Taking the form, Train sits by the table and reads it through. Returning the form, Train stood aside awaiting her response, asking himself, 'How can she conduct a business wearing such disgusting clothes?'
He felt disgusted in his heart just looking at her appearance, but he didn't want this opportunity to slip through his fingers.
Coming back to the present, when he heard her baritone voice, "Sir, you didn't state how long you will be staying?"
Turning around, Train avoided looking at the child's aunt and said, "Ma'am, I can't say for definite, it will depend on how long my business takes in this village." Joan was pleased with his answer and smiled. All that was on her mind was the dollar sign.
Reaching out his hand, Train took the keys from the child's aunt's outstretched hand. Hearing her baritone voice saying, "follow me."
Being led through the huge iron gate through which the child had entered, Train followed obediently after the child's Aunt. Seeing the room number twenty carved big and bold on the door.
The aunt stopped in front of the door and said, "Here we are. If you need anything, you can just call or inform the front desk."
Train smiled and said, "Thank you, Ma'am." Watching her left, Train then focused his attention towards the huge building and the surroundings.
Thinking, 'This child doesn't seem to know how good a business this is. Now, that Aunt at the front is an automatic turn-off.'
Entering the room, Train's concerns for the child's distraught appearance when she left flashed through his thoughts. " Why do I sense deep within my heart that all of this business doesn't seem to be of any importance to her?'
Opening the window, Train only overheard a soothing voice. "Shawney, honey, your father became very ill these last few months. Honey, we had no idea where you were and how to reach you or to get in contact with you."
Ken saw the tears flowing down her face, unable to bear to see her hurting and in so much pain.
He reached out and hugged her. Ken heard her moan as she sniffled. Feeling the hot tears soaking his jersey. Ken gently stroked her head and back, trying his utmost best to comfort her. "Honey, if I only had the slightest inkling that you were coming today. I would have kept his body an extra day."
Train knew eavesdropping was improper, but his heart melted, knowing from her cry that she was receiving some horrible news.
As the cry grew slightly louder, Train heard the person comforting her saying, "Shawney, your Aunt insisted that the burial be done early."
Being stunned by this news, Train couldn't believe his ears, muttering to himself, "Goodness, gracious Lord, did her father die? Oh my goodness, this is definitely not good."
Not long after, he heard hurried footsteps entering the room. 'It seems her loud cry had alerted the other family members.'
The gentle voice that was comforting her said to her. "Here come your brothers and sisters, Shawney, they missed you so much."
Train strains his ear to hear them comforting her, but instead they spoke to her harshly, 'Not one of them said welcome home, or I miss you, Shawney.'
When one said in a sort of bossy voice, "Shawney, do you know how much work we have to do in this place? We have to attend to the cleaning and maintenance of this big house, plus the family's new business. If only you were here, it would have been so much easier."
Train did not hear a whisper from her, then the grouchy Aunt grunted out as she got closer to the group.
"I see you have finally decided to return home, Shawney. I hope you know that because you neglected your father, he died of grief and heartbrokenness."
Ken was aggrieved by her outburst. he gritted his teeth and snapped loudly, "Joan, for God's sake, stop that this instant, the child has just reached home. And can't you see how heartbroken she is? And you already started on her case."
Shawney knew her aunt was right, with her head slightly bent, "Aunty Joan is right, Uncle Ken. When Meg, Linsey, Curtis, and Sid got married. I neglected my duty to take care of Dad."
After hearing the conversation for a while, Train thought, 'Is this child the eldest, so why didn't she get married?'
When some others joined the group, Train heard the girl's unhurried words, but it didn't seem to have any feeling. "So, Shawney, I see you finally decided to return home?"
Then another butin in a bossy male voice said. "To tell the truth, Shawney, I thought you would never return. But you must have heard Uncle Daniel died and come to see what you could get. But if you recall, before you went away. I used to tell you that life outside of the village is no bed of roses. Well, it doesn't matter anymore. Now you have finally returned to your senses!"
"That is enough, you two." Ken snaps at his two children, becoming angry for their indecent behaviour.
"Dad!" Julien grumbles. "You always take sides for Shawney. Seeing that she has returned home. I am very glad now she could fall back on all her duties, taking care of the family and now that we have the business."
Julien notices how his mom glares at him as though no one is allowed to run the business.
When Shawney said, "Sorry, Julien, I am no longer anyone's caretaker or servant. I just stopped by for a few days, wanting to discuss something important with Dad. Seeing that he is no longer with us, I will be leaving very soon."
Hearing her words, Ken was aggrieved, "Honey, please ignore all of them. I am glad to see you return home. When your dad died, my main concern was how I could get in contact with you. Honey, your father's will will be read tomorrow. Now go and take a good rest. You look tired, and in the morning, when the lawyer comes, we will know his decision."