Hazal sits on the bench in the garden with her head tipped back against Okan's shoulder as they talk and laugh quietly. Feraye stands back and watches them for a little while, unbelievably happy for her best friend and the man she's always considered a brother.
Hazal catches her looking and grins wide. "Feraye! Come here- look at them!"
Feraye does as she's told, walks over and sits besides them. She then looks at where Hazal points and smiles as she watches her daughter run around her grandmother, who is positively beaming at Yağmur, radiating love and adoration. Feraye feels a little jolt of guilt at being the reason why her daughter didn't have her grandparents, uncles and aunts around, at how isolated she and Yağmur had become.
"Hey," Hazal nudges her, "I'm going shopping for the little one today, do you wanna come with me?"
Feraye nods instantly. "I want to buy a few things for Yağmur, too."
"Good. We'll make a day out of it."
Ateş walks out the door and Yağmur immediately runs to him, all but jumping into his arms. He's prepared as always, catching her easily and holding her with one arm as he walks back to where Gulfem was planting flowers with her.
"How did your talk go, yesterday?"
Feraye sighs.
Okan pokes his head closer to her. "That bad?"
Hazal glares at him, pushes his head back.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"You know what. Now, go."
He sighs. "Fine."
They watch him go, then Hazal turns back to her. "So?"
"We talked, he's obviously still mad at me, but-"
Hazal turns to her fully. "But?"
"But, he said he needs time, that we can be okay."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
Hazal hesitates, but then she clears her throat and speaks. "What's your endgame, Feraye?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what do you want from him? Friendship? For him to be your daughter's uncle? Or do you want more?"
Feraye looks at the man, who's holding her daughter tightly, who's making her laugh and smile, who was one of the few reasons her life in America was halfway decent, who's the best man she knows, besides her father. "I want him in my life in any way I can have him."
"Then be honest with him, and be gentle, Feraye," Hazal says softly, "life hasn't been easy for him these past few years- not that it ever was. Things have just started to settle down for him. If you're not sure, if you feel like you're not ready, please don't take a step towards him."
"Hazal, I won't hurt him. At least, I'll try not to."
"You better not," she tries to sound like she's joking, but it's obvious she means it. Feraye is a little surprised.
She wonders what happened to make her best friend so protective of him. So, she asks. "What happened to him? I know some things Okan told me, but I'm obviously missing a big piece."
Hazal shakes her head. "Not my story to tell, but- everyone he loves has hurt him to some extent. Everyone. It took him a long time to heal."
"Hey," Feraye nudges her teasingly, "did you replace me while I was gone?"
