Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 4)

3. Step to forgiveness

Can drops two handfuls of chopped onions into a frying pan, moving it over the heat as it sizzles.

Behind him, Emre was staring at him with the cheeseknife in his hand but not cutting - he hasn't been able to say a word in almost ten minutes - not since Can told him that he asked their father to tell him the truth and he confessed. "And then?" Emre prompts, finally finding his voice and starting to cut again. He was supposed to be helping with dinner after all.

"And then what?" Can asks, adding green pepper.

"What happened? Were you angry when dad confessed? I mean, he hid this from us for years. Decades really."

Can slows his movement of the pan and glances at Emre cutting up the cheese. "I wasn't." Emre looks at him. "Yes, I've been angry with mom for the same amount of years, I know, and it's not fair not to be upset with him too." Emre nods and Can sighs. "But to be honest with you? I've had enough. I'm tired of feeling angry. With anyone."

"I understand," Emre shrugs. "You don't want to feel the same way about dad for the next twenty years. Right?"

"In a way," Can admits. "But you know, Emre, dad's going to be the angry one when he finds out - " Can lowers his voice, looking towards the kitchen doors leading out to the living room. "You know, about your behavior at the agency...and the story with mom and the shares?"

"Yeah, I know," Emre sits down. "But you forgave me, he can too, right?"

Can nods, as he stirred, keeping the onions and peppers from sticking. "Do you want to know what Sanem said to me?" he asks after a moment of thoughtful stirring, and shakes his head. "She said I'm just like mom. In the sense of leaving? She said that mom left me and now I'm doing the same to everyone around me by running away." He still had trouble believing that she said it.

-

Neither brother knew that Huma, on her way past the kitchen, had paused as Can said this.

"And are you?"

"I don't know...maybe."

"Then don't leave. You're obviously conflicted about it so don't go."

"I have no clue what's right or not anymore, but I do know one thing," Can turns, still stirring, "I've been unfair to mom, I reacted without giving her a chance. I know that now at least."

Huma's eyes tears up, her reaction hidden behind a hand.

-

"This is great news." Can snorts at Emre's surprise. "It'll be nice not to have to play mediator between you two. You can work on your own relationship with her and leave me in peace," Emre grins.

Can frowns at the cutting board and then points his spatula. "You're not cutting. I want to eat sometime this century."

Emre rolls his eyes and stands back up, pulling over the carrots, since the cheese was done.

"I'm not adding carrots. I just put them there so you can have one."

"Yeah yeah, you hate the stuff, I know. I'll eat them all myself. That way my eyes will be sharp enough to watch this blooming rela - "

"Emre," Can warns and Emre laughs, throwing his head back, "cut your carrots and shut up."

**

Guliz takes a deep breath, holding the flowers to Sanem from the office under her arm before she rings the doorbell.

"...kill yourself with your stubborn - Oh! Guliz!" Mevkhibe smiles when she turns from talking over her shoulder and opening the door. Nihat is right behind her with a plate of oranges.