Another Kind Of Promise

      As the years passed by Can and Sanem's life grew closer and closer. Their marriage was bound together with a love so strong that the thoughts of what had happened between them so many years ago had disappeared from their memory.

      Tarkan had just turned six years old when Sanem sat him down to explain to him that her rather large round belly would be bringing him a brother or sister very soon. " Tarkan, you will be a big brother now. We're not sure if you will have a brother or a sister just yet, but either way will you love it and always do your best to protect him or her?" Sanem asked, as she stroked his face.

      Tarkan thought about it for a moment before answering. " So it might be a brother? That would be good because then we could play together, but if it's a sister.....well I will love her but I wouldn't want to play with dolls and have tea parties with her. Do I have too?" He inquired, ashamed to even ask the question.

      Sanem laughed, " No, only if you want to. You know, sometimes people do things they really don't want to do just because they love someone so much they don't want to hurt them." she explained.

      Tarkan seemed to be ok with what was about to happen to his family. So four weeks later when Can and Sanem rushed off to the hospital in the middle of the night, Tarkan knew his life was about to change. 

      It wasn't until the next day when Can came home to get some rest, did Tarkan learn that he had a beautiful baby sister. " Son, you have a sister now. You will always need to look out for her and protect her you know. That's what big brothers do." Can explained, as he cuddled with his son on the sofa.

     " I know baba, anne told me already. So what do I call her?" Tarkan asked, soaking up all the attention he could from his baba. " We named her Emine. It means fearless and courageous, much like your name that means a great warrior." Can told him with so much pride he could barely contain himself.

      Tarkan thought for a minute, " Well if she is fearless and courageous, then she may not need me to protect her. Then what do I do." He asked, sounding so serious. Can laughed quietly to himself, " Well then you just love her and stand beside her at all times." 

      That answer seemed to satisfy the young Divit, " Ok baba. She may be fearless, but I'm a great warrior, that makes me better....right?" After a second of thought, Can answered, " Well not better, but older and wiser. Just remember, your Anne and I love you both just the same, and that will never change." He told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

      The next couple of days were hectic to say the least, as they all rushed around to accommodate the arrival of their new daughter. Can was a proud and devoted baba, ready to tell the world about his prized possession. 

       They had been home with the newest bundle of joy for only a few days when Can decided to call Akif to give him the good news. " Can, abi. It's good to hear from you. Has the big event happened yet. It must be about time?" He blurted out with excitement. 

      Can laughed.." Yes it has. That's why I'm calling. We have a beautiful baby girl named Emine, just a few days old. She looks just like her mother and we couldn't be happier." He joked. 

     " Well congratulations my friend. If she looks like her mother then I know for sure she is beautiful. I wish I could see her." He replied, with a bit of sadness in his voice. " You know, I haven't been back to Istanbul since Metins wedding. I haven't even seen Metins daughter, and she is four years old now, and now your daughter is here." 

      Can hesitated a second before answering, " Is she that old already. I had no idea. How is Metin doing?" Can asked feeling a bit nostalgic. 

      Akif scoffed, " I live hours away and you live in the same city, yet you ask me how he is? You should go see for yourself. Your children should know each other, be able to grow up together like we did." He stated.

      Can took a deep breath, " Akif don't start with that again. To many years have passed and to many words have been said. Anyway, I just wanted to give you the news." He said.  "How is Omer. He must be getting as big as you, how old is he now?" He asked, desperate to change the subject.

      " He is, he is." Akif boasted. " He just turned 10 years old. About the same age we were when we became abi's. I can't imagine sending Omer off to boarding school somewhere and not having him with me every day." He replied sadly.

      Can had often thought about that himself. How his dad managed to live without him all those year that he was away at school. Then the thought of his mother popped into his head and the way she simply packed up her things and left that day so many years ago, without so much as a look back.

      He closed his eyes, trying to imagine doing that at this point in his life. He could never walk away from Sanem and Tarkan, or Emine now. It would just be impossible, he would rather die than even think about it.

      His throat tightened with just the thought of it, making it hard to swallow. " Can are you ok, I asked how Sanem was. I'm sure she is handling it all with ease." Akif said with a laugh..

      " Well yes she is. You know Sanem, she can handle anything." he answered with pride. After a few more minutes of conversation the two said their goodbyes.

       " I'm glad we got to talk for a few minutes my friend. Hope to see you soon." Can told him. Akif agreed, " I am too, but I don't like this distance between us all. Please promise me you will think about making an effort to see Metin. I don't think his marriage is going well, so he might just need a friend right now." Akif added, hoping to break through that armor of protection that Can always put up between him and his feelings.

      " Akif, my friend, Iike I have said before. Some things are not fixable, and I'm sorry to say, but this may be one of those things. Now I'm sorry if he is having trouble in his marriage, but frankly, I can understand why." Can responded, letting his feelings show...

      Akif knew how stubborn both Can and Metin were, and he knew a conversation on the phone would not be the way to mend their relationship. He was even sure why it felt so important to do so, but he just did. 

      " Just think about it Abi, that's all I ask." Akif added quickly, and with that they said their goodbyes. Can sat there for a minute rethinking the phone call. Should he be the one to reach out to Metin?

       He had been the one that severed the ties with his longtime friend almost ten years ago, but with good reason. But was it really? Was a dispute about his mother a good reason to end it all. 

      But that wasn't all there was to it. No, that wasn't all, there was also what he tried to do to him and Sanem. Those feelings he had for Sanem, the way he tried to get rid of him again. That's the things he can't forget, and most likely he never would.

      He was so deep in thought he didn't hear Sanem enter to room, " Well how was Akif, and was he happy about our beautiful daughter." Sanem asked, as she ran her hands along his shoulders and down his chest. 

      Her touch startled him, " Oh, sorry babe. I was just thinking about the old days. But yes he was excited. He can't wait to see her." Can answered, reaching for her hands. The touch of this woman seemed to be his cure for the worst day. 

     He kissed her hand, " And he says hello to you,  and he hopes to see us soon."  Can added. She smiled, " Me too. So, what else did you talk about?" she asked.

      " Nothing else, just the babies." he replied quickly. 

Sanem knew better, she knew the conversation had been more than that......but she also knew he wouldn't talk about it until he was ready......