"Shawney, I remember, it was so magical."
"I don't like magical."
Carl listens to them and how he laughs, "I know you said that last night, Shawney, and you looked very pretty last night."
"Thank you, and you looked pretty amazing yourself, Torren."
"Yes, we were the perfect couple, just as you said."
"We were, Torren. Now tell me, have you eaten any food during the day?"
"No, but I am hungry now. Will you join me for supper?"
"Yes, I am hungry. I left my purse in the car, so I had no money to buy any food." Hearing him telling Liz to inform Mrs Louise to fix us a meal?
"Yes, Sir!"
Then Torren holds Shawney's hand and walks towards the kitchen. Carl notices they went to the flower garden, takes up the bag from the floor and places it on the table.
By the time we straighten out the drawing room, he and Shawney return. "Come on, Tray, you have to wash your hands before eating," Shawney said.
Train notices Torren lift Tray to wash his hands, "That's my boy."
"Daddy!"
"Yes, Son."
"Sir, Mrs Louise said, the table is set."
Holding Shawney's hand, "Let us go and eat, I am hungry." Carl notices her smile and nods, then he calls out to Torren, "Torren, can I join you? I am hungry."
"Yes, Carl and get the others." In the dining room, Torren holds out a chair for Shawney to sit, "You sit here?"
"No, you sit there, Torren, and I will sit next to you."
"Give me the child, Shawney, and dish out my food, please."
"Go to your daddy, honey, he won't hurt his baby." Seeing how frightened Gretta was, "It is okay, honey, your daddy loves you very much."
Putting her in Torren's lap, "That's a good girl." Train smiles seeing his two grandchildren with their Father. The family eats silently as the two converse.
When Travis enters the dining room, noticing both children immediately at the table. Tray was next to his dad, and Gretta was on Shawney's lap.
Recalling Jeff's words immediately, 'If it will take another two years.' Unable to believe the change, the only person who seems unhappy at the table is Jeff.
With dad speaking with Candis, she looks much calmer. Bending, I kiss her, "How are you feeling now?"
Seeing the smile, she said, "I already dish out your food."
Noticing where the plate covered the chair was vacant. While eating, I notice Dad constantly looking upstairs towards Torren's room.
'Has something happened after I left? Has Torren gone on a rampage? How is that possible? He is too calm, or has this raving beauty something to do with him being so calm?'
Seeing Clyde the butler, busy removing some bags. 'And whose leather bag was that on the table? It was heavy.
Afraid to look at the guest before Candis gets on her high horse once more, but she is a real beauty, and she has Torren's full attention.
Dad knows he loves beautiful things, so this has to be his plan. I haven't heard anyone saying anything about her.
And where she lives, but she seems to have beauty and brains, sucking up to the sole heir, she gains to inherit everything.
When Liz took Gretta, who was asleep, "Liz, will you take my bag to my room, please?"
"Yes, Ma'am and thank you so much for staying."
'So, the bag belongs to her? I wonder what was inside? I didn't want to open it, but it was heavy. Why does she take around such a heavy bag, if she is just visiting for a weekend?'
Standing up, saying, "Torren, I see Tray is ready for bed. I will take him up?"
"Don't bother, Travis, I will attend to him," when he asks Shawney to go with him. Seeing the way she smiles up at him.
'Boy, she is good, no one will believe she is after his money, no decent woman will run after a physio.'
Watching them leave with Tray when Jeff asks Dad, "Dad is Shawney for real?"
"I don't quite understand what you are asking, Jeff?"
"Dad, all those diamond pieces and that bracelet Torren was holding, those pieces are worth a lot, so why does she carry them around?"
"Those are gifts Shawney gets from friends, so she takes them wherever she goes."
"Dad, people don't give away gifts like those?"
"Are you insinuating Shawney stole it?"
"Dad, I didn't say that. What I meant was," seeing him hesitate.
Train said, "What you really meant, Jeff, is, only rich people possess such possessions, and Shawney is not rich, so where did she get it from? If you had noticed carefully in each box had a paper."
"Yes!"
"Well, Son, that is the receipt for the item, so it could only mean that when she received the gifts, they gave her the receipt.
You don't have the faintest idea what she does, so don't go judging her. She is God-fearing and honest.
When Torren misbehaved by throwing down everything, she didn't care what Torren did with those expensive gifts of hers.
Do you know why, Jeff? It's because she was more concerned about him, and now he is aware of his children.
So from now on, no one won't have to say if it will be another two years before he remembers his children."
Train thought with everything that had happened after a stressful night and day, God was merciful to him, and the breakthrough had finally begun.
Torren finally remembers and accepts that the children are his. Not having to worry, 'I get a good night's rest after a very long time.'
***
Rising early, Shawney decides to fix Torren a nice breakfast "Shawney, you don't have to do that. Mrs Louise will fix our breakfast?"
"I know Torren, but I want to fix you a special breakfast, and how about after breakfast we sit by the pool and do some reading?"
"That sounds wonderful."
SHAWNEY MINISTERED TO TORREN
Train to stand by his window, admiring the two of them sitting in the flower garden. Dalia hated to go into the flower garden.
Many mornings, Torren used to walk Tray in the garden. It has been so long since I have seen him so relaxed and happy.
Train, prayed, "Lord, you have heard my prayer, you have given me so many favours these past weeks and have chosen him a wife.
I know it is just the beginning, but my prayer now, Lord, is for him to be delivered from that anger and insanity.
Lord, and anything you need me to do, I promise I will do it for You. You have blessed me with everything, and I won't ask for anything more.
I know I haven't given back to you to show my gratitude and thanks, and I am sorry, but I would like to change that."
Walking down to the pool, listening to her reading to him, seeing him lie down quietly, listening to her.
"Torren, Jesus is the great physician. Jesus has given Doctors the knowledge and ability to treat patients, but some cases are difficult.
There once was this man the bible speaks about, he was a lunatic, and everyone was afraid of him. He used to live in the cemetery, and no amount of chains they bound him with could hold him.
Then one day, Jesus was passing, and the lunatic man who didn't know how to communicate with people was naked and had never bath.
Torren, when Jesus saw him and the condition the devil had him, Jesus had compassion and touched his life.
That lunatic man was healed from that day, Torren. If you get a touch from Jesus, your life will change."
When she rests the bible aside and leans back her head, saying. "A few years ago, I didn't know Jesus, my family took advantage of me, and I said nothing.
Anything I was told to do, I did it. When my stepmom died, I was only fourteen, and I had two younger brothers and two sisters."
When she reaches her hand and holds his, "Torren, being the eldest, it was hard. I see how difficult it was for my Dad to put food on the table.
So I stopped school and begged my dad to sell a piece of the property we owned to assist the younger ones so they could get a good education.
He did listen to me and sell a piece, that money he used half to attend to the needs of the family, and the other half he invested."
Feeling his tender strokes on her fingers as he said, "Go on!"
"Torren fifteen years of my life, I invested into my family, I have seen to their education, not only them but my Uncle's family also.
And if I were to return home today and ask them to give me a hundred dollars, I might be lucky to get it, but with a hundred talks.
Torren, in this life, sometimes all you do isn't even get thanks, but we must never allow that to stop us from being a blessing."
When she went closer to him, saying "Torren, God our Father is faithful, He has seen I have done my duty, as a daughter, as a sister, as a niece and cousin.
I must have travelled the whole of Chicago during my three years while I was away from home.
I told many about Jesus, many listened, and many rejected Jesus and his word."
"Torre,n those precious gifts in my bag are what people give me for telling them about Jesus.
I have watched their lives change. Torren, I told you all that for you to understand, if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, He will change your life.
He will remove all the confusion, the voices that make you confused, the discomfort, and everything that has made you unhappy.
Torren Jesus loves you very much. He understands what is happening in your life."
Train stood silently looking at them, as she took his hand in hers, "When you are confused, Torren, instead of breaking something, talk to Jesus.
On the road, I met many friends and left many, but Jesus and I travel together, you cannot see him, and sometimes I am confused just like you, but I know he is always with me."
"Is that why you left me that night, Shawney?"
"I left because you didn't want my help, Torren."
"But Shawney, I will always need your help."
"No, you won't?"
"Yes, I would."
"Torren, when you encounter Jesus, you will understand what I am saying. Jesus said I am a friend who stickiest closer than a brother.
I know you love your brothers and sisters, but when you invite Jesus to live in your heart, you are making room for Jesus.
My friend, you will forget all about me, your brothers and your sister because you will love him more. All this luxury won't be able to compare to the riches of blessing, God has in store for you.
Torren, you will leave all this behind to tell someone that Jesus loves them. I don't have much, so leaving home wasn't hard for me, and I am glad, or I wouldn't have met you."
Train listened as she prayed with him, then said, "Let us take a swim?"
Smiling, knowing she is concealing her inheritance, but it doesn't seem to matter to her, whether she has an inheritance or not, the gift in her bag matters more.
Hearing the footsteps of the others coming closer to the pool, I called out to them; then I went and sat by the pool. "Dad, the water is lovely. Why don't you come and join Shawney and me?"
"In a while, Son, you enjoy your swim." When the others get into the pool, Shawney is alongside Torren, swimming.
Noticing Travis getting closer to Shawney, I get in, knowing that if Candis realises what his intentions are, it will be chaos once again.
Keeping a close eye on him, understanding why Candis was quarrelling. Torren was not paying attention; he was enjoying his swim with Carl, Jeff, and Lasandra.
Swimming next to her to detour Travis' plans, "Now my child tells me about your trip on the road?"
"I am sure your travelling through Chicago was much more interesting and exciting than mine, you had your van to rest sometimes at night."
SHAWNEY HEARD A BABY CRYING
Realising he was so concerned for her, 'Boy, that feeling was overwhelming. No one has ever shown such concern for her before. '
Leaning her head on his shoulder, "I am much better now, thanks," trying to reassure him that she was okay.
Realising at that moment the chilliness that was there earlier when she started to walk, had vanished, even the hot soup didn't extinguish that chilliness.
Shawney, 'Thank God that the crying in her head had stopped and the inside of her felt warm once again' Hearing Torren ask, "Shawney, what just happened?"
"I was hearing a noise in my head."
"Is it like what I hear sometimes?"
"Maybe, but I was hearing a baby crying, but it is gone now."
"Is that why you thought it was Gretta crying, Shawney?"
Seeing the nod, "I am sorry if I scare you, Torren, but maybe the Lord wanted me out of the house."
"Shawney, what nonsense? Why would Jesus want you to get away from the house?"
"I can't say, I can't even explain it." Smilingly, Shawney, 'Thank the Lord for helping her feel better, that run had eliminated that chilliness.'
"Are you having a happy thought, Shawney?"
Smiling once more, turning to him, "Sort of."
"Won't you share your happy thoughts with me, Shawney?"
"Nah, one of these days when you encounter Jesus, and things happen in your life, you will have happy thoughts also."
"Well, you confuse me, one minute you wanted to eat ice cream, then you started to feel cold, then you asked Mrs Louise for soup," seeing him shaking his head,
Stroking his face. "I didn't mean for you to become confused, Torren. Sometimes things happen, and we don't understand everything.
When I started to feel cold, I thought a hot bath would eliminate the chilliness, but it didn't. Thinking when I got the hot bowl of soup, that would help, but it didn't.
Then I started to hear a baby crying, and I thought it was Gretta who was giving me a headache. When you told me it was not, and there was no baby in the house.
I was even more confused, but don't worry, the run worked wonders; that chilliness I was feeling is completely gone, and now I am feeling much better."
"Is that why you were smiling, Shawney?"
"You could say so, can we return, that soup I drank has melted away, and I am feeling hungry now."
Holding his hand, he stood up, "Shawney, we have a problem."
"What is that? Are you no longer hungry, Torren?"
"Oh, I am very hungry, but your beautiful dress is soiled."
"Don't worry, I will dust it off."
"Shawney, it's not dusty, it is soil."
"What?" observing the way she twisted the dress, "Oh dear God, what am I going to do now? This is my last dress. And how will I enter the house with everyone's eyes on me?"
Torren notices she is almost in tears. Removing his jersey, then tied it around her waist, "One problem solved, now there's no need to worry, my wife's things are still in my room."
"Thank you so much. Torren, you have saved the day. Hugging him, thanking God she won't have to be embarrassed."
Entering the house, thinking just as I thought, 'Everyone was relaxing in the living room.
"Torren, where were you two? We have been waiting; the table is already set."
"Sorry about that, Dad. We went jogging, just give us a few minutes to freshen up."
Shawney heard one saying, "Jogging, in this heat," while another laughed.
Realising that Torren heard them and just guided me along, opening my door. Then whisper, "I will be right back."
"Torren, thanks again," removing his jersey ", Here you go" Closing her door, she hurried into the bathroom.
Whispering, "Oh Lord, I hope he doesn't expose everything, and it was nice of him to lend his jersey, they must be thinking both of us are mad the same way.
But who cares, at least I don't have to face any embarrassment."
Knocking at the bathroom door, "Shawney, I put everything on top of your bed when you finish meeting me downstairs."
"Thanks, Torren, I will be down next five minutes."
"Never mind that, I know you hate to be embarrassed."
Seeing that she shifts the bathroom curtain, "Torren, I love you, you are the greatest."
Then her head was out of sight, and the water was running once more. Stepping out of the room, thinking about what she said, 'Was she just making a joke or did she mean it?'
"Dad, did I see Torren take one of Dalia's dresses to her room?"
"I believe so, Carl."
"Then that is a good sign, he knows the children are his, and now he is giving away Dalia's belongings; Shawney is right, he is getting better, from yesterday to today; I see so many changes."
"Carl, please, your talking is very sickening.'
"Jeff, I believe Shawney is good for Torren."
"Just because he gives her a dress doesn't mean he meant anything."
"Then why worry, Jeff?" Carl asks.
"I hope she is not staying for long before she confuses him more and things worsen. And I hear Candis and Travis start quarrelling again since we returned from the pool."
"Jeff, why do you blame Shawney? If those two are having a problem, it's not Shawney's fault." Train responds.
"Dad is right, Jeff. Have you looked at Torren? He is happy."
"So, is it alright to destroy one life, so the other could be happy?" Jeff demanded.
"You are misunderstanding us, Jeff. Tell me, are they still fighting about the incident by the pool after Shawney and Torren leave?" Carl enquires.
"Yes, because Travis was glancing at Shawney."
"Good Lord, Jeff, so if every time you look at someone and Lasandra quarrel, whose fault is that, or who would you blame?
The woman you are glancing at, or the person who was glancing, be real, Jeff, Candis must have some mistrust for Travis, that could be the only reason she is behaving in that manner?"
"She is beautiful."
Unable to stifle his chuckling any longer, Carl just burst out laughing and then said, "Jeff, is it a sin to be beautiful?
Earlier in the pool, if you didn't notice, Travis was trying to get closer to Shawney.
She realised that he is a philanderer and womaniser, so she avoided him."
UNCLE KEN REVEALED THE TRUTH
When Sid came and stood before Shawney, saying, "Shawney, you have to understand we could not, because we would be disrespecting Aunty Joan."
"Never mind, Sid, only one person had cared for me anyhow, and he is no longer around, so I have no one anymore."
"That's not true, Shawney," Sid replies.
"Yes, it is true, Sid, and all of you know it," Shawney snapped as the tears continued to roll down her face
"Shawney, you know Dad only loved you; that's why he only gave us a measly inheritance."
"Sid, just shut your mouth," Ken said.
"I will not, Uncle Ken, Dad only give us twelve and a half per cent in shares and gives Shawney twenty-five per cent.
Why did he do that? She doesn't even have a family and is never home."
"You fool, your father leaves nothing for us; all was hers, it is Shawney that changes the will and gives to all of us."
"Ke,n are you crazy?" Joan shouted
"No, I am not. I was there when he made the will. Shawney's Mother had left the land for her, and the money her father invested was hers.
When he sold the land, he invested her money, not yours or anyone else's; he ensured you all got a good education. Now I am tired of you all criticising and condemning her."
"Uncle Ken, if what you are saying here has any bearing, then Dad didn't love us."
"Tell me, Sid, what is love? You all say when Shawney is not around how much you love her.
But when you are all together, like your Aunt, you look for ways to use and ridicule her openly.
True love is what Shawney did by taking her inheritance and distributing it to us all; that is how to demonstrate true love.
But since Joan feels it was Daniel doing that, our family got twenty-five per cent of the shares, you'd better think again.
I am returning all Shawney gave to us, so when you return home, you will have to find another means of living.
It times the sacrifice Shawney made to educate each of you, help you all to survive."
"But Dad, we will be on the street?"
"So, what's new, Julian? Because of your Mother, I was on the street when my brother picked me up and housed us.
Your mother's constant abuse of Shawney was unbearable, so Daniel told her to leave, and she was on the street.
Shawney took care of all of you, and none of you was grateful to her for the sacrifices she made.
It is overbearing, she has gone through enough because of all of your behaviour, my heart breaks to see the tears in Daniel's eyes and now in Shawney."
Hugging him, "I love you, Uncle, but please."
"No, Shawney, I am tired. I have spoken to them many times, but they have sticks stuck in their ears; now I am sure they will listen when they reach home."
"Uncle, there's no need for that."
"My child, you are too kindhearted, but they will never learn. You have learned to survive out in the world. Now they need to do the same. When I return home, I will instruct your lawyer."
"Uncle, that is not necessary. Maybe now that they have learned the truth, they will change. Please leave it as it is, I beg you."
"Okay, everyone, now that everyone has said their peace, it is late already, so let us eat. We have had enough talk," Robert responds, instructing everyone to take a seat
"Come, honey, when your Uncle Ken told me what you did, I was so proud of you, but tonight you made me prouder.
Your father would have been proud of what you did for your brothers and sisters.
Torren, I will be most honoured if you could stay for dinner and protect my niece."
Turning to Train, "Good to see you again, my friend, and thanks for your lovely gift."
"It was my pleasure."
Paula invites Train and Torren, seeing the hesitation, "Come join us, I was wondering who Robert would sit with, he feels these gatherings are boring and seeks ways to run away."
"Honey, Train invited all your family to dinner at his home on Wednesday. Will you find out who is staying so we can extend the invitation?
Now, my friend, we had no time last night to talk, but I heard you were travelling on the road for six months looking for."
Interrupting him, seeing that Torren was standing at his side, "Oh my friend, why linger in the past when there is so much in the present we could rejoice about."
"You are right, come and join me at the table, Torren, come on, sit with us, and where is Shawney? That child had worked hard the entire day helping with all these preparations.
Honey, come and enjoy your meal," noticing the others already eating.
All took their seat when Mitch came to the table, "I see it has a place here."
"I thought you and Nellie were going to join your cousins?"
"Yeah, she is enjoying their company and getting first-hand information, and Dad, I hope you don't mind, but I invited Joseph."
"Then you better get him a chair because here he comes."
"Thank God he came after Aunty Joan's show," Shawney said.
Putting the chair, "You mean she was doing that for a show?" Mitch queries.
"You haven't seen anything yet. She loves to be seen and heard, but Uncle's outburst might quiet her down a bit."
Mitch signals Joseph to come, "Come here, cousin boy, join us."
Joseph kissed Mom first, then Shawney, shaking the man's hand, then said, "What have I missed?"
"Nothing much, we now sit down," Mitch responds.
"Shawney, Mom, and Dad wanted to know if you would come over one evening for dinner?" Joseph inquired.
"I will have to see Joseph; the day flies so quickly, I hardly have time to volunteer at the clinic and help with the workload."
Noticing Torren's puzzled expression, Shawney said, "Uncle Robert will die cooking for this battalion, so I will stick around for a few days."