Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 4)

12. Uninvited guests descend

Nihat is busy scooping out rice for a delivery when his eye catches Mevkhibe walking across the street.
"Mevkhibe," he mutters, narrowing his eyes and straightens as she steps inside with a little smile. Turning away, he puts the scooper into the rice.

"Good afternoon Mr Nihat," she greets, stopping next to him and looking around the shop.

"Afternoon," he turns to face the front with his hands behind his back. "Easy going?"

"Bearable."

"Good."

She looks him up and down, like she was sizing him up for some reason.

"Yes? I'm listening?" he demands, looking down at her.

"What are you listening to?"

"You came in here to talk didn't you?"

"I did."

"Then speak Mevkhibe. Why did you come? Did you come to tell me how much busier you are than me? To tell me that I'm sitting around waiting for nothing? That I'm looking over there and hoping for a morsel in vain? To tell me we're making so much money we don't know what to do with it? What is it? Speak."

Mevkhibe smiles at this shyly, turning her back to him. "Well, I'm honored that you think I'm rolling in money but I didn't come to rub it in... I have to tell you something."

"What? What happened now? Is it the girls?" he panics right away, his stance changing immediately.

"No, no they're fine. It's Osman." Mevkhibe sighs and turns to him. "He and Leyla are engaged but we never talked about is supposed to happen next with them. This boy grew up without parents to help in this regard. We looked after him and his sister when needed."

"And we did a good job supporting them."

"Yes we did, which is why, we have to do something to support him now too." Nihat smiles at his wife as she speaks. "I suggest we call him over for dinner. We're on their side after all. We want the marriage to work out. We can talk to them more about what to do. What do you say?"

Gazing at her lovingly, Nihat sighs. "Mevkhibe, Mevkhibe, what a marvel you are my darling." He holds open his arms and she readily steps forward to meet him for the hug. "Always thinking about our children... My Mevkhibe with a heart of gold..." He stands and sways slowly in place with his head on hers and his eyes closed. "You always think of everything... Okay, let's call him." She nods against him. "When are we doing this Mevkhibe?" His eyes open as he wonders.

"Tonight," she says and then stands back. "You call him to come tonight and I'll go home to start cooking."

"Alright. Take what you need for dinner from here."

"Oh darling," she chuckles and waves a hand, "why would I shop here when I have all the organic ingredients I could ever want to use right across the street?"

She is still laughing when she leaves and Nihat glares after her with his mouth turned down.

**

"Okay, one last point," Can says, looking around the table as he gets to the end of the very short, and very spontaneous meeting, "the campaign colors. JJ, you can work on that. You know what to do and how I want it."

"Of course Mr Can."

"Good." Can glances around again. "I don't think there's anything else really. You can all go now." As the table starts rising and packing up, he holds his hands up to both his left and his right. "Sanem, Deren, you stay."

Deren sits back down slowly and she and Sanem both look at each other in question.

"Quickly! Quickly! Go," Can urges his employees out of the room curiously looking over their shoulder and once Mehmet closes the door, he claps his hands together. "Okay," he clears his throat, "Deren, let's go through the list of jobs done again. See if there's anything Sanem missed, because if so, she may have to stay after hours today."