Hearing him laugh, "You, my son, are thinking just like her family, underestimating her and being very delusional? You see, Jeff, when you drive a person over the edge. Decisions have to be made quickly, because a person is being put to the test. The anger and rage within that person give them the drive to survive, making them lash out for the sake of survival."
"But Dad, she is a missionary, she won't do that, she loves the Lord as you say."
"So tell me because I love the Lord? Must I lie down and play dead or even make people dig out my eyes? No, son, when it comes to survival, sometimes you have to forget about everyone around you at that moment. Only the will to live takes preeminence. I am sure if she had put them on the streets, she must be hurting more than they are, but she already made the change and cannot undo it. "
"But Dad, if she revokes the first will verbally, she could also do the same now?"
"That she could do, but then her family would think she is joking. They already take her for granted, and if she undoes what she did, she will never get the respect she deserves. What they won't be expecting is for her to pull the rug completely from under them."
"What do you mean, Dad?" Lasandra asks.
But then Jeff said, "You know, Dad, from what you are saying, you sound as though you are happy if she does that. " Jeff enquires.
"No son, I am not happy, but the same way they took her for granted, we sometimes also take God for granted. God gives us everything: health, wealth, education, family, and so many things we are unable to name or number, all wrapped up in the gift we call a blessing. And sometimes we don't pause for a minute to say how grateful we are; we complain and want more. I tell you all this, so you could understand the same situation her family may have faced, you too could be confronted with the same choices?"
"Dad, Torren, won't put us out on the streets," Jeff said, looking at Torren.
"But isn't it you, Jeff, who keeps thinking if he gets a wife she might put you out?"
"She might, Dad, but not Torren."
"But Son, he will listen to his wife."
"No, Dad, he won't, he loves us," Jeff repeats.
"I agree, but Shawney loves her family, and she was put in a position where she didn't think twice."
"I know, Dad, and I am sorry for thinking that if Torren gets a wife, we will all have to leave."
Hearing Lasandra clapping and laughing, "Come on, say it again, my husband ."
"No, I am not."
"You'd better do, because my bags are packed."
"Okay, so I was wrong for thinking like that, and I am sorry. I was selfish, but we don't know anything about her."
"We will never know everything about a person, Jeff, but Torren is your brother. Do you think he will get involved with someone if they will hurt his family?" Lasandra responds.
"Dad, I am really sorry, Torren. Please accept my apologies, I have hurt you. Let me make it up. I will go and search for Shawney and bring her back."
"That won't be necessary, Jeff. We are just friends, and she has her own problems to deal with."
'Knowing deep within it was becoming more painful as the days go by, not seeing her, but hearing them admit their faults was a relief.'
Wanting to know if his suspicion was right, Train looked at how he was suppressing his anger, then he left and went straight to his room. The calmness was unexplainable; it felt like a calm before the storm.
During the week, he proves me wrong, 'I could definitely see he is much better, not once has he neglected the children? Which was a good sign.'
The end of March flew by, and not a word came of Shawney. We all noticed how Torren would sit near the phone, as though expecting an important call, but no one had the guts to ask. In fact, everyone stayed out of his way, not wanting to irritate him.
The only thing they reminded him of was his clinic appointment, but he ignored them all as though they said nothing.
April came by with heavy showers, but nothing changed his routine; most of the time, it appears as though he has been doing a lot of thinking.
Sometimes when the others speak, it's like he hasn't heard a word, not a blink, nor a reaction to indicate he heard them.
The second week had been completed, and it had been a month since Shawney left. I heard nothing from her Uncle and cousin.
The third week in April arrived, and to my surprise, Torren was up early. He decided it was time to stop moping around or waiting for her to call. Torren dressed, not sure if he was ready to visit the factory, but he was going to take the first step after so many years.
Descending the stairs, Train notices the way Torren dresses and thinks, 'When he and Dalia were married, he used to dress the same way when he had to go to the factory.
Since his discharge from the hospital at the beginning of February, he has never visited the factory. Maybe he has decided to keep his appointment at the clinic. "Son, are you going somewhere this morning?" Train knew he always ignored anyone's questions. With hope in his heart, he still asked."
"Dad, I have decided it is time that I visit the factory. I need to see how things are running in the business."