Page 71 of My Turkish Fling
As we reached the dining room, Josh looked up, eyes wide. He blinked a couple of times, mouth ajar.
I introduced them, and I urged Josh to get up and offer his hand. Emir shook it, then popped into the kitchen to fetch a teacup.
“Is he in the mafia or something?” Josh asked under his breath.
“No. He just looks like he is.” I bit back my smile, sliding into the seat next to my son. “To my knowledge, he’s not involved in anything illegal.”
Emir returned to the table and poured himself a cup of tea. He gave Josh a look, as if assessing his mood, then turned to me. “I have something to tell you, Janie. But I want you to not worry, because it’ll be alright.”
My breath seized. “What?”
“I went outside but couldn’t find Molly. I checked the stables, and walked around and called for her, but it’s so dark out there I may have missed her. We have to wait until it’s light outside.”
I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it again. It was my fault. I’d been too preoccupied to even check on my poor horse. “She usually comes back to the stables for the night, even if I let her stay out.”
Emir nodded. “And she usually comes when I whistle. Not this time.”
“Maybe she’s hiding?” I swallowed a lump of fear.
“We’ll go first thing in the morning. Josh can come with me. He’s young and fit and Molly knows him, right?”
Josh nodded. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll find her.”
I didn’t miss the sharp focus in his eyes. Emir had given my son a purpose.
“What time is sunrise?”
“6.25 a.m.” Emir answered, looking at his phone.
“I’ll set my alarm for 6 a.m.” Josh said, getting to his feet. “I better get some sleep.”
He followed Emir to the kitchen and stacked his plate and cup in the dishwasher. I watched in awe as he said good night and retreated to his room.
Worried that he was putting on an act for the sake of our house guest, I trailed him to his room. “Hey, Josh.” I stopped at his doorway.
“What?” He stood in the middle of his room and stared at me; eyebrows raised.
“I wanted to check you’re okay. I know it’s weird that there’s someone else here. Had I known you were coming…”
Would I have sent Emir away? I wasn’t sure of anything anymore, but the situation felt forced. I wasn’t ready to introduce Emir to anyone, yet I wanted to hold onto him. I was such a mess.
“Is he your boyfriend?”
He looked me straight in the eye and I gave the slightest of nods.
“Okay.” Josh unzipped his bag and dug through it, pulling out wrinkled T-shirts and underwear.
“Just, okay?”
“Yeah. I mean, he seems okay. If you say he’s not a mafioso, I guess I’ll have to believe you.”
“I appreciate that.” I pulled a face, watching him gather his toiletries and shuffle to the bathroom.
I left him to it and popped my head into the guest room, where I found Emir holding a toothbrush.
“Janie.” He paused, toothbrush in midair, kindness and pain in his eyes. “How is he?”
“He… he wants to live here, with me.”
