Stay with me

Chapter 70 - How happiness begins

The seventy-two hours of Iz Tranba's bed rest ended Monday morning. They were difficult, painful, and happy for her at the same time. She was dying of fear for her child. Couldn't cope with heavy thoughts. Her back ached from constant lying. She couldn't relax from anxiety. She couldn't eat or sleep. But Deniz was next to her. He did not leave her a step. He carried her to the toilet and bathroom. He dressed her like a child. Spoon-fed, persuading her to eat at least a little.

"The kid needs nutrients and strength," he said and she agreed.

Heroically she stuffed delicacies prepared by the housekeeper into herself. She chewed and swallowed without feeling the taste. Because she understood that there were no resources in her body. Weeks of toxicosis have eaten them. The food she eats is the only source of food for the baby. So she has to eat. All the most useful. Caviar, cod liver, meat, and fish, avocado, fruits. Everything that will help her baby to become stronger. And she ate although she had no appetite.

They also talked a lot with Deniz. They told each other about their fears and doubts, about childhood, about losses and gifts of fate. About what was hidden deep in the heart and was never told to anyone. These three days did not make their love stronger. Not. They gave much more. Feeling of kinship. That feeling when you understand that his soul is your soul, and no matter what happens, they will go through all the obstacles together.

When Sinan called on Saturday morning and said that Defne had given birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl, Iz burst into tears. She was incredibly happy for Omer and Defne, and she wanted her child to be healthy, too.

On Monday, two hours after the bed rest was lifted, she and Deniz entered Iplikci's room. And again there were tears and incoherent words. The girls hugged each other and burst into tears. And the men were hovering around and did not know what to do with these tears. Emine Diana saved the situation. She woke up and gave a little cry, demanding the undivided attention of her parents.

Iz went to the crib. Looking at the baby with a piercingly tender look, she held out her arms to her, but immediately froze and asked Defne uncertainly:

- May I?

She nodded. Iz took Emine in her arms. Closing her eyes, she brought her face closer to her and inhaled deeply the baby scent. Deniz's eyes stung. Defne put her hand on his shoulder and said encouragingly:

- Very soon Iz will take your child in her arms. Beautiful, sweet, and perfectly healthy.

"We pray for it," Deniz answered hoarsely.

He took out of his pocket gold coins bound with a red ribbon. Hanging an impromptu necklace next to opals and the pearl pendant on the headboard, he stroked the baby head on his wife's arm and turned to Emine:

- Beauty, you will be an enviable bride with a large dowry. Daddy will have a hard time when you grow up.

He glanced at Omer derisively. He just sighed heavily, and Defne nonchalantly replied:

- Ay, when will it be! We have at least twenty years.

"You may have twenty," Deniz said slowly and looked skeptically at Omer. "But your husband has no more than sixteen.

Everyone laughed. And Defne. And Omer. And even Iz. Pain lurked in the depths of her eyes, but the laughter was ringing and sincere. Deniz looked at her, and his heart sank with bitter happiness. How he loved the laughter of his Iz. And how he missed it. Only now did he realize that all this time he was afraid of never hearing it again.

At eleven, the doctor came to the room. She said that the documents were ready and Iplikci could go home. Omer and Defne were just waiting for the signal. The things were collected, Emine Diana was dressed in a white suit and a hat. The opals, pearls, and gold coins were hidden in Defne's purse. She got dressed, changing her hospital gown for a stylish, shirt-cut dress with a closure on the chest.