10 Minutes

"....Buonasera"

Ten little fingers and ten little toes....multiplied by three. Three little bodies, warm and swaddled up, lying  together peacefully in one crib. She looked down at each little face and memorized every feature while a trickle of tears rolled down her face. She felt her heartbeat accelerate as she once again marveled at the enormity of just how much her life had changed. She could scarcely believe she was a mother now but a mother of three all at once was something beyond her creative and imaginative mind. Her heart felt heavy with love for her little family that had grown exponentially before her eyes. She realized in a split second after their birth that she would do anything for them and since then that feeling had taken root deep in her soul. She smiled softly as one of her babies, Deniz; sighed and furrowed his little brows before settling back down. As if by magic the other two babes, Yildez and Atez soon followed their brother and her heart swelled at the scene before her. When her mother moved in for the first month after they came home she was overcome with gratitude and love for the woman she loved and admired and had learned so much from. Now she understood what her mother felt for her own children and regretted ever having disappointed her or withheld her fears and troubles from her. Mevkibe Aydin was a strong and loving mother through and through and if she could be half the mother she was, her children would be the better for it. She lowered her hand and stretched out her index finger and touched the cheeks of one of her babies and then the other and the other. Can had given her these three little gifts and she would protect them and guide them and love them for the rest of her life.

Watching her watch their little brood did something to him that he could barely name. He felt pride and humbled all at once. She was everything he had dreamed of and never knew just how much he needed. Loosing her had been the single most life changing experience of his life up until his daughters and son were born. Everything he did from the moment she gave him another chance centered around proving himself to her and becoming the man that she deserved and now he had three more reasons to be that man. When she bent over their crib to stroke their tiny faces he stood up and slowly walked up behind her, giving her space but enjoying her nearness as well. Her long hair fell over her shoulder and exposed her back to him. He momentarily grimaced as he observed the scar just below her shoulder blade. It would be barely visible to someone who didn't know it was there but he could never forget it. He viscerally felt ill knowing that the individual who bore the blame was still breathing. His disgust at knowing he was related to him left a bitter taste in his mouth. He closed his eyes for a moment and willed the image of Yigit out of his mind. Unfortunately he would have to be dealt with and the sooner the better. He hated the fact that she would have to be in courtroom to present her testimony before a judge. In this case the victim would be once again victimized in order to subject him to the full letter of the law. She was strong and capable, a woman who knew her own mind but she could be hurt and Yigit would no doubt find her Achilles heel and attempt to injure her. He would move heaven and earth before he allowed that to happen again. He looked down at his hand that held his phone and tapped the message button rereading the text Metin had sent him. He would be meeting him at the park a few miles down the road from their home in just under an hour. With him would be Osman and Emre and also his father-in- law Nihat Aydin. He realized very soon that the Aydin men would rally around each other to protect their family no matter what. Once they had been brought up to speed with everything he had learned about Yigit and all of his ugly deeds he knew he had to disclose it to Sanems family. Three years ago it would have been a different Can Divit who would have proudly stood alone against any threat but he had learned that misplaced pride was a dangerous thing and he would never allow himself to go down that road again. He pushed the phone down into the pocket of his shorts and took the few steps to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around the woman who had made him a father. He placed his bearded chin in the hollow of her neck and shoulder and held her gently well aware of her battle wary body. In truth she was healing very well and was feeling better every day but he knew that for every step toward healing she took up the duties of motherhood. It called for her to give more of herself than there was to give.
Although he rose with her to feed the babies during the night and willingly changed their diapers and soothed them back to sleep he knew that it was she that carried the bigger load. It was she that felt them begin to stir before anyone else did. It was she that happily folded their clothes and cooed to them as they happily nursed at her breast or took their bottles. When she bathed them she put soothing music on and then applied her hand made creams to lull them to sleep in comfort. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen when he first laid eyes upon her as she interviewed for the position of his assistant but she was never more beautiful to him than she was right now. She radiated love so much so that she glowed with it. He kissed her neck and cheek and told her how much he loved her, how much he appreciated all of her sacrifices but more than that how he loved her for loving him so much that these three tiny beings were an extension of that love. She turned in his arms and looked up into his eyes and smiled that smile that had taken his breath away when she first flashed it at him. "Our four babies Can, they are the reflection of our love. It has grown and endured so much to bring us here. To this moment. I love you Can Divit because you have shown me what it means to fight for what you want.
You have given me more than I could ever have dreamed of. Thank you-Sevi seviyorum Can".