Chapter 4Janie
Chapter 4 Janie
I’d never seen anyone rise from a chair that fast. Emir straightened like a string on a bow, released by the archer. I almost corrected my assessment on his mobility, until I saw him wince from pain.
As he turned to his smiling brother, the frown on his face deepened, signaling tightness that ran deeper than muscles and tendons. Something ran under the surface that no amount of massage could loosen.
“The verandah is perfect!” Aria exclaimed, crouching down to pet Gru. “We figured out the set up.” Her cheeks glowed pink as she picked a loose leaf out of her hair.
I smiled at the embarrassed glance they shared, fighting a bout of jealousy. They’d found each other and used every available moment to enjoy that connection. I could barely remember… had I ever been that in love?
“I hope you behave yourselves at the actual party,” Emir grunted, pointedly picking a dry leaf off Cem’s T-shirt sleeve.
“I’ll keep my pants on.” He winked, not the least bit offended.
I stared at the brothers, one beaming, one frowning, trying to figure out what I was missing. I would have been livid at a comment like that. What did Emir have against happy couples, anyway? I didn’t care if they both orgasmed out in the garden, and it was my house.
I turned to Aria. “I have some champagne glasses and other things you can use if you want. That way the caterer doesn’t have to bring them.”
She lifted her eyes from her phone screen. “Yes, please! That sounds great.”
“Are you coming back before the party?” I asked. “With the movie premiere and everything.”
“We’ll be back a week from now, next Sunday. We can come over to do the decorations then, right?” She raised her eyes at Cem, who nodded.
“And Emir can probably plan the photos now.” Aria glanced out the window and frowned. “Although the party will be a lot earlier in the day so the light will be different. Does that matter?”
Emir shot me a quick look under his brow. “I… I’ll be back here tomorrow. Janie needs help with the horse.”
“How’re you going to get here?” Cem asked.
He shrugged. “I’ll take the bus.”
Oh no. Why hadn’t I thought about the logistics?
“The busses don’t come very close… or very often,” I said. “But I can pick you up from town. Where are you staying?”
“In a hotel.”
“About that.” Aria raised her phone-holding hand. “Mom called before and she said that they’ve invited Cem’s parents and Emir to stay with them. Apparently, the hotel rates are daylight robbery.”
“It’s fine,” Cem insisted. “I’ll pay.”
She shot him a reproaching look. “There’s no point wasting money. That’s why we’re staying in my tiny rental, remember? So that we can afford other stuff, like Kerim’s catering.”
“Sure. Our parents will appreciate the authentic Turkish food,” Cem deadpanned.
Aria glared at him. “Are you being sarcastic? You know I love Turkish food and Kerim’s half the reason we’re together!”
I chuckled, remembering what Aria had told me about their first date in Napier. The owners of Aria’s favorite Turkish restaurant had immediately recognized both Cem the movie star and Aria, their local client, becoming accomplices in their fake dating ploy.
Cem raised his hands, his face the picture of innocence. “No! I mean it. Dad thinks Turkish cuisine, cooked by a Turk is superior to any other food in the world. He’s not here to broaden his horizons. He will stop at every kebab shop around the country to judge the offerings.”
“Well, at least Kerim’s will pass the test,” Aria concluded, relaxing a little. “I can’t say the same about my mom’s cooking, but maybe they can order takeaways…”
I noticed Emir’s rod-straight frame tensing even more. “Our parents would never accept. They couldn’t possibly inconvenience—”
“They said yes.” Aria stared back at him with an unsure smile. “Hopefully it’s not that bad. They’ve turned my old room into a guest room and there’s another bed in my dad’s little office. It’s not full-length, though.” She threw Emir an apologetic glance, then turned to Cem. “Mom says they got it for grandchildren.”
Cem stared back in confusion. “But they don’t have grandchildren.”
“Exactly.” Aria’s gaze was heavy with meaning.
Cem’s confusion morphed into understanding, then slight shock.
I gave Emir a visual scan, confirming what I already knew. “You’ll need a full-length bed.”
“Maybe I can put the mattress on the floor.” He stared at his leather shoes, looking like he was mentally preparing for a prison stay. “It would make sense to save money on accommodation.”
Words rushed out of my mouth. “I have a guest suite! Come, I’ll show you!” I led them to the little used end of my house, my mind reeling with possible repercussions of what I was about to suggest. Gru zoomed ahead of us, scanning every corner.
I’d spent so much money on the guest quarters, thinking I’d have regular visitors from Auckland. But we’d been friends with other couples, as a couple, and after the divorce, I hadn’t heard from any of them. Being out of town and single, I’d been wiped off everyone’s address book.
I opened the door to the large bedroom with an extra-wide king bed, decorated in soft shades of walnut, sage and cream, in perfect harmony with the garden view behind the large ranch sliders. A spacious ensuite bathroom and a private deck with a sun sail completed the oasis. “I mean, you can invite your parents to stay here if you want. I can put you in one of my sons’ bedrooms.” I stepped backwards and glimpsed at the absolute teenage chaos in Josh’s room. Okay, not that one. On the other side of the hallway, Alex’s room seemed in a slightly better order.
Emir joined me at the door. “Thank you, that’s very kind. I will let my parents know.”
But Aria was already on it. “Hi, Mom! We’re still here at Janie’s.” She lifted her phone, capturing all of us with her camera. I caught her brightly smiling mother on the screen. “Janie showed us around her house, and she has this amazing guest suite. This would be perfect for Cem’s parents!” She pointed her phone at the guest room.
“We checked them out of the hotel and got back home. They’re getting settled.” I detected a hint of defensiveness in her mother’s voice. “I think they want to stay close to Cem and you, not out in the middle of nowhere. Serkan is keen on the earthquake museum. We’ve been talking about what’s happened in Turkey and Syria. It’s so sad.”
“Okay,” Aria conceded. “Let’s talk about it later. We’ll drive back soon.”
She ended the call. “Sounds like they’re getting along.”
Cem raised an eyebrow. “Bonding over earthquakes.”
I looked at Emir, my stomach wobbling. “You could still stay here if you wanted. So, it’s not too crowded in their house.” As soon as I said it, I cringed. What if he accepted? “But I understand it’s not that convenient if you don’t have a car. We’re a bit out of the way here.”
“That’s a great idea!” Cem grinned. “Far away from other humans is Emir’s happy place.”
“I don’t mind the location,” Emir confirmed, looking out the hallway window. The floor-to-ceiling glass framed a picture of my empty front yard. The lack of curtains had bothered me at first, but I’d gradually gotten used. With no one around, the concept of privacy took on a new meaning.
“If you can tolerate his face, Emir’s good at fixing things,” Cem pressed on. “He could help you prepare for the party, do some maintenance. So, you get something out of this deal.”
I swallowed, afraid to look Emir in the eye. I could feel his presence from several feet away, and it told me one thing. My body wanted something out of this deal. Something it couldn’t have. I couldn’t afford wild affairs with Turkish strangers. I had to start dating. I had to find someone local, respectable, solid… I needed a serious, long-term relationship—more serious than what Shaun had with that actress. That would help me feel grounded, I decided. Like I belonged here.
Emir cleared his throat. “I would love to be useful if I can. I’m quite handy with tools.”
I gave Emir a curt nod, trying to not imagine him in a tool belt. After a fifteen-year marriage to a man who paid for someone else to shave him, I had a certain weakness for the DIY types.
“I do have some fencing that needs repairs. And other bits and pieces. But I don’t feel right about—”
“Okay, it’s decided,” Emir cut me off, addressing Aria. “I’ll come with you to town and gather my things. It sounds like everything is now in your parents’ house. Then I’ll order a taxi back here.”
“No! I’ll drive you.” My heart pounded in my chest, but I tried to smile. “If you’re going to work on my property, that’s the least I can do.”
I had a feeling Emir didn’t want me to mention our massaging deal.
“How about go straight away? It’s already seven-thirty.” Emir glanced at his watch. “I’m still quite jet-lagged. You know we only arrived yesterday.”
I felt a flash of guilt. “Of course! Sorry. I’ll hop in my car and follow you.”
I grabbed my car keys on the way out and followed them outside, getting my Lexus out of the garage. It was an ostentatious car, chosen by Shaun. Switching to something small and practical was on my to-do list, but I didn’t feel particularly confident about car shopping. It was one of those annoying tasks I’d had a man for. And now I didn’t. I wondered if Emir knew anything about cars.
Based on the look on his face, he at least appreciated the price tag of the golden vehicle.
Emir opened the rear door of Aria’s little hybrid, but Cem grabbed his shoulder. “Why don’t you ride with Janie, so she doesn’t have to drive by herself?”
“And if she gets lost, you can direct her to my parents’ house,” Aria added, excitement lighting up her face. “She’s never been there.”
Emir looked confused. “I’ve been there once.”
I smiled. The love birds clearly wanted privacy. Emir shrugged and walked over to my car. We both entered at the same time, somehow bumping elbows. My car had never felt smaller.
“Apologies,” Emir muttered. “It seems they don’t want me as a third wheel.”
“It’s pretty obvious.” I grinned.
As I started the car and followed Aria’s Toyota down the driveway, I felt Emir’s probing eyes on me. “Do you think they’re good together? You smile like you’re happy for them.”
“I am! Ninety-nine percent happy, maybe one percent jealous.”
“You don’t think it’s a little… impractical? To marry someone from the other side of the world? I mean, it’s exactly the kind of thing my brother would do, but he doesn’t consider the long-term implications of anything.”
I took a deep breath, considering this. “I take it you’re not a romantic?”
He coughed up something that almost sounded like a laugh. “No, I’m not.”
“Well, maybe it wouldn’t work for you. But if they believe in it, they will make it work. Besides, being born in the same country doesn’t guarantee a lasting relationship, either.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw his face fall. “No, it doesn’t.”
“So, you’d never even consider it? Even if you fell in love, and…” Where was I going with this?
“I don’t fall in love.”
“You’ve never been in love?”
“Never again.”
The pain in his voice told me I wouldn’t get more out of him, so we drove in silence. Someone had hurt him. Who, and how? It was none of my business, I reminded myself. This was not the time to turn into a borderline creepy investigative journalist. I didn’t need to know. Yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.