Stay with me

Chapter 33 - Old Secrets, New Hopes

Defne put her hands on his shoulders. Her face became serious. Taking a deep breath, she asked:

"Will it always be like this with us?"

- How?

- Life on top. When you forget to breathe, and thoughts fly to shreds. When you just feel. When there is no yesterday and tomorrow. Just now. This minute, this moment. And it is always the best.

Omer's throat tightened, and his voice didn't come out.

He swallowed, and Defne lightly put her index finger, touched his throat. Omer caught her hand and kissed her thin fingers.

- We will always be so. Every moment will be the best. Every minute is special. Even when we grow old, nothing will change. Feelings do not grow old.

Defne pressed her cheek to his chest and clasped her arms tightly around his waist.

"They won't grow old," she promised, like an oath.

They stood embracing and smiling. Because this moment was the best.

"Did I carry you in my arms today?" Omer asked in a velvet whisper.

"You did," she answered.

- So what! He winked and jerked her into her arms. - The limit is not set.

Defne, laughing, threw back her head, and grabbed his neck with her hands.

He brought her to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. He kissed the belly seen from under her pajama blouse, covered her with a blanket, and reached out to turn off the light. His look noticed the balcony door. It was slightly ajar and the handle was lifted.

"How careless we are!" - With a smile, he thought and went to close.

"It's my fault," said Defne. - I did air the room and forgot to close.

"If we are robbed, then let it be the greatest grief in our life," Omer reassured her and, slamming the door, locked it. Then he turned off the light and climbed under the covers. With a habitual gesture he pulled his wife to him, buried himself in her hair and, stroking her stomach, whispered:

"Sweet dreams, my beauties."

Fikret stood on the balcony of Iplikci's house. Closing her eyes, she pressed her back against the cold wall and trembled. Her heart was beating frantically in the chest. When she saw Omer walking towards the door, for a moment it seemed to her that he had noticed her and now there would be exposure. She bounced into a corner and froze. But he only locked the door and the light in the room went out. Silently stepping Fikret went down the stairs and, tangled in the hem of the long evening dress, wandered to her house. The body was numb from the cold, but it burned mercilessly in the chest. There was a picture before her eyes - Omer kisses Defne's tummy. Allah, how did she hate this belly and its mistress? Fikret understood that hatred was becoming uncontrollable and threatening to destroy her, but she could not do anything. She wanted Defne and the baby in her stomach to disappear from the face of the earth.

***

"Hello," Laura said, glancing into Defne's office.

Defne looked up from her laptop and smiled.

- Hi! Come in, do not stand on the threshold.

Laura entered the office and, before sitting in the chair, put on Defne's table a folder.

- Ahtem and I made a list of materials look.

Defne pulled it toward her. Opening, with notes of self-irony in her voice, she noticed: