They celebrated the rest of the day, drank, ate and just enjoyed the company of friends and loved ones. Sanem had kept an eye on Can the whole day, she knew something was bothering him and knew he would only tell her when he was ready.

Late in the afternoon, she drove Emre and Akif back to the agency and drove herself and Can back to the farm. He had a few too many, so she knew that he would not be in a good frame of mind to talk about what was bothering him.

She helped walk him into her house and to lay down on the couch. As she was covering him with a quilt, he grabbed her hand "Don't leave me Sanem." he said "Please, don't leave me here alone. Just lay down beside me for a while."

Tears sprung to her eyes, she could see in his the hurt and sadness. There was no way she would leave him alone, so she laid down, got as comfortable as possible. The man took up the whole couch so she was basically using him as her bed. They both laid still and she could feel his body start to relax. Her mind though was a jumble of confusing thoughts. What had happened, what had Metin said when he joined them at the restaurant? Finally, she also dosed off.

A few hours later, Can woke with a start, not sure what caused him to wake up, he looked around and realised that he was on Sanem's couch with her using him as a pillow. He didn't want to wake her but something had caused him to wake up and he needed to look around. He very gently lifted off his chest and laid her back on the couch as he scooted off. He took a few minutes to adjust to the evening light, he glanced around the room, not seeing anything. When he finally had his bearings he grabbed his phone and walked outside. Nothing! He could hear voices and knew that someone else was nearby, he walked toward Mirhiban's house to find her and his Baba sitting by the fire talking. He turned around before they could see him, knowing that they needed some time to catch up, he still didn't know anything about what was going on between them other than she had been his first assistant.

He walked around finding nothing, walked back into Sanem's house, he sit on the floor near her, watching her sleep. So innocent and beautiful. He was so enthralled by her that he didn't notice she had woken and was watching him also.

"Can" she said softly.

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"No, I had a nice nap but if I don't get up now, sleep won't be easy tonight. What time is it?"

"Just after eight."

"Something is wrong, what are you not telling me?'

"Can we talk about it tomorrow, I don't want to ruin the day?"

"Evet, would you like some chai?" she stood and walked toward the kitchen. He stood and walked with her. She started the tea and he made a tray with cheeses, grapes, strawberries and crackers.

"Baba and Mirhiban are outside by her fire pit." he said thoughtfully "Are you going to tell me about the two of them?"

"Not my story to tell." she answered "We can join them, if you like." He nodded yes and picked up the tray as she picked up their cups and headed toward the door.

"May we join you?" She asked when they approaced the other two people.

"Please do." answered Aziz. "What a day. Where have you two been all afternoon?"

"Napping, we both fell asleep on Sanem's couch." answered Can. His Baba smiled and looked over at Mirhiban. Can could see the love in his father's eyes. What was going on between these two? "So apparently you know each other."

The two laughed "Evet, I was your father's assistant when he first opened the agency."

"But, there is more to it than that, am I right?"

Aziz looked at Can and smiled "Evet! She was my first love, my only love."

Can was stunned, he had never really thought about his father being with anyone other than Huma. He looked at Mirhiban, she seemed to be a lovely woman, as a matter of fact, he thought, she reminded him a lot of Sanem. Allah, had Huma caused touble between these two. As if she could read his mind, Mirhiban smiled at him.

"Huma and I have a history also. After reading Sanem's story and then getting to know her I realized that Huma had interferred in another love story." She went on to tell Can most of what had happened between the three of them, she left out the part of Aziz' betrayal and Huma's pregnancy, that was for Aziz to tell. Which to her surprise, he did, he told Can about waking up with Huma in his bed, he said he had been out with clients and had a few too many drinks, took a taxi home then the next thing he knew, he awoke the next morning with Huma laying naked beside him. Mirhiban was to meet him for breakfast and she did, she had come into the house and noticed female clothes laying on the floor in the hallway and walked right into his room. The shock and sadness on her face had devastated him. She was out of the room and the house before he could even get out of bed.

"I tried to call her, got dressed and went to her house, calling the whole time I was driving to town. She never answered my calls, left a message at work that she had quit and would mail me her letter of resignation. By the time I had gotten to her apartment, she was gone, I had a spare key and let myself in. Most of her clothes were gone, personal items also."

Mirhiban sat and listened as Aziz spoke "I don't remember a thing about being with Huma. Don't recall anything except getting into the taxi, arriving home and falling into bed."

"Baba, what happened then?"

"I didn't see either Huma or Mirhiban for a couple of months. Mirhiban had finally called and said she was ready to meet me and talk so we agreed to meet at the agency, then go talk at a cafe close by." he sounded so sad, tears sprung up in both Can and Sanem's eyes. "She had barely walked into my office, when Huma rushed in stating that she needed to talk to me, she acted as if she didn't even see Mirhiban. She just blurted out she was pregnant. Mirhiban ran out of the room and until she called me last week, I hadn't heard or see from her since that day."

"So, I am part of the reason you lost your true love?"

"No, I did the right thing by marrying Huma, even though I didn't love her, I wouldn't let my child be raised without a father. But, after we were married a few months, I realized Huma had lied, she wasn't pregnant. She just wanted to be able to say she was married to Aziz Divit and have all the status of being his wife. When I asked her, she told me she had lost the baby but was afraid to tell me because she loved me and was afraid I would divorce her."

"Oh, Baba, I am so sorry."

Mirhiban spoke up "She was always concerned about money and appearances. She came from a mahalla like Sanem but she would not let anyone know that. She had made herself to appear as the woman you see today, strong, well-bred, and determined."

"I believe, she saw Mirhiban in Sanem." Aziz said softly as he smiled at Sanem. "Being a mahalla girl, placed Sanem beneath her, even though they are equals. But, Sanem is nothing like Huma. Sanem embraces who she is, loves the person she is and is honest, sweet and kind."

"You mean, she kept you apart because she didn't want to be remined of where she came from?'

Aziz nodded. Can still had questions but he would let that drop for today. But, Aziz had questions also, he like Sanem had noticed the change in Can after Metin arrived at the restaurant.

"So are you going to tell us what Metin said to you? Your whole demeanor changed after he arrived and you talked." asked Aziz. Sanem held her breathe, she wanted to know also but knew he wasn't ready to talk about it.

"I really didn't want to talk about this today, I just wanted to enjoy our small victory."

"Can, it isn't going away, if you tell us today or tomorrow, we will still have to face what is going on."

Can thought and took a deep breath, he looked over at Sanem, how he didn't want to have to tell her what Fabri had planned, he didn't want to scare her or to cause her any unhappiness but she had the right to know. She still might need to be protected.

"Apparently, some items were found in Fabri's car, that led to more charges against him."

"What items?" Sanem whispered.

"Metin said that he had hired a private investigator, the man had followed you from the day of your first book reading, he knew where you lived, all about the people in Kas that you had become family to." She took in a deep breath.

"That is not all?" she said. " What else are you not telling us?"

"FIrst, he didn't have any idea you had returned to Istanbul, after he found out you were living in Kas, he let the detective go, so your home here was, is safe." he stopped for a few seconds and looked her right in the eyes "He had plans to kidnap you." she gasped out loud.

"Allah, Allah" said Mihriban

Can continued "He had rope, chloroform and GHB in the trunk of his car. The police found the items when they searched his car and then questioned him further. He confessed to everything."

"What is GHB?" she asked, naively.

"It is a drug used to make women unable to protect themselves, then forget what has happend."

Aziz spoke "Date rape drug."

Sanem started crying "He, he was going to rape me?" Can stood and went and picked her up, holding her in his arms as she cried. Both Aziz and Mihriban sat quietly, then left the two alone so they could talk and Can could take care of her.

"Why? Why would he want to rape me?"

"He wanted to make you his, he wanted to have every piece of you, he knew he would break you into submission if he raped you. He thought you wouldn't want to face your family, your friends, me and he thought you would stay with him."

"I would have hated him!"

"I know, I know that you are stronger than he thinks."

They sat for a while longer, his arms holding her tight against his chest. His shirt soaked from her tears.

"Can, I won't have to face him again will I?"

"Not unless you want to. None of us need to testify, they have all confessed to what they have done so there will be no trail, just a court date to determined their sentences. Fabri will never get out of jail, at least, not while he is alive."

"What about Huma? Did she know he was going to kidnap me? Would she really have allowed him to rape me?"

"No, Metin said both Aylin and Huma were questioned and neither one knew about his plans to kidnap you. They both were involved with him only to take over the agency. Aylin wanted to be in control, she wanted us to lose everything because she had been fired and then arrested."

She took in everything he had said, but was ready to go home.

"Can we go back to the cabin? I feel chilled out here." she spoke quietly as she said her next words "I want to feel safe, locked in my house."

"Sanem, I will protect you with everything I have and am."

"I know, but tonight I need to lock myself safely inside. I just want to be held in your arms, feel your strength, know I am safe. Tomorrow I will fight. Tomorrow I will show Fabri and Huma what this mahalla girl is made of . Afterall, I am Mevkibe's daughter" He took her hand, a smile on his face and they walked to the cabin.