Loyal Hearts | TPN x OC

Chapter 1: Grace Field House

Before the sun was even up, two women were already working and running around the house, making sure everything was ready for those little kids. 

Taking care of 38 children was a task no one could do alone. That's why the mamas of each orphanage had the help of a chef. Those young women would primarily cook, food for that many people was a task on its own, but they would assist in any way they could whenever necessary.

Nora, quietly humming to herself, made sure the dough she had made the day before was cut into even balls and put into the oven. Dusting her hands on her apron, she moved onto the pancake batter.

"Everything alright in here?" As a knock came from the door, the woman turned her head around. In the doorway stood Isabella, her 'coworker', with a small smile upon her lips.

Once again, dusting her hands on the apron around her waist, she nodded and looked around. The second batch of the bread was about to be done, the soup simmering in different pots and the vegetables cooking. It only left the sausages to grill and they'd be ready to go.

"Just about to be done with the preparation." Nora glanced at the clock. Just in time. "Oh! And I started on the surprise last night."

Both women smiled at each other and the older one nodded and slipped out of the kitchen. 

As expected, the bell rang a few minutes later, indicating it was now six o'clock. And surely enough, footsteps started running around upstairs as the children started to wake up. Chuckling to herself, the brunette woman started on the pancakes and sausages.

Before she could even place the first batch of pancakes on a tray, the door opened once again. Without looking she called out instructions.

Always like clockwork, these two.

"Good morning, Nora."

"Mornin'."

"Good morning, Norman and Ray." With a towel in hand, she took out the bread from the oven and placed it on a cooling rack. "Can someone help with the pancakes and the other check on the vegetables? They should be ready."

These two were amazing to work with. No further words needed to be said between them for everything to go smoothly, and wouldn't you know it, after some time everything was ready.

"Good job you two." Nora smiled and patted them on the shoulders. "Ray, you get the bread and soup out there. Norman, get the drinks and jams from the fridge. I'll take care of the rest."

As they started gathering everything to put on the tables, the white-haired one gasped once he opened the refrigerator. At the sound, the other boy came to look over his shoulder. At their curiosity, the woman chuckled but continued on the task at hand. 

"It looks amazing, Nora!" Norman called out as he took out the jug of water and put it on a cart. "I'm sure she'll be happy."

"It's her favourite too." She commented as the ravenette passed through the door before her.

On the other side of the door, in the dining room, multiple children had already come down and were helping put plates and cutlery on the tables. However, some of the younger ones had difficulty remembering on which side to put the fork and the knife.

Wheeling her own cart out of the door, Nora almost crashed into someone. The child profusely apologized, hoping they hadn't knocked out any of the sausages on the ground.

"I'm- I'm so sorry, Nora!"

But as quickly as she dodged the child, she smiled and reassured him. "Don't worry, Mark! Look, nothing bad happened! Just be careful not to stay too close to that door next time."