than her growing belly would allow, and reached around her, pulling her close while he looked down into her eyes the same color as his own. "annd...there will be no more secrets but for this one between he and Sanem which will only last a while longer until he believes she will be ready to hear the news". He expected some type of rebuttal but all he got was a cool stare that only made him anxious and weary. The Aydin sisters were not known for there calm tempers when they felt they had been wronged. He watched her lower her eyes to his chest and then down to her belly. When she spoke it was in a small voice but he heard her loud and clear "if I say nothing to Sanem it is because I love her dearly and because she has suffered enough, however; I will not keep this secret longer than the birth of our child. That is all the time Can has. I will see my sister with her niece or nephew and when I see her next I will not be able to lie to her. Not for Can or for you, is that understood Emre Divit?" Emre nodded slowly and reached for her hands and brought them both up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles lightly. "I will tell Can. We both know that this is not fair to you but he truly wants to give Sanem time to heal before he tells her everything. It was never meant to hurt her, this secret. He had no way of knowing what she would do or where she would go but Leyla I want you to be cognizant of one thing. My brother loves Sanem more than his own life. He risked his life multiple times to protect hers and even when he thought her out of reach he still protected her and those she loved. This isn't an act of selfishness. It is truly an act of love and one I would emulate myself had it been I in that circumstance". Leyla looked up then to see the glossy shine to her husbands eyes and knew that he spoke truthfully. "I don't doubt that Can loves my sister. Not at all, but Emre, Sanem is not a child, she has fought many battles and learned many truths on her own before Can was in her life. I fear Can may have miscalculated in not telling her the truth as soon as possible. She would have forgiven him anything as long as he was honest with her. Now...he may have jeopardized everything he has fought so hard to protect. I'm happy Can is alive. I'm thrilled those evil bastards got what they deserved but a lie is still a lie Emre no matter how well intentioned or how it begun". Emre nodded and hugged his wife as he kissed her temple. His thoughts flew to his brother and all he had endured to just be alongside the love of his life. He hoped for his sake that Layla's words would not come true.

Sanem spent the remainder of the week avoiding Leo. She didn't want to hurt him in any way but she couldn't shake the feeling of Cans presence whenever he was around. When they had returned from the doctors office after a clean bill of health she had retired to her room for the remainder of the day and night. Leo had tried to offer her a snack but she refused it saying she was just tired and wanted to rest. She could tell that he was confused by her reaction but he made no comment. The following couple of days she spent working with him for a few hours and then made up excuse of a headache or that she felt drained. Again he didn't attempt to persuade her but let her know that he would be there in case she needed something. He hadn't tried to engage her in conversation and although it relieved her of having to come up with an excuse it also hurt her that he didn't seem to be bothered by her pulling away. Perhaps she had imagined the entire thing and it was only she that felt something for him and that he did not reciprocate it at all. She felt worse than she had before and on Friday when Osman called and said that he would be gone for another three weeks, as his employer was very demanding but the money was too good to pass up, she nearly cried but stoically told him to enjoy and reap his rewards. When she hung up the phone she retired to her room without more than a few words of explanation to Leo. She stopped dead in her tracks though when his avatar replied. "I'm sorry Sanem, but I have already made plans for the next couple of weeks. I didn't anticipate Osman would be gone so long. I will need to call a nurse to attend to you... I'm terribly sorry". She held the balustrade tightly as she nodded "of course Leo. I would never want to occupy all your time. You have done so much already. Please don't apologize. I will be fine". She began to take the stairs when she felt his hand rest on her free hand and the shock of it made her gasp and turn pushing her back up against the wall. He immediately let go "forgive me. I didn't mean to startle you. I'm sorry I have upset you... the last thing I want.." She nodded her head brusquely "no, you haven't. I was startled that is all. Please don't apologize. You've don't have anything to apologize for. I think I will go lay down for a bit. I'll be down before you leave".
She moved up the stairs quickly and when she reached her room she turned to close the door as fast as possible. She felt her throat constrict and hugged herself. She fought hard to not allow herself to cry but the  tears rained down her face with such force that she shook with the effort to keep any sound from escaping her mouth. Just the same she felt him just outside her door. She ran her fingers through her hair and then covered her face with her palms. She had made a mess of it all. She didn't want to be alone with him because it confused her but knowing that he didn't want to remain with her made her feel rejected, abandoned and alone. She was pitiful and no doubt what he felt for her was surely pity and nothing more. She walked to the bed and climbed in wrapping the coverlet about her. She cried until she drifted off to sleep.