The car finally stopped before the church.
Lisa stepped out of the car, Canary following closely behind her.
As soon as the children spotted her, their faces lit up, and they rushed toward her with excited cries of "Lisa!"
She smiled warmly, kneeling to embrace them as they crowded around her.
"Hey, everyone! How's my favorite crew today?" she asked, her voice full of affection.
Canary stood back for a moment, observing the heartfelt scene.
His eyes softened as he watched Lisa, surrounded by the children, her smile genuine and bright.
One of the younger kids tugged at Lisa's sleeve. "Who's that, Lisa?"
Lisa turned to Canary and smiled, her voice lighthearted. "This is my friend Canary "
The children looked up at him with wide, curious eyes. Canary gave a friendly wave, a bit awkward but trying to engage.
"Hi there," he said with a grin. "Nice to meet you."
Lisa chuckled softly, her eyes warm as she looked at him.
"They're shy at first, but don't worry—they'll come around."
As the children continued to surround her, Lisa felt a familiar sense of joy in their presence.
Canary watched her, noticing how naturally she fit in with the kids, her kindness shining through in everything she did.
As the children excitedly surrounded Lisa, Stella emerged from the church, holding a Bible in her hands.
Her calm presence immediately commanded attention as she walked toward them, her serene smile welcoming but curious.
"Lisa," she said warmly, her voice soft yet firm. "It's so good to see you."
Lisa stood and turned to Stella, returning the smile. "Hi, Stella. It's been a while."
Stella's gaze shifted to Canary, who stood quietly beside Lisa.
"And who's this?" she asked, her tone polite but inquisitive.
Lisa gestured toward him. "This is Canary, a… friend. He offered to drive me here today."
Canary extended a hand, his signature charm in his smile. "Nice to meet you, Stella."
Stella shook his hand briefly, then looked back at the children.
"Alright, everyone," she said gently. "Time to give Lisa and our guest some space. Go wash up and get ready for lunch."
The children groaned playfully but obeyed, scattering toward the orphanage with laughter and chatter.
Once they were gone, Stella turned back to Lisa and Canary, her expression kind but curious.
"It's always a pleasure to see you here, Lisa. And Canary, welcome. I hope you're ready for a lot of questions—our kids are a curious bunch."
As Stella walked away, Lisa turned to Canary, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "So," she said softly, "do you want to stay for the rest of the noon? The kids would love to have you around."
Canary raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Are you sure about that? I'm not exactly… kid-friendly."
Lisa chuckled, crossing her arms. "You'll survive. Besides, it's not about you—it's about them."
He pretended to think for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright, I'll stay. But only because you asked so nicely."
Lisa rolled her eyes, a small smile on her face. "You won't regret it. They're the best company you'll ever have."
Canary's gaze softened as he watched her. "If they're anything like you, I'm sure they are."
Lisa's cheeks warmed, and she quickly turned towa the orphanage, motioning for him to follow. "Come on, let's go before you change your mind."
Canary chuckled, falling into step beside her, curious about the world she had invited him into.
Lisa led Canary to Stella's modest room, where a simple lunch had been set up on a small table. The scent of freshly cooked food filled the space, and Stella welcomed them warmly.
"Please, sit," Stella said, gesturing to the chairs. "It's not much, but I hope you'll enjoy it."
"Thank you, Stella," Lisa said with a smile as she took a seat.
Canary sat beside her, glancing around the room. "This is cozy," he commented, his tone genuine.
Stella smiled as she served the food. "It's enough for me. The real joy is out there, with the children."
As they ate, Stella and Lisa chatted about the orphanage, the children, and memories from the past. Canary mostly listened, intrigued by the depth of Lisa's connection to this place.
After lunch, Lisa stood up, brushing her hands together. "Shall we head out to the compound? The kids must be waiting."
Stella nodded. "They'll be thrilled to see you both."
Lisa and Canary stepped outside into the warm afternoon sun.
The compound buzzed with energy as the children played games and chatted in small groups.
Lisa clapped her hands gently, calling for the children's attention.
"Alright, everyone! Settle down. It's storytime!"
The children began to gather, but instead of sitting quietly, they started to murmur and point toward Canary.
One of the bolder ones spoke up, grinning mischievously.
"We don't want Lisa's story today. We want Mister's story!"
The other children quickly chimed in, nodding and giggling. "Yes, Mister! Tell us a story!"
Canary, caught off guard, blinked and then laughed nervously.
"Me? A story? Oh, I don't know if I'm any good at that."
Lisa crossed her arms, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Well, Mister, it looks like you're the star of the show now. Go on."
The kids cheered, clapping their hands and urging him on. Canary sighed dramatically, but there was a playful grin on his face as he sat down with the children.
"Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in surrender.
"I'll give it a shot. But don't say I didn't warn you if it's not as good as Lisa's stories."
The children huddled closer, their eyes wide with anticipation, as Lisa stood back, watching the scene unfold with a warm smile.