LOOSING HOPE

ATES LEARNS ANOTHER LIFE LESSON

Can was worried about his son, so he went into Ates' bedroom to talk to him. He found Ates laying across his bed, deep in thought. Can sat down beside his son and told him to talk to him. Ates looked at his dad and asked him what he wanted him to talk about. Can told him to tell him what was on his mind. Ates said he was worried about his friend, Kamen. He told his dad Kamen needed a dad like his. He looked at Can and asked if Can could be his dad too. Can was floored. He wasn't sure how to answer this question. He looked at his son and said he could not be Kamen's dad. He was already a dad to him, Deniz and Yildiz. Ates said he could also be Kamen's dad. Can told Ates life didn't work that way. Can explained he was married to his mother, Sanem. They had 3 beautiful children. He was not married to Kamen's mother and Kamen already had a dad. Ates told his dad that Kamen's dad did not live with him though. Can told his son this was true. Can told Ates in order for him to be Kamen's dad, then he would have to be married to his mother Defne ad he was already married to Ates' mother. Ates thought for a moment and then looked at his dad. He asked his dad if he would have to devoce (divorce) his mother in order to marry Kamen's mother, right? Can told Ates this was also true. Ates said that would mean my mommy wouldn't live here with us, right? Can said also true. Ates had silent tears running down his face. Can asked Ates what was wrong. Ates said he didn't want his mommy and daddy to devoce (divorce). Can hugged his son and told him his mommy and daddy were never getting a divorce. He told Ates he loved his mommy very much and he didn't want to be without her. Ates said he wanted Kamen to have a daddy too. Can told him he understood that, but sometimes life just ended up that way.

Can explained to Ates that when he was 8 years old, his mommy left him. She took Uncle Emre and moved far, far away from him. Ates looked at his dad and asked if he was sad. Can told him he was very sad. He thought his mommy left him because she didn't love him anymore. Ates asked if he still had his daddy. Can told him he did, but it was just him and his daddy. Ates asked so, no mommy. Can said no mommy. He told Ates he cried everyday and wished his mommy would come back. Ates asked if she ever did. Can said yes, but I was a man then. Ates said he didn't want his mommy to leave him. Can told him he would never have to worry about that. He would always have his mommy and his daddy. Can asked if he understood why he could not be Kamen's daddy. Ates said yes, he understood now. Ates hugged his daddy. Unknown to them, Sanem was listening at the door with tears running down her face. She hurt for her young son. She wiped her tears and went back to the kitchen before she go caught eavesdropping.

Ates came out of his room, with Can right behind him. Ates ran to his mommy and hugged her. He told her he loved her and never wanted her to leave him. Sanem hugged him back and told him she would never leave him. Ates went outside to play with his sisters. Can walked over to Sanem and embraced her. She asked if everything was alright. Can smiled at her and said she could tell him, since she was listening at the door. Sanem looked at him and asked how he knew. He buried his face in her neck and said he could smell her scent a mile away. Sanem laughed and said she got busted. Can kissed his wife. Sanem teased him and asked if he was divorcing her so he could be Kamen's daddy. Can said hell no. He would never divorce his one and only. He told Sanem she was his life...his everything...his reason for living. He would never let her go. Sanem kissed her husband and said good, because he was stuck with her.

Sanem was working on dinner. She was making pasta with meat sauce, salad and fresh bread. When it was done, she set the table. She called everyone to dinner. Everyone gathered around the table and began eating. Ates was laughing and talking up a storm. Sanem realized the talk he had with his dad helped him to understand things more clearly. The girls were talking about the friends they met in day care today. Sanem was so happy that the kids were making friends. After dinner, the kids went back outside to play while Can helped Sanem clean up the kitchen. Once the kids were bathed, dressed and down for the night, Can and Sanem went and sat on the balcony. Sanem asked Can if he thought Ates would be OK now. Can said he thought he would be fine, but if not, then he would talk to him again. Sanem told Can if he ever divorced her and married Defne, she would make his life a living hell. Can laughed and told that was something she would never have to worry about. He was never leaving her. She was his heart...his half...his everything. Sanem got up and sat on Can's lap. She put her head on his chest. She told Can he was the air in her lungs, the blood in her veins and her reason for living. She kissed her husband passionately. Sanem then held her husband for the longest time.

Soon, they headed to bed. Sanem asked Can what he thought about inviting Defne and Ates over this weekend for that play date. Can thought it sounded like a good idea. Sanem said she would call Defne tomorrow and see if they could come over. Can said OK. Sanem smiled and said maybe Can could introduce Defne to one of his single friends. Can told her not to go there. Sanem asked why? Can told her he was no matchmaker. Sanem told him he didn't have to be. She suggested a cookout with some of their friends. She told him it wouldn't be their fault if one of his single friends met Defne. Can laughed and told his wife to go to sleep. Sanem giggled. Can wrapped his arms around Sanem with her head on his chest. They soon fell asleep.

The next morning was Friday, so everyone got ready to head to the agency. Sanem and Can dropped the kids off at day care and they headed upstairs to the agency. Sanem asked Can what he thought about a cookout tomorrow at their house for their family and friends. Can smiled at his wife and told her he could never refuse her. Sanem called Defne and invited her and Kamen over for a cookout with some family and friends. Defne told her she didn't want to impose. Sanem told her she wouldn't be. Defne accepted the invitation. Sanem invited their friends from work and then called her family and invited them. She told Can to call Metin and invite him. Can smiled and said my single friend, right? Sanem smiled at him but did not answer. Can called and invited Metin. He then he called and invited Akif and his wife. Can called his dad and Mihriban and invited them. When Emre came into Can's office, Can invited him and Leyla. Emre accepted. Once Sanem and Can were alone, he hugged his wife and told her this better not backfire on them. Sanem said it wouldn't. He just had to trust her. Can smiled at her and said always.