"Leo, bring the others, food is ready!" Ina shouted turning back and entering the home.
Leo, hearing his sister's shout, gathered the orphan kids, "You know the rules, whoever reaches the house is the winner!" Leo had the goofiest grin fitting of a child of his age.
The others nodded in agreement. Soon counting to 3 they rushed forward,
Leo was in the first place others just behind him.
As he was about to win the race, he looked back at them to show his smiling grin.
His eyes darted over everyone, slowly landing on the kid at the far back.
Her clothes and face were covered in dust, making it clear she had fallen.
Seeing her for a while Leo stopped right in his tracks watching carefully of the kid.
She was sitting on the ground holding her leg, not trying to get up.
Leo forgot about the race entirely. He didn't care who won, or who ate everything.
He calmly walked to the kid, "Hey... Did you get hurt?"
Leo sat next to the girl, there weren't any visual injuries but the look of her tears ready to fall, Leo understood she was hurt.
Leo picked her and carried her since all the kids just recently started to have a decent meal thanks to his family she was quite light.
The girl didn't dare to speak, only having a bright red blush.
Leo entered the house carrying her towards his mother.
"Mom, I think she is hurt can you check on her?"
Natalie was shocked by the appearance of her youngest child carrying a girl in his arms but after hearing her child explain she quickly grabbed sister Anna.
The nun checking her condition patted Leo, "Thank you for helping her you should go and eat also."
Hearing that praise Leo happily went downstairs to eat lunch.
Sister looked at Natalie, "If I'm not rude could you let this child stay here?, it seems like she has sprained her ankles, having a fever how red her face is."
Natalie nodded, "It's not a problem, I'll bring some soup for her."
Sister Anna let out a soft exhale, "Thank you for yet again helping us."
Natalie smiled at the nun before her, "No need to mention it. It was all thanks to my eldest son. Plus it is thanks to you and those children we have enough resources to feed them."
Sister Anna blushing slightly asked, "When will Sam come back?"
Natalie shook her head, "He sent a letter saying he isn't sure himself." Natalie did not let the nun's emotional slip go unnoticed. "By the way what do you think of Sam?"
Hearing her question she was momentarily stunned, "I...umm... I think he is a good person... Yes that's what I think."
Natalie smiled to herself. Her hunch had been correct, yet again.
Meanwhile downstairs everyone was eating quietly.
This was a house rule that even the church kids followed.
Ina after finished eating put her hands on Leo lowering her head to whisper into his ear, "if you arrived first I would have given you light smacking."
A cold sweat pouring down his back, the light smack was no different than having a death wish.
One time when she said light smack, he was unable to get up from his bed for 4 days.
Leo scared of his mind gave a nod.
Seeing that Ina smiled, as she went to the kitchen grabbing a bowl of soup entering upstairs.
"Mom, sister Anna I brought soup for her if you two won't mind can I give her?" Ina politely asked knocking on the door.
Sister Anna opened the door face bright red, leaving the door open as she got downstairs.
Natalie watching her daughter be so considerate smiled, "Sure, just be careful not to touch her ankles."
Ina nodded entering inside while Natalie closed the door from outside.
"So how was it? I told you it would work," Ina smiled as she placed the soup right next to the bed.
The girl poked out her head from the blanket, "Thank you sister Ina I couldn't have done it without you!"
"Sure, sure... By the way I told you to just fall but who would have guessed you would have sprained your ankle by accident?" Ina almost laughed at the probability.
"I...um..." The girl wanted to say anything but she didn't exactly know what.
"Well I guess you got lucky, if you faked the fall you two would be only holding hands," Ina amused to herself.
"Ina!" Her face was a tomato at the mention of holding hands.
"Ok, ok I'm joking. You sure are way too shy, Layla but with me by your side I'll support you!" Ina proudly smiled.
Layla in the bed was almost admiring the girl. "Ummm... This is a secret okay?"
Ina instantly perked up, "tell me, tell me!"
Layla looked around nervously, "I heard sister Natalie was teasing Sister Anna, I think she likes Sam."
"That is a very big secret!" Ina eyes shined stars.
'What would brother think if someone was in love with him hehe.' Ina laughed mischievously inside her mind.
Quickly relaxing her body she looked sternly at Layla, "Don't tell others understand! If you do I'll also tell your secret to Leo."
Layla getting scared nodded frantically.
Ina slowly got up from the chair, "oh yeah after you finish your eating call me I'll clean it."
Layla nodded, as she grabbed the warm soup and started eating.
Ina left the room closing the door after herself.
"You're playing matchmaker huh?"
Ina's hands trembling, as she slowly turned her head to look in the direction of the voice.
Natalie was standing in the corner with an evil smile that said it all, "When are you going to find a man?"
The implication was easy to understand her 14th birthday was arriving.
At the age of maturity, Natalie spoke again, "Instead of worrying about your brother you should also find a stable man to be your husband."
Ina didn't know that Sam specifically told in the letter for Ina not to be married on her 14th birthday so Natalie used this to tease Ina.