Chapter80Family of Four Hits the Supermarket
The following days settled into a routine. Matthew would drive the kids to school in the morning before heading to the office. Without fail, he'd be there, right on time, to pick them up and take them home.
Madison didn't have to worry about cabs anymore with the convenience of Matthew's car. They'd park near the kindergarten in the morning, just a short walk to their new place. In the afternoon, she'd time her stroll to meet Jack and Elle, and they'd ride back to their villa.
Madison got the keys delivered by the real estate agent, allowing her to clean at her own pace throughout the week. The previous owner had maintained the place so well that it looked almost new after a thorough scrub.
She decided to save the smaller room for Rachel in one of the spare bedrooms. The master bedroom would be split in the middle with a cabinet, laying out two beds for Quentin and Hannah—to start learning the art of sleeping independently. The master bed would fit perfectly in the remaining room.
So, the shopping list was clear. A tall cabinet as a room divider, two children's beds, and various small items like bedding accessories.
Madison measured everything on day one. The next day, she scoured the furniture stores, eventually finding a wardrobe of the correct size. The store owner had just the display model available. Otherwise, it was a custom order. Madison reserved the display on the spot, having inspected it thoroughly for any defects.
It was made of eco-friendly material and claimed to be formaldehyde-free. After being out for a while, even a tiny amount of formaldehyde would have dissipated—a perfect find.
Even though there was no rush, the thought of moving in for breakfast made Madison opt for the readymade furniture.
Fortunately, the hunt was over. The natural wood finish matched the villa's existing furniture. After choosing the cabinet, finding children's beds was a breeze, given the vast array of options.
Ultimately, she went with a reputable brand for the beds, prioritizing safety for the children. All items were in stock, which meant delivery and setup could happen by Friday, just in time for next week's move.
Friday evening finally saw the completion of Quentin and Hannah's bedrooms, so it was time to return to the villa for dinner.
After cleaning up the dishes and exiting the kitchen, Madison noticed Matthew lounging with the kids, still glued to the TV downstairs.
Seeing Madison emerge, Matthew lifted his head and suggested, "Let's go to the supermarket and stock up on some things. The others are coming over tomorrow."
It took a few seconds for Madison to recall the housewarming guests – Patrick and Willow were due for lunch.
The past few days had been a whirlwind of home prep that almost made her forget.
"Sounds good. Are they showing up early? How many? Why don't we have a barbecue in the garden for lunch and cook dinner in the evening? If you're driving, let's aim for that larger supermarket out of town – better selection there."
Quentin and Hannah hurriedly changed their shoes, eager for the supermarket trip and Madison's barbecue. They reminisced about the tasty roadside barbecues in Frostpine, where they would use their allowance from Mom to enjoy a few skewers, albeit with Mom's imposed limits.
Their excited chatter filled the air, "Yes, that's awesome! Barbecue is the best."
Watching Madison gear up to prep, Matthew quietly grumbled, regretting the invite – now he had to help with the barbecue.
Madison had already reached the foyer, slipping into her coat and grabbing her purse.
She didn't quite catch his murmur.
"What was that?" she asked.
Matthew approached key in hand, and looked her in the eyes earnestly, saying, "Nothing much, just some folks we met at the bar last time. I'm good with whatever we eat. You call the shots. I'll pay the bill and haul the goods."
Madison was perplexed. She was hosting his guests, yet his words ignited a blush she couldn't hide. Without a word, she quickly turned, opened the door, and led the two little ones out with her purse in tow.
Looking at Madison's retreating figure in bewilderment, Matthew wondered why she was in such a rush – he hadn't said anything wrong, had he?
The family of four arrived at the supermarket, and Matthew grabbed a shopping cart at the entrance. Hannah insisted on riding in it, so Matthew hoisted her into the cart.
Madison led the way with Quentin, while Matthew trailed behind with Hannah in tow.
As Madison shopped, she filled the cart with swift efficiency. It was nearly overflowing with groceries in what felt like no time at all.
Matthew made a keen observation as he accompanied Madison on their first grocery shopping trip together. Some women may go wild shopping for clothes and handbags, but others could be just as fierce in buying groceries.
He quietly considered whether to fetch another cart. Glancing at Madison, he noted that they were only halfway through the store, yet their cart was nearly full.
Madison continued her mission, picking out produce, meats, and fruit, and still needed to grab drinks and snacks. When she turned around with a box of cherries in hand, she saw Matthew at the cookie aisle with Hannah, apparently about to indulge her craving for chocolate biscuits.
Approaching them, Madison and Quentin realized the cart was about to overflow.
"I'll go grab another cart," Matthew suggested.
Feeling embarrassed, Madison waved her hand dismissively, "No need, we're almost done."
Inwardly, she chastised herself—it's time to show some control. It's as if having someone else paying transforms her into a hoarder at a free market.
Matthew looked at her with a skeptical 'Are you sure?' expression.
Even Quentin was in on the action, shouting, “Mom, do you want this shampoo in discount?”
Hiding her face in her hands, Madison beat a retreat.
She quickly took the shampoo bottle from Quentin's hand, “No more, we still have some at home.”
"Oh," Quentin mumbled, puzzled since Madison usually stocked up on essentials like tissues, shampoo, and laundry detergent during sales. Hadn't she just loaded the cart with them?
Matthew watched Madison's subtle interactions with their son, and as he caught up with his cart, he sneakily added the shampoo bottle to the pile.
In the end, although they didn't get another cart, they resorted to using a basket to carry the overflow.
Matthew bent to lift the basket, but Madison swiftly picked it up, mindful of his recent injury—it was best not to let him carry heavy items.
After checking out, they could wheel the cart directly to the parking lot, so despite the large haul, they didn't need to carry much.
They loaded up the car with ease.
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