10 Minutes

... "to new beginings!"

Sanem and Can had been absent for most of the morning and into the early afternoon. Osman sensed that they had clearly made a decision to face Cans troubles together. He surmised that from now on his twin sister would be well protected by the man she loved more than herself. He had struggled as at first with trying to find the honesty in his forgiveness of Can but it the end it all boils down to Sanems happiness. Clearly she was happy with him and so he resolved to be happy for them and to give them the space they needed to address their future together. He would sit back and allow her to inform him without pushing himself in her as was his natural response. He was two minutes younger but had always felt like her protector. They shared an uncanny sense of communication that allowed them to almost read one another's minds but he needed to respect her choices without trying to influence her decisions to begin with.
When he saw them later walking hand in hand across the back lawn he knew he had been right. She was making her stand and he would support her one hundred percent. He hoped his family would do the same.

Although the afternoon had begun a little tense it had slowly changed as the sun began to make its descent while the entire clan prepared for dinner out on the terrace. Soon everything fell into place when the conversation steered toward Leyla's pregnancy and long awaited baby Aydin. Everyone had something to say about it but Emre remained quiet letting his wife take the lead. Sanem soon caught his eye and asked him outright if he was nervous. "No Abla, not nervous just a bit apprehensive ... what if he or she doesn't care for me? You know, I'm hard to get to know". Sanem stared at her brother for a millisecond before she burst out into laughter and soon everyone followed. She stood up and quickly rounded the table and kissed him whole heartedly. Emre felt the warmth of that embrace and finally let himself go and hugged her in equal measure. He had been hesitant to show the depth of his emotion toward her. He didn't want to be her big brother right now, he just wanted to be her brother. The one she could always come to when she had a problem to resolve. Their relationship was not close in the way of twins, like her and Osman; It was more of a sparring match between rivals who secretly admired one another but whose roles were cast and they could only perform as per their script. He could recall all the times he had sat back and watched her creative mind sketch a landscape or an animal whose momentary stillness couldn't possibly be long enough for her to take in all the details but then he would stand back and marvel at the finished product. His role in the family required him to be pragmatic and so he would encourage her but remind her that most "artists" weren't  good enough or bankable enough to make a living while they were alive so she better have plan B. It really wasn't what he thought about her talent but it was what was expected of him. That put  them at odds at times but more often than not her soft and gentle nature would win over her momentary anger and she would rebound with better grades and more awards and a smile for him letting him know that she could do both. A classical education and her art education. She was right and he new it. Now as he held her in his arms it seemed their relationship had evolved. He respected her enough to defend her and stand by her when his father would have demanded she follow the norms. Like his father he was a bit of a conservative but unlike him he knew first hand of her suffering and couldn't nor wouldn't let her down. As she pulled back and he saw the sheer happiness on her face amid all the recent upheaval he knew she would be just fine given time and space but most importantly it was Can who gave her the freedom to just be. So when she congratulated him he had no reservations in celebrating with her. He didn't hold back and soon the dinner turned into a raucous party of celebration and story telling so much so that Leyla and Aziz shared some anecdotes as well . Daughter and father might not be reconciled completely but they were at least on the road to healing. He was grateful and stood and made a toast... "I'd like to raise a toast to Sanem. To say thank you to our wonderful host, my favorite sister Sanem"... they all laughed but then he cleared his throat and became a bit more serious "quite honestly I'd like to thank Allah for all his blessings as we sit here today. We have traveled on a journey to this moment and although the road has been difficult we are all hear nonetheless .... and to Can .... I'm thankful to you for keeping your word. You are the man I expected you to be for Sanem and you proved me right. It may not have seemed that way a while ago to you or me, but nevertheless you are the man to keep our treasure safe. To new beginnings!" The table who sat quiete until he finished erupted in cheers and then the tinkling of crystal as everyone toasted each other. Can stood and faced his brother in law, this time with a huge smile upon his face. "Thank you Emre.... Your respect means the world to me. I will never let her or you down again". The two men embraced as Sanem sat with her palms against her cheeks while Leyla hugged her on one side and Osman on the other. Metin and Aziz sat satisfied smiling widely as a son and best friend resumed his rightful place in this clan of theirs.