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Part 10

🌟 EDA POV 🌟

The ride back to the studio was calm. We listened to music; we laughed at each other when we caught the other looking. And Serkan held my hand all the way back to the office.

"On Saturday, after our classes at the shelter, I'm taking Kiraz home," he announced, "or my mother will likely leave the house just to see me." He laughed out loud.

"Why would it be weird for your mother to leave her house?" I asked, confused.

Serkan became serious. "It's been years since my mother was able to leave our family home. She suffers from agoraphobia," I could see that it was something that hurt him deeply, so I didn't push when he didn't share more details.

"Did you finish preparing a room for Kiraz at your house?" I asked then, changing the subject.

"I did, but I think that in a few months, I'll let Kiraz redecorate it to her liking. For now, I just wanted the room to be cozy and practical for her." He paused. "Speaking about practicality, I spoke to the warden of the school I attended as a child here in the city, and I explained my situation. They'll evaluate Kiraz the first week of the year."

"You thought of everything," I responded, admired with his thoroughness.

"Not at all. Fatma Hanim gave me a list to read: books about child psychology, child nutrition, discipline, and language development; I found them extremely useful. Fatma Hanim assured me that that had been Ceren's idea, not hers, though. She shared that Ceren had informed her that I'd needed all of that or I'd go crazy."

I chuckled, "That's probably my fault."

"What did you say to your friends about me?" Serkan asked, curious, poking my ribs as he tried hard to drive in a straight line.

"You're going to get a ticket," I reminded him, trying to pry his fingers away from me. 

He left me monetarily at ease, focusing back on the road ahead. 

"I need to establish a routine for Kiraz. I need to be consistent. I've not a clue how I'll do that. Yet. But I'll learn," he stated, more to himself than to me. 

Serkan, completely preoccupied with doing everything right with Kiraz, warmed my heart. "I'm going to give you a piece of advice: do NOT follow any influencers about paternity," I teased.

"An influencer?" Serkan looked at me in incredulity. "Maybe it's best if you don't explain to me what that is?" he added, chuckling, and I nodded.

***

It was almost 11 AM. I'd been reviewing some details with Engin Bey when the wonderful lady that was my boss arrived in the common area to grace us with her lovely presence.

"Good morning, Selin Hanim," Susan and I said in unison.

"Good morning, girls." Looking straight at me, she asked, "Is Serkan Bey in the conference room?"

"I wouldn't know, Selin Hanim," I responded sincerely. "I'm working with Engin Bey today."

"When you see him, could you please ask him to come to my office? It's very urgent," she requested.

Susan stared at me in confusion. And I raised my shoulders, demonstrating that I had no idea what Selin wanted. Leyla was Serkan's assistant, and she was standing right there. She probably knew where Serkan was and where he'd been since we'd arrived at the office over an hour before.

"Since when are you Serkan Bey's secretary," Susan provoked me with a little smirk when Selin left to her affairs.

"Not a clue. It's not like I spend the whole day with him either," I affirmed.