"I am fine, Sir," Shawney replies as they reach the ice cream parlour.
"Come, honey, you look very pretty."
Holding her hand, Shawney enters the parlour, hearing Mr MacCarry saying, "Go ahead, child, and take what you want; I am paying."
Watching how Shawney held Gretta up so she could select the cake, then the ice cream.
Train notice Carl smile as she carries Gretta.
When she returned, the smile was still there. 'He is so different from Jeff and Candis. Why is that?'
When the waitress brings the tray with her order. Carl said, "Thanks!" seeing two ice-creams and a cake for him and his Dad.
Observing how Shawney keep feeding Gretta her cake and ice cream, while she eats hers.
When the waitress returned with another tray, Shawney said, "Sir, I hope you don't mind, but I ordered one for Torren and Tray."
Hearing Gretta say, "I want more."
"You like cake, like your Daddy, honey?"
"Yep!"
"Okay, then eat this, and I will get another one for your brother," seeing that the waitress comes with the bill.
"Will you please add another slice of cake and ice cream in a cup to take away?"
When Shawney hugged Gretta, saying, "Sweetie, you are talking so much?"
When Gretta eats half of the cake, she leans back, seeing that it has been almost half an hour. Shawney said, "Sir, we should be returning."
Buckling up, Gretta, Shawney then sit next to her, "Are you happy now, princess?"
"Happy!"
"Now Aunty wants you to be a good girl for her."
"Me, good girl."
"Yes, you are." Carl said, " And Shawney, you get her to speak so clearly."
"Thanks, Carl, but our Angel is getting big and very smart!"
"Papa!"
"Yes, angel."
"Ride!"
"Yes, honey, we are going to meet your Daddy."
"Daddy cake?"
"You get your Daddy a cake?"
"No, mummy."
Hearing Shawney laugh, Carl looks at the review mirror, only to see her wipe the tears. Unable to figure out, 'If it was tears of joy, or of sadness.'
Glimpsing in his dad's direction, he was also brushing tears away. 'They were quite lost in their thoughts.'
Returning his gaze to the review mirror, Carl saw that Gretta was asleep.
At the clinic, Shawney opened the door and stepped out, saying, "Thanks, Sir, for the snack, and Carl, it was good seeing you again. Sir, it has a cake for Tray in that bag."
Seeing her take one bag with a cake and ice cream, and went, sitting on the bench. "Dad, I know you have high hopes for both of them. So please, be prepared just in case Shawney decides to go on the road."
"I know, Son, but I can hope; can't I?"
Seeing Torren walk out the door then went and sat next to her. "Dad, look at them both. She makes him feel special.
Talking about special, I should get Careen a dress for tomorrow."
"Son, that child is not expecting you to come home, so I am sure she already got herself one."
"I suppose you are right, but I should at least get her a gift."
"I am in no hurry, so why don't you check around while we wait on Torren?"
"You don't mind?"
"Son, when my children are happy, I am happy. Look at them, they are not busy, so go on."
"You are right." Watching him go, then look at Torren as he eats the cake and ice cream. "Lord, if only you could help them to see that they are meant for each other, but I know I must be patient.
Torren holds Shawney's hand, "Shawney, why can't you come with me?"
Stroking his hand, "I will come tomorrow, I promise you. Try to understand, Aunty Paula needs my help, and the family is returning home on Thursday afternoon after lunch. Torren, if I go with you now, what will the family say? You already heard how Aunty Joan was speaking, so please try to understand. I am just so glad I saw you today. I hope you know I miss you a lot, and look, Carl is back."
Standing up, still holding his hand, we walk to the van, "I will see you all tomorrow."
After Torren was seated, Shawney said, "Torren, that bag is for Tray, and give him my love," then she waved and walked away.
Torren looked at her go, feeling his heart shattering into small pieces. How could I be missing her so much? We will be together tomorrow.'
Pondering in his heart. 'Did she mean what she said? Because I miss her a lot myself.'
Closing his eyes as we drive home, 'Oh Lord, if I propose to her, will she accept?'
Rising early, Shawney fixed everyone breakfast, hoping to leave early, but a few times Shawney noticed how Aunty Joan kept peeping through the door.
Wondering what she was up to? When Aunty Paula entered the kitchen, Shawney immediately realised something was up, and Aunty Paula was their vessel to execute their plan. "Honey, we plan to go to the beach today."
"You all go ahead, Aunty, I already made my plan."
Paula held her hand, "Honey, today is your family's last day with us, tomorrow they are returning, please come with us."
"Aunty, I already made my plans. I don't like breaking them."
"Child, I need you with me; all of them will drive me crazy."
"Aunty, please, they are using you to disrupt my plan."
"Look, I know you made plans to go early with Mr MacCarty, but I promise we will return on time for you to reach early."
Feeling so weak, the way she keeps pleading, I give in, half eleven, all was seated in Mitch's bus, only Mitch wasn't around.