Chapter81Unspoken Understanding
Madison hadn't expected their supermarket trip to last nearly two hours, landing them back home close to ten o'clock.
After unloading the trunk's contents into the kitchen, she hurried the kids upstairs to get ready for bed.
The children, still buzzing from their day, wanted to continue the fun with Matthew and play with Legos.
"No can do. It's too late today. We'll play after you wake up tomorrow," Madison usually kept a tight schedule for the kids, understanding the importance of sleep during their growing years.
"But we don't have school tomorrow. Staying up a bit won't hurt," Matthew caved in under the pleading gaze of his daughter and spoke out.
Madison looked at Matthew without another word, thinking to herself with a huff, 'Mr. Nice Guy, taking all the credit.'
Observing Madison with cheeks flushed in anger and finding her unexpectedly adorable in her fury, Matthew suggested with a sheepish touch to his nose, "Then I'll take them upstairs."
After saying so, he led the children upstairs to get ready for bed.
Watching the trio ascend, Madison saw Matthew comforting his girl, promising to play with her tomorrow, as he coaxed her into bathing and sleeping.
Turning around, she stepped into the kitchen to put away the groceries in the fridge.
Then, taking the rest of the items, she headed to the storage closet to stash away the paper towels and other supplies.
While organizing, she found the bottle of shampoo she always used just lying in the bag – she was sure she hadn’t put it in the cart. Could it have been the doing of her considerate son?
She typically stocked up during sales but refrained today due to embarrassment with Matthew there. And there it was, courtesy of her son, prompting an extra kiss goodnight.
When Madison went upstairs after tidying everything up, she didn't expect to find both kids already bathed and lying in bed, with Matthew sitting at the bedside, spinning tales.
She knew her son could bathe himself, but usually, she bathed their daughter. It seemed Matthew must have helped her this time.
As Madison entered, Hannah eagerly sought praise, "Mom, I bathed all by myself today! Dad set the water temperature and supervised from the shower door. I did a great job, didn't I? I'm pretty awesome, right?"
"Yes, you really are," she affirmed.
"The story Dad is telling us is different from yours, too, Mom."
Typically, no matter what she told their daughter, she clung to her, refusing to bathe alone. Yet now, what she struggled to do, Matthew had managed in just a few words, and he was even stealing her role as the storyteller.
Getting up from the bed, Matthew faced around.
He was greeted by Madison, with eyes wide and a touch of storm brewing in her gaze.
He soothed the kids into bed and soldiered through a bedtime story—how could she possibly be annoyed at him!
Women's hearts, an enigma as elusive as a needle at the bottom of the ocean. The saying held true.
Matthew closed the storybook, wished his children good night, and stepped out of the room.
Madison didn't understand her feelings. His newfound patience and gentlemanly demeanor irked her despite previously finding his irritable and icy nature so off-putting. Someone must have changed him, right?
Swallowing the trace of bitterness, Madison bent down to kiss her darlings' cheeks, whispering, "Good night."
While kissing Quentin, she added, "Thanks for helping Mom by putting the shampoo in the cart, sweetie."
Quentin, puzzled, looked at his mom and said, "Mom, I didn't put it in there."
Madison paused, wondering who did.
Hannah, overhearing her mom, chimed in, "Mom, I saw Dad sneak it into the cart.”
Why would he get her shampoo, for he had seen her little thriftiness with Quentin?
Embarrassing! Instead of dazzling him with a radiant comeback, she was caught being too economical.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Hannah's innocent voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"It's nothing, honey. Go to sleep. Mom's going to take a shower, and tomorrow, when we get up for breakfast, lots of uncles and aunties, including your auntie, are coming over."
Madison got up, grabbed her nightgown, and walked into the bathroom.
*
Early Saturday morning, Madison got up to prep breakfast, not expecting Matthew to rise so early as well. Freshly washed, she opened her bedroom door just as the master bedroom door opened.
They exchanged looks, and Madison cleared her throat, "Good morning."
"Good morning." His voice, rough from sleep, greeted her back.
Madison hurried downstairs to the kitchen first.
She took out the toast she had bought the day before, planning to cook them for breakfast. Turning around, she saw Matthew standing at the kitchen doorway, which startled her enough to clutch at her heart—he moved so quietly.
"Um, can I help with anything?" He knew she had bought a lot of groceries the previous day it would be too much for her to handle alone.
"I'm going to start with the toast. Could you go light the charcoal in the grill out in the yard later?"
"Sure."
The task in hand, Matthew, seemed considerably brighter.
After enjoying two pieces of toast each, Madison got busy prepping for the noon barbecue while Matthew headed out to the garden to tend to the grill.
The two of them worked together with an unspoken understanding that bordered on telepathy.
Matthew ignited the fire and fetched chairs from the house. He then went to the kitchen to bring out the seasoned meat dishes Madison had prepared, setting them on the table under the patio umbrella.
After taking the vegetables outside as well, he planned to go upstairs to wake the kids.
However, as he walked in, he found Quentin and Hannah already up, dressed, holding hands, and about to head downstairs.
"Dad~"
Hannah called out from the top of the stairs.
"Dad was just about to come up and wake you guys. Have you washed up and brushed your teeth?"
"Yes, brother helped me wring out the towel and squeeze the toothpaste," Hannah said as she reached Dad's side and took his big hand.
"Quentin, you're awesome," Matthew praised as he ruffled his son's hair.
Next to them, Quentin tried to hide his discomfort, and a blush crept up to his ears.
Matthew watched his awkward son, who was sensible, adorable, and a bit shy, with affection.
He led the two kids to the kitchen to find Madison.
Madison was busy preparing drinks and planning to get ahead of the game. Seeing Quentin and Hannah up, she paused her juicing to make them apple pies—breakfast was a must.
"Quentin, Hannah, how about some apple pies?" Madison asked with a warm smile.
"That sounds great, Mom. I was actually hoping for some cupcakes," chimed in Quentin.
Both kids knew just how to sweet-talk their mom.
Matthew naturally moved over to the juicer though it was his first time using it, the buttons were clearly labeled, making it pretty easy to operate.
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