Losing Control

Chapter 22

Ayfer Yildiz hadn't thought much of the boat trip other than it was an opportunity for Aydan and Serkan to introduce Kemal Ozcan to the family in a discreet manner. It made sense to manage the introductions this way. She had been cradling Ceren Basar-Simsek's newborn for the past ten minutes when a voice broke into her thoughts, "Stealing little Aras are you?"

The tall man with dark hair going gray at the temples was vaguely familiar to her, she may have been introduced, but didn't remember his name. Instead she smiled at him, "Don't tell! He's so precious, I could just pop him into my bag and no one would notice." Then she laughed softly and rubbed his downy head, "Only giving Ceren a break. I'm sorry I don't recall your name."

The man sat next to her, "I'm happy that you aren't a kidnapper, as an officer of the law I would be obliged to take you into custody, but then I think we could have fun with that." Ayfer blushed, the man was flirting with her and then she realized that she had been flirting with him.

"Sinan Basar, Ceren's father. You are Ayfer Yildiz? Eda's aunt?"

"I am. I was just thinking how funny that all our lives were intertwined, you are Serkan's lawyer, he has worked with Ceren, went to school with Ferit, Eda went to school with Ceren, Kemal and Serkan do business with Ferit."

"But you and I have never met, I think that we should rectify that Ayfer and go out to dinner. What do you say, would you like to do that?"

She looked at the man sitting next to her with the twinkling eyes and the rather shy smile and for the first time in over twenty years her heart said yes, "I would like that Sinan." They spent the remainder of the afternoon talking and getting to know each other. Ceren came to get Aras, casting her very sharp eyes on her father and Eda's aunt.

After putting Aras down for a nap on their boat, Ceren climbed back over to Eda's boat and strolled over to her, "I think that my father has a crush on your aunt."

"Really? Ayfer?" Eda leaned over a little to see where Ceren had tilted her head, "Well good, she deserves some happiness. What do you think about it?"

Ceren leaned her elbow on Eda's shoulder as they watched her father and Ayfer talking and laughing, "I say good for them. My mother has been gone for over ten years and dad has done nothing but work during that time. I know he buried himself in work to deaden the pain, so it makes me happy to see him laugh again." She turned to Eda, "And look at you, this is a nice change for you too. I remember the end of law school you had just gotten married to that dirtbag Berat."

"Did you know him?"

"Berat? Yeah, I even dated him for a while at university until he cheated on me. You and I didn't know each other that well yet and by the time we did you had already married him and then we drifted apart with our careers getting off the ground. You know if you ever decide to do some corporate work let me know, we could certainly use you."

"I may," Eda admitted, "Serkan and I have talked about it. I want to stay home once I have this baby because we plan on having more. I love what I do, but I'll admit that advocacy is hard on you mentally and it might be time for a change."

"Since I'm home I review, write and negotiate contracts. It isn't the most glamorous but I can make my own hours around Aras and still engage my brain. Think about it Eda, you don't have to decide today." It was true, she didn't have to decide right now what she was going to do, she had a few months to think about her next career move.

Eda went to go check on her children, she knew that Kiraz and Ebru were winding down and she wanted to make sure that Kemal had some time with the adults. The girls had monopolized him, but he had seemed to enjoy it. Eda found Serkan inside their stateroom reading to them, "Hey, do you need me to take over?"