Sinan nervously paced the study and muttered curses under his breath. He tried several times to get through to Seda, but she did not answer the phone. And in Sapphire, she was not. He went down there, but Alina said that the lady had left for a meeting with advertisers. Sinan returned to Passionis, and all-day he could not find a place for himself. He wanted to talk to Omer, but Nazlican warned him that he was working on sketches and asked not to disturb him.

Sude called him several times, but he dropped calls, determined to stay away from Omer's annoying cousin. He even asked Nazlican not to let her into his office and every time to say that he was not there.

At the end of the working day, Seda still answered. Her dry:

- I'm listening, - scratched painfully at his heart.

- Where are you? Sinan threw himself out of his chair.

"In my office," she replied.

- Why didn't you call back? Haven't you seen missed calls from me? - With resentment he rebuked.

- I saw.

Sinan waited for her to say something else, but Seda was silent.

- Are you offended because of Sude? - He asked cautiously and immediately stopped her answer: - Stop! Do not say anything. This is not for a telephone conversation. I'll come down to you now, and we'll talk.

- I'm going to go. The working day is over. They are waiting for me at home.

- Good! My work is also over for today. Let's go together.

As he answered, he pulled on his jacket and hastily stuffed his phone, keys, and wallet into his pockets.

- And don't you have a meeting with an old childhood friend today? - Seda asked ironically and said goodbye: - Bye. Have a good evening.

- Seda! He shouted, but the dimmed screen informed him that the call was over. - Heck! Sude! From where did you get on my head?!

He flew out of the office and, stumbling, rushed to the elevator.

The guard downstairs said that Mr. Seda did not leave the building. Sinan went outside and looked around warily. If Sude appears again now, he will strangle her.

Praise be to Allah, Sude was not there. But Seda appeared. She walked out through the sliding doors and headed for her car. Sinan caught her by the hand, stopped her and, looking into her eye like a beaten puppy, spoke:

- Darling, ignore the chatter of Sude. She's a spoiled child and doesn't know what she's talking about.

"I didn't think so," Seda released her hand from his grip and stepped back. - Your friend, of course, is spoiled, but definitely not a child. And she's perfectly aware of what she's saying.

- Seda, everything she said was just her speculation! Well, are you really going to be angry with me for her words?

- For her words no, - the girl answered coldly. - I don't care what and who says. But the fact that you lied to me ... I don't know what to do with that yet.

Sinan lowered his head in confusion and muttered:

- I did not lie...

- You didn't lie? Seda asked mockingly. - Oh yes, of course! You didn't lie at all, you just distorted concepts. You called your ex-girlfriend an old school friend. "Sinan's ears flared with fire. This reaction did not escape Seda. The corner of her lips twitched in a sad grin. She adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder and said: - I have to go home. Have a nice evening.

Sinan stopped her again. He grabbed her forearm with his fingers, looked imploringly into her eye, and asked:

- Maybe let's go to me? Let's talk. I'll cook for dinner. Alp recently gave me a bottle of good wine...

Seda shook her head and removed his hand from her forearm.

- No. I do not want. I need to think.

She walked around him and headed for her car.

Sinan cursed and pressed his hand hard to the back of his head. What for? Well, why did he go with Sude yesterday to dinner? Why does he always go along with this madwoman and complicate his life?

***

Omer and Defne were preparing dinner. The fish was browning on the grill. Vegetables sizzled in the pan. The juicer hummed and squeezed bright orange juice out of the oranges. Defne was making a salad. The knife knocked deftly on the wooden board, turning cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes into neat slices. Omer finished with the juice, poured it into a jug, and carried it to the dining table. When he returned, he began to make a salad dressing. Defne watched how cleverly he mixed the ingredients and smiled involuntarily. These beautiful hands, with long, sensual fingers, know how to do everything - cook food, operate a yacht, draw ... and they also know how to deliver pleasure. To caress her body and raise her above the stars.

- What are you thinking about? - Omer poured the dressing into the salad and began to gently stir.

Defne blushed and hastily replied:

- Yes, so, about nothing, - hiding her face, she got up and went to the stove. She turned off the hotplate under the vegetables and checked the fish's readiness. - Everything is ready! We can have supper. I'm so hungry!

- Wait, - Omer took her by the waist and gently pushed her away from the stove. - I'll do it myself. Sit down at the table, - ordered, but was in no hurry to let go. His palms rose to her breasts, squeezed them slightly, slid down the ribs, and stroked the hips. Defne closed her eyes. She completely forgot where and why she should go. And then a palm softly slapped her on the buttock and Omer ordered: - At the table! Quick! I'm hungry!

His last words, so demanding and hot, shook sweetly her inside. Allah, how she loved the hungry Omer. His burning gaze, which enslaved her will and drove her crazy. A velvet voice flowing like honey through her veins. She loved it when his strong hands ran on her body and create a thrill. When his lips brushed her mouth and kissed her until her breathing stopped. She loved the fever in the blood and the languor in her chest. Loved her madness and the convulsions that twisted her body during orgasm. If one day it all disappears, she will die.

- Defne, don't look like that! Omer asked hoarsely. His black eyes blazed with fire. - Or I will not stand it and I will burst.

"Burst then," she asked invitingly looking into his eyes.

In the next second, her body was lifted off the floor and was sealed to another, hot and hard as steel. She wrapped her legs around him, clutched at his shoulders, and allowed herself to be carried to the burning fireplace.

Passion exploded like a hurricane...

The room was very quiet. There was only the crackling of logs in the fireplace and for some reason smelled of burnt wool. Omer heard these sounds and smells, but he could not even open his eyes. He lay on his side, his face buried in the back of Defne's head, and wrapped his arms around her body. She stirred. Omer just leaned his chest on her back and clasped his fingers in а lock, not allowing her to slip out of his embrace. Every cell of the body was filled with pleasure and relaxed. He listened to his feelings and did not want to let them go. He wanted to lie like this forever, not moving, and enjoy the aftertaste of intimacy. But Defne clung to his wrists persistently and tried to get out.

- Omer, I need to go to the bathroom. And I want to eat, "she said plaintively.

"I'm sorry," he unclenched his hands. Defne slipped out of their ring and stood up. Looking around, she sat back down on the soft sheepskin and laughed. Omer opened his eyes and looked first at her, and then looked around the room. Defne's panties hung from the chandelier in a cute lilac cloud. The bra sits bashfully on a cornice, and the pants and jumper covered the mirror. His own sweater was burning out in the fireplace, and the jeans miraculously didn't get there. They lay on the floor dangerously close to the fire.

- This is what we got carried away! - commented Defne and again laughed loudly. And then she looked closely at Omer's face and exclaimed: - You blushed! Blushed again! Oh, how cute! Omer Iplikci is embarrassed by his passion.

Omer knocked her onto her back. Bending over her, he looked into her eyes and asked:

- Aren't you?

Now it was Defne's turn to blush and look away.

"Let's skip this topic," she said and slipped out from under his hand. Rising to her feet, she pulled off the blanket and wrapped herself in it, sang: - I'm in the bathroom.

Collecting her picturesquely scattered things, she walked across the room with a dancing gait and disappeared through the door. Omer got up after her. He pulled on his jeans and looked sideways at what was left of his sweater. Yes, definitely carried away! Biting his lip and holding back a smile, he went to look for another sweater in his suitcase.

Hungry Omer and Defne pounced on food together. The cooled fish turned out to be very tasty. The salad was soaked in the dressing and became especially tender. Or maybe it only seemed so to the happy Iplikci. Sated and satisfied with it now the whole world seemed like a fairy tale.

Omer poured some juice into Defne's glass and she thanked him with a smile. Taking a sip, she closed her eyes in pleasure and mumbled:

- Mmm! So tasty.

Omer admired her. A clean, makeup-free face. Long, auburn eyelashes lie on the cheeks. Scarlet mouth, swollen from kissing. And his weakness is red curls lying on her shoulders like a silk curtain. He pulled one strand and twisted it around his finger. Defne opened her eyes and smiled at him the most beautiful smile in the world.

- Satisfied? - Asked Omer and she nodded in response. - Would you like ice cream? A second nod and her smile widened. - I'll bring it right now, - he kissed her forehead, let go of the curl, and, getting up from the table, went to the refrigerator.

Defne looked after him and admired the widespread of the shoulders and proud posture. Omer moved easily and smoothly. His movements were precise and measured and fascinated with their grace. He looked like a cheetah - just as relaxed and lazy one moment, and the next - swift and fast as an arrow.

"How I love you," she whispered inaudibly.

Omer looked around and smiled at her. Picking up a bucket of ice cream from the freezer and grabbing two teaspoons from the table drawer, he returned to the table. Putting everything on the table, he kissed Defne on the nose and said:

- I love you very much too.

***

Birds sang loudly in the spring forest. The sun shone through the pine trees and the still bare branches of the poplars. Very soon, the swollen buds will burst and young, bright green leaves will stretch towards the sun. They will flutter in the wind with the most beautiful music in the world. Defne stopped and closed her eyes. She tried to remember the rustling of poplars and reproduce it in her head. But she heard only the sonorous and joyful singing of birds. They circled high in the sky and with their melodious voices announced to the world that spring had come, that the sky was crystal blue and the sun was shining brightly, warming everything around with its rays.

Something delicate and fragrant touched her nose. Defne opened her eyes and saw a white graceful flower.

"Snowdrop," she exclaimed in admiration and looked up at the laughing Omer. It was he who held out the flower to her. - Where did you find it?

She took the flower in her hands and inhaled deeply its delicate scent.

"There's a whole clearing a little higher up the slope," explained her husband. He stood behind Defne and hugged her. Large palms rested on a neat, but already clearly visible tummy. - Daddy's bead, - he turned to his daughter, - are you tired?

A small heel thumped briskly under his hand, and mom and dad laughed happily.

"She says she wants to see a clearing with snowdrops," Defne prompted.

"The desire of my girls is a law," Omer declared and, taking Defne by the hand, led her up the slope.

The glade was small, but it was completely covered with fragile, white flowers.

- What a beauty! - whispered Defne and put her hand on her stomach. - Mom's kitten, can you see this? - And again the answer was the cheerful jolts of tiny legs. Defne raised her face shining with inner light to Omer: - We will bring Emine here every spring. Really, right?

"True," said Omer. - You will collect snowdrops, and I will admire you. And think about how beautiful you are and how lucky I am.

- And we will say that we love you. Very much.

Omer closed his eyes and saw this picture with his inner eye. His chest quivered. He realized that he wanted this more than anything in the world. Spring, sun, happy days, and the love of his precious girls. He hugged them both and pulled them to him. He kissed Defne on the temple and said:

- Thanks.

Defne confidently laid her head on his chest and smiled. They stood in silence and listened to the breeze and the thrusts of their baby Emine.

- Omer, - Defne called softly without raising her head.

- What, darling? - He answered just as quietly.

- Soon is the fifteenth of March...

- Soon ... - Omer sighed. - Will you come with me to the poplar forest? To Mom...

"Yes... if you want to take me with you.

He put his hand around the back of her head and rubbed his cheek against the red silk of the crown.

- I really want it. To have you with me this day ... there.

Defne wrapped her thin arms around him. She squeezed them as much as she could, and promised:

- I'll be with you! Always.

***

Seda and Nisa left the cinema and slowly walked to the invitingly open doors of the cafe. Its showcase tempted visitors with a hundred types of pastries and desserts. Turkish, Italian, French cakes, pastries, muffins, and nut cookies. Air clouds of cream decorated with nuts and fruits, satin sheen of chocolate glaze, warm waves of caramel. For every taste and wallet. The girls stopped and thought about what to eat.

"I'll take a chocolate brownie with nuts," Nisa announced and nudged her pensive sister. - Have you chosen already?

"I'll take a fruit one with whipped cream," she replied.

The girls made an order and sat down at a table in the corner. Seda's phone rang. She looked at the screen and dropped the call.

- Who was that? - asked Nisa. She stared at her sister and Seda, involuntarily, shivered under this inquisitive gaze. But she did not want to upset her sister, which means that she could not tell the truth either.

"It doesn't matter," she replied, looking away and pretending to be interested in the chirping yellow canaries in the gilded cage on the windowsill. - Do not pay attention.

A couple of seconds later, Nisa's phone rang. She looked at the screen and smiled apologetically at her sister.

- I'll go out to talk. Look," she added playfully, "Don't eat my cake when it's brought in.

- Then come back soon, - Seda answered her tone. - And I can't vouch for myself. I can't resist.

Nisa walked out, and Seda rested her chin on her fist and stared thoughtfully out the window.

- Hello.

The voice was not loud at all, but she flinched. She removed her hand and looked warily into the guilty male eyes. But then she turned away and stared out the window again.

- Hello. Nisa said where are we?

Sinan sat down at the table and folded his hands in front of him. He looked at the delicate girlish profile and felt how cold is in his chest.

"Don't be angry with her," he stood up for Nisa. "She just wanted to help ... and make you smile again.

Seda frowned.

"Did my chatterbox sister tell you that I look sad?"

- Heck! Sinan swore. - Why do I always speak out of place? Okay! You're right! I pressed on Nisa. You didn't return my calls. I felt bad. "He grimaced." - Very bad. I called Nisa and asked her to take pity on me and help. She agreed. For which I am very grateful to her.

- And now you put pressure on me?

"Yes," Sinan said honestly and took her hand. - I can't live without you! Darling, I'm a weak-willed fool, but please forgive me. I did not mean that. And I didn't want to lie. But it turned out that way. I know how clingy and unrestrained Sude can be, and I wanted to delicately explain the state of affairs to her. That I love you and we are getting married.

- Explained? - Seda asked indifferently and released her hand from his palm.

- No, - Sinan wilted. - She did not want to listen and changed the topic of conversation.

- She changed the topic of conversation, - Seda repeated thoughtfully and, looking into the eyes of the groom, asked: - Maybe you still love her?

The question was like a hammer blow on the forehead.

- No! - Sinan shook his head and began to ardently prove the opposite: - I never loved her! I love you! We have a wedding soon! I can't wait for it...

- Sinan! Seda cut him off. He fell silent. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin proudly. Then she sighed and said: - I think we rushed to the wedding. We need to cancel it.

- How to cancel? - Sinan was confused. - Why? Was it just because I had dinner with a girl I knew from childhood? I didn't think you were so jealous," he added resentfully.

"It's not jealousy," Seda said calmly. - It's different here. A question of trust and confidence in your feelings. You lied to me, which means you are capable of it. Plus, I doubt that you love me enough to live our life together. I don't want another way. I have to be sure that I am getting married once and for all.

"Me too," Sinan assured her. - I want to build a family with you and live a long, happy life.

- Cheating and hiding something from me? Sorry but no. This concept of a family is not for me," Seda snapped and looked at the door of the cafe. And where is this young schemer who imagines herself Cupid?

The waiter brought the order. After placing plates of cakes and cups of coffee on the table, he bowed and wished them Bon appetite. Sinan took out the money that more than covered the bill from his wallet and put it on his tray.

- What for? - Seda was surprised when the guy left. - I have enough money to pay for an order in a cafe.

"That's what I want," he said. - So that you again see me as a caring man, and not a cheat.

- A paid bill is not enough for this, - Seda fiddled with the ring on her finger. Sinan stared at it and turned pale.

- Don't take it off, - asked and his voice trembled. - Please! I screwed up. But I swear! I did not mean anything by it... Give me a chance to make it right. Don't cancel the wedding. You will see ... I will prove to you that you can trust me. I really love you very much.

Seda was silent. But she stopped fiddling with the ring. She looked to the side and tears glistened in her large, dark brown eyes. Sinan stepped back. He got up, but before leaving, he asked:

- Please think about my words. Don't cut it in the heat. I'm going to leave now, but my thoughts, my heart ... I don't know ... my soul, after all! Everything stays with you.

He left. Seda lowered her head and covered her eyes with her hand.

- Haven't you made up? - A weak voice sounded above her head. She removed her hand and shook her head. "Tell me what happened," Nisa asked.

Seda nodded to a chair and ordered:

- Sit down. The coffee is getting cold.

- What kind of person are you?! - Тhe sister was indignant. - Not a girl, but an iron lady! You will not fall apart if you share your pain with someone!

Seda smiled through her tears and pulled her hand.