Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

51. A very small, very tiny lie

Leyla pushes her feet into her shoes, groaning as she steadies herself against the wall an hour later. "Sanem!" she calls for the third time. "Are you done yet? We're going to be late! Mom! We're leaving!" She looks down the hall.

Sanem comes down the staircase hurriedly, pulling at her necklace. She took a bit longer because she was debating on whether or not she should wear makeup. She had on a pair of white jean shorts, a red top with flowy sleeves and she liked her look. "I'm here, calm down."

Mevkhibe walks out of the kitchen then, her hands wiping on her apron. "And where have you been?" she asks Sanem. "Why didn't you come home last night?"

"I stayed over at Ayhan's," Sanem shrugs, putting on her shoes and tying the laces with her back to her mother, trying her best to avoid her gaze.

Mevkhibe's eyes stay on her until Sanem stands up straight and turns. Narrowing her eyes at Sanem then widens in surprise, before she asks, "Are you wearing makeup?"

"It's not that much," Sanem flushes.

"She's wearing makeup," Mevkhibe gushes. "You look so pretty honey."

"Let me see," Leyla turns Sanem's face holding her chin with two fingers and then she smiles too. "Aw! You look beautiful. You're getting very good at it."

Sanem makes a kissing pout and blinks her eyes, showing off her mascara playfully. "Thank you."

"Just don't blink too much, the mascara still looks wet. It'll end up being all over."

Sanem nods and then starts pulling at her lashes. "I think they're stuck, I can't open my eyes." She carefully opens them.

"Don't worry it's going to be dry soon enough. It'll be fine in a bit."

"Good Lord what's happening, my girls are bonding over makeup of all things." Mevkhibe looks at Leyla then chuckles. "Of course I should have known my influence would rub off. I always look great going to work," she says proudly, touching her hair and Leyla smiles while Sanem rolls her eyes.

There's a knock on the door then and Sanem opens it. She huffs irritably and steps outside to get in Ihsan's face. "What do you want Mr Ihsan?"

"Calm down would you Sanem? I'm just... I'm here to give you back your store." The man looked like he's been electrocuted. He was smiling but it looked off.

Sanem glares at him. "Likely story."

"No, it's - "

"Listen here, if you think we're in the mood for your jokes this early in the morning, think again," Mevkhibe says, stepping out behind Sanem with Leyla. "You're going to make me very angry and I'm in a good moo - "

"What's going on out here? What's all the noise for Mevkhibe?"

Mevkhibe had no idea her voice had risen as she spoke. "Nihat, Ihsan is here."

Nihat comes out as well, standing in front of the women as if to shield them. "Yes? Can we help you Ihsan?"

"Mr Nihat," Ihsan greets him and bows his head respectfully. He digs in his pocket and takes out the keys to the store. "I'm here to give you this. The keys. The store is yours again. I'm cutting my losses, I'm not doing too well with it. I can't do it anymore. Selling chewing gum and chocolates, it's not benefitting me in the long run. And these people complain too much if I don't have something in stock. Too much of a headache." He shakes his head and stands back. "It's yours. I'm done."

The womens' faces break out into smiles of disbelief after they stare at each other.

"Managing stores isn't my forte. I'll find something else, listen," Ihsan leans in to Nihat, "You can take the store for 40 000, it's no problem. And you can even pay me off, if you want. I don't mind." Nihat stares at Ihsan, who seemed in a hurry. He nods at them. "Great. Thank you. Oh! One more thing," he turns back to them, "I think we should put this whole nasty business behind us and be friends. What do you say? We can have tea, sit and chat sometimes? Mend bridges?"