She gasped and said, “There are also Indian children here?”
He nodded. “Of course. There are all races here. Children who lost their parents during raids in their villages or train raids by outlaws are here, too.”
Annie heard them and came out of the classroom.
“It’s so nice to see you looking so fresh and lovely,” Annie told Olivia with a beatific smile on her face.
Lowering her head as a blush covered her face, Olivia replied, “Thank you.”
“Are you here to take the job?” Annie asked with a hopeful voice.
Adam shook his head and quickly said, “She’s just here to look around before making a decision.”
Annie opened her mouth to say something, then she shook her head and smiled. “I think that’s a great idea. I’ll show you around.”
“What about your class?” Olivia questioned, nodding toward the children.
“I was already done with their lesson. Just give me a minute to pray with them and we’ll go.”
Adam rolled his eyes, hoping none of them saw it. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Olivia watch the children with fascination as Annie led them in a simple prayer. He could tell that Olivia was impressed because prayers were attached to lessons there.
Annie came out and gave them a tour of the place, waddling because of her protruding stomach. Adam’s throat moved up and down as he swallowed thickly.
He never failed to remember his parents whenever he visited the orphanage to see Annie for one thing or the other that couldn’t wait until he got home.
Sometimes, he visited with gifts for the children. The children’s ages ranged from five to fifteen years which touched him because he had lost his parents when he was fourteen. At least, he had been older and had them for fourteen years.
Adam could see that Olivia was also affected by the state of the children. Her face had turned pale and her lips wobbled now and again. They went to the crowded hall where the children slept with pallets on the ground.
They walked to the refectory where the children ate, which was connected to the kitchen. They exchanged greetings with the cook standing over a huge pot on a wood stove while a young girl helped her peel potatoes on the bare floor.
They also visited a room for sick children. About a dozen thin pallets were spread across the large room spotting only a small window that let sunlight into the room.
A table with a jug of water and small bottles of medicine occupied one side of the room. A woman seated at the table rose as soon as Adam and Olivia entered the room.
Olivia’s eyes watered when she saw the bony children lying on the pallet, covered by thin, threadbare blankets. Adam quickly reached into his coat and offered her his handkerchief.
She gave the only child awake the flower Adam had placed in her hair.
Quickly she turned and left the room, almost colliding with a child outside the door.
“You’re beautiful,” the small girl told her and hugged her before running down the hallway.
Olivia could hardly contain her tears after that. Guilt stole up to Adam’s chest for bringing her there. He should have simply respected her wishes. He hated seeing her in tears.
He took her hand and led her outside to the pavement. She kept on dabbing at her eyes with his handkerchief, avoiding his gaze.
“I’m sorry,” he said with heartfelt emotion.
“Why are you sorry?”
“For bringing you here against your wish. For making you so emotional.”
His eyes enlarged in bewilderment when she burst into laughter.
“I would have been very angry later if you had chosen not to coerce me into coming here,” she told him with a bright smile. “Thank you for making me come here. I needed to see the children to remind me of what it means to be an orphan.”
A hand squeezed Adam’s chest.
