On Divit Island...Love Over Forgiveness

Chapter Twelve

      Polen was checking into the hotel closest to the airport in Athens. It was late in the day and her flight to Istanbul didn't leave until the next morning. All she wanted was a good meal, a shower and a bed. She huffed as she waited for the desk clerk to check her in, " Look, I am very tired. If you could please hurry, I would like to get in a room. And where can I get some decent food delivered?"  She inquired, condescendingly leaning over the counter.

      The clerk smirked, " Ma'am we have many delicious restaurant nearby that would love to deliver your dinner. The list is in the room."  He replied, returning her identification. She took her id and the key and stormed off down the hall to her room. She tossed her small bag on the bed and kicked off her heels. 

      This trip had really tried her patience, she thought. But she had accomplished what she went to do, and that was to see how Can and Sanem lived. She pulled his necklace from her pocket, "Oh my Can, you can run but you can't hide, not from me. Who knows, maybe my next trip I will take more than just your necklace and that silly name from your boat." She spoke..

      Every possible scenario was running through Cans' head by the time to made to the beach to join the others. There was no hiding the concern that filled his head, " Can what's wrong, was there a problem. Who was it that called." Sanem quizzed him, not about to let him deny that there was something wrong.  

      " Just calm down my love, I'm going to explain. It seems there was a bit of a problem at the pier. Our boat was vandalized, but nothing serious." He said, waving his hands. Sanem jumped up, " What did they do to it? She asked, demanding to know the details. " Can don't sugar coat this, tell me what they did." Her voice sharp and precise.

      Can took a deep and exhaled sharply, " That was Ares, and it seems they went on board the boat the ripped up the leather panel that you had made for the boat. The one that read " My Albatross"  He explained, bracing for her reply.

       " What, is that all. Just the name of the boat." She asked, confused. Luca immediately had reservations, " They didn't take anything from the boat?" He asked knowing some of the things that Can had in the boat. Some of the things were quite expensive, and could bring a lot of cash for someone if they needed it.

      Can shook his head, " No just the inscription on the boat." He assured them. Sanem folded her arms across the body, " Well we will replace that, no harm done. But it does creep me out that someone had the nerve to go aboard the boat. Ares didn't see anyone?" She asked.

      " No, I told you he just noticed it this morning and wanted to let us know."  His voice sounding agitated.  He turned and headed back to the cottage, and Luca followed. " Hey, I know your upset, but do you really believe it was just a random act of vandalism. From what you told me about your ex Polen and the fact that she has been, more or less, stalking you and Sanem, I wouldn't put it past her." Luca blurted out.

      Can spun around glaring at him, " Luca not so loud, I don't want Sanem to hear you." He spewed. Can ran his hands through his hair, his nervous habit. " I'm not sure Luca. I have been having a bad feeling all weekend about home. Like something was going on there that I needed to be there to protect it. It's a strange feeling." Can answered him, keeping his voice low.

      Thea draped her arm around Sanem, " At least it was just the name and not the boat itself. Trying to get another boat would have been a hassle." Sanem nodded in agreement, as she gazed out across the quiet calm sea water. Why did she feel like this was just the beginning, the start of an old fear. 

      The clouds had moved in, bringing with them the wind. The combination of the two had sent them all running for the cottage. Even the weather was feeling like something wasn't right, Sanem thought as she hurried the children inside. Can and Luca were in the middle of condensing the mass of shopping bags that they had collected on their shopping trip.       

      " I think I got carried away with shopping this time. But Leila and Emre are coming for a stay and I wanted to have everything." Sanem explained, her voice losing it's enthusiasm for their visit. Luca and Can had done a great job in lessening the number of bags, " Now....see, we only have four bags instead of eight." Can replied, trying to lighten the mood. 

      He reached over to pull Sanem close to him. He knew she had already worked herself up into a frenzy as he felt her body trembling. " Babe, don't worry, we will have another one made. Problem solved" He whispered confidently in her ear. He felt her arms tighten around his body, he knew she was already thinking the worst.

      Luca, Thea and Marcus started the walk back to their home shortly before dark. Luca still had the vandalism of their boat on his mind. He hoped it was caused by that crazy woman that he had encountered in Athens that weekend. That was so many years ago, surely she wasn't still out to destroy Sanem, he thought. But that didn't make him still wonder about it.

      Can got both of the kids in bed, and looked in on Sanem. She had gone to bed early claiming she had a headache, but he knew she was just worrying about the incident in the boat, and so was he. She had gone to sleep with a book lying across her chest and the lamp still on, so he gently removed the book, folding it and placing it on the table. He smoothed back a strand of hair that cascaded across her face, trying not to wake her.  She was so beautiful, he thought, so innocent and trusting of everyone. Never would she think that someone might truly being wanting to harm them.

      Can poured the last of the whiskey that Luca had brought into a small glass and stepped out into the night air. The wind was still brisk and cool but it felt good to him. The smell of the sea had always cleared his head. He wished he was home. That little piece of earth surrounded by water meant so much to him. And until right this moment, it had been the place that he knew was safe for Sanem and their babies.

      The ferry would leave early the next morning so he would need to get some sleep. He downed the last bit of the whiskey and headed for the bedroom. He wished she wasn't asleep, he wanted to be close to her, hold her in his arms. But he wouldn't wake her, he thought as he undressed and slide quietly into the bed next to her. 

      He watched her for a minute as she slept. Those old feelings of shielding her from harm had began to explode inside him again. Since they had moved to their island 11 years ago those feelings had all but disappeared. Now they were coming back.....

      Can entertwined his fingers with hers, holding her hand gently in his. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled......

      Please, ...don't let it be Polen.....he thought as he finally drifted off to sleep....