Torren raised his voice, "If I hear another word out of you, I won't be responsible for what I will do, so kindly let her hand go, and don't say another word about her."
"I am not afraid of you." Joan snapped, ignoring his warning.
"I can see that," Torren responds as he holds Shawney's hand.
Shawney didn't want him to get involved in any trouble, she pleaded, "Torren, please leave, and what are you doing here?"
Without blinking an eye, he said softly, "Dad came to extend a dinner invitation to the entire family."
"I don't think that's a good idea, "Shawney replied, wanting to avoid any conflict with his family and hers.
Overhearing her words, Joan retorts, "I told you she has no discipline. When the elders speak, she pushes her mouth."
Torren rage hit the top, "Dad was right, you are a very rowdy woman."
Without thinking who Torren was, speaking about, Joan butt in, "Who cares what your dad thinks, and what does your dad know about me?"
"Not much, I suppose, maybe it's the first impression he got from you, come Shawney." Holding her hand to leave.
"She is not going anywhere." Joan snapped, holding her hair to prevent her from leaving.
Shawney had no choice but to step back to prevent the stinging pain. As soon as Torren observed what she did, he lifted his hand about to strike Joan when she suddenly released her hold on Shawney's hair.
Shawney took the opportunity to step away and told Torren quietly, "Torren, let us get out of here."
Not wanting him to become angrier than he is, before he loses control of his temper, and it gets out of hand. When I heard his dad calling out to him, I heard Aunty Joan respond. "Mr MacCarty, nice to see you."
Unable to believe her own ears, how is that possible? Her tone of voice had changed, but he had already turned away.
Mitch notices as Mr MacCarty goes to Dad's side and extends the invitation. Feeling so hurt for the embarrassment Shawney had to undergo a minute ago. She knew that Aunty Joan would do that to her; that's why she wanted to leave.
Thank God Mr MacCarty's son intervenes, or Aunty would have lashed her.
Looking at Torren's face, seeing the rage as he tries to control it. Then at Shawney, wondering what Torren must be thinking about our family.
****
Torren felt her gentle strokes as he tried to calm his rage, as pain flooded through his mind. Looking at Shawney's face, understanding fully well what she must be feeling,
The tears bring back memories of how his stepmom used to abuse him. Only she used to abuse me when no one was around, but this humiliation is worse than what I had to endure.'
When the young man approached her Aunt and said, "Aunty Joan, release Shawney's hand, Torren look down, he didn't expect this hideous woman to still be so abrasive as to disregard his authority. Shawney, I am really sorry. If only I had listened to you, you wouldn't have to face this embarrassment."
"It's not your fault, Mitch, but I will be leaving with Torren."
"You are not going anywhere, you hear me, your brothers and sisters are here, don't you have any manners?"
"Aunt, I don't have anyone. You say my brothers and sisters, but which one came to my rescue, only this stranger.
I have given my life for all of them, and not one came to lift a finger to help me from your constant abuse."
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."
"Ken, 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.