“And anything to make you smile
It is a better side of you to admire
But they should never take so long
Just to be over there, then back to another one”
The song for this chapter is “No One’s Gonna Love You” by Band of Horses (the Stockholm version). I also listened to “Opus 20” by Dustin O’Halloran while I wrote most of this. It is a gorgeous piece of piano music and he is one of my favorite musician/composers. Definitely listen to it.
-Him-
To say he was shocked when her parents invited themselves over for dinner, without her, would be an understatement. Mevkibe brought köfte and made tea in his kitchen and they sat down to have a talk. He was totally unnerved and on his best behavior. Nihat told him what he told Sanem the night before. New rules, high expectations, and a question about his intentions.
“Nihat Bey, I” he swallowed nervously but carried on. “I love her.” looking her father in the eye while saying those words was one of the scariest things he’d ever done.
“And?” what else? What will you do for her? How will you prove it to us?
“And I will never stop loving her. I never want to part from her.” though terrifying, it felt good to tell them.
“Where we are from there is a way of doing things. I understand that you are different, but Sanem is still subject to the expectations of our community.”
Nihat was heavily implying marriage, but he didn’t want to rush. He made that mistake once before.
“Nihat Bey, with all due respect, I want it to be her choice. I don’t want her to feel like she’s obligated because of other’s opinions.”
Mevkibe smiled and patted his hand, “It pleases me to hear you say that, çocuk.”
He passed the test.
After they left, he breathed a sigh of relief. This was really the best outcome he could have hoped for. They were allowing him back in her life. They wanted him as part of their family.
He couldn’t help but think how this was the first time in their relationship that there were no secrets. She wasn’t hiding anything from him, they weren’t hiding from her parents, he wasn’t hiding from his feelings. They had some strict rules to follow and harsh consequences if they didn’t, but even so he felt freer than he had in a long time. He couldn’t wait to start this new phase of their lives.
The next evening he knocked on her front door and was greeted by her mother. He asked if he could take her to a nearby park to watch a film they were showing. It was April and they had just started up their outdoor family movie nights again. To emphasize the wholesomeness of the event he brought CeyCey and Ayhan along to back him up. He was eager to court her publicly, but in all honesty her father still scared him a little bit. Best to be prudent.
Their interactions continued like that through April and into May. They would text and call, he took her out most days, even if it was just for a walk by the shore or to get tea. It was nice actually, getting to know each other again. They told each other everything, childhood stories, hopes and dreams, fears and insecurities. It was funny, he knew he loved her almost from the start, but he didn’t truly know her until now.
He was glad they had this time, that they didn’t rush things. But he would be lying if he said he didn’t miss whisking her away for the night and having her sister or friends cover for them. His hands itched to touch her, more than just the hugs and handholds they had been allowed. His mouth watered when he thought of kissing her properly, not just the quick pecks they snuck when no one was watching.
The third week in May he decided to throw a party in his back garden for all of Fikir Harika. He knew she wanted to visit everyone again, but had been too embarrassed to come to the agency. She hadn’t gotten a new job or come back to work for him like he expected. She decided to write her novel. It wasn’t the Galapagos, but ever since her accident she decided not to waste any more time. She was doing something for her and he was immensely proud.
He may or may not have had ulterior motives while planning the party. It was going to be a weekend afternoon affair. He didn’t want to keep anyone from their evening plans of course, so it would wrap up around 5pm. He invited her to the party of course, but didn’t tell her or her parents about his evening plans. He didn’t think she would mind.
There was only one little thing that nagged at the back of his mind:
She hadn’t told him she loved him since before her accident.
YOU ARE READING
It's all because of you
Fanfiction"But I would rather feel the sting Than never to have felt a thing I'll always know you were the one To rip me from the ground"
