Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 4)

20. Two floors down

During dinner that evening, which they were having in the kitchen, Sanem and Leyla kept whispering and giggling while they ate.

Mevkhibe and Nihat both watch them, trying to eat but also trying to figure out what they were busy with.

"This is amazing!" Leyla gushes, putting grated beetroot into her mouth.

They were over the top with praising the food and their eyes were all over the place.

It made Mevkhibe narrow her eyes in suspicion and raise a brow. "What's wrong with you? You're hiding something, I can tell. You're not looking at me or your father."

Sanem eyes Nihat then Mevkhibe. "I quit my job," she says before sticking a forkful of potato in her mouth.

"We know honey bee," Nihat shrugs.

"Mm hm," Sanem shakes her head and swallows. "No. I mean completely. I left the agency for good. I'm never going back there."

"Sweetie, we don't want to pressure you or interfere but are you sure?" Sanem's quit so many times, they couldn't keep up.

"Your mother just means that we don't want you to regret anything."

"I know. And I won't. I'm sure."

"Alright, if you say so, then good for you," Nihat nods. Mevkhibe smiles, agreeing with him.

Just as they're about to start eating again, Leyla says, "I quit too."

Their forks pause halfway and they look at her. "What now? Where did this come from?" Nihat asks. "Did something happen?"

"No, nothing, dad. It was just time. Don't worry."

"Not nothing," Mevkhibe says, "you hardly had any time off. Long hours and all. You're about to get married. It would have been a problem for you to keep working."

Leyla and Sanem look at each other, communicating silently.

"I think you made the right choice."

"You're right mom," Leyla continues eating.

Before they can go on eating, neither have taken a bite in a while, Sanem says, "Leyla and I are starting new jobs tomorrow."

"My fork never gets the chance to reach my mouth," Mevkhibe complains. "Stop speaking at intervals. Tell me in one go."

"It's this cute little publishing house. Sanem will be an editor, and I will be an accountant."

"Where is it? Can you get there easily?" Nihat asks. "Tell me now so we can either make a plan or find you closer jobs so we have no problems later."

"Relax dad," Sanem says quickly as he pushes his glasses up his nose. "There won't be any problems. It's in a safe neighborhood and it's easy to get to. You can come and meet the owner at any time. He's very nice."

Mevkhibe watches her daughters closely as Nihat nods and smiles. "Okay. Then I don't mind."

"Where is this publishing house?" It hadn't escaped her that they glossed over that question.

Sanem's eyes widen slightly, her fork between her teeth. Leyla shifts in her chair, still smiling too widely. Sanem looks at her and she slides her eyes to Mevkhibe.

"You know where the agency is? Fikri Harika?"

"Yes."

"There's a set of stairs on the right. You saw it when you were there, dad, remember? All the way to the right in the lobby."

"I don't remember exactly."

"Mom, you know it too."

"There's a set on the right and then escalators on the left," Leyla adds.