Another Kind Of Promise

Chapter Three

       With the thoughts of his beautiful wife and what they had planned for the night, as well as the welcomed interruption from his friend, Can was having a hard time concentrating on the campaign proposal. But he had finally managed to piece together a pretty decent proposal by the time that Sanem sent him the text letting him know that Tarkan was just finishing his dinner and would be ready for bed shortly.

      Can and Sanem had made it rule to always put the baby to bed together. So Can knew that has his clue to wrap up his work and head home. As he shut down his laptop, he wondered if Sanem had remembered about their brief encounter from earlier in the day that had been cut short by his brother.  He prayed she did, because it was definitely standing out in his mind. 

      He had barely closed his laptop when the second text came in...."Oh and by the way...I have already sent Nalan home for the day, so hurry home"....... A broad smile came across his face as he read the text.....no she didn't forget about it.

       Can waved to Deren as he passed by her office on his way out, " See you Monday Deren. And yes the presentation is finished, so don't worry." He called out to her as he breezed by, not wanting to stop and engage in any kind of conversation. 

      Deren jumped up from her chair, " Wait....Can wait. I need to talk to you before you go." She spoke, hurrying after him. Can stopped, waiting for her to catch up to him. " What is it Deren. I told you the presentation is ready to go." He barked back to her, letting her know he was agitated.

      " Well, Can, I would like to go over it with you before you go. Just to make sure, you know, we are on the same page." She stammered about with her words. 

      Can took a deep breath and then exhaled, " We do not need to go over it together Deren." He told her as he turned around and headed back to his office. " I will email it to you, and you can go over it. Make any changes you think it needs and I will take care of them on Monday."

      Deren smiled a disappointing smile but nodded in agreement, " Of course Can, what ever you say. I guess you and Sanem have a special weekend planned and you are in a hurry to get home." She smirked unintentionally. 

      Can shifted his eyes over to her, " Yes we do. Every moment I spend with my family is special, but why do you ask." Can replied, agitated at having to explain his private life to her. Deren had always been a valued friend and co-worker, but her attitude toward his life with Sanem had always been a sore spot with him.

      Deren  shrugged her shoulders, " I just saw your friend Akif in your office earlier and I assumed he was here for a visit and you had plans, that's all."  She remarked, feeling the heat from Can's eyes.

      With a tap on his laptop the email was sent, and he slammed it shut, " There you go Deren. Now if you don't mind I want to get home in time to put my son to bed. Oh, and if you make any changes, please don't call or text me this weekend, just note them and I will handle it on Monday." Can snapped, as he turned to walk out.

      Deren had always been and always would be drawn to Can. Even though her and Sanem had settled their differences some time ago, with Deren accepting the fact that Can had passed her over once again for another woman, she still remained infatuated with him. She knew she would never have him, but dreaming about having....well she didn't see anything wrong in that.

      Can hurried to his truck, hoping there wouldn't be a lot of traffic for his drive home. His mind kept replaying the scenario with Sanem in his office, and the last text she had sent him saying that they would be alone after they put little Tarkan down for the night. A slight smile eased across his face, as he felt that burning sensation fire up deep down inside.

      Sanem had been busy fixing Cans favorite dishes.  Nalan had left for the night and Tarkan was amusing himself with the new set of building blocks that she had picked up for him. Just a small gift to him for being so good at the doctors office. 

       Even Sanem had her mind on their unfinished business from his office that afternoon, and the fact that Emre had embarrassed her by walking in on them had seemed to add fuel to the fire. Everyone always says that a dangerous encounter can sometimes be the most thrilling..

      Sanem placed the platter of strawberries and grapes on the table, it was something of an inside joke with them, but strawberries and grapes seemed to be an aphrodisiac for them. It had been the fruit they had shared most often over the course of their relationship.

        "The table looks great," she thought as she stepped back, looking it over. It had taken her a few years, but she was finally feeling that accomplishment of setting a table that looked deserving. 

       Any minute now Can would come through the door, and she wanted everything to be perfect.  All though she knew that the food would not be the first thing on Can's mind when he got home, she still had that sense of competition embedded in her.

       Sanem was just pouring the tea when the door opened and Can walked in, " Baba.....baba look, I make." Tarkan shrieked at the top of his lungs. Can clapped his hands together,  " Thats great son. It's very good, is it a truck?" He asked, as he looked at the mess of conjoined blocks. 

      Tarkan frowned, " No, no, no. No truck, a fishies. A big fishies." He said, wrinkling up his nose and measuring the size of the fish with his arms. Can threw back his head and laughed, " You're right, it is a fish. Baba was just being silly." He said as he scooped his son up in his arms  and swung him around. 

      Can never liked to miss spending those last few minutes of the day with his son. That was their time, the time that he loved the most. After a few minutes of lying in the floor and building and rebuilding the big fishies, it was time to put Tarkan to bed. 

      " Come on, it's time for bed. We can build fish tomorrow, all day if you want." Can said, swinging Tarkan up over his head. Tarkan giggled, " Night night. Time for night night." Sanem and Can tucked him in, each of them giving him a hundred kisses as he squirmed and giggled.

       Can watched him from the door, wondering how he could have ever lived his life without him. His life was as perfect as anything he knew, as anything he had ever dreamed of.  

      Sanem linked her fingers with his, " Come on babe, our dinner is ready. Hope you are hungry." She spoke softly, as she lead him down the hallway and out to the back patio. 

      Can smiled, " The table looks beautiful, and so do you. I think I forgot to say that when I came in." He mumbled as he pulled her close to him. She slid her arms around his body, " You can tell me that as many times as you want, I don't mind." She whispered, letting her lips graze over his.

      Can sighed, " Hmm, I hope that dinner is something that we can warm up, because right now food is the last thing on my mind Mrs. Divit." Can replied, as he chased after her lips. 

      " It is my love. If it's all right with you, I'm fine with having a midnight supper under the stars." She whispered, as she slipped her hands up under his shirt....