Ece's Secret (Fazilet Hanim ve Kizlari Fanfiction)

Chapter 20: Boundaries

The morning light streaming in through the window awoke Yagiz. He looked over to his right to find Ece resting her head against his chest. Yagiz remembered what he told himself last night. Boundaries. He slowly and quietly slipped out of the bedroom. Selin always slept in on weekends so he didn't have to deal with her inevitable fit for a while.

While the cook prepared breakfast he went into his father's study for the first time since he passed. On his desk was a picture frame with a family photo. It was photo from 9 years ago, the summer before he left for America to go to university. They went on a family vacation to their mother's hometown in Rize. Usually they would go to their father's home town in Izmir or abroad for vacation. His maternal grandmother was getting older and more ill so that year they decided to visit her and their uncle's family whom she lived with. Rize was beautiful in the summer with lush green forests, breathtaking highlands, and crisp clean air wafting off the Black Sea. The photo was all of them sitting around a fire in the woods, camping. That was truly the last time they got quality family bonding time. Yagiz hadn't gone off to university yet, Gokhan had just finished his army duty after completing his masters, he hadn't even met Yasemin yet, Sinan and Selin were still good kids at 15 and 9. Though their grandmother was ailing she would still crack jokes with everyone. Some of his most cherished family memories were made that summer. A few months later his grandmother passed away. He remembered Farah who comforted him through that tough time. His grandmother's death should have been a lesson, a lesson to savour the moments with his family, to not take his parents for granted as if they would always be there. He had never imagined both his mother and his father would be taken so swiftly from his life.

The pain blocked by all the distractions suddenly hit him. They were gone. The warmth and comfort of his mother, the guiding light of his father that held him steadfast, gone. They were gone. They would never get to see the rest of their children get married. They didn't even get to see their first grandchild. Poor Selin, it was worst for her. She needed them the most. As he is passing major milestones in his life he realized how much Selin wouldn't get. No parents to clap at her high school graduation. No father to walk her down the aisle. No mother to help her with her first child. He didn't agree with how his sister expressed her grief but he knew she was hurting most. Yagiz felt a tightness in his chest. He felt guilty for being so harsh towards Selin. He should have been there for her.

"Yagiz, are you okay?" Yagiz turned to see a concerned Ece standing in the door. Ece walked over to place a comforting hand on his shoulder but he swatted it away.

"I'm fine." he coldly replied. Boundaries. Ece is the mother of his unborn child but she isn't his real wife or real family. He would keep her at arm's length from now on.

Ece was thrown off by the reaction. She knew last night he was frustrated that she told him to stop but she didn't think it would have hurt his feelings or his ego. Besides, they agreed from beginning of their marriage of convenience not to expect love from the other person.

"What's your problem?" confusion clear in her voice. "Is this about last night?"

"Last night was a mistake, Ece. It won't happen again." Yagiz headed downstairs without giving her a chance to reply.

Slowly everyone gathered at the dining table in the backyard. The weather was good so it was a lovely day to eat outside. Ece sat next to Fazilet. Selin sat as far away from Ece as possible trying her best to ignore that bitch's existence.

"Abi do you remember when we all went to Rize the summer before I went to America?" Yagiz asked his older brother. Gokhan instantly smiled.

"Ahhh" Gokhan sighed reminiscing on simpler happier times, "that was a great summer."

"Selin, you must remember it very well. You met your first love that summer." Sinan chimed in.

"What are you talking about" Selin feigned oblivious.

"You don't remember our cousin Mehmet?" Sinan teased.

"Fat Mehmet? I was not in love him!" she quickly denied.

"He's not fat anymore." Sinan pointed out.

"You use to follow him around all day." Yagiz remembered. "You even told uncle Yavuz you were going to marry his son one day."

"How about I call uncle Yavuz right now?" Gokhan playfully reached for his phone. "He can arrange the wedding. Oh by the grace of God and the prophets we want your son for our girl!" The brothers laughed together.

"Don't even joke about that, abi!"  she puffed. "How about I call Emine?" Selin smirked back.

"Who's Emine?" Yasemin looked at Gokhan.

"No one. It was a long time ago." Gokhan nervously replied.

"Oh, yengecim (dear sister-in-law)" Selin began triumphantly "let me tell you all about Emine!"

"For the love of god, Selin, shut up! Eat some cream and honey, it's fresh. Here!" He tried to shut her up by shoving sweet bread in her mouth.

The siblings laughed and bickered together at the table. Ece felt like she was intruding on an intimate family moment. Ece quietly slipped away from the table and nudged her mother to do the same.