Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

70. Emre breaks up with Aylin

"Mevkhibe, you just keep getting better in the kitchen," Nihat praises her as he eats. She smiles. "Leaving the store early was worth it."

"Thank you Nihat." She takes a bite of her own piece of cake. "Homemade cake is always so different from store bought."

"Hm hm, it's not the home it's you. Your cakes are the best." She rubs his arm lovingly. "Mevkhibe?" he says while chewing.

"Mm hm?"

"Do you think I'm getting fat?"

"What?" Mevkhibe looks at him squeezing his middle. "Where are you getting this from now?"

"I think I should go on a diet."

"No dear don't be ridiculous! There's nothing wrong with you."

"There is."

"No there isn't!" she says around the cake in her mouth.

"You can say that because you're normal sized, but I'm a little...pudgy. I've definitely gained some weight." He pouts down at his stomach.

"Nihat, I don't see anything wrong with you," Mevkhibe shakes her head and takes a sip of her tea.

"If you're sure."

"I am," she nods and then turns when the doorbell rings. "I'll get it. Eat your cake my love."

"I am, I am!"

Mevkhibe laughs looking over her shoulder then hurries through the house. She unlocks the door and opens it, her eyes widening at her daughter standing in the door with two men flanking her.

One is Can, and the other she doesn't know. "Welcome, welcome," she says to the men. "Come on in. Sanem, what's wrong with your head?" Her voice pitches when she sees the white square bandaid on Sanem's head when she stands aside to let them in. "Come in, come in," she repeats when they hover. "Sanem - "

Sanem closes her eyes. "Mom nothing happened, I just hit my head. It's not serious." She kicks off her shoes and slides on her slippers then moves away.

Mevkhibe turns to the two men behind her, smiling. She looks at their shoes and then grabs two pairs of slippers from the cupboard, dropping them on the floor in front of them. "Slippers."

Emre and Can look at each other. Can shrugs, having been through this once before, and starts stepping out of his boots. Emre slowly does the same. "Sorry," Can says with a smile, "we're not really used to this."

"Hope it's not a bother to you, son."

"Of course not," Can shakes his head. "Can I leave these here?" Mevkhibe nods and he puts his boots in the corner.

"I'm Can's brother, Emre." Emre holds out his hand, smiling.

"Oh! It's so nice to meet you! You're Leyla's boss, she's told me about you. Glad to see you." They stand in the hallway awkwardly, with her just smiling at them. "Good Lord, why are we standing here?" she chuckles, "please, follow me, I'll take you to the garden." She leads them through the kitchen and then clears her throat just as Nihat takes a sip of tea. "Nihat, look."

"Eh?" He frowns, putting down his cup and looking up. When he sees Can step outside he gets up and wipes his mouth and hands. "Mr Can, welcome." He shakes Can's hand as Sanem and Mevkhibe sit down at the table.

"Thank you Mr Nihat, how are you?"

"Good good. Yourself? Oh, hello." He shakes Emre's hand as well.

"Hello, I'm Emre, Can's brother."

"Pleased to meet you." He turns and shows them to the table. "Please sit down." Can nods and he and Emre each get a chair. "Careful," Nihat says when Can's head almost hits a hanging flowerpot.