The Return To Istanbul

Chapter Twenty Three

      The more that Can thought about Mr. Nihat and his illness, the more upset he got with Sanem. How could she not come home if her dad was sick, he thought, It just didn't sound like her at all.  But it had been a long time since he had seen her, maybe she was nothing like he remembered. Maybe she wasn't the same person at all.

      As soon as he got home he got busy booking his flight back to Thailand. The quicker he could leave here the better off he would be. The return flight would be much like it was when he came. He would leave the next afternoon, taking a direct flight to Dubai. With a four hour lay over there, then he would take a flight into Bangkok. 

      He felt apprehensive at first to confirm the flights, but he knew he had too. So a single tap on his phone and he had sealed his plans for the rest of his life. He knew he wouldn't come back to Istanbul, not until he had to say goodbye to his dad.

      A strange feeling of uneasiness passed through his body as he looked at his confirmed boarding pass. This seemed more final than the first time he left. 

      When he left the first time he was in shock, he needed time to think. All that he had loved had turned on him, but he hadn't thought of never coming back to Istanbul, that hadn't been the plan. But over time he buried the hurt and the pain, making him think he was ok, so he refused to let himself return.

     This time he knew what he had to do....he had to forget her. He closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than to hold her in his arms again. But that would not happen. 

      He still had the scarf that he had found at the cabin in his pocket. He pulled it from his pocket,   wishing desperately it had been hers. The smell was still there, that potent smell of wildflowers that aroused him like nothing else could. He needed to find out who the scarf belonged to before he left.. and a final trip to the cabin to say goodbye. Maybe I will sell the cabin, he thought, I have no more use for it....

      With Sanem's flight leaving the next afternoon, she didn't have much time to say goodbye. She decided to wait until the next day before visiting the cabin for the last time. She wanted to spend  the evening with CeyCey and Gulize, since she wasn't sure if she would ever return to Istanbul, she wanted to spend her last evening with them.

      They had planned to meet on the pier at their favorite outdoor cafe. She was treating them to a dinner and all the tea they could drink. The laughed and talked, spending the whole evening there. " Sanem, I am dying to visit your home in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It sounds so dreamy." Gulize swooned, closing her eyes to imagine it. 

      " That would be great. I welcome you anytime. That is if Deren will let you have time off." Samen smirked, remembering the many times that she had walked a fine line just trying to keep her job and stay on the good side of Deren.

      Gulize huffed, " I know.....I wanted to take a couple of hours off yesterday for personal reasons and she refused, and all just because Mr. Emre has taken a leave of absence. I told her I don't have anything to do with the financial part of things....but she wouldn't listen."

      " Mr. Emre has taken a leave? Why, what has happened." Sanem asked, a little alarmed at the thought. CeyCey cleared his throat loudly, " Gulize, let's not bore Sanem with the agency's problems. I'm sure she doesn't care about any of them." He spoke quickly, ready for the conversation to move on to something different. 

      Sanem was immediately curious, she wondered if something had happened to Can and Emre had to take off, " No, I want to know what happened. Gulize go ahead, tell me." She urged, with a concerned look on her face.

      " It's Mr. Aziz. He is very ill. He had been in the hospital." She blurted out. Sanem was stunned,  almost in shock, " Really, he is that bad. I hope he gets better soon." she answered, feeling as if there was something more. 

     CeyCey stood quickly, " Gulize, there you go, gossiping again. Let's say goodnight, it's late and Sanem has packing to do." He replied, as he felt the blood run hot through his body. He quickly gave Sanem a peck on the cheek and wished her a safe trip home.

      He firmly took Gulize's arm pulling her down the pier, " CeyCey, what are you doing. I didn't even get to give her a hug. What is wrong with you." She spouted, jerking away from him. 

      CeyCey pulled her further away, " Gulize, Sanem doesn't know that Mr. Can is here, and I don't want her to know. They don't need to see each other." He muttered through gritted teeth.

      Sanem sat there confused at what had just happened. So Mr. Aziz was sick. Mr. Emre had taken a leave to take care of him......I wonder where Can is, she thought. Did he know his dad was sick. If he knew he would have been here, that she knew for sure.

      Her head was full of their conversation as she walked home. I can't believe that Can didn't come home to be with his father, that's not at all like him. But, it had been a while since she had seen him. Maybe he isn't the same person he once was....she thought....

      The actions of her friend had always been strange, but this time had been the strangest. CeyCey had been more nervous than usual with her, and she wondered if Mr. Aziz's illness had anything to do with it.  

       She took a deep breath as she reached the door of her parents home. This may just be the last time she would stand in front of this door, unlock it with her key and go inside. The last time she would have to hide her feelings from her mother, and tell her that everything was fine.

      Leila met her at the top of the stairs. " You have been gone for a long time, where did you go?" Her sister asked, her eyes narrowed as she questioned her. " I was just walking. I talked with CeyCey and Gulize and then they had to leave, so I just took a walk. You know Gulize told me something odd tonight. Did you know that Mr. Aziz is sick and in the hospital?" Sanem said, wondering if her sister had already known about it.

     " Well, I...I don't remember, I think....maybe Deren mentioned it the day I called her, but I can't be sure." Leila stuttered and sputtered about trying to find the right words. " But I'm sure he will be fine." She blurted out, spinning around quickly and heading to her room.

      Sanem shook her head, puzzled at her reaction, Why is everyone acting so weird about Mr. Aziz, she thought as she switched off the light and started down the hall to her room.

      Leila sat on the side of her bed, praying that Sanem didn't open her door and demand to know more about Mr. Aziz. Her eyes closed and her breath suspended inside her, she listened as Sanem walked down the hall, past her door and into her room, closing the door behind her.

      She let out all of her pent up breath with force. She knew if Sanem had any idea that Can might be in Istanbul for his dad, she would insist on visiting Mr. Aziz just in hopes of seeing Can.

       As much as she wanted her sister to stay......she wouldn't be able to relax until Sanem was on that plane tomorrow, headed back to Galápagos Islands.....

       And as far away from Istanbul and Can Divit as she could get.... She never wanted to see her sister hurt like that again.....