Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 4)

51. Only someone who knows me

"Knock knock."

Sanem eyes her bedroom door as she puts on her lipstick when Leyla knocks and peeks her head in. "Hey."

"Sanem, what do you think of this dress?" Leyla comes in and drags her hands down her sides. "Is it okay?"

"It's beautiful."

"Yeah?" Leyla frowns and stands in front of the mirror.

"Hm hm," Sanem turns to her and then puts her hands on her hips and wiggles her head. "What do you think about my hair?" She had the top half tied back and the bottom half loose over her back and shoulders.

"It looks great," Leyla beams. "Very cute."

Sanem smiles and then gives Leyla a thankful pout. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For changing your mind and saying yes to coming with me. I don't know who Mrs Huma invited and I'll feel a lot better knowing you're there."

"Of course, Sanem," Leyla touches her hand and then hugs her before stepping back. "I'll never leave you to face the wolves alone."

Sanem picks at the sweaterdress she was in nervously for a second as Leyla looks at herself again. "Mrs Huma said she would call mom herself when I offered... She has no idea how stubborn mom is...What if - "

"Girls," Mevkhibe interrupts her and hurries into the room. "We only just closed up," she breathes. "Are we late? Will we still make it? She said 8?"

"You're coming?"

"Of course," Mevkhibe shrugs, looking at Sanem. "Why wouldn't we? Do you not want us to go?"

"No, no," Sanem quickly corrects her reaction. "I didn't mean it that way. I just...I wasn't sure if you'd want to. Considering."

"Don't be silly," Mevkhibe waves a hand. "It's for Can. I would move mountains for him." Sanem smiles a little. "I was very surprised to see his mother though..."

"See her?" Leyla asks. "Didn't she call?"

"She came to the store today and asked forgiveness and she looked all sorry and miserable...I was just..." Mevkhibe widens her eyes. "Did you know Can's father cheated on her with his secretary?"

"Seriously?" Sanem asks in surprise. Leyla's nose wrinkles as well.

"Apparently, the reason why she was gone from his life so long was when they divorced, Can's father told her she could only take one of her sons."

Leyla and Sanem glance at each other - Leyla pained, and Sanem frowning.

"I don't believe it."

"So she picked Emre and left Can?" Leyla makes sure she understood.

"It's a pity," Mevkhibe nods. "But then, imagine how Can would have been if she had taken him as well." She shivers a little.

Sanem herself was thinking about whether or not she ever would have even met Can if he had been raised differently.

"I love Can so much," Mevkhibe gushes. "I respect him. I doubt I would have if he weren't the same. That said," she adds in the same breath, "this is her last chance. She humiliated us once, apologized and I forgave her...If she does so again..." Mevkhibe narrows her eyes and puffs, "God help me. And her." She then turns and heads to the door. "I have to go and get ready, you two are distracting me."

"Wait mom," Sanem stops her. "Uhm, I kind of told Can that it would only be the two of us at the house, so he's going to come and pick me up. Can you not mention anything about going too when he gets here?"