Tightrope

Chapter 16

Previously:

"He will be more hurt if you take too long to tell him the truth and he realizes you haven't been honest with him about your relationship with Can."

"I know you're right. I will tell him. Soon. I promise. I just...I have to gather my courage. I don't know how to say it to him."

There was a knock at the door. Mihriban looked at the door in surprise. "I wonder who it is? I'll be right back."

"Okay," Sanem said, taking another sip of tea.

Mihriban opened the door to find Can standing there.

Can's eyes widened in surprise, and then narrowed in recognition. "I know you," he said.

***

Mihriban stood there for a moment, speechless. She recognized him immediately--he looked like her father when he was young, and his eyes were hers. She let her eyes wander over his face, taking in his features. The last time she saw him, he was a lanky teenager with a smooth baby face and short dark hair. Now he was a full-grown man, and it hit her that she'd missed his whole life, and he had no idea who she was and how much she loved him.

Can watched her as she looked at him. He guessed she was trying to figure out how he would know her. He remembered her from that day--the day that changed his life. He remembered that she'd come to the house to see his father--that she said she was an old friend. He remembered thinking she was a happy, calm presence and that she made him feel comfortable immediately. He remembered her looking at him this way that day, too--as if she was trying to memorize his face.

"I'm sorry," Can said, "I'm Aziz's son. I remember you coming to see him at our house once. You're a friend of my father's, isn't that right?"

"Can Divit," she said. She smiled at him, and her eyes shone with warmth. "Yes, I'm a friend of your father's, and you have a very good memory." She stood there smiling at him for a moment longer, then she moved aside so he could enter. "Please, come in. What brings you here?" she asked, though she knew exactly why he was there, and the reason was in her living room.

"Thank you," Can said, walking past her into the foyer. He stopped suddenly and turned to face her again. "We haven't yet properly introduced ourselves," he said, holding out his hand. She took it and they shook hands. "My name is Can Divit, as you know. What's your name, madam?"

"A-a! You're right! How thoughtless of me. My name is Mihriban," she said, gripping his hand in both of hers.

He chuckled to himself and let go of her hand after giving it a firm squeeze. "The world keeps showing itself to be smaller and smaller. I'm actually here looking for Sanem. I knocked on her father's door, but there was no answer. I saw the car in front, so I thought I'd try my luck here. Sanem has told me so much about you. She loves you very much."

Mihriban's smile widened. "And I love her," she said. "Yes, she's here. Follow me."

Mihriban walked into the living room where Sanem still sat on the couch. She was blowing her nose and she looked up to see Can behind Mihriban.

"Can?" she said in wonder. At that moment, there was no one she wanted to see more. She got up from the couch and ran past Mihriban to him and he caught her in his arms, picking her up off her feet and kissing her cheek.

"Sanem," he set her down and held her face in his hands. He kissed her forehead and her nose before letting his eyes survey her face. His eyebrows came together in concern and he ran his thumbs under her eyes. "You've been crying. What happened?"