Sixty

As the car draws to a standstill, Aydem exits the mansion with a bounce to his step and a few people following close behind him. I look at Neriman with my nerves thrumming wildly and my stomach twisting into knots.

"Who is Aydem accompanied by?" I ask her in a hushed tone as I look at Sandro still fast asleep in his car seat.

"That man with the phone pressed to his ear, is Sandro and the woman waddling with her hand on her belly is his wife, Mercedes. She's also from New Zealand so you'll both have a lot to talk about." She doesn't bother waiting for one of the guards to open her door as she pushes it wide open herself and walks straight over to her brother embracing him.

Aydem opens my door as I unbuckle Sandro and pick him up. "Askim." [My love.] He greets me with a dotting smile and holds his arms out for his son.

I carefully place Sandro in his arms and slide out of the car with his help. Standing by Aydem, I nervously meet Mercedes gaze. "Hi," I say and wave awkwardly feeling like I'm the new kid in school again.

A big grin spreads across her face and she steps forward wrapping me up in her arms. "Hello, you beautiful woman." she coo's in my ear. "Welcome to the family," she says as she rubs her hand up and down my back.

I stick my butt out, trying to avoid my torso rubbing up against her belly and I return the hug. "Thank you." I sigh with relief and instantly feel welcomed into the family.

When we pull apart from each other, I look over her shoulder and admire Aydem showing Sandro off to his cousin as they converse in their mother tongue.

"They're talking about Sandros eyes mirroring Aydems," Mercedes says as she follows my gaze.

I look at her in awe, "You understand them?"

Chuckling as she rubs her hands over her ballooning belly, she bobs her head side to side. "Mmm, I wouldn't say I'm fluent in the language just yet, but I'm getting there."

"You still have the Kiwi accent," I state firmly.

"Oh, honey trust me." She laughs. "That accent is gonna be hard to boot."

[Yes,] "Evet, and I dont want her to ever lose it either." A deep rumbling voice slices through the air.

I turn to my side and see Sedar approaching us with a look of undying love in his eyes when he looks at his wife. "Mila, it's a pleasure to meet you." He says as he holds out his hand.

Placing my hand in his, "It's truly nice to finally meet you both." I let go of his hand after shaking it. "I've heard a lot about you both and I'm in your debt for allowing me and Sandro to come into your home under this duress situation."

The smile on Sedar's face grows wider, "You and Sandro are family. There is nothing more to say about your current situation. We've been there ourselves so we know what you're going through and you guys are free to stay as long as you please." He continues as he kisses Mercedes on the top of her head.

"Yes, please do stay. We rarely have visitors and my brain is turning to mush with the lack of adult conversation I'm being exploited too." Mercedes groans as she rubs her belly.

I look at Aydem, gnawing on the inside of my cheek and I rub the back of my neck. "I truly don't want to overstay my welcome and I also don't want to be rude." I pause momentarily. "Can we just play it by ear for now?"

I'd love to stay with the hopes of getting to know them better and for Sandro to get to know his other family members too. But the truth of the matter is, I've brought trouble to their front doorstep and even though it's clear as day that they are prepared to take on the world. I just don't feel entirely comfortable or deserving of their gracious hospitality.

"Whatever makes you happy, Mila," Sedar says as he gives me a knowing look like he can read my mind.

The gentle sobs of Sandro as he awakens cut through the air and Aydem walks to my side bouncing him up and down as he tries to comfort him. "I think he is hungry." He states with a frown on his face.

"Are you breastfeeding?" Mercedes asks.

Shaking my head as I take Sandro from Aydem, "No. I was, but after he was taken from me my milk dried up and he was already used to the bottle when we got him back." I reply with a sigh and shame heavily coating my words.

I suddenly feel uncomfortable because we as women have always been told, shunned upon even, that breastmilk is the ultimate best food for your baby. No ads, buts, or maybes about. Personally, I never really saw what the big deal was if you chose to breastfeed or bottlefeed. As long your baby is getting fed that's all that matters and for some odd reason, a wave of guilt and shame spreads through my body like a wildfire losing control when Mercedes asked me a simple question and I hate it with a passion.

Mercedes looks at me with pity swimming in her eyes and she plucks Sandro out of my embrace. "Hello, my precious little boy." She coo's as she rubs the side of his cheek. "Is a certain little someone hungry is he?" She laughs as Sandro begins to gurgle in her arms. "Can Aunt Cedes give you your first meal in Turkey? Oh, is that right my handsome little guy, I think we can arrange that." She plants a light kiss on the top of his head and meets my gaze. "Can I bottlefeed him?"

Taken aback, I nod my head, "Sure." I laugh. "I'll just grab his bag and-"

"I will bring the bottle to you, askim. [my love]" Aydem whispers in my ear as he snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me flush against his body. "I think she wants to steal you away from me for some women to women gossip." He mutters with a growl.

My cheeks flush with his open display of affection and I swallow thickly nodding my head.

"Go on then," He growls, slapping my ass.

I stumble forward, looking over my shoulder and I catch a glimpse of his mouth curling into a lopsided smirk as he flicks me a wink that makes my panties wet.

"You do realise that you could end up being very pregnant by the end of the night right?" Mercedes sings as she leads us towards the mansion.

I choke on my saliva, patting my chest. "Pardon?" I croak being certain I heard her wrong.

"Girl, I am telling you now. The moment we landed here, I have been pregnant every year. It's like there's something in the water or air." She giggles. "Or it could be the Turkish soil."

I look at her with fine lines etching across my browline. "How long have you been here?" My words come out sounding a little strained.

"Oh, just five glorious years and this is our fifth baby." She hums.

'You better lock your door and throw away the key until you are ready to leave!!' My inner goddess cries out and instantly I feel my ovaries shrivelling up.