Defne and Ahtem sat in his workshop and examined on a laptop a photograph of an old necklace made in the form of a patterned breastplate. On the table in front of them lay an open case in which earrings and a ring flickered with reddish glitter on black velvet.
"Not one stone," Defne noted, shifting her gaze from the laptop screen to the jewels. - Only patterns.
"Yes," Ahtem confirmed thoughtful, looking at the photograph of the necklace. - This is an ancient Arabic technique. Pretty complicated.
"Do you know it?" - Without taking her eyes off the photo, she pulled a sheet of paper and a pencil toward her.
"Fortunately, yes," he took out the ring from the case and began to examine it through a magnifying glass. - Red gold high carat.
Defne looked at him and asked:
- Do we have such material?
- Yes, there are from my old stocks. I made wedding rings for one very rich Arab, and he wanted just such gold - red. What do you think of the sketch? Can you draw it? Photos are not too good quality.
The last sentence was said in a displeased tone, and Ahtem grunted knowingly and glanced at the girl.
"Wouldn't like to devote time to work in evenings that are designated for Omer?"
"Exactly so," Defne confirmed and drew the first line on a piece of paper. "Are you still running from Laura?"
"Uh, why am I running away," Ahtem was confused. - We are colleagues and communicate in a civilized manner.
"Ah, colleagues," Defne said mockingly. "And how does civilized manner warm your heart and bed well?"
She looked up at him boldly.
Ahtem was speechless. How could the humble Defne ask such a question? She seemed to read his thoughts. Smiling wryly, she answered his silent amazement:
- I am in shock. I've never said anything like this before ... But I'm sorry that because of your pride and, stubbornness you deprive yourself of real life. Tell me, are you aware that Laura is the only woman with whom you will be happy? Everyone else will provide you with convenience, and only she will give you paradise.
"Or hell," Ahtem muttered softly.
"Or hell," Defne agreed. "But you will not know this until you risk confiding in her."
Ahtem grinned wryly and shook his head.
"You're like a weed." If you cling to something, you won't be left behind.
"I have such a habit," Defne agreed cheerfully. "So, are you coming with us to my relatives tomorrow?"
"No," Ahtem answered - Tomorrow, I will work.
Defne, leaning back in her chair, crossed her arms over her chest, and tilted her head to her shoulder. But the man ignored her eloquent pose and continued to do his own thing.
"If I'm а weed, then you are a stubborn mule," she said.
"I have such a habit," Ahtem agreed in her own words.
"Okay," Defne got up from the table and began to pack things in her purse. - I will not bother you. I have a couple of free hours. I'll return to the office and start with the sketch of the necklace. "She picked up the case with earrings and the ring. Touching the pattern on reddish gold, she asked: "Do you need this jewelry for work?"
- Not yet. Take them. When the sketch is ready, and I proceed to implement it, then they will be needed.
Defne threw the case into her purse and put on her coat.
- Bye, stubborn! Nice work to you.
- And to you. See you, "Ahtem said goodbye.
When the girl went out the door, he went to the table and hit his finger on the laptop keyboard. A sweet, smiling face of his torment and happiness appeared on the screen. Ahtem ran his knuckles along the cheekbone. What a pity that he can't feel the tenderness of the skin ... Maybe Defne is right. After all, he has been living in hell for seven years, and without risking to change something, he will never get out of it. He put his fists on the table, rested his chin on them, and gently looked at the image on the screen.
"How much I love you," he whispered.
***
On the way home, Defne was buzzing Omer's ears with stories about the peculiarities of Arabic engraving on intricate gold patterns.
"To copy and draw them on paper is quite real, but I don't even imagine how Ahtem will put all this into practice," she chattered.
Omer silently smiled at the corners of his mouth and caressed her fingers.
"But how beautiful it is!" - continued to admire Defne. - A convex gold plate, on which, like an engraving, patterns of stunning beauty are applied. At home, I will show you the photo on the tablet.
- Did you manage to draw something? He asked.
- Imagine this! I advanced well. Still, drawing is easy than portraying something that attacks the imagination. I thought it would be boring, but no. Not at all. These patterned engravings are like magic. It captures thoughts completely.
"Did you even forget about me?" Omer asked jealously.
- What are you saying! - Defne was indignant and looked into his face caressingly. "I remember about you every second." You are my life.
Silently, she glanced at Sukru. But he was driving the car and did not listen to what the boss and his wife were talking about in the back seat. Or pretended not to.
A good man Sukru, Defne thought gratefully. "How much kindness and delicacy is in him."
Omer leaned over to her ear and quietly asked:
"I hope you're not going to draw at home?"
Defne looked at him cheeky and asked:
- And you?
He only winked at her and smiled slyly.
The Mercedes drove into their quiet, narrow street. Usually, it was deserted, but today a van and a black sedan stood to the neighboring house. Loaders carried things out of the house, and a thin, all in black woman stood at the gate and watched them with empty eyes.
"Sukru, stop here," Omer asked. Sukru pulled over and stopped. "Put the car in the garage, and you can go home," Omer told him and got out of the car. Defne got out after him. She took his arm and together they went to the old woman.
"Hello, madam," said Omer. "Forgive us, we did not express our condolences to you at the funeral. Believe that we sympathize with your loss with all our hearts," the woman looked sternly and was silent. Omer remembered that they were not familiar and hastened to correct the mistake: "We are your neighbors." I am Omer Iplikci, and this is my wife, Defne. We were business partners with Fikret.
"I know who you are," the old woman answered and looked into Defne's eyes. Cold ran down her spine from her sad, death-filled gaze. She stepped back a half step and pressed closer to Omer's shoulder. "I know who you were for Fikret." I also know that she saved your life at the cost of her own. You are probably worthy of such a sacrifice.
Omer had an irresistible urge to defend Defne, to stop this gaze with his big body. He felt that she squeezed his elbow tightly and laid his hand on top of hers.
- Are you leaving? - Omer nodded at the van with things.
"Yes," the old woman answered. - To the village for orphans. Instead of Fikret. I will teach children to draw.
- Do you also know how to draw? Asked Defne softly.
- In our family, all women knew how to draw well. My daughter was also a talented artist. And Fikret...
"Yes, she won the whole world with her talent," Defne ventured. She reached out and touched a dry, wrinkled hand with a sympathetic gesture. "And her mercy." She so dreamed about this village for children without parental love. You act nobly, deciding to continue her work.
The old woman looked at Defne, and her heart was bleeding. This sweet girl speaks of Fikret's mercy and does not know that Fikret almost committed a crime concerning her. And does not need to know. Nobody needs this truth, and she will take it with her to the grave. Let people remember her granddaughter with a kind word and call merciful.
"Thank you," she thanked Defne. - I am very guilty before Fikret. Maddened by grief, I refused to love her for many years ... did not even give her a bit of tenderness and warmth. If I could turn back these years, I would have acted differently. And her father would be forced to wake up and not stay a prisoner of grief and the pain of loss. But this is impossible. The only thing I can do is give love, which I refused Fikret to unfortunate children. And maybe then, - her face faltered and distorted from soundless crying - the Allmighty will forgive me and take me to them, my precious girls.
Defne, letting go of Omer's hand, went up to her and hugged her. Stroking her shivering shoulders, she softly whispered in her ear:
"They love you ... even there ... love with all their hearts." Do not torture yourself ... be sorry ... because both your daughter and granddaughter have already forgiven you ... loved ones are always forgiven.
"You deserve her sacrifice for your sake," the woman said huskily.
"I did not want that," said Defne.
"I know ... but she wanted to."
They both cried. Omer looked at them, and his eyes twitched. He knew what it means to lose relatives and loved ones, and now he wholeheartedly sympathized with this old woman.
One of the workers approached them. Shifting from foot to foot, he hesitated to speak and glanced at Omer. He nodded to him, and the man gently touched the old woman's shoulder.
"Madam, everything is ready." We can go.
She let go of Defne, wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and the old, cold, and stern woman turned to the worker.
"Thank you," she thanked the man. "I'm going now." Gri not found? - The man negatively shook his head. The old woman frowned and muttered under her breath: "As independent as the hostess was."
Omer took Defne's hand and, interlacing their fingers, squeezed her hand tightly. And then he turned to the old woman:
"What will happen to the house?"
"I'll put it up for sale." Let a family settle in it and again be filled with light, warmth, laughter. Let children play in it and to smell of baklava. It was full for so long with sadness and pain.
"You made the right decision."
The old woman looked into his eyes and grinned bitterly.
"For once, and I was able to make the right decision." Goodbye, Omer goodbye, Defne. Be happy and take care of each other.
She went to the car. The driver opened her back door. Looking at the house for the last time, she got into the car, and it drove off.
Omer and Defne felt that the car was taking away not just an old woman, but an entire era in which love and tragedy, joy and hopeless grief, despair, and hope were closely intertwined.
- Shall we go home? - Omer looked into his wife's tear-shining eyes.
She nodded and smiled at him with a touching smile, from which her heart became warm, and all her worries melted away like smoke.
Hugging, they went to their warm and dearest to the heart house.
Late in the evening, comfortably settled in the arms of her husband, Defne lay quietly and thought about how difficult life is. It sends people trials, makes them make choices where, it seems, there is no choice. It breaks the backs even with the strongest. Some fold their arms and give up grief. They sink into its abyss to the very bottom and remain in it forever, forgetting that someone, on the surface, needs them. And others, having clenched their teeth, overcome pain, despair, fear, and go forward. For the sake of those who need their love and care.
- Why are you not sleeping? Omer asked quietly and kissed her shoulder.
Defne turned to him and opened her eyes. His face, calm and peaceful, was directly opposite her. She looked into his eyes and asked:
"Omer, promise me something."
"Anything, my love."
"Promise that if something goes wrong and if you have to choose between me or the baby,you will choose her."
- Defne!!!
"Wait," she pressed her fingers to his lips, "I haven't finished yet." Promise that if something happens to me, you will not drown in your grief and will love her for the two of us.
- Defne, where did such thoughts come from?
- Promise!
He lifted himself on his elbow and bent over her, so desperately determined face.
"Everything will be fine with you and the baby." There are no other options and cannot be.
- I also believe in it, but if suddenly...
- There is no "all of a sudden"!
"But anything can happen!"
"If it happens, I will save both of you!"
He said it so decisively that Defne believed. He will save them. He will cling with both hands and does not let them go. He will not give to anyone, neither fate, nor accident, nor death.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She pressed herself against his chest and said:
- I love you so much! And the baby! More than life!
"Silly," Omer stroked her hair and shoulders. Kissed a temple and a cheek wet from tears. Rocked her in his arms and warmed with the warmth of his hot body. "Forget all these fears." They are empty. Everything will be fine with us. Our baby will be born and will grow up the most beloved and happiest girl in the world.
"Hold me tightly," Defne asked.
He fulfilled her request. He clasped his hands, pressed her to his body, kissed her forehead, and ordered:
"Now, sleep."
She smiled and obediently closed her eyes.
***
Ahtem stood at the window and watched as Omer's Mercedes is parking near the neighboring house. Defne stepped out of it, looked at the windows, and waved. Ahtem knew who she was waving. His whole body froze in tension, and his unblinking gaze fixed on the door. It opened, and Laura stepped out into the street with a box in her hands. She was wearing jeans, mustard-colored semi-coat, and suede boots. But even these simple clothes looked on her like the top of elegance.
"Put a rag on her, and everyone will think that this is an haute couture outfit," the man muttered jealously. He put on his jacket and went outside.
"Good afternoon," he greeted the girls, and Omer looking out of the car.
"Hi," Defne was delighted, and Laura only nodded restrained. - You still decided to go with us to my family?
- Not. I'm going to the workshop," replied Ahtem.
"Nice work to you," Laura wished him and sat in the back seat of the car.
"Yes, yes, nice," Defne mockingly supported her and also disappeared into the cabin.
Omer silently winked at his friend and got behind the wheel.
The car started, and only when it turned the corner, Ahtem went to his. His attention was drawn to the guy who stood at the crossroads and gazed intently at the Mercedes. He was wearing a fleece vest over his jacket, the hood of which covered his face almost halfway. Ahtem did not know why, but he did not like this type. The guy, noting the gaze of the man hunched over, bowed his head and quickly disappeared. Ahtem frowned and got into his car. A vague alarm stirred in his chest, but he dismissed it and started the engine.
- Well, ready? - asked Defne Laura at the door of Topal's house. - Do not be scared. My relatives are a bit noisy," she pointedly turned her eyes, and her friend laughed gaily.
Five minutes later, being in the middle of a joyful screech and fast, like a machine-gun burst, Turkish speech, she was bewildered.
"Oh my god," she whispered. "I thought I knew Turkish well."
Omer heard her words and winked encouragingly:
- Don't worry, they'll chatter all the news now and then will speak more slowly.
- What are you whispering there? - Asked a thin old woman and, opening her hands, called Omer: - Come hug you! Miss you!
Omer joyfully obeyed. He hugged the grandmother and kissed her hand.
"Look how polite he is," the old woman turned to Laura, beaming with a pleasing smile. - Our girl Defne chose the best husband for herself.
"You're right, Madam Turkan," Laura agreed with her, and also kissed her wrinkled and cinnamon-smelling hand.
Grandmother blushed with pleasure and proudly turned her eyes. Defne imagined that tomorrow she would boast in front of the local gossips that the Italian countess herself bowed to her, Turkan, with such respect that she kissed her hand.
"Beat the neighborhood," Nihan muttered while looking at this scene and held out her hand to Laura. - I'm Nihan.
Laura shook it and said with a sweet smile:
- The best friend of Defne and the mother of the most beautiful child in the world. Defne talked a lot about you.
"For you," Nihan corrected her mechanically and looked around her family with a surprised look. - I like her!
"And what is this," Esra asked curiously and nodded at the box that Omer had set on a table in the hallway.
- This is a chocolate cake, Caprese. I did it yesterday, "Laura replied.
- She prepared it herself?! - the girl was surprised.
The guest nodded.
"Chocolate cake," Serdar said. His eyes lit up with anticipation. "She did it herself." I like her!
- Serdar! - Nihan shouted at her husband. - Do not disgrace us! The countess will think that you are starving here.
Serdar faltered, and Laura hastened to reassure him and at the same time all the others:
- Well, in a house where such wonderful housewives live, a hungry man is just impossible.
Defne leaned toward Omer and whispered in his ear:
- Laura, in five minutes, managed to charm my whole family.
"Not all," he answered just as quietly. - Iso is still holding on.
Omer did not have time to finish the sentence when the baby in his father's arms extended his arms to the beautiful aunt and smiled a toothless smile.
"Iso surrendered too," said Defne and Omer, trying not to laugh, closed his mouth with his hand.
Laura took the baby in her arms and carefully pressed it to her chest. She even closed her eyes from the tenderness that filled her whole. What happiness is this - a child.
The women looked at them with tears in their eyes, and even the men experienced something like emotion. But Defne thought that Ahtem still does not know what a weed she is and how she can cling. Because she had a new idea fix - Laura with a small son in her arms.
"And how long will we stand in the hallway?" - interrupted the touched sighs grandmother. - Quickly come inside the house! Laura is coming with me. And so that no one even looked into the kitchen. No one to bother under our feet.
She grabbed the baby from the girl's hands and gave it to his father, took her hand, and led her into the kitchen. The men went into the living room, and the girls ran upstairs to gossip.
The three of them sat on the big bed of young Topal's and shared news and secrets.
Omer played with Iso, but when the baby's eyes began to close, Daddy took him to sleep, and Omer listened to the voices in the kitchen.
"Bravo, who taught you how to cut onions so cleverly?" - The voice of grandmother Turkan rang in surprise.
"Gina, our cook," Laura answered. - I grew up in the kitchen. Nowhere was good for me as near my big G.
- Kind woman. Where is she now?
- Died. For me, her death was a big loss.
- Ah, how bad! Poor girl. But now you have grandmother Turkan. Do not be shy and come whenever you want. I will always hug you and feed you delicious homemade food.
"Sure, grandmother Turkan," Laura's voice oozed tenderness and warmth.
Omer smiled and, quietly stepping on the steps, went upstairs. Behind the ajar door, there were soft girlish voices and quiet laughter. He leaned his shoulder against the wall and froze, listening to them.
- So you played the role of a girl from high society? - asked Nihan. - How I would like to see this!
Omer raised his eyebrows and listened.
"There was nothing to look at," Defne answered her. - The role failed miserably. When Omer smiled at me with his sly smile, I forgot how to breathe, that how to hold my head, and smile.
A friendly laugh was heard from the room, and Omer's face broke into a content smile.
"Defne," Esra said, "does this woman, the tycoon's wife, has lost her memory?" It's like in a movie, right?
"Yes, honey," Defne answered her. - Only in life is everything more prosaic and complicated.
"And she doesn't even remember her children?"
"She doesn't remember," Esra.
"How scary," a sadness rang in the sweet voice. - Defne, and maybe our mother lost her memory and did not remember us?
"Our mother lost her heart, not her memory," Defne answered just as sadly. "But don't think about it, honey." It's not your fault that she left. And I'm not to blame, and Serdar too. She just turned out to be a cuckoo.
- Cuckoo? And we won't become like that?
- No never! You and I will be the best mothers in the world," Defne assured her.
"After me," Nihan snapped wickedly, and sadness again gave way to cheerful laughter.
- Omer? - The whisper of Serdar was heard behind. He just left the next room. - What are you doing...
Omer looked around and put a finger to his lips. And then he nodded to the stairs and with his lips said:
- Let's go to the living room.
The dinner table was crammed with a lot of dishes, and Omer was seriously afraid that he would burst. Everything was so mouth-watering, fragrant, tasty, that to resist and not try another masterpiece, there was no willpower.
- Ah, Laura! - praised the guest Turkan. - You have a talent for cooking. You grab everything on the fly, you repeat everything so deftly. And what a dough for manti you are kneading! So soft! How lucky your husband will be!
The guest smiled softly, and sadness lurked in her eyes. Will he be this husband? The one whom she wants with all her heart closes from her, and there is no chance to break through his armor, and she does not want other. Once she was married without love, and will never agree to such a marriage.Even for the desire to have a child. And it was huge. Today, taking Iso in her arms, she realized that with all her heart, she wants a baby. She needs to openly love someone, take care. So much unspent heat has accumulated in her that it can warm the planet. That's just she cannot felt warm. Silently, she touched an impromptu pendant at the end of a thin chain on her neck. She did this always when her heart began to ache from longing, and she felt better. And now, when her fingers through the sweater felt the smoothness of the metal, the pain in the heart became more tolerant. Laura held out her hands to Iso, who was lying on the bend of Omer's elbow and, while cooing, blew bubbles.
"Give him to me," she asked the man, and he meekly handed her the child.
Laura cooed with the baby and kissed the tiny fist. Omer and Defne looked at each other and exchanged meaningful smiles.
"Ahtem must see this," Defne whispered to her husband in the ear.
"Beloved, you're an intriguer," Omer answered just as quietly.
- Well, why immediately intrigue? - Defne was indignant. "I just want him to see what he is depriving himself of because of his stubbornness and pride."
"I'm joking, my love," Omer took her hand and kissed her. "I know that you have the kindest heart in the world."
Grandmother Turkan watched the sweet whispers of the granddaughter with her husband. The cheerful skirmishes of the grandson with his wife, the clever Esra, the sweet great-grandson, and silently prayed to the Almighty that it would always be like this. Let all the troubles of their family be left behind. Only joy and a quiet life await in front of everyone.
They sat up late for tea with cake, jokes, and funny conversations. Nihan put Iso to bed, and Topal's and their guests all spoke and laughed merrily. Laura felt that she warmed up here and did not want to leave at all. Here there was as she always dreamed - a large family in which everyone loves each other ... even though they tease mercilessly.
Defne, resting her head on Omer's shoulder, listened to the humorous quarrel between Serdar and Esra and did not notice how she dozed off. Hearing her measured breathing, Omer looked into her face and smiled gently. His sleepyhead wife! If she wants to sleep, then even the rattle of drums wouldn't wake her.
"Looks like it's time for us to leave," Laura said with a smile.
Omer gently touched his wife's cheek and called:
- Beloved...
She purred and opened her eyes.
- Did I fall asleep? Aw, how embarrassing!
"Shall we be going home?" Omer asked, and she nodded.
He helped her up and out of the table. Laura followed up and took out the phone from her purse.
"I will call a taxi," she answered Defne's silent question.
- Why a taxi! - She exclaimed. "We will take you home."
- No, no! - Firmly objected Laura. "It's too late, you are tired and want to sleep." But Bakirkoy is far away. Don't worry, a taxi will give me a ride to the house.
"Well, if you say so," Defne agreed.
Grandmother, not wanting to listen to any objections, gave to her granddaughter and son-in-law, and the guest, boxes with homemade goodies. Saying goodbye to Laura, she kissed and told her not to forget and come to visit more often. She kept her granddaughter in a hug for a long time and repeating to her - do not lift heavy, do not worry, do not jump like a grasshopper, eat more fruits and lubricate her stomach with olive oil every day. Defne nodded and promised to do everything. And Omer smiled slyly and assured grandmother Turkan that he would carefully monitor the implementation of the advice of his beloved wife.
Serdar and Nihan went to accompany the guests to the street. First, they said goodbye to Laura and put her in a taxi, and then all together approached the Mercedes and stopped near it. It was frosty and windy outside. Omer opened his coat and wrapped the fragile figure of his wife. She threw back her face and smiled gratefully, and then turned to her brother and friend:
"I never asked how Iso was there." I haven't seen him for a hundred years, and the voice on the phone seemed unhappy to me.
Topals looked at each other and darkened. Then Nihan answered:
- Our Iso fell in love...
- Fell in love? - exclaimed Defne. - So it's great! And in whom?
"In Aysegul," said Serdar.
- Aysegul? Is this your assistant in the cafe? - Brother and sister-in-law nodded. "Why are you so bleak?" Is that bad news?
"Her husband is back," Nihan explained. - He showed up like snow on her head. There was no divorce, he says, you are my wife, and you will live with me ... Iso suffers.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" - Defne got angry. She was ashamed. A friend is suffering, but she did not even support him. She bathes in her happiness and does not notice anything around.
- Iso asked not to upset you. You are pregnant. Excitement is not good for the baby, Nihan began to make excuses. - And you cannot help with anything.
"How can I not help him?" I will hug him, and it will become easier for him. - Defne looked at Omer and asked: - Shall we go to him tomorrow?
He nodded and kissed her temple.
- Of course, my soul. We will go and talk. Let's support a friend.
Saying goodbye to the Topal family, the Iplikci couple got into the car and drove home.
Defne sat quietly and silently looked out the window. Omer cast worried glances at her, and then spoke:
"Darling, are you upset about Iso?"
Defne nodded. Without taking her eyes off the lights outside the window, she replied:
- I feel guilty. Iso was always there, in the toughest moments he supported me, saved my life ... and now he feels pain, and I don't even know about it. I live in happiness, and my friend suffers.
Omer, holding the steering wheel with one hand, the other found her hand and intertwined her thin fingers with his own. Encouragingly squeezed and spoke:
"My soul, you are wrong." Happiness should be valued and treasured every minute and not ashamed. From the fact that you forbid yourself to feel it, for Iso it will not be any easier. Every love has a period of testing. We had our own, Iso has one. But if this girl is his fate, then they will overcome all obstacles and find a way to each other.
Defne looked up from the window and looked at her husband, not hiding in her eyes love and endless gratitude.
"You are wisdom itself," she said softly.
He smiled and, not taking his eyes off the road, raised her hand to his lips, and kissed.
"I don't know about wisdom," he answered. "I never thought of it." It's just that I lived so long without love ... without joy and warmth that when you returned them to my life, I learned to appreciate every minute of happiness. Your every smile, every word, every kiss, is like a miracle to me.А gift from heaven.
And again, her soul sang, and her heart sank with love and tenderness for this magnificent man, her husband. Looking at his clear profile, she jokingly remarked:
- And this says the laconic and restrained "iceberg" Omer Iplikci?
Omer laughed and asked:
- Do not tell anyone. And then my authority as a harsh boss will be hopelessly spoiled.
"No one will believe," Defne reassured him. - They will say that I am a storyteller and a dreamer.
The car drove up to the house and into the yard. Omer went to close the gate, and Defne took out a bag of grandmother's treats and went to the dark-wrapped house. A peephole dimly shone on the terrace, and its dim light illuminated the steps. Green eyes flashed in the dark. Defne stopped. A thin, gray cat sat on the porch and looked directly at her with an arrogant, almost contemptuous look.
"Hi," Defne said. The cat didn't even move. - Have you come to meet me? Where is your home? And why are you so thin? Maybe you want to eat?
Defne opened the box and, taking a kofte from it, laid it in front of the cat. She sniffed and neatly began to eat.
- What delayed you? - asked the approaching Omer.
"We have a guest," Defne nodded at the cat.
"This cat looks important and independent," he wanted to stroke between the ears, but the gray beauty looked at him with such a look of elongated eyes that Omer drew back his hand. "You're an Egyptian queen," he laughed.
The queen finished eating the kofte, softly jumped onto the terrace fence, and disappeared into the night.
"А cat that goes where it wants," Defne commented and took Omer by the arm. - Let's go inside. It is cold.
Defne listened to the noise below. There cabinet doors slammed, and dishes rang. And what did Omera get into his head? Is he hungry? After such a dinner? But to go down, she was lazy. A warm shower finally relaxed her and turned her into a pampered girl who wanted to quickly fall into a soft bed. She did so. She pulled out her blue pajama blouse, braided her hair in a loose braid, turned off the light, leaving only the lamp by the bed, and climbed under the covers. Footsteps were heard on the stairs. Omer, all such carelessly homely entered the room. In his hands, he held a bowl, which he placed on the nightstand near the bed.
- What is it? - Defne raised herself on her elbow and looked into it.
"Olive oil," said Omer, and threw back the edge of the blanket.
- What for? - She was surprised.
"Forgot what grandma said?" Rub olive oil into the skin of the abdomen.
Defne leaned back on the pillow and laughed briskly.
- What? - Omer was taken aback by her behavior.
"My beloved," she answered, choking with a laugh, "it was olive oil that was rubbed in my grandmother's time, and now there is a special cream. I said nothing so as not to run into another lecture. But I didn't think that you would so thoroughly decide to do everything.
- And where is this cream? - Offended, pushing his chin forward, Omer asked.
- In the bathroom on the shelf. A beige tube on which cocoa fruits are painted.
Omer went into the bathroom and returned a minute later with a tube in his hand.
- This one? He asked his wife.
"This one," she answered.
Omer sat on the bed. Turning up the edge of her pajama blouse, he lowered the elastic of her panties to admire the subtle bulge of her tummy. Gently run a finger on her ribs and the lower abdomen. He kissed a place just below the navel and touched his tongue. Defne giggled and said:
- It tickles!
Omer raised his head, looked into her laughing eyes, and winked:
"You forgot how you always tickled my neck?"
- Revenge, you say? She asked fervently.
"Yeah," he agreed and squeezed a generous serving of chocolate-smelling cream into his palm.
Warming in his hands, Omer applied it to her bare belly and began to rub into the skin with smooth, circular movements. He pressed his palm close, but softly, long fingers glided confidently and gently, giving lightness and bliss. Defne closed her eyes and dissolved in sensations...
How right is Omer! Every minute of love and happiness is priceless, and it needs to be surrendered without a trace - heart, soul, body. Catch with all being, live like the last, revel in it, and thank God for it.
And Defne thanked - the heaven, fate, Omer and the past that led them to this point and this moment...
***
Ahtem was nervous. For an hour now, he stood at the window in his room and looked at the road. It was dark in the windows of the neighboring house - Laura still hasn't returned from the guests, although it's almost ten o'clock. Ahtem was worried. Crazy but damn pride kept him from calling her or Omer. But it was not strong enough to take him away from the window.
The darkness at the end of the alley was cut by headlights. Ahtem leaned forward and glared at the glowing letters on the roof of the car. The taxi stopped at the gate of Laura's house, she got out of the car and disappeared behind the front door. On the ground floor, a light came on. Through the transparent curtains, Ahtem saw her go into the kitchen and open the doors of the wall cabinet. She took out a box and put it on the table. She touched her temple with her hand and grimaced. For a long time, she sorted out something in the box, and then returned it to its place. The light in the kitchen went out, and Ahtem already wanted to leave his post by the window, but then the front door opened again, and Laura went outside.
"Is she crazy?" Where at this time? He whispered angrily and hurried down.
Laura's head started to ache in the smelling of a smoke cab. With every second, the pain grew strong and squeezed the temples with a red-hot vise. She lightly massaged them, but it did not get any easier. She dreamed of getting home, taking painkillers, and climbing into a hot bath.
But there was no painkiller in the medicine cabinet. Nothing. Even commonplace aspirin. And the head hurt more and more, and she understood that one could not do without it. Or night will turn into torture. Remembering that there is a pharmacy around the corner that works around the clock, she took her wallet and went for medicine.
It was gray rather than dark outside. Lanterns were dimly lit and scattered - a full moon in the sky. The windows of the houses put out their light. Ahtem's was also dark. Throwing a sad look at his home, Laura quickly walked toward the pharmacy.
He appeared unexpectedly. Laura heard no footsteps behind her, nor any other rustle. Just at one moment, heavy hand closed her mouth, and a cold blade touched her throat.
"If you scream, I'll cut it," a hoarse voice sounded over her ear. - Give me your wallet and take off your jewelry.
Letting go of her mouth, he pulled out the purse from her palm and hid it in his pocket. Laura, with trembling hands, took off her earrings and ring. The man grabbed them.
- And what's that? - under the collar of her coat, he saw a chain and shook the girl. - Come on, remove the trinket from your neck.
- Not! - as if the devil moved into Laura. She hit him on the arm and twisted. Looking into the face hidden by the hood hissed:
- I'm not giving it! Take what you got and get out. You won't get the chain!
"Come here," the guy pulled her collar, Laura screamed. Severe pain burned her side.
A tornado emerged from the gray darkness. He bumped into the burglar and delivered a powerful blow to his jaw and another in the stomach. The guy bent in half and settled on the ground. Ahtem, with all his strength, kicked him in the side and wrung his hands back, tied them with a lacing pulled out of the hood.
A light came on in a house nearby, and a worried male face appeared in the doorway.
"Call the police," Ahtem ordered abruptly and turned to Laura.
She sat with her back against a tree and held her side above her waist. Light from the window fell on her pale face and palm, through her clenched fingers, oozing dark liquid.
- Laura !!! - Ahtem cried out scared and rushed to her. Having removed her hand, he clamped her wound and yelled at the man who left the house and stumbled bewildered beside them: - Ambulance !!!! Faster!!! - Then the guy with trembling hands began to poke at the phone screen, and Ahtem leaned toward the girl's face. Her eyes were closed. A soft moan broke from her lips. They became bluish-white before his eyes.
- Laura, the ambulance is coming. Hold on, my love. Everything will be fine. I'm with you.
She heard his voice as if through a layer of cotton wool. He was unreal, as was the blurred face, distorted by fear. Laura tried to smile encouragingly and lost consciousness.
Doctors did not let him in an ambulance. They told him which hospital they were taking Laura to and ordered to go after them. The police wanted to take evidence from him, but he dismissed them and, having promised to give them later, ran to his car.
Ahtem burst into the emergency room of the hospital and ran to the registry window. When asked who is the patient for him, he replied:
- Bride.
He was informed that Ms. Laura Cesare was taken to the surgery department. She is in the operating room. He ran there, but middle-aged nurse ordered him to wait. As soon as the operation is over, the doctor will come to him and tell everything.
Minutes lasted forever.Аhtem walked around the corridor and prayed fervently. Cursed the stubbornness and pride. His slowness. Why did he put on this damn jacket and lost precious minutes? If he went out immediately, if he went to the Topal family with Laura during the day, this wouldn't have happened.
When the doctor finally came to him, Ahtem was in a state close to insanity. The doctor looked into his panicked eyes and did not beat around the bush.
"Madame Laura is lucky," he said. - The knife went through the ribs. The cutting is deep and rather long. We had to put in eighteen stitches. But the internal organs are not affected. The patient is in satisfactory condition.
"Can I see her?" Asked Ahtem. Relief made his body cotton, his legs refused to hold him, and he leaned his shoulder against the wall.
"You can, only a little later," the doctor answered. "Let Madame Laura move away from the shock." A psychologist is working with her now. When he leaves, the nurse will take you to the ward. And one more thing, - the doctor took out a transparent bag from his pocket and handed it to Ahtem. - Before suturing, we removed it from the neck of Mrs. Laura. She asked me to give it to you.
Ahtem took the bag in his hands, looked at its contents, and forgot how to breathe.