Chapter 179

 179:
Before long, a few of the kids noticed Collin lingering nearby. His presence was commanding, made even more striking by the wheelchair. Their excitement wavered as uncertainty crept in.
The little girl who had spoken pressed closer to Linsey, her small fingers clutching her sleeve. She pointed timidly at Collin and whispered, “Linsey… who is that man?”
Linsey quickly reassured them. “That’s my husband, so you don’t have to worry!”
The children present were visibly surprised by this revelation.
“You’re married?!” one of the children exclaimed.
“Does getting married mean you get to wear a beautiful dress and exchange rings in a church?” another child chimed in.
Linsey couldn’t help but chuckle at their innocent curiosity, nodding with a warm smile. “Yes, that’s exactly right.”
A few of the children, emboldened by their curiosity, sized Collin up for a moment before bravely stepping forward.
“So, you’re the husband!” one of them declared.
“What’s your name, mister?” another piped up.
Collin, who generally preferred the company of adults, felt a surge of irritation as the children swarmed him. He was about to unleash a stern rebuke when he caught Linsey’s eye; she was standing a short distance away, watching him with an expectant gaze.
Collin pressed his lips together, and with a hint of reluctance, softened his tone. “Hello there,” he responded.
Despite his civil response, he was clearly uncomfortable with the children clinging to him.
Thinking fast, Collin instructed his assistant, “Bring in those gifts and distribute them to the children.”
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The assistant promptly appeared with an armload of gifts. The sight of toys and snacks triggered a frenzy of excitement, and the children promptly forgot about Collin, rushing toward the assistant to claim their treasures.
Amused by the scene, Linsey laughed softly and approached Collin to take control of his wheelchair.
Together, they kept going.
As the excited chatter of the children faded into the background, Collin broke the silence. “You seem to be quite familiar with this place.”
Linsey nodded. “I lost my parents when I was young, but I was fortunate enough to be taken in by Ella. She’s the…”
“Director here. She raised me, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. But she’s getting older now, and it’s becoming harder for her to manage this large orphanage on her own. So I try to come by as often as I can to lend a hand.”
Collin instantly grasped the significance of Ella Jenkins in Linsey’s life. His brow furrowed slightly. “I apologize,” he said. “I didn’t realize we were meeting someone so important to you. I only brought gifts for the children and didn’t think to get anything for Ella.”
Linsey chuckled softly. “It’s really okay. You don’t need to worry about bringing anything. Even if you had, Ella wouldn’t accept it. That’s why I didn’t say anything beforehand. Ella is incredibly kind and wouldn’t mind these little details. As long as we show we care about the children here, that’s enough to make her happy.”
Soon, Linsey and Collin arrived at Ella’s office.
Linsey had already told Ella about their visit, so Ella wasn’t surprised to see Collin with her.
“Linsey, you made it!” Ella greeted warmly, taking Linsey’s hands and looking her over. “Well, you seem to have put on a little weight since I last saw you.”
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