Chapter 5

It was Saturday, and Sanem is going to spend the day with her little Bella. Sanem had a bell dress ready for Bella to wear. She Set up a little table by the pool with little tea cups and cookies. And of course her laptop to watch Beaty and the Beast.

She took a taxi to the orphanage, signed the permission papers to take her for the day. She packed her extra clothes and her little bell bathing suit so they can swim later in the day.

COUNSELOR: "Sanem, can I talk to you for a minute before you leave?"

SANEM: sure, don't worry, I will take care of our little Bella and I will have her back by 7 or 7:30.

COUNSELOR: I have no doubt, you're great with Bella, you know because of you she started saying more words, in five months she's doubled her vocabulary, plus she's more social with the other children here at the orphanage. We were a little worried about her because She's two in a half years old, and she wasn't even trying to talk or play with the other children, but you did your magic and she doing great."

SANEM: "thank you, but I really didn't do anything, it's Bella, she's such a joy to be around. Maybe because it was more of a one on one relationship we had, I think that might of helped her. All the kids here are special, I enjoy reading to them and helping the older children with their homework. I wish I had more time but with working and school it's difficult."

COUNSELOR: "you are definitely a big help Sanem, we're happy that you come here when you can it's a big help to all of us here, because as you know we are short staffed."

SANEM: "I just had an Idea, maybe we can have the seniors of the local high schools volunteer to spend time with the kids, to read to them help them with their homework.  This would benefit the orphanage plus give the seniors more responsibilities, I think they're a lot of seniors that would enjoy working with these children, maybe it could be for extra credit or community service credits for them to graduate.!"

COUNSELOR: "you know Sanem that's a great idea!, I will start working on that starting Monday. It would be a big help for us here too. Anyway there is something else I would like to tell you.  There is a family that is interested in Bella, they've been here several times to meet with her, they seem like very good people, plus Bella seems to be warming up to them."

Sanem didn't say anything, the counselor could tell that she was upset.  "Sanem dear, I know you love Bella, and she loves you, but she needs a family, a loving family and maybe some siblings in the future. these people seem like very good people, we had them checked out. now that she's young she can adjust easier into a family" Sanem was heartbroken but she new it would be the best thing for Bella.

SANEM: "I agree, I will definitely miss her,  but you have to do what's best for Bella. She's a very special child and I think both sides will benefit from each other."

COUNSELOR : "I m sorry Sanem, I know how much you love Bella, but it really is for the best. You know there are plenty of other children that need you here Sanem, I hope that you can still come and help with homework and reading to the younger children.?"

SANEM: of course I will, I enjoy helping all the kids.

You can count on me!!

COUNSELOR:  "that's great, thank you! Now get going, enjoy your Bell tea party with Bella, she was up at dawn waiting for you to come."

The counselor hugged Sanem, and Sanem thanked her for allowing her to take Bella for the day. She straightened up put her happy face on and went to Bella's room. When Bella saw her she jumped up and hugged her, she was so excited to see her. Sanem was holding back her tears and started tickling her and tried to push everything out of her head for the day.

They got back to the house and Bella loved it, she was calling it the castle.

SANEM: "Bell let's put our bathing suits on or do you want to put our bell dresses on."

BELL: "Nemi ( Sanem) dress, music."Sanem knew exactly what she wanted, she wanted to wear her bell dress and listen to the music from Beaty and the Beast.

They went in the pool house, put her dress on for her, and of course Sanem put a dress on two to make Bella happy. They curled their hair and put it into pony tails and went out by the pool. They were eating their lunch, and Bella would sing along to the music.

BELLA: dance Nemi (Sanem) and that's what they did they were dancing all over the patio. Bella was having such a good time singing and dancing with Sanem, but all of a sudden Bella just stops and stares at the door.

SANEM: Bella what's wrong, are you okay?"

BELLA:  "Nemi Beast" and she points to the door.

Sanem turns around and sees this huge man standing there with long hair. She looks closely at him and she's confused and he staring at Sanem confused.

CAN: Sanem, is that you?

SANEM: Can, is that  you.?"

He walks over to her, he can't believe it's her. He grabs her hand and caresses it. They both started smiling, you can tell they were happy to see each other, a little confused on how each other are there but happy. Bella is looking at both of them, and she instantly takes a liking to Can and grabs both of their hands, she takes them over to her little table and has them sit down with her. Can and Sanem are just looking at each other, can't believe that either of them are there.

CAN: what are you doing here?

SANEM: "I actually live here now, I work for Miriban.

What are you doing here?"

CAN: "I live here, with my parents and my brother."

SANEM: wait what? You live here?"

CAN: "Yes, well most of the time, I'm usually away on business, but this is my home when I'm back in Istanbul."

They were both smiling obviously very happy to see each other.

SANEM: "it's very nice to see you again."

CAN: "it's very nice to see you too. I was wondering how you were after that night at the club"

SANEM; " I'm doing well, I never went back, that's for sure." Bella was pulling on Sanem's hand.  " well anyway let me introduce you to my little princess Bella,  we're playing Beauty and the Beast today and obviously your role will be the beast today with your  long hair." They started laughing. Bella seemed very comfortable with Can, he seemed very good with her too he would talk to her and joke around with her and she loved it. Sanem couldn't get enough of him, he's so handsome and with his hair down, wow! Just wow!

Can, was looking at Sanem, thinking, how beautiful she is, such an a natural beauty, soft, sweet and innocent.

CAN: "so is Bella family?"

SANEM: "oh, no, she's from the orphanage I volunteer at. I used to live by there , I used to walk there on my free time and read to the younger children and help the older ones with homework.  And that's where I met sweet Bella, well actually she likes to be called Bell when we're playing beauty and the beast."

Can, couldn't get enough of Sanem, not only is she beautiful, she's genuinely a good person.  Not fake.

CAN: "well Bell, I must say, you look very pretty in your dress, you're definitely my little princess."

Bella jumped on Can and hugged him, she wanted to sit on his lap.  Sanem couldn't believe how Bella felt so comfortable with Can, it usually takes her awhile to warm up to people.

SANEM : "Wow, she really likes you Can , this very unusual for her. It usually takes her a while to warm up to people."

CAN: "well I guess she senses that I am a kid at heart."

And he gives Sanem a huge smile. And of course she's melting and turning red. And he notices how she's blushing and loves it.  They are having a great time,  the three of them, then Bella's favorite song comes on, the theme song from beauty and the beast.

BELLA: "Can, dance!", she jumps on him and he lifts her up and she put her little arms around his neck, Sanem is just melting. He's smiling and says. " I guess I'm going to be dancing" but you can see he is really is enjoying himself with Bella.

SANEM: you have no choice, Can bey, Bella usually gets her way." And she start laughing. And then Bella lifts her head and says. " Nemi, dance!" She put out her little hand for Sanem to dance with them. Of course Sanem was getting all shy and she was holding back. But Bella wouldn't give up, and Can loved it, because he wanted Sanem in his arms.

CAN: "Sanem, Bella always gets her way." He smiles that gorgeous smile of his, and puts out his hand and grabs Sanem's hand,  and pulls her close, and the three of them are dancing together. Sanem couldn't believe how good it felt to have his arms around her. And Can of course was loving every minute of it. Little Bella laid her head on Can's shoulder and fell asleep. She looked so peaceful.

SANEM: "Can Bey, we should put her down, so she can take her nap."

CAN: "I don't know, I kind of like this position, Bella in one arm and you in the other" he winked at her, Sanem smiled and slapped him gently on the shoulder and pushed him away.

While Bella was sleeping Sanem tried to clean up.

Can was trying to talk to her, but he can see she was nervous.

CAN: "Sanem, sit let's talk.  How did you meet my stepmother."

SANEM : "At the gallery that night, she saw me standing outside and we got to talking and she asked me if I wanted to work for her and of course I agreed , I took a liking to her right away. She's such a sweet lady."

CAN: "'that she is, my brother and I love her very much."

SANEM: " you said she's your stepmother?"

CAN: "yes, but we don't think of her as a stepmother she definitely was our mother. My mother left my brother and I when we were very young."

SANEM " I'm sorry to hear that, my parents died in a car accident when I was 15 and my sister was 17, a drunk driver."

CAN: "wow, Sanem, I'm very sorry, it must have been very difficult for the both of you"

SANEM: " it was, we were a very close family, but I try to focus on the good times, I try not to think about the accident, to many things go through my head. Like did they see it the car coming, were they in pain. It's just to much, it's always better to focus on the good memories."

CAN: "I Agree, what happened after, was it just you and your sister?"

SANEM : " no, actually my aunt and uncle took us in, my mother and father's siblings, two brothers married two sisters" and she started giggling.

CAN: "wow, you don't hear that to often. It's good that you have them."

SANEM: "it definitely was. I try to go visit them, whenever I can, but we FaceTime or talk almost every day."

CAN: " that's great Sanem, and your sister?"

SANEM: " my sister went to college in Izmir, she studied accounting, she's a CPA. She has a job there but she's trying to find a job here in Istanbul so we can be together, we're very close, but very different" she starts laughing. " Leyla is very organized, very never does anything without a plan person, where I just take things as they come." She starts laughing again " I was always getting in trouble with my best friend Ahan and her brother Osman and Leyla would always cover for us. We were definitely quite the pair the two of us."

Can, just smiled, and he receives a phone call.

Polen, what the hell does she want, what timing.

CAN: "excuse me Sanem, I have to take this." She Nodded her head and went and laid next to Bella.

CAN: "hello, Polen?"

Sanem was disappointed, it's probably his beautiful sexy girlfriend. Uhg Sanem. Don't even think about something happening with him. He's definitely taken plus we are from two different worlds. No way something like this would work out. She just covered her face and fell asleep.