Tray was awake when I put him on the trolley and the bag. Overhearing a gentleman, saying to Dad, "You are right, Sir, someone else might have handed over their child, so please let me assist you with your bag; it looks a bit heavy as you hold the child."
"I am fine, thanks, and as you can see, my son is here already; we will be okay now."
As Torren was about to take up his luggage, the gentleman approached him and said, "Let me assist you by holding your handbag as you load the luggage?"
Looking the gentleman over before saying, "No thanks," Torren observed how he just stood there looking at us. Knowing his intention immediately wasn't good?
After Dad turned him down, maybe he thought my bag had something of great importance. When he came and offered to assist me, I called out, "Come on, Dad, let us go."
Feeling as though the person was still glaring at him, Torren turned back. Just as he thought, the gentleman stood with a frown, glaring at us. 'Whatever his intentions are, I am sorry, but it flops. Dad was right, there are so many scammers, and we haven't reached the village yet.'
Torren smiled and waved to the gentleman, a sort of victory playing on his lip. Then he returned, his full attention to Tray, who was the happiest as I pushed him along. Gretta was still asleep with Dad holding her.
Sitting in the taxi, taking Gretta in my arms as Tray sits next to me. Dad sat in the front seat.
We sat in the taxi for more than two hours. Thinking 'how long again before he sees Shawney?' Being anxious, knowing that since she left on Sunday night, he hasn't gotten a good night's rest.
With the fire in the factory, and then missing the flight. The note she left was not clear about her intentions. Also, the children were constantly misbehaving because they missed her. And adding to the fuel, hearing that Travis and Candis got separated. Sleep was far from my mind. I was angry with myself for being the bearer of bad news.
When Lasandra and Careen said, "It was better this way, before they have any children in the midst to suffer." I relaxed and accepted their encouraging words, knowing they communicated with Candis frequently.
Returning my attention to what dad was telling the driver right before we stopped to get a bite around three. "When you reach the next town, anywhere you see a guesthouse or hotel, stop."
"Sir, I don't mind taking you to the village?"
"Thank you, but my children are tired and need to get a good night's rest."
Reaching the hotel after five, reading the name Farmer's Hotel. "Dad, is this hotel for farmers alone?"
When the taxi driver laughed, saying, "The owner's name is Mr Oliver Farmer," Torren's concern was eased, thinking they would have to seek out other accommodation
With Dad making all the arrangements, when the taxi driver set my luggage down, Dad paid him, saying. "Thanks, and if you can be here by seven in the morning, we will appreciate that very much. We could continue our journey, and if not, I will understand, but there is no need to worry if you cannot return, we will find another means of transportation."
Seeing him nod, then left, Dad had taken a large room with two big beds, and he also ordered dinner to be sent up after thirty minutes.
Hearing Gretta begin crying, "Come on, honey, my baby is tired and hungry, and missing mummy. Tomorrow we will see your mummy, so let us go up and take a nice bath, then eat some foodie."
When the bell boy escorts us to our room, Torren asks him, "If it is possible to get a kettle and a few teabags."
"Yes, Sir, I will arrange it to be sent with your dinner.
By the time Torren finished bathing and changing the children into their PJs, Dad followed suit and took his bath. He looks so tired and worn out, and so was I, but the children need to eat.
Liz had ensured they had a few suits each, and she also packed each feeding for Gretta's tea.
I was just about to take my bath when our dinner arrived in the trolley. It had another tray with the kettle and some tea bags. A small bottle of coffee and a small carton of milk. Torren felt satisfied thinking, 'This is excellent, I could do with some hot tea myself.'
Hurrying, he took his bath. By the time he changed and came out of the bathroom, Dad was already feeding Gretta and Tray, as they ate slowly.
Helping him with Gretta, then dad and I eat, as I put Tray in my bed and dad took Greta to his bed.
When the waiter came to clear away the trolley, Dad placed our breakfast order for half six and also made a special order to take with us on our journey, so we won't have to stop for lunch.
Hearing dad say after the waiter leaves, "To remove all Gretta and Tray's dirty clothes from the bag and place them in the suitcase.
And take out what they will need for the morning, and son, sterilise her bottle so we won't be late in the morning."
Lying on the bed thinking, 'Thank God dad came, I would have been lost trying to find my way around. Looking across his Dad's bed, seeing he was still awake, "Dad!"
"Yes, Son."
"Dad, I want to thank you for coming with me. I didn't think this journey would be this difficult."
"Torren, how could I let you travel alone with these two children? They are my life. Up to this day, I never forgiven myself for what Nancy did to you."
"But Dad, weren't you afraid that Shawney would do the same to these two children?"
"No son, not after the way I see how her family treated her, she knows what it feels like to be ridiculed and embarrassed. Son, that child understood how it feels to be pushed to the limit and lose control. Do you think she will let these innocent children go through that? I won't believe that, not after how she took care of Careen and baby Christopher. Only a person with love will go that extra mile."