Tightrope

Chapter 2

Istanbul, May 2004

Previously

Can didn't know what he'd just heard, but he knew it was nothing good. He wrapped his arms around Sanem, his tears wetting her neck. She hugged him back and held onto him with all the strength in her little body. She refused to let him fall.

Can pulled away from Sanem suddenly. "Sanem, I have to find out what they were talking about. I'm going to talk to my dad."

"Okay, Can. Will you be okay? I'll wait for you here. Will you come back?" Sanem asked. She was worried about him going alone, but she knew Aziz would be more likely to talk to Can alone than if she were with him. This seemed like a private family matter.

"Yes," he said, pinching her cheek softly. "Don't leave, okay?"

She nodded and pressed her palm to her cheek; her face was hot. A lot had happened in the last few minutes.

Can gave her a dimpled smile. "I'll be back," he said, and then went out the door to make his way down the ladder.

Sanem took her books out of her bag so she could do her homework while she waited. She stared at the same math problem for 10 minutes, but she wasn't even seeing it. She'd just experienced her first kiss and all she could think about was how it felt to kiss Can. Her heart was still beating fast and her cheeks were still warm. A huge smile formed on her lips, and she covered her face with her hands to muffle her involuntary squeal of joy. "He kissed me," she whispered to herself in wonder.

***

"Baba! Baba, wait!" Can yelled after his dad as he ran to catch up with him.

Aziz stopped and looked back at his son. He quickly schooled his features so Can wouldn't see he was upset. "Hello, son! How was school today?"

"It was fine, Baba. I have something I want to talk to you about," Can said before he could lose his nerve.

Aziz saw the serious look on his son's face and guided him to a bench nearby in the garden. "Come, sit with me, son. What's on your mind?"

Can sat next to his father and took a deep breath. "I heard you and Huma talking earlier. It sounded like you were arguing, actually. Something about a woman? And me finding out? What does she not want me to find out, Baba?"

Aziz's face turned ashen. "Son, you weren't meant to hear that; I'm sorry that you did."

"What was the argument about? Are you keeping something from me?" Can asked, undeterred.

"Yes," he said, looking up at Can with sadness in his eyes, "I'm sorry son." He looked out into the garden, "You remember Hulia, your nanny?"

Can was surprised by the mention of his childhood nanny. He loved her, she was like a mother to him. She had left suddenly. He remembered being devastated. She left shortly before Sanem and her family arrived. Sanem had saved him in many ways, and she didn't even realize it. He dragged his mind away from Sanem and back to his father. "Of course I remember her."

"And I'm sure you remember how she left so suddenly?" Aziz asked.

"Yes, I remember. I was sad until the Aydins came and I made friends with Sanem."

Aziz smiled. "Yes, Sanem has been good for you, son." His smile faded and he continued, "Hulia was caught stealing from the family, Can. That's why she left. We had to let her go."

Can was shocked. "What? What do you mean she was stealing? Stealing what?"

"Money, son. She was stealing money that she'd find in our personal things. It wasn't a lot, but still--we couldn't keep employ someone who we couldn't trust."

Can shook his head. "I can't believe it! She was a good person. I can't believe she'd do that to us. She could've said goodbye, at least." The hurt was fresh again, and a tear ran down Can's cheek.

Aziz wiped his tears away and stroked his hair. "I'm sorry, oğlum. We didn't want you to know. We didn't want to damage the memory you had of her, and we were afraid you'd blame us for letting her go."

"No, I understand. Don't worry, Baba. I mean, I'm sad to think Hulia would do something like that. I just can't believe it."

"Sometimes people surprise us when they show us who they really are, Can."

"I guess you're right, Baba."

***

Can walked back to the treehouse slowly, trying to wrap his mind around what his dad had just told him. There was something strange about it--something that didn't sit right with him. Hulia was sweet and kind and honest. He couldn't believe she'd steal. Maybe she was in a desperate situation? He didn't know, but there had to be some explanation.

He climbed up the ladder to the treehouse and found Sanem asleep. She couldn't stay there; Nihat would be worried if she didn't show up for dinner. He pushed her hair gently out of her face and stroked her hair. Touching her like this felt so right, like he'd always done it. The kiss had shifted his attitude toward her. She wasn't just his best friend anymore, she wasn't a little girl in his eyes anymore. She was a girl--and he definitely had feelings for her. He leaned down and kissed her temple and nudged her cheek gently with his knuckle. "Sanem. Sanem, wake up so I can walk you home. It's time for dinner."

She sighed in her sleep, "Can?"

He smiled down at her. "Yes, it's me."

She opened her eyes and smiled back at him. "Can, did you kiss me or was I dreaming?"

"Do you think it was a dream?"

She shook her head. "No. I think it was real," she said.

"Maybe I should kiss you again just to be sure."

She nodded, "I think that's a good idea."

He took her hands in his and pulled her up so she was facing him. She closed her eyes and her lips twitched slightly in anticipation of his kiss. He smiled at her eagerness and leaned in to press his lips against hers once more, his eyes drifting shut. This time he angled his head so their noses wouldn't bump and brushed his lips back and forth against hers. He pulled back and looked at her. "You're sure it was real this time?" he asked.

She slowly opened her eyes to look at him. "It still feels like a dream to me, Can. My lips are all tingly. Are yours?" she asked, touching her fingers to his lips, as if she'd be able to feel the tingle in his lips on her fingertips.

He nodded. "They are," he said against her fingers. He took her hand from his lips and held it tightly. "Come on, let me walk you home."

Sanem suddenly felt a tightness in her chest. "Wait, Can. Are we...are we still friends?"

Can ran the pad of his thumb across her cheek. "Yes, but we're special friends."

"Special friends?"

"More than friends," Can said.

"What does that mean, Can?"

He looked down at the floor, nervous about saying what he really wanted to say. "It means..it means I want you to be my girlfriend, Sanem. Will you?"

Sanem's heart was pounding in her chest. "Really? Me?"

"Yes. It couldn't ever be anyone else."

She considered his words for a moment, her face serious. Then she looked up at him with a big smile and shouted, "Yes!"