"I didn't say anything, Mom who decides to have the dinner? I just thought about inviting Mitch and Uncle Robert, so I asked Mom to send an invitation.
I told Torren nothing asks him? And if you had said yes to marrying me, no one would have known."
Seeing Torren look at him, "I am sorry buddy, she is very beautiful, but she turns me down outright saying she considers me as a brother."
Noticing him close his eyes, going on her knees stroking his face; seeing Mr. Mac Carty hands clasp together pleading to me for a yes.
"Okay Torren, I will but no one other than us here must know." Seeing the nodded, "Then let us get married."
"Judge Harvey, will you do the honors of marrying my children?"
"Grandpa, you are a judge?"
"Yes, child."
"Did you plan this?"
Hearing him laugh, "Child I hadn't the faintest idea you knew my children? I told you I was going to my son, and you agreed to ride with us.
When we reach here you were sleeping, so when my grandson came to assist with our bags seeing you he said nothing;
He only said, he will take you to the guest room. Now that, that is settle, do you still want to get married?"
"Okay, go ahead, Aunty Paula will you please be my witness?"
Seeing the tears, "Oh, honey I will gladly be your witness."
"No prompting to anyone right?" Shawney speaks facing everyone
"Not a whisper to anyone." They all promise.
Dinner was quiet everyone seems to be thinking, but all I was thinking was, I had missed him so much and his father gets his wish.
But when his family hears about our marriage what will happen? Well, we have to deal with that when we come to that bridge?
I was afraid he might be afraid of what I did to my family, but he was ready to proclaim his love and accept me without any hesitation?'
Looking around they were concentrating on their meal when I said, "Okay, we are not at a funeral?"
But that still didn't help, when they all finish eating, I ask excuse and went to Aunty Ruby. "Can I get the desert, we should be celebrating, but everyone behaving as though they lost someone?"
When Aunty Ruby said, "Okay, you can go and bring the whole cake from the kitchen."
Looking at her go thinking, 'The way Joseph was constantly speaking about her, I so wanted to meet her.
But when did he asked her to marry him? And how come she chose to accept this young man over her son.
Looking at Torren. as he sit quietly as Shawney held Joseph's hand as they went to the kitchen
"Shawney, I am sorry for plotting with Mitch, but you were hurting and as you see Torren was hurting also?"
"Aye, I wanted to thank you, I now realize the real culprit is the big man up there? I ask him before I started to fast last week, to decide where I should go next.
So He is responsible for me being here. So no heart feeling right, we are still friends?"
"Of course." Giving Joseph the cake, and I take the plates, spoons, and ice-cream as we went to the back porch, where everyone was relaxing.
The remaining evening was very nice, the family seems to accept what happen.
But Mr. Mac Carty was always smiling, I can't imagine what must be going through his mind, but he sure was having happy thoughts.'
Driving home feeling the heavy burden lifted off his shoulder, as the joy fills his heart.
Reaching home Jeff was sitting in the living room watching the ten-o-clock news. he stood up when Shawney walks in behind Torren.
Train just heard her said, "Good night," and went straight up to the room.
Torren just said, "Good night" and followed her but went to his room.
"Dad, what's going on? Where did you find Shawney?"
"She was visiting Joseph."
"Is she angry with Torren?"
"They will be alright, go to bed."
In the room Shawney takes a bath, thinking, 'I cannot go on the road now, things are different. I had my plans but that didn't seem to be working out?
I tried to get away, but You brought me right back, was this your plan, bring me straight from Chicago with a judge to marry me?
Joseph was right, when he said I was shrewd, but you are shrewder do You know that?
Well if I haven't told you thanks before, I really must say a special thank you, You understood how I felt about him, but these walls have separated us.
I must find a way to be with him without being seen, he has been hurting for so long and needs to be comforted.
He also needs to understand that You have been with him all this time. I am glad that You heard his prayer, bless us, and make him well," changing, Shawney then went to bed.
Sitting on his bed, 'I am married once more, but she asked that no one know? I need her with me to help me, so I won't hear those voices any longer.
But for that to happen she has to come through the door, and I know all eyes will be looking at us more closely now.
I will just need to be patient, I know what Jeff had said when she left, but was it because he didn't expect her to return?
Shawney is right we must keep this marriage a secret, until the family accepts her.
Lying on the bed at least she is here in the house, I can see her, hear her talking and laughing with me, she still needs time to fall in love with me?
Torren ponders within his heart, recalling her hesitation the night we got married.
'I realized then that she hasn't fully fallen in love with me, the way I am in love with her. But with the way she always stroking my face?
I know she cares a lot about me and in due time that will grow into love.