4. Eggs, Olives & an AussieTwo
4
EGGS, OLIVES & AN AUSSIE OR TWO
As always, Refika has truly outdone herself, and the table is a sight to behold, brimming with an abundance of Turkish delights. There are platters of various cheeses, an array of black and green olives, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and the aroma of freshly cooked menemen wafting through the air. Condiments beckon to be sampled, while her mouthwatering fried cheese pastries steal the show. And of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Turkish feast without a freshly brewed glass of ?ay to accompany it all. Just when you think you’ve had your fill, Refika magically appears with another plate, seemingly out of thin air.
Amidst this epic feast, I find myself with my hands full, quite literally, as I try to navigate the delicate balance of eating my breakfast while tending to Ayda. Little Miss Independent is gleefully grabbing chunks of her scrambled eggs from her own plate and happily stuffing it into her tiny mouth. It’s a messy affair, but oh-so-adorable.
Meanwhile, Emine, Ava, and Zoe, are like little culinary explorers, excitedly grabbing a bit of everything from the table. They laugh and playfully bicker over the last remaining cheese pastry, each claiming their right to the crispy, cheesy delight. And in the midst of the chaos, Nate, Olive, and Deniz watch on with wide eyes, their expressions resembling that of deer caught in the headlights.
Unable to contain his astonishment, Nate leans towards Deniz, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and terror. “I’m telling you, Deniz, I am never having kids. Ever.”
Deniz chuckles and offers a less-than-comforting slap on Nate’s back, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “Oh, my friend, you may say that now, but let me tell you, you are with a Turkish woman, you better believe you’ll be having kids, a lot of them as well!”
Leyla shakes her head and laughs, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Having children is the least of our problems.”
“How so?”
“I’ve still got to work up the nerve to introduce Nate to my family.”
I can’t help but chuckle, imagining the scene. I’ve met Leyla’s extended family a few times, and let me tell you, they are quite the bunch. The idea of Nate, with his laid-back, easy-going English charm, coming face to face with her family is nothing short of a social experiment waiting to happen.
Leyla’s brothers are the epitome of overachievers: one’s a high-flying doctor, the other’s a hotshot lawyer, and there’s even a… well, let’s just say he’s so important he makes the other two look like underachievers. In contrast, Leyla, with her bohemian spirit and flair for design, stands out like a vibrant splash of colour against a backdrop of monochrome suits.
“So, Nate…” I smirk, barely able to contain my amusement. “When do you meet the family?”
“Tomorrow.” He rolls his eyes dramatically. “Lunch in the yayla … and I don’t even know what a yayla is. I mean, how do you dress for a yayla ?”
“I’d go for ‘ruggedly handsome adventurer’ look. Think Indiana Jones, but with fewer snakes and more kebabs.”
Nate raises an eyebrow, grinning. “Does that mean I get to wear a fedora and carry a whip?”
Leyla looks almost horrified, still getting used to Nate’s English humour. “Please don’t.”
“Noted.” He smirks, adjusting his imaginary fedora. “Anything else I should know?”
I lean in, my tone conspiratorial. “Just remember, if anyone asks if you like Turkish coffee, the answer is always yes. And if her brothers start showing off, just nod and look impressed. They love that.”
“Got it. Ruggedly handsome, coffee lover, and professional nodder. I think I’m ready.”
“Stop scaring him, Ginny.” Leyla chuckles, kissing him lightly on the cheek. “You’ll do fine. But, maybe… well… if I could make one little suggestion…”
“Anything?”
“Just remember, it’s called futbol , not soccer, and the Turkish league is far superior to the English league.”
“I know its football! The English invented the sport!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“So just to recap, I’m a ruggedly handsome, fedora wearing, coffee loving, professional nodder, futbol fan and a big fat liar!” He grins at Deniz. “Because nothing is better than English football.”
Deniz slaps him on the back again. “You are going to screw this up so bad!”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Leave him alone, Deniz. You’re going to do just fine.” I giggle. “Although I could sell tickets for a front row seat to watch the fireworks.”
The room erupts in laughter, and even Refika joins in, her infectious chuckles filling the air.
“Children are a joy, my dear boy. And you will have many children with our beautiful Leyla. You will be…” Refika screws up her face as she pretends to search for the right word in English, “…a content man.”
With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Nate darts toward Deniz, unable to resist his curiosity. “Promise me your mother isn’t secretly psychic or something?”
Deniz lets out a hearty laugh, memories of his mischievous past flooding back. “I used to think she was! She always had this uncanny ability to sniff out when I was up to no good.”
Aydin chimes in with his own tale. “Remember that time we snuck out to go to that party in Kad?k?y? We thought we were so slick, but when we stepped off the ferry, boom! There was my aunt waiting for us at the terminal. I still have no idea how she pulled that off!”
Deniz playfully points a finger at his mother. “That was the moment she decided to ship me off to boarding school in England. You really were a difficult mother!”
“Well, guess what? You were… büyük problem… ?ok zor … a bad, bad, boy!” Refika shoots back, her voice dripping with mischief.
Amidst the roars of laughter, my father chimes in with his own story of parental trauma. “Mate, I've gotta tell you about the time my girls swiped a slab and ended up blind as a bat at the Basin, right under the snout of the coppers.”
The entire table freezes, their eyes widening in confusion. “Dad! You’re going to need a translator. No one can understand the Aussie lingo!”
The room erupts again, the sound of laughter filling the air. But the laughter abruptly fades as the front doors swing open once again. Heads turn in unison, curiosity piqued, as all eyes fixate on the new arrival.
Nate nudges me playfully in the stomach, a fat grin on his face. “Well, well, Ginny, look who’s graced us with their presence! Is that your mum or is it the ghost of a young Queen Lizzy in disguise? I can’t quite tell! But one thing’s for sure, she’s brought a pint-sized version of you as a sidekick.”