Closing his eyes Torren whispered, "She is dad's friend but I am being drawn to her, why is that?"
Feeling confused when the thought crosses his mind. 'But he calls her child, just like Lasandra and Careen.
Could it be he invited her to come and visit knowing I was coming home? Is this his plan then if that is so, then he won't be angry if we become more than friends?'
Looking out over the open range as many questioned just flood through his mind.
Feeling everything jumbling up again, taking some deep breadths whispering "She might just be the rightest person, from my observation nothing seems to bother her.
Maybe she won't have a problem with Jeff and Candis, those two were the ones that made all the problems with Dalia.
Dalia was a bit stubborn answering them back putting me in a difficult position but, Shawney, something is completely different about her.
Whatever people say about her, she just ignores it and allows it to bounce off. Or is that because she doesn't want to disrespect her family.
And she doesn't rebel, but just supposed she can't handle the pressure with Candis and Jeff and behaves like Dalia?'
Confusions and frustration began overwhelming his heart 'Oh my God, I don't want to put her in a position like that?
She already has a family that treats her badly and humiliates her publicly, and knowing Jeff and Candis they won't hesitate to do the same.
I care for her too much to have her go through that drama. Pondering with all those questions in mind.
Unable to control his emotion being so distraughted, "Lord I know she was hurt when her Aunt abuses her in front of everyone, yet she ignores it and volunteers to assist her Uncle and Aunt.
She takes her responsibilities seriously and dear God you know my Father and my children love her a lot, and hearing Tray called her Mummy.
I know they have accepted her Lord, I like her a lot and I know she likes me, but will she accept my proposal of marriage?"
Lying on his back, trying to soak in the thoughts of her marrying him, then the thought of her rejecting his proposal?
Supposing I am taking her friendship to another level, which she is not serious about.
What her Aunt did to her didn't push her to make a harsh decision, even though she was hurt, when I ask her to leave with me she turned down my offer outright.
She put aside her own feeling and needs and think beyond her natural understanding.
She enjoys her independence and that what I respect about her, she never allowing anyone to control her thinking.
An hour must have gone before Torren decided to return to the house, getting no closer to an answer, concluding in his mind.
'if I continue to think about this it will drive me once more out of my mind. I will just ask her, but I will do it when she is alone and in a secluded place.
Besides, I don't know if my family is ready to accept me beings remarried. Recalling the way they were looking at her when Tray called her Mummy.'
Scratching his head, "I am getting confused by the minute," taking a few deep breaths once more, "Lord you will show me what to do?
I don't want my children to go through what I went through, I like Shawney, but I know my children come first, I beg you to help me."
Opening the back door hearing loud-speaking wondering who was it and what was going on?' Getting closer to the lounge recognizing Dalia's parents' voice. 'Why are they here?'
Listening to the conversation trying to come to some clarity, and why they were so angry?'
When Dad's voice rings out, "Two years you all never taken time to visit your grandchildren, and suddenly you feel you have rights?"
"Train we are worried, Dalia told us what Torren went through with his stepmother, we don't want if Torren get involve with someone these children may have to endure the same ill-treatment.
We are concern so don't try to take us out to be the bad one here."
"For your information, Torren has no plans of getting married."
"That's not what we heard."
"And what have you heard?"
"If the truth be told we heard some of the members of the family want to convince Torren to marry your guest that has been here."
"Well Gus, I really don't care what you heard, and who relates this information to you?
As long as my grandchildren are happy and Torren is happy , the family, the village the city could say what they want I don't care.
I don't have to answer to you, or my children. in fact when I hear which one of them, transfers that news to you? they will have to get another mailing address.
Now if you have any other concerns about my grandchildren, don't be, you never took any part in their up-bring so please spear me your concerns.
I love my grand, do you think I will let some fly by night woman comes to disrupt their life, get real."
Stepping through the lounge room, "Dad is everything alright, I heard loud-speaking?"
"Everything is fine Son."
Looking at the Collins, "Is something bothering you all?"
"Yes Torren, my grandchildren welfare."
"Nothing is wrong with the welfare of my children, in fact, my children are happy, what I want to know is why the concern now, when I was unaware of my children, you never were a bit concern; so why now?"
"They are our grandchildren."
Hearing him laugh Train looks at him, he is taking control of his anger, when he did speaks it was calm and in a collective tone.
"Mom, Dad they were always your grandchildren, but you all never care to come and visit them, neither take them for a weekend.
No one-stop you when I had completely forgotten them, you should have come and take them and ensured that they were well taken care of, but they don't know of your existence."