Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

50. Childhood memories

Sanem takes a deep breath, having taken off her shoes and slipped on her slippers, as she walked through the house looking for her mother.

Turning into the living room, her eyes widen at the sight of cloth, fabrics and different other things spilling across the floor and over armchairs. "What in the world?" she breathes. Mevkhibe's head pops out behind a couch in the corner and Sanem yelps. "Mom!" she grabs her chest and takes a step back, her heart hammering.

"Sanem, good, you're home." Mevkhibe gets up behind the couch. "Come here, help me with this side."

"What side? Mom, what are you doing?" Sanem walks over as Mevkhibe pulls on the zipped up suitcase. "What is this? It's heavy," Sanem heaves and walks forward while Mevkhibe goes back.

"That's not your problem dear, it's mine." They drop the suitcase and Mevkhibe is red in the face as she looks at Sanem out of breath. "It's your fault that I have the problem though." 

"Mine? How?"

"Fold this, put it aside." Sanem catches the shirt and looks at her mother in confusion. "How is it not your fault?" Mevkhibe shakes her head and tosses over another shirt.

"Mom - "

"Your sister is sick, she barely eats this morning and then she goes walking," Mevkhibe keeps talking as Sanem folds. "I know there's something else wrong with her. She doesn't want to tell me. You don't tell me anything either, and I know you know." Mevkhibe sighs. "She walks around like a ghost - you know, she never stays off work, not even when she actually is sick." Sanem stays silent. "I have to keep myself busy or I'll lose my mind with worry, that's why I'm doing this. I'm sorting out the cupboards. Everything that's not used has to go, it's too cluttered."

"Everything?" Sanem frowns with a tablecloth in her hands.

"Yes. I'm putting out all of your old clothes to make more space. I'll hand them out to those who need them."

"Oh." Sanem looks around at the clothes and various other items and then clears her throat lightly. "I talked to Can," she starts, "and I came home right after work, as you asked."

"Good. Now tell me what happened. I'm listening," Mevkhibe says as she sorts out the box in front of her.

"You want me to tell you?"

"Yes."

"Alright," she inhales and then sighs, "well, I told him that I wanted to quit, I told him about all the gossip going around and that you and dad were being put in a difficult position because of it."

"Well done," Mevkhibe nods and looks at her. "Perfect. And what did he say?"

"He uhm," Sanem swallows nervously, "well - " She remembers Can more or less proposing and a dopey smile spreads over her face for a second. Mevkhibe lifts a brow and she stops. "He said I was a very good copywriter and I can't quit. Then he said he I was his girl and he would never let me go."

"Good Lord," Mevkhibe closes her eyes and raises her face to the ceiling. "Love," she shakes her head. "And then what?"

"He said that we should get married," Sanem grins and Mevkhibe's eyes snap to hers.

"He - " she blinks for a moment. "He asked you to marry him?"

Sanem nods. "Yes. I mean, I think... he said 'let's get married', so..." She looks down and folds another shirt.

"No, I'm sure it wasn't just words," Mevkhibe gives Sanem a look. "This came from Can so I'm sure he meant it."

"Of course," Sanem nods and looks at her mother. She talked to him in the first place so her mother wouldn't do it. "His intentions are clear. He sees a future with me. Why else would he say it?"