Defne thought about it, then said, “He was young, maybe twenty-two.” The same age as Yasmin. Defne continued, “He hasn’t had a girlfriend since. Not until a few months ago when he came home and told us about you.”

“A few months ago?” Yasmin felt suddenly dizzy. He’d told his family about her months ago?

Defne nodded. “Yeah, he was here in April and he told us all about you and how you were going to get married. It’s so romantic how you met.”

“How did we meet?” Yasmin asked faintly.

Defne laughed. “You don’t remember? You were at the hotel, throwing out a bag of garbage in the alley. He was worried about you being alone back there and helped.”

It felt like a lifetime ago, that deep voice reaching out to her from the shadows.

“I love how you just knew he was the one right away,” Defne continued. “My brother isn’t usually one for romance, so we were all surprised when he came home and announced he would bring his bride back with him when you finished school.”

Yasmin felt a multitude of emotions at once. Anger that she’d fallen for Volkan’s plan every step of the way, frustration that she couldn’t seem to untangle herself from this mess and, in fact, kept sliding deeper in. The Volkan his sister was describing was a different man from the one Yasmin was getting to know. But if she was being totally honest, a small part of her was pleased that there weren’t any other women in Volkan’s life besides the mysteriously missing Caria.

Yasmin realized that they’d been talking for a while and she hadn’t once tried to convince Defne that she needed help.

Glancing toward Volkan to make sure he was still deep in conversation with his mother, Yasmin lowered her voice and leaned toward Defne. “It’s true that I met your brother at the hotel where I worked, but I broke up with him. I had no intention of marrying him.”

Defne laughed and reached out to touch Yasmin’s hand, which wasn’t the reaction Yasmin was expecting.

“He told us all about how you tried to get away from him, but he wooed you back through gifts and charm. Though he’s usually very serious, I’ve seen my brother use charm on our mother, so I know how irresistible he can be. It’s so sweet how he changed his business plans in order to make it to Toronto for your graduation.”

Charming? Irresistible? Sweet?

Yasmin had to remind herself to close her mouth as the other woman spoke, her face soft with the pleasure of recounting Yasmin and Volkan’s romance. Defne’s version certainly made their relationship seem joyous and mutual.