Afraid of what his Mom might do, Julien speaks up quickly, "Just remember what Sid told us by the beach? So watch your mouth, Mom?"
Ignoring his warning, Joan growls out impatiently, "She and her treats, as if I am afraid of it."
"Yes, Mom, but she keeps hers today," Shantel whispers to her mother.
"Which I promise she will live to regret it."
"You were the wrong one, Mom?" Julien said, "So stop before you regret it."
"I am her elder, and she is undisciplined. She has been spending her time ignoring the family. I need to teach her some manners."
Joan had just finished speaking when Shawney came, "Uncle Ken, would you like a dessert?" Shawney asks, bending a bit, for him to observe the items on the tray.
"Shawney, my child, I am full, but I will only take the cocktail."
"Aunty, would you like anything?" when she takes a plate with pastries.
Julien stood up, "Let me take that tray, Shawney, you look tired."
But before he took a step, Shawney felt the fierce pain in her knee, causing her to stumble and lose her balance, which in turn caused the tray to fall on her, making a total mess of her beautiful gown and the floor.
Meg, Sid Curtis, and Linsey came to her aid, all of them looked at their Aunt but said nothing.
The clattering sound brought a sudden silence, which drew the attention of the crowd. Train and Torren rushed to see what was happening. Shifting the crowd aside, only to hear Shawney saying, "I am sorry, everyone, just give me a minute and I will clean it up."
But the stabbing pain in her knee was unbearable, thinking that this was her aunt's taking revenge for today's incident.
Determine in her heart that she won't give her the satisfaction. Holding the chair, only to feel a strong hand lift her off the floor.
"What is wrong?" But what he saw at that moment caused him not to hesitate but continue holding her and walk up the stairs to her room. "I will send Liz to assist you."
"Don't bother, Torren, and I am very sorry for the mess I caused. Just give me a few minutes, and I will feel better."
"Shawney, tell me what happened?" Torren enquired, wanting to know exactly what caused her to fall.
"I had forgotten to eat earlier, and I felt dizzy and misbalanced. When I fell, my knee hit the chair."
"Okay, clean yourself up, and let me get you something to wear. As you can see, this dress is soiled."
Hurrying to his room, his mind working like clockwork, as he opened the wardrobe with Dalia's dresses. He shifted aside Dahalia's beautiful gowns when he caught sight of the emerald dress.
His mind quickly went back to when he had brought the gown for Dhalia. It was our anniversary, but when she tried it on, it was a bit too tight. Only to learn two days later that she was pregnant with my little angel, Gretta.
Quickly selecting it, he knew it was the exact colour and almost the same design she had been wearing earlier. 'Everyone will think it's the same dress.
No one had seen Dahalia with it. I know it will fit Shawney perfectly, and the same jewellery will work.'
Entering the room with the dress for Shawney, I heard the water running. I rested the dress on the bed and returned to my room to change into my suit, which was soiled with ice cream and a cocktail.
Putting on a white suit, then walking down the stairs, Torren noticed that the floor was clean where the desert was spilt.
Taking a plate, he recalled the menu she had ordered at the restaurant and selected the same for her, then took it up to the room.
She was already dressed, and she looked even more beautiful. Being alone with her, I should seize this opportunity and propose?
But the closer he got to her, he could see she was in immense pain, although she wasn't saying anything.
Sitting on the bed next to her. "Here, eat this, then we will go downstairs."
"You go ahead, Torren. I will come in a while." Watching her for a moment, seeing that she held the foot.
He knew immediately it was not the right time; she was hurting from the fall and the embarrassment. Under these circumstances, she might reject me outright. I have to choose a happy moment to make my proposal.'
Standing up, saying, "You eat, and I am going downstairs to send up Liz with something for you to drink."
"Torren, thank you so much."
Seeing the nod, he walks away, pulling the door behind him half-close.
Holding the bed head, rail to stand up, the dress was covering the wound, but the dress was rubbing on the wound. Having to hold up the dress a bit so the blood won't soil it.
As the tears seep through the eyelids, the pain was so intense, and she could barely walk.
"Why did Aunty have to be so wicked and kick me? Now I cannot walk, so how will I return downstairs? The only solution is using painkillers, but who will I get to help me?'
Turning when Liz said, "Let me check that foot, then I will get you some?" Hesitating not, she raised the dress slightly higher for Liz to examine the wound. Thanking the Lord for sending help so quickly.
Hearing Liz say, "Try to eat a little, and I will be back in a few minutes with something to apply to your knee, and a few pain tablets?" Liz hurried out of the room.