Chapter 207 Joyous Gathering
As Matthew's car turned the corner, Madison saw Grandpa Sterling and Uncle Liam waiting at the doorstep, waving from afar at the sight of their vehicle.
Quentin and Hannah rolled down their windows, shouting, "William, say hi to Grandpa Sterling!"
The car barely stopped at the doorstep when they rushed to the door to greet the two little treasures. Madison waited for Matthew to get out of the car, then took his hand and followed the kids inside. When everyone entered the house, Valerie came forward with a kind and welcoming smile. After everyone settled in the living room, she immediately went back to the kitchen and brought out two large plates of freshly washed and cut fruit, clearly prepared in advance.
"Help yourselves to some fruit. Let me know what you'd like for lunch; I can cook anything," she said.
"Thank you, Valerie," Madison replied, picking up two cherries—one for herself and one for Matthew—asking with a smile, "Sweet, isn't it?"
Matthew slowly chewed the cherry in his mouth, gazing at Madison with adoration as he nodded gently, "Very sweet."
Valerie watched the couple's sweet interaction with a smile so wide she could hardly contain it. Without missing a beat, she headed back to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Quentin and Hannah had a few cherries and bites of watermelon before they became too impatient to wait and pulled William along to play in the garden. Grandpa Sterling seemed to regain his youthful energy whenever the kids came over, playing tirelessly with them as if he were a kid once more.
Madison, concerned, said, "Grandpa Sterling, you can just watch them play, let them run around."
Grandpa Sterling laughed heartily, his voice robust, "Ha! I'm still in great shape. This old man can keep up with them running for a few more years without any trouble." Madison knew Grandpa Sterling was a playful spirit at heart. She reminded the children to take care of William before allowing them to head outside.
After everyone had left the living room, only Matthew and Madison remained. Madison walked over and took Matthew's hand, softly smoothing the frown from his forehead. He must have felt confused now, having forgotten everything. That sense of emptiness likely left him feeling very insecure.
"Matthew, this is where you grew up. Uncle Liam and Valerie have been caring for you here at The Old Residence since you were a child. After your parents passed, Grandpa Sterling experienced the sorrow of outliving his child, but he still raised you to be outstanding. Let me take you upstairs to see." Saying so, she took Matthew's hand and led him upstairs. Obediently, he followed behind her, their hands entwined. Even from the back, one could tell they were an attractive, inseparable couple.
Madison took Matthew to their room in The Old Residence. As Matthew looked around, he noticed that the decor was very different from their place in Aurora Heights. Most of the furniture and curtains were dark, matching his old style when he lived alone. But among the dark colors, there were pops of brightness — like colorful pillows on the couch, women's clothes in the wardrobe, and cosmetics on the vanity.
Matthew thought Madison must have spruced up the place. What had been a chilly, impersonal room now brimmed with warmth and liveliness, making it feel like a true home. Madison wandered out to the balcony. "Wow, Matthew, come quick! The cactus is blooming!" she exclaimed.
Matthew joined her on the balcony, watching her squat down with a beaming smile as she admired the succulent plants adorning the flower stand; one of the cacti had indeed produced a flower.
Seeing him approach, Madison tugged at his hand to come closer. "We bought this together, remember? It's never bloomed before, and now, look at it—it's gorgeous, isn't it?" She cradled the flowerpot in her palms, gazing at it repeatedly, unwilling to let it go.
At that moment, all of Matthew's inner turmoil seemed to dissolve. What did it matter if he couldn't remember certain things? His wife and children were real, his friends and family were real—all was real. Why should he care about forgetting when love was present and living in the present was what truly mattered?
Having realized this, Matthew's lips curled into a smile as he looked at Madison. Confused by his sudden, inexplicable smile, she asked, "What... why are you smiling like that...?"
His smile was simply irresistible!
Matthew said Nothing, just grinned and took Madison's hand. "Show me around some more. Maybe it will jog my memory."
Madison was delighted, naturally. Ever since he'd walked in, Matthew's brow had been slightly furrowed as if Nothing really interested him, but now, for some reason, the clouds had lifted in an instant, and his demeanor seemed like the Matthew of old.
"Sure, let's go to the study room. It has photos from when you were a kid and lots of stuff from your school days," Madison said excitedly, leading Matthew out of the bedroom and into the study room. The bookshelf held an array of trophies and certificates neatly lined up, evidence of Matthew's scholarly achievements.
On the desk were three picture frames: one from his graduation, one with his parents, Tom Sr. and Mrs. Tom, and a family portrait of four. The first two showed signs of aging, while the family photo was added more recently. Matthew also flipped open a notebook, which revealed notes about work in his handwriting.
Madison was right—the study room was indeed filled with remnants of the past. As he slowly walked around, fleeting senses of familiarity flashed through his mind; he must have spent a lot of time in the study back in the day.
Leaving the study room, the two headed down the stairs to the garden. The two kids were dragging William along to join them in rollerblading, apparently another recent purchase by William. Each kid had a set complete with helmets and knee pads. Quentin glided a short distance while Hannah, still hesitant to let go, clung to the wall for balance, pleading, "William, come closer. I'm scared to go."
William's hearty laughter filled the garden.
Madison and Matthew approached. When Hannah saw Matthew and her Mom, she let go of the wall and threw herself at Madison and Matthew, exclaiming, "Matthew Mom, look at the roller skates William bought us! Brother's already good at it, but I'm still learning," she pouted, feigning tears.
Matthew gently took her hands. "Shall Matthew teach you?" Instantly, Hannah's frown turned into a beaming smile as Matthew guided her away. The father and daughter skated back and forth several times, with Quentin trailing behind on his own skates. Madison moved a chair over to where Grandpa Sterling was standing to offer him a seat to rest.
It was only a short while before they heard Hannah's distant voice, "Mom, William, look, I can skate! I really can!" Her voice grew louder as she approached.
Madison watched as Hannah glided toward them and softly stopped in her mother's embrace, her young face alight with excitement. "Matthew is amazing," she chanted in delight.
Madison smiled warmly at the man trailing behind, sleeves rolled up, a slight smile on his face.
Yes, Matthew really was amazing.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
