Chapter 31 Paying Respect to Grandpa
The next day, Madison got up early, and the two little ones woke up early too, perhaps excited by the novelty of the new place, as they'd been exhilarating since the day before.
After freshening up, the three of them went downstairs, where Unity had prepared breakfast featuring local delicacies. "You're up! Come and have breakfast. Gavin came by last night to check on Audrey but missed you. He heard you were back and went to buy groceries, planning to make a feast for you tonight."
"Thanks, Unity. No need to go out of your way for us. You have your things to do, so there is no need to make special arrangements for us. I'll take them to see our old family home later and stop by to visit Grandpa," Madison said, noticing a steady stream of people entering the courtyard, likely guests staying there. She quickly urged Unity to attend to her own tasks.
"All right then, just leave the dishes on the table once you're done. I need to go. We have a lot of guests booking rooms today," Unity said and turned to assist the new arrivals with check-in.
The two youngsters immediately started eating upon sitting down, with Hannah, the snack lover, quickly grabbing food. Madison, who hadn't had the taste of home in a long time, also ate her fill. After breakfast, she headed out with the two.
They walked leisurely, occasionally stopping. Quentin and Hannah hopped and skipped ahead while Madison took photos of them and admired the roadside scenery. The village was different in the daytime—the roads had been fixed, flowers were planted along the sides, and the walls were adorned with beautiful murals. There was beauty everywhere.
Their stroll soon brought them to Madison's childhood home, the old house she once shared with Grandpa.
Madison took out her keys and entered the house, looking like Audrey must have regularly tidied. Seeing the familiar setting brought tears to her eyes, whether from nostalgia for the days with Grandpa or gratitude for Audrey's care despite her long absence.
Quentin and Hannah looked at their mom, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Hannah puzzled why their Mom had stopped and had red eyes, quickly asked.
"It's nothing, come on in. This is where Mom used to live," Madison, regaining her composure, invited them inside and shared numerous childhood stories.
Thinking of Audrey, Madison decided to visit her. "Let's go see Audrey, Gavin's mom."
Leading the two little ones by the hand, they headed to the neighboring house, and upon arrival, they saw Audrey sitting in the yard, busy with her needlework.
"Audrey, it's Madison. I'm back." Madison started calling out as soon as she entered the door.
The elderly woman stood up excitedly, "Madison? Welcome back!"
Looking at the two children by Madison's side, she became even more overwhelmed with emotion, "Are these your kids? My goodness, they've grown so big. Your Grandpa would be at peace knowing this in heaven."
"Yes, Audrey, they're my children. This is Quentin, and this is Hannah," Madison introduced, pointing to Quentin and Hannah, respectively.
"Quentin, Hannah, say hi to Audrey."
"Hello, Audrey," Quentin and Hannah greeted her politely.
"Oh, how nice," she said, as if remembering something; she trembled her way into the house and came back with a handful of candies in her hand, "This is for them; I got it from someone. Here, let the kids have some."
Quentin and Hannah took the candy and said, "Thank you, Audrey."
"Such good children, you’re so adorable."
Madison took out a black bag from her purse containing fifty thousand and handed it to Audrey. "Audrey, thanks for taking care of the house all these years. I haven't been back in so long, and it must have been hard on you. Consider this as a gift. Please accept it."
"Why, Madison? It's really nothing, and I don't need money now. My son and daughter-in-law have returned and have also been taking good care of me. I'm not used to the new big houses in the village, so I stayed here. Gavin and Unity take turns visiting this old lady every day. I can't take your money. You take it back and use it for the children." Audrey refused to take the money no matter what, forcing Madison to give up the idea. She thought about bringing some food and necessities for Audrey before leaving, not because she needed it, but as a gesture of her own.
Leaving Audrey's house, Madison was ready to buy some flowers to visit Grandpa’s grave. "Quentin, Hannah, let's buy some things before we go to see Great-grandpa."
"Okay, Mom, what did Great-grandpa like to eat? We can buy something he would have enjoyed," Hannah, always thinking about snacks, asked first.
"Well, Hannah, that isn’t a common choice. How about we pick some flowers?"
"All right, I'm going to choose the most beautiful flowers," Hannah said excitedly before running off towards the flower store.
They bought some flowers and a wreath. The cemetery was on a hill, so Madison also picked some stones with the children, taking longer than usual to reach Grandpa's grave. There were no weeds—it looked as though it had just been tended to.
"Grandpa, it's me, Madison. I've come back to see you. I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit you all these years..."
Standing at Grandpa's grave, Madison's eyes were rimmed with red, her lips slightly pale, tears involuntarily streaming down her cheeks.
"Mom, are you crying?" Hannah's voice cut through Madison's sorrow somewhat. She wiped her tears away and crouched down.
"It's tears of happiness because Mom hasn't been able to visit Grandpa for such a long time, and today I'm so happy I finally did."
After speaking, she held the hands of the two little ones and approached Grandpa's grave. "Grandpa, these are my children. This is Quentin, and this is Hannah. I've brought them to see you."
"Hello, great Grandpa." Quentin and Hannah greeted him together.
"Mom, is great Grandpa sleeping inside?" asked the innocent Hannah.
"Yes, great Grandpa is sleeping in there."
"Can we wake great Grandpa up?"
"Great Grandpa is very tired, so he will keep sleeping and won't wake up. Let great Grandpa rest, and let’s not disturb him, okay?"
"Okay!"
The children then turned their heads and saw butterflies fluttering around, scampering off to chase them.
Madison, left alone by the grave, said, "Grandpa, these are mine and Matthew's children. The last time I saw you, I said I'd bring Matthew to visit, but it seems that won't be possible anymore. Matthew and I have parted ways, but I will bring the kids to see you more often. Don't worry about me, I'm doing well now. I don't hold any grudges against Matthew, and neither should you. I'm thankful to him for giving me two little angels."
Noticing it was getting late, she called out, "Quentin, Hannah, let's head back down the hill."
"Coming, Mom."
The journey down the hill always felt quicker than the climb up, and before long, they were back at the entrance to the courtyard of the bed and breakfast, which was brightly lit and bustling with life.
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