Chapter 5Emir

Chapter 5 Emir

Janie’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel and her jaw twitched, but she said nothing. I knew I sounded like an uncommunicative jerk, but I sounded like that most of the time. She’d get used to it.

Janie kept her gaze on the road, giving me an opportunity to study her. Her expressive blue-grey eyes and high cheekbones caught the evening light like she was posing for a portrait. Her blond hair curled slightly around the temples. She was exquisite, there was no denying that. I wanted to photograph her, from every angle. I wanted her fingers on my neck, stroking and kneading away the pain, even if only for a moment. But I wouldn’t let myself get carried away. I wasn’t Cem. I had some self-control.

Janie followed Aria’s car, weaving through the green hills and occasional ferns which gradually turned into a quiet suburbia. I was prepared to give her instructions—I’d memorized the route—but we were never in any danger of losing sight of Aria.

“It’s the white house on the left,” I told her, unnecessarily, as Aria turned on the driveway.

I was used to being in charge, or at least feeling like I had a purpose, and this trip was making me increasingly uncomfortable. I couldn’t wait to get back to Janie’s house. The fewer people I had a round me, the better.

Janie double parked behind Aria. “We’re leaving soon, right?”

“I’m happy to.”

She gave me a long, probing look. “You really are, aren’t you?” She cocked her head, mouth tugging. “You don’t look particularly happy, but you’re not frowning. And your voice… It had a softness to it. Did you notice?”

“No,” I harrumphed, my chest feeling strangely warm.

Her smile turned giddy. “That’s right. You’re not that hard to read, mister. I’ll figure it out.”

I unfastened my seatbelt, trying to ignore the odd sensation those words had inserted inside my ribcage. I wasn’t the one women wanted. She was only teasing me, waiting to hear me giggle or something. She’d be waiting a long time.

“I like your horse,” I blurted. “So, I’m happy to go back.”

“You like my horse,” she repeated, her smile now so wide it must have been hurting her face. “And you enjoy my unprofessional massages.”

I gripped the car door handle, fear tightening my throat. “Can we… um… keep that between us?”

Janie’s spine straightened. “Is it… culturally not okay? I mean, would your parents be horrified to find out you’re getting massaged by an old, divorced lady?”

I shook my head, a bit amused. “No. And you’re not old. But I don’t want anyone to make a big deal out of it. They keep saying I should see a professional, and I know I should. I will. But in the meantime…”

“Yeah, okay. I get it.”

We got out of the car and joined Aria, Cem and the two sets of parents on the deck. They’d formed a semi-circle around an outdoor table loaded with various Turkish delights and nuts my parents had dragged across the world. They were the reason we’d wasted an extra hour in customs, declaring every nut, seed and sugary roll hiding in our luggage.

“Come join us for some exotic snacks,” Aria’s mother called us as we stood awkwardly on the other side of the table.

Aria got up. “Everyone! This is Janie! She’s my boss and a wonderful friend who’s letting us use her house for the engagement party.”

Janie went around the table, shaking hands with Lyn and Greg. When she moved onto my mother, she leaned in and kissed her hand, bringing it to her forehead like she’d done it a thousand times. Mom didn’t even blink, smiling her usual smile. Dad eyed her with suspicion but accepted the traditional greeting in his turn.

How did she know?

I edged closer to the table and snuck a handful of almonds, glancing at Janie. “I bet we didn’t need to bring these all the way from Turkey, right?”

She laughed like I’d cracked a particularly funny joke. “No, but these are definitely worth braving the biosecurity.” She pointed at the tray of lokum, chose a piece of a pomegranate-coated one and bit into it, closing her eyes. “Ah! This brings back memories.”

“Memories?”

I waited for her answer, staring at her so intently I didn’t notice Mom talking to me until she yanked at my sleeve. “I said, are you really going to stay at another house?”

I glanced at the crowded kitchen showing through the open doorway. “This place is too small for all of us. I know Aria’s parents are very generous to offer, but two weeks is a long time.”

“But we’re leaving for South Island in a couple of days. We won’t be here long.”

I took a deep breath. I’d been biding my time, waiting for the right moment to tell them I wasn’t coming. I’d never even booked a seat for myself. I couldn’t stomach the idea of third-wheeling them around the country, and I knew, once they got over their fear of traveling without me, they’d appreciate the privacy.

“You go! It’s all arranged, and I’ve emailed you both the itinerary and all the details. I managed to cancel my seat and got a full refund.”

“Full refund?” Mom narrowed her eyes, playing with the bangles on her wrist.

“Yes. We had flexi tickets. It’s fine. Meanwhile, I’ll help on Janie’s farm to get it ready for the party.”

Mom gave me a slow nod, her eyes lighting with understanding. “Tamam! You do that. Work hard. If she won’t let us pay for the party, we make sure we leave the place in a better shape. How is it looking?”

I took the camera off my shoulder and showed her some of the pictures.

“Those flowering trees are so beautiful!” She tried to take the camera off me, but I grabbed it back and switched it off. She didn’t need to see pictures of Janie walking out of her house.

“There’s a verandah with more flowering trees around it. It needs some work, but it’ll look great in the pictures. I’ll plan the photos when I’m there.”

Dad tuned into our conversation, frowning. “You’re not coming to South Island with us? What if we get lost? I don’t understand these people. Every word sounds the same. Are they talking through their noses?”

Mom patted my arm. “We’ll be fine. I have a translator app. It’ll be an adventure! Like when we were young.” She winked at him, and I saw a flash of interest behind Dad’s eyes.

Looking after Janie’s horse was sounding better and better by the minute. I didn’t even care how much she teased me about it. I wanted to get back to the farm, with no people in sight.

After an appropriate duration of snacking and chitchatting, I fetched my suitcase from the house and farewelled the Dunnes, as well as my parents. Mom slipped a wad of cash into my pocket. “Don’t be a burden. I don’t want that woman to cook for you all day long. Buy some yogurt. It’ll keep you healthy.”

I nodded, feeling heavy. It was Cem’s money that we passed around, not mine. I wasn’t his manager anymore, and I hated these handouts. But what could I do? Mom was right. I couldn’t let Janie cook for me. Letting me stay in her house was more than enough. I’d find a way to be useful. Not just with the horse, but with everything. Whatever she needed.