4 - A Box of Curiosities

Manolya`s POV

I turned towards my Uncle.

“Did my dad call you about Ipek?” I asked, glancing at him as the wipers dragged across the windshield.

For a moment, something flickered in Uncle Eren’s eyes, worry quickly buried beneath his usual warmth. “Yes,” he said lightly. “He texted me she’s been missing. Why? You don’t think she’ll be home by the time we’ve picked up your cousins from the airport?”

“I’m not sure, Uncle,” I admitted, staring out at the rain. “I just have a bad feeling about all this.”

He reached over, patting my shoulder. “We’ve got a bit of work to do first, kuzum. After that, we’ll join the search. How does that sound?”

I frowned, my chest tightening with unease. “Alright then,” I said slowly. “But be quick with whatever it is we have to do today. I can help you if you want to.”

“That is niece of you to offer, Manolya,” he said, trying to hide my unease with a warm smile. “Earlier this week I answered an ad in the newspaper. We will be meeting an old woman later who might have something very rare and valuable.”

I blinked, curiosity flickering through my worry. There was something about the way he said it, like this old woman was not just ordinary.

I rolled down my window a bit, letting the damp fragrance flood in. “That sounds great, summer does smells like freedom, doesn’t it, Uncle? Even with all this rain.”

“Best part of summer, kuzum, rain always makes the dirt and dust go away,” he chuckled, shooting me a sidelong glance as rain streaked his sunglasses. “Sorry, Manolya! Gotta swing by work, I forgot something. Quick stop, I swear, the rain won’t slow us down!”

“Again?” I tilted my head, smirking as I tugged at my seatbelt, raindrops sliding down my arm. “You’re hopeless! Promise you won’t make us late, or Adem and Adlee will prank you silly, probably with itching powder this time. And Pelin? She’ll be furious. You know how she gets when plans go sideways.”

He laughed, the car swerving slightly, and adjusted his Lacoste sunglasses with a dramatic flourish, rain dripping from his hair. “Oh, they’ll try! But I’ve got this under control, even in this mess.” He spun the wheel, dodging a chaos of honking speeders with a grin. “A customer wanted something rare, I tracked it down. Just grabbing the box, easy peasy! You’ll see, it’s worth the detour.”

“You’re impossible,” I said, grinning. “What’s in it? Come on, give me a hint, just one!”

“Patience, Manolya!” His eyes twinkled, promising secrets as he tapped the wheel, rain drumming outside. “Good things come to those who wait. Trust me on this.”

We pulled up to his shop with a sharp whoosh, tires crunching on the wet gravel lot, rain pelting the roof. “Eren Antiques” swayed above the door, the blue, black and white Nazar boncuğu (Evil eye charm) glinting through the downpour.

Inside, the air hit me like a warm hug with leather, aged wood, and a faint, sugary whiff of vanilla cookies drifting from the hidden kitchen, a stark contrast to the storm outside.

My sandals sank into the handwoven rugs, the dark planks creaking underfoot. Dim light pooled around a velvet sofa, casting shadows on the squiggly walnut cabinets and the custom oak stand that held Eren’s pride: a grand antique cash register he’d bragged about for weeks after finding it at an estate sale. By the far wall stood a hand-painted ceramic chimney, its tulip designs glowing in turquoise, red, and white.

I traced a finger over the ceramic chimney’s tulip patterns, smooth and cool under my touch. “Still smells like tea and cookies in here, even with the storm raging.”

“Some things never change,” Eren replied, winking as he shook rain from his jacket. “I had to always hide the stash so you guys wouldn’t climb the kitchen shelves and fall.”

He crouched behind the counter, pulling out a large wooden box lined with red velvet cushions. “Got it!” He tucked it under his arm and stood. “What’s so funny, kuzum?”

“Nothing,” I said, scanning the shelves for anything new. “Just feels like home.”

“Come on, slowpoke!” He grabbed my hand, dragging me back to the car through the rain with a playful tug. “You’re the one stalling now! We’ve got a plane to catch!”

“Me?” I laughed, sliding into the passenger seat as he slammed the door with a clang, rain dripping from his sleeves. “You’re the kid here, acting like it’s a field trip!”

He grinned, rolling down his window, letting the stormy breeze swirl in, tugging my curls against my glossy lips, the faint stickiness catching strands as I brushed them back. “Can you blame me? Escorting a fine young lady like you to the airport? At your service, Manolya!” He bowed dramatically, nearly knocking the box off his lap, and I shook my head, giggling at his theatrics.

“Uncle, you’re up to something with that box,” I said, leaning against the warm glass, the heat seeping through my dress despite the rain outside. “What’s the big secret? You’ve been all sneaky about it since we left.”

He winked, pressing the pedal harder, the car lurching forward with a growl through the storm. “You’ll see soon enough.” He glanced his eyes mischievously back at me.

“Wait, what?” I frowned, leaning forward, my ponytail swinging against my neck. “Uncle, you can’t just drop that and not explain!” I pressed, leaning closer as he smirked and clutched the box tighter.

My excitement surged, I had to know what was inside, but a chill kept creeping up my spine, like it wasn’t just a secret the box was hiding.