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“She’s a teacher.”
“Really?”
“Right now, she’s working in Istanbul.”
“I’m going to Istanbul next week for my best friend’s wedding.”
“You’re kidding? My mum’s originally from there.”
“ThatI did know.”
“I actually just bought a place onBüyükada.”
“Fascinating.”
“Sarcasm, Nutmeg.”
I was being a smart-ass… I’ll own it. “Sorry.”
“Büyükadais an island off the coast of Istanbul. When mum was young, she spent all her summers at this one house there. She would always talk about how much she loved the time she spent there, so when it came up for sale, I purchased it for her. Roxe now lives there working at one of the high schools on the island, but her real dream is to convert the house into a bed and breakfast. She’s renovating in her spare time.” I can see the very real excitement on Kaan’s face as he talks about his plans. “Mum is going to be so surprised when it’s ready.”
I glance at him from under my eyelashes only to catch him looking back at me. I cough lightly. “Aren’t you a good son?”
“I gotta be good at something.”
“My friend Ginny, she’s the one I’ll be visiting while I’m there, raves about Istanbul. I’m really looking forward to exploring when I go.”
“I think you’ll love it.”
“You do?”
“I do. Istanbul is intoxicating and once you’ve visited, you’ll want to return over and over.”
“Really?”
“I guarantee it!”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
We both return to eating in silence.
Chew, swallow, repeat. Chew, swallow, repeat.
I need to break the awkwardness, so I grab my remote. “Music?”
“Sure.”
I turn on Spotify and Elvis’s “Suspicious Minds” starts playing softly through my speakers. Kaan glances at me and I wonder if he’s going to make a crack about my taste in music. Instead, he nods approvingly. “I like the old stuff.”
“Me too.”
“Pink Floyd, The Stones, Elvis – of course, early Bowie.”
“Life on Mars is a masterpiece.”
“One of the greatest songs ever recorded.”
“I’m glad you said that otherwise I probably would’ve had to kick you out.”
