Chapter 23 My Dad Is on the Moon
The next morning, Madison woke up early to prepare breakfast for everyone. Despite being busy back when they were at Frostpine, she had always made the food personally for the two children, striving for a nutritious balance.
After breakfast was ready, Rachel got up. Madison went to wake up the little ones. "Quentin, Hannah, it's time to get up for breakfast. We'll be heading out soon. Today Mom and Auntie Rachel have work, so we're taking you to the studio with us. Wendy will take care of you both."
Upon hearing Mom's voice, although still sleepy, Quentin sat up from under the covers, rubbing his eyes. "Mom, I can look after my sister."
"That’s great, Quentin," she acknowledged. "You and Wendy can look after your sister together."
"Sure, Mom. You and Auntie Rachel can feel free to go to work."
Madison smiled as she patted her son's head, handing him his clothes. Quentin took the clothes from his mom and began to dress himself. Watching her sensible son, Madison's heart swelled with emotions. How blessed she had been these past years with the company of her two little treasures, and it was because of them she felt she had become a better person.
Madison turned to look at her daughter, who was still sleeping soundly like a kitten. She gently whispered into her ear, “Hannah, time to wake up. we’ve got to head out soon.”
Hannah rolled over with her eyes still closed. “Mom, I want to sleep a little longer.”
“Hannah, get up quickly so I can get you dressed. Mom has made some delicious breakfast. Oh, if you don't get up, I’m gonna eat them all," Quentin playfully said within earshot of his younger sister, knowing her too well. The mere mention of food would surely get her out of bed.
As expected, the snack-loving Hannah heard her brother's words, rolled over, and got up in a flash. "Hey, don't touch my food!"
Madison watched her children with a fond smile, “Your brother is just teasing you. I made plenty. He can’t finish it all by himself.” While comforting the pouting Hannah, she helped her get dressed.
“You trick me.” Hannah, now fully awake upon hearing her mom and brother, happily got dressed and followed her brother to wash up and brush their teeth before enjoying the hearty breakfast their mom had prepared.
After breakfast, the family of four headed to the studio in Rachel's car. Wendy was already there when they arrived. Madison handed her children over to her, “Wendy, thank you for helping out today, especially on such short notice.”
“Hello, Wendy,” the two little ones greeted in unison, and they even introduced themselves without any prompting from their mom.
“I am Quentin Johnson, you can call me Quentin.”
“I am Hannah Johnson, you can call me Hannah.”
“It’s no problem at all, Madison, Rachel.” Wendy, a young girl, joined the studio when it first opened, fresh from graduation. Now, two years later, she was known as the happy-go-lucky one, and Rachel treated her like a younger sister.
"Madison, are these two adorable kids really yours? I thought you weren't married yet."
The staff at the studio were unaware that Madison was one of the pioneers. They only knew her as the company designer with outstanding designs. Madison, who also wasn't usually in Horizon City, had more sporadic online communications with the studio’s staff and didn't make a point of sharing her private life with them. That was why it was the first time Wendy learned that Madison had twin children, who were both incredibly adorable.
"Yes, they are my children. Thank you for looking after them this morning. Quentin, Hannah, you need to listen to Wendy and not be naughty, okay?"
"Okay, Mom," they replied in unison.
Madison did not touch on her marital status. She smiled and walked in with Rachel to review the design drafts for the last time before the client came.
*
Wendy took Quentin and Hannah to the pantry, got them some snacks, and poured them water. Seeing these two cute kids made Wendy think she couldn’t help but want babies of her own.
"Quentin, Hannah, what would you like for lunch? I'll take you somewhere yummy."
"I want fried chicken drumsticks and strawberry ice cream," Hannah said without hesitation, proudly displaying her penchant for snacks.
"Mom said you can't have fried chicken and ice cream this week." Her brother bluntly shattered her delightful wish, yet Hannah tried to bargain, "If I eat it today, I won't have any next week."
"You said the same thing to Auntie Rachel yesterday." Quentin was very principled.
Deflated, Hannah slumped over the table. "Okay, fine. No strawberry ice cream for me today. I’m upset."
"If you promise me to not have those, I'll take you to see Dad today."
"Really? But Mom said Dad is working on the Moon and can't come back to be with us." Hannah was excited but remembered her mother's words and doubted her brother's reliability.
"Silly Hannah, of course, it's true. When have I ever lied to you?" Quentin's eyes twinkled with a little secret.
"Yay, I can see Dad!" Hannah knew her brother wouldn't lie, so he really could take her to see their father. All she felt was anticipation.
Listening to the siblings' adorable conversation, Wendy couldn't help but curiously interrupt and ask, "What does your Dad do for a living?"
"We don't really know. Mom said Dad works on the Moon and he's very busy, so he can't come home to be with us," Hannah replied innocently.
Wendy couldn't quite understand Hannah's explanation. She assumed that their father must be a scientist Then she turned to look at them. brother, guessing he might be more dependable. "Mom told us Dad works on the Moon and can't come back, so we've never met Dad."
"Yeah, we've never met Dad," Hannah said, nodding in agreement with her brother while munching on snacks.
"But I'm close to finding him now. We may need a little help from you to bring us somewhere, Wendy."
As Wendy pieced together their story, she imagined a melodrama of a jerk father who had abandoned his wife and kids. Madison, probably to protect her two little treasures from getting hurt, had told them that their dad was working on the Moon. Thinking about how wonderful a person Madison was and realizing she was a single mom, Wendy regretted mentioning anything about marriage. Seeing the two adorable kids in front of her, she felt they were incredibly pitiful. With a renewed sense of determination, she loudly declared, "No problem, I'll definitely take you guys to find Dad."
Quentin watched Wendy agree to take them out, his little eyes sparkling with cleverness. Without Wendy, he was worried that a driver would refuse to take him and his sister. With an adult like Wendy with them, their mission would be much easier. The little guy had thought everything through carefully.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
