"I know that," feeling her gentle stroking, Torren relax and smile seeing the way she was smiling was very comforting.
Thinking, 'Carl is very lucky to have a wonderful wife like Careen.' Patting her hand to reassure her that he will be fine.
Hearing the clapping, Torren, return his attention to the stage, only to see a band setting up to perform.
Thinking, 'I hope they won't take long, I am feeling a bit hungry now.'
When Lasandra said, "It looks as though the program is done, and they are going to serve dinner now."
Glimpsing Shawney as she returns to her table with a tray holding some plates. When Lasandra holds dad hand, hearing her says in a whisper, "Dad, Shawney is coming."
Train smile, seeing her bend and kiss them then said, "Sir, can I steal Torren from you to sit at my table?"
"It leaves up to Torren, Shawney."
Seeing the smile, "You all won't mind if I go?"Torren asks.
"You go and enjoy yourself Torren, we will be fine," Careen said.
"Thank you," watching him go with Shawney and how happy he was like a little child getting a special prize.
"Dad, I see you are happy just like Torren" Careen whispers.
"Oh, my child, I wish he will remain this happy, it seems he is not having a problem mingling among the crowd, and Shawney is good for him.
You both should have seen them for Valentine's day, he was so scared thinking she didn't have money to pay for the meal.
So he only orders shepherd pie and pepper shrimp. He slips me five hundred to put in her purse, boy that was a joke.
When she came and see what he orders, she asks for his plate and starts putting half of her order on his plate, then after dinner, they went and dance he was never so happy.
Then those fools had to show up and spoil the evening. I only hope there's nothing to spoil this evening."
"Repeat what you just said, dad?" Lasandra replies.
"Why do you say that child?"
"Look what just fall in on the food line."
"Good Lord, where do these people surface from?"
"Well we better get in the line before it lengthens," Careen said.
A few minutes after getting on the line Mr. Collin came to dad, "Mr. Mac Carty I see you and the girls are here?"
"Yes, you know my girls are always with me, and Robert and I have been friends for over half a century."
"Dad what would you like to have?" Careen asks.
"A little of everything child."
"So, tell me, aren't the boys here?"
"Dad, why don't you get the drinks, the line is short, and we will fix a plate for you?" Careen suggested.
"Thanks, child, that sounds like a great idea, will you excuse me Collin, my children are hungry and tired."
Waiting until Train left, then Mr. Collins asks, "So how are my grandchildren doing?"
"They are the happiest, they cling on to their dad now," Lasandra responds.
"So, he accepts them?"
"Uncle, Torren had no memory of them, with everything that has happened to him he had completely forgotten about them.
When he was told about them, he accepts them and now he attends to them, everything is okay now,"
Lasandra replies feeling angry with their questions and inquisitiveness.
When she said, "Careen you are the smartest, Dad is almost done, and we are about to be served, look at the line now?
Thank God when we send Dad, if we were all here then we would have to wait in that long line."
Hearing Mrs. Collin saying to her husband, "Why don't you go and join the line before it becomes more lengthily."
When he left, Lasandra exhales, and Careen whisper, "Thank you, Lord."
****
When Torren completed his dinner and Shawney said she had to do something, Doctor Joseph said he has to work in the morning.
Asking excuse Torren went to look for his dad and the two ladies. Not seeing them anywhere around when Doctor Joseph came out of the auditorium.
When he offers me a ride home, I accepted it thinking dad and the ladies had left earlier. "Thanks, Doctor Joseph.
"Torren, I haven't seen you this week by the clinic, are you feeling much better?"
'Yes, I am fine, I will see you when I have my clinic appointment."
"Okay, then take care of yourself."
"I will and thanks for the ride home."
Walking to the garage, thinking they were already home, but dad van wasn't in the garage. 'I didn't seen his van in the parking lot either so I thought they left. I only hope they are okay?'
Ringing the bell seeing the front door and garage door lock, when Clyde opens the door, "Sir is everything alright?"
"Yes Clyde, I thought Dad had left the function, so I got a ride home."
Reaching his room, Torren heard the van drive up, locking the door then stood by the window.
Thinking, 'Shawney looked so beautiful tonight in that pink flowered dress.
It was simple but she looks alluring and she didn't ignore me, and she was very brave to stand up in front all those people and pray.'
Hearing that the Doctor was an invited guest, in-fact he didn't mind I sharing the table with them;
I made sure not to embarrass her knowing she asked for me to join them, and I didn't embarrass my family either.
The crowd didn't bother me a bit tonight, why is that? Before if there were more than twenty people in a room I used to feel stifled.
Recalling, the crowd didn't bother him either when he was invited to the valentine's dinner.
Shawney said I am getting better, maybe she is right, if that is true Lord, and I am really getting better, or is it when I am around Shawney I don't feel confused and stifle?'
Placing the Suit in a rack then hang it by the window, feeling so relieved and relaxed.