Seeing how she turned her back, Torren asked, "Are you disappointed in me, Shawney?"
Hugging her from the back, he said, "Please be patient with me. I promise you, very soon I will take you out for an exotic dinner."
When she spoke, her voice was slightly hoarse as though she was crying, "But you don't seem to understand Torren, today is Valentine's Day!"
Feeling hurt for rejecting her, he was so scared that he might panic and become violent, "I know, but I can't go out tonight, I am not ready, I might become angry and embarrass you."
Shawney wasn't willing to give up her night to sit indoors. "Then if you don't want to go, I will find someone who will. I hate staying indoors. I feel stifled and boxed in."
Train heard her outburst and volunteered himself, "Then my friend, how about you and I have dinner tonight?"
Turning to the sound of Mr MacCarty's voice, as he continued to say, "You are an evil and wicked girl."
Her happy chuckle attracted Torren's attention, especially when she said, "I am, but you know, I hate when people deceive me."
Train ignores her words and responds accordingly, "I know, but I am so glad you came to visit. How about we go riding first, and then we can make any other plans you have in mind?"
Torren never took his eyes off her, and his dad seemed very happy. Her tone of voice was energetic once again, and she seemed to have an excitement that was bubbling, "You didn't ask if I could ride a horse, or are we going in your van?"
Train didn't care which she'd choose, "Tell me which you prefer?"
Glancing in Torren's direction to see his reaction, before she answered, "First things first, I need a dinner date for tonight? As you know, it's Valentine's Day, so I need a Valentine partner"
Torren gazed drop on his father's face, knowing he had never mingled with women since Nancy left, "Then you got one, but that dress won't do." Shocked by his words, Torren just stood as though he were a statue.
Train, couldn't help, he looked at how she was admiring herself, as though her worn-out clothes didn't bother her. "Oh, I can transform when I want to. And I am sure this huge house has something beautiful to fit me?"
"Haven't you walked with any clothes?" Train asks, unable to believe that she was going to dinner with that ugly-looking dress.
Shawney looked at his reaction, reading him loud and clear, "You know when I am travelling, Sir, I only walk with the gifts I collect from friends."
"Okay, okay, never mind about that, I will get you a dress, and you can keep it in your bag always, just like your bag of gifts. Now, just give me a minute, then we can go riding."
Torren observed how she looked pleased when Dad said yes, as he walked towards the house. 'I know she was beginning to get angry when I turned down her invitation.
But why is she so persistent about dining out?' Watching her now, she looks happy when she laughs; it lights up her face.
Standing beside Shawney, Torren was curious to know where she was going for dinner. "So tell me, where will you be dining tonight?"
Torren held her shoulder, considering her eyes for a minute. The peach blossom eyes were dazzling, and it looked so beautiful, lost in it for a moment as the thought crossed his mind.
'Why would she consider me to be her valentine. Me, oh God, she wants me to be her Valentine.'
When she did speak, saying, "The king's Palace." Torren steps back, looking at her in shock, saying to her, "Shawney, that restaurant is very expensive and is booked up for occasions such as these."
Expecting her to back off, but instead, she snuggled up to him and answered with vigour, "I know, that's why when I came Tuesday, it was the first thing I did."
Bewilderment struck his heart, knowing from previous occasions that she couldn't get a reservation at such notice. "Have you been to San Francisco before, Shawney?"
"No, it's my first time, but you know me, always talking and laughing, so I asked a few friends to make suggestions, and when I went to the Palace, I was successful."
Hearing him laugh sounds wonderful. Feeling like dancing with him, Shawney held his hand and placed it on her waist. As she held the other and rested it on his shoulder.
Torren was baffled and asked, "What are you doing, Shawney?"
Hearing her humming, "It love, it's love, it's love that makes the world go round.." As she turned with him, they were dancing and laughing.
Enjoy being with her, as the many questions flood his mind, without thinking twice, he asks.
"Miss Wayman, explain to me how you were expecting to get a partner to dine with you?"
Torren thought, 'If it's her first time here in San Francisco, where did she get friends from? Today, trustworthy friends are not easy to come by, or did they try to set her up knowing that's one of the most high-end restaurants?'
Shawney didn't want to spoil the peaceful moment, so she continued to dance. When she responded, "I knew your Dad would be home soon, so I trusted my instinct when I made the reservation."
Noticing how her eyes were sparkling, 'She has such confidence in herself. So why am I not like that?'
Smiling with her as she strokes my face, "Why did you invite me to be your Valentine Partner, if you had Dad in mind?"