If You Tell Me To Stay

Chapter 41

Sanem was seated at the kitchen island and Can put a second helping of breakfast in front of her. "I really need to start making money again if I'm going to keep my promise from last night."

Sanem took another large bite of scrambled eggs and looked up at Can with a confused expression and packed cheeks.

"To feed you when you're hungry. You're going to eat me out of house and home. Where do you put it all?"

Sanem scrunched up her nose, "Meanie. If this didn't taste so good, these eggs would be on your head."

"I'm impressed is all I'm saying."

"Suuure..." Sanem stabbed at the food, filling up another fork full.

"But the good news about me not working, is I get to drive my girlfriend to work."

"And then come right back to drive me to Silveri for my appointment with Dr. Şifa? And then hang around so you can drive me home?"

"I'll just hit the gym during your session."

"Am I going to add chauffeur to your list of job titles?"

"I like driving you around."

Sanem smiled and washed her last bite down with a sip of tea, "I remember when we first met, you kept offering to drive me places."

"That was for the same reason as now. I wanted to spend time with you."

"I hoped that was the reason."

Can picked up her empty plate while giving her a kiss, "Are we going in for thirds?"

Sanem gave him a nasty look, letting him know she didn't appreciate the comment.

Can raised his hands in defense, "No judgment here."

Sanem just shook her head and jumped off the barstool, "I'll be ready in five, James."

"James?"

"Aren't all chauffeurs named James?"

"Batman's chauffeur was named Alfred..."

Sanem's eyes lit up, "Does that make me Batman!?"

Can laughed at her giddy expression and kissed the top of her head, "It absolutely makes you Batman."

"Let's look in on Pica too before you drop me off. Maybe he'll be ready to come home and he can use the new bird house we got him."

"Alright. But he should stay with me, so you're not distracted by him while you're at work."

"Who's the one getting attached now?"

---

They drove to Dr. Alim's and Can's phone rang just as they pulled up. "You go ahead, I should take this."

Sanem bounded up the path, thrilled about seeing her feathered friend again. She walked into the lobby and rang the little bell on the desk, Dr. Alim appearing moments later.

"Hey, Dr. Alim. I'm here to pick up Pica if he's ready. Can and I found this pretty birdhouse in Ağva. And I collected seashells from the beach so I can decorate it. He can have some of the sea too until he can fly there himself."

"Sanem..."

Sanem heard her somber tone and the corresponding look on her face, "Oh no!"

"No. Pica is fine. But he flew away early last night."

"Oh..."

"I didn't want to call and possibly ruin your vacation."

Sanem's eyes began to sting with tears. She was of course relieved it wasn't the worse news she thought it was originally, but she couldn't help but feel melancholy, "Right. Yes, I understand."