Chapter 234
“Jeremy, why are you awake? Aren’t you going to sleep?” Stacey asked with a smile.
Jeremy shook his head, replying in an unnatural tone, “No.”
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Stacey crouched down to look into his eyes, and her smile was gentle. “I’m going to the supermarket with your dad. Do you want to come along?” Jeremy’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. Stacey beamed and looked at Hayden, saying, “Let’s go together then.”
“Okay,” Hayden replied with a light chuckle. Stacey smiled too, then turned and went upstairs. She hurried to her room, grabbed her bag, and touched up her lipstick in front of the vanity. After making sure she looked fine, she went downstairs.
Hayden stood with Jeremy, while Lillian and Kevin watched them with eyes shining with anticipation. The whole family was excited about going on this supermarket trip. Stacey looked at all the expectant eyes and felt a little amused. She thought, ‘It’s just a grocery run, and we’re all going together. Isn’t that a bit much?‘ Still, Stacey wasn’t comfortable leaving the kids at home, even with Gwen and Marie there to take care of them. After all, they weren’t family. Stacey remembered the incident from her own childhood and didn’t want the same thing to happen to her children or Hayden’s child. Although it was a bit more troublesome, taking all the kids out together could be seen as a chance to go for a walk and get some fresh air. It was a good thing.
They soon set out. Lillian and Kevin took out the toddler leash and obediently put them on themselves. “Why doesn’t Jeremy have a leash?” Lillian asked curiously, noticing Jeremy wasn’t wearing one.
Hayden looked down at Jeremy and answered, “Jeremy has one too, but I forgot to bring it. We’ll buy one at the supermarket.”
Jeremy immediately frowned in displeasure. “I…” He wanted to object, but he struggled to find the right words. He thought, ‘I don’t need a toddler leash. I’m a big kid now and very well–behaved. I wouldn’t run around like Lily and Kev. Hayden glanced down slightly, and his dark eyes fixed intently on Jeremy. Jeremy felt an unspoken warning in Hayden’s gaze, making it clear that he was expected to wear the toddler leash without any complaints.
Stacey also looked at Jeremy with a serious expression. “Even though you’re three years old, you’re still a child. You shouldn’t run around recklessly. What if someone with ill intentions targets you?” At the mention of this, Stacey thought of her childhood experience. She sighed softly and said, “I got lost when I was three years old. If only when I was young…” She gazed at Jeremy and said gently, “Jeremy, it’s important to always be aware of your safety. You can’t take it lightly just because you’re three years old and think you’re a big kid. You need to listen to your dad.”
Hayden thought about Becky getting lost at three years old, feeling a pang of sympathy as he looked at her. He knew, however, that the past couldn’t be changed. “Let’s go,” Hayden said, changing the subject.
At first, Jeremy was unconvinced. However, he stopped being angry with Hayden after listening to Becky’s words. Despite his young age, Jeremy understood that Becky had been taken by a bad
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person when she was three. He had known about Becky’s disappearance from her family for as long as he could remember. Sharon had often mentioned that if Becky hadn’t been taken away and lost from her family, she might have married Hayden and been with him. Thinking of this, Jeremy stayed quiet. When he arrived at the supermarket, he took a toddler leash and put it in the shopping cart without being told by Hayden. Stacey and Hayden noticed his actions and couldn’t help but smile.
Stacey reached out her hand to Jeremy. Jeremy looked at her hand. He tilted his head slightly and was a little confused. Stacey explained, “I will hold your hand so you won’t get lost.”
Jeremy’s eyes lit up, and he joyfully placed his hand in hers, nodding firmly. “Yes!” He had become increasingly adept at saying “Yes,” and his delivery had grown more fluent and natural. Stacey felt a warm glow inside. She eagerly anticipated the day when Jeremy could use more words like other kids and communicate.
“I want to hold hands too!” Kevin saw this and immediately ran over. He raised his hand to hold Stacey’s hand. Stacey was a bit exasperated. It was manageable to hold Jeremy’s hand, given that he was three and much taller. Lillian and Kevin were only one year old and too short. She would have to constantly bend over to hold their hands.
Lillian also exclaimed, “I want to hold hands too!”
Stacey stated, “What should I do? It is both sweet and troublesome having too many children.”
Hayden chuckled and told Gwen and Marie, saying, “Please go get two shopping carts.” Stacey’s eyes brightened at the mention. The supermarket’s shopping carts all had child seats. While Jeremy, being three, was a bit too big for them, they would be perfect for Lillian and Kevin. Gwen and Marie also understood what Hayden meant, so they immediately brought two shopping carts over.
Hayden bent down and placed Lillian and Kevin into the shopping carts. Since they had never been in a shopping cart before, their curiosity was piqued. They quickly forgot about asking Stacey to hold their hands. Jeremy was relieved to see that Lillian and Kevin were attracted by the shopping carts. He didn’t care for the carts, as he preferred being with Becky.
With the kids settled, Hayden pushed one cart, while Gwen pushed another. Stacey held Jeremy’s hand as they shopped. Stacey looked down and said to Jeremy, “Jeremy, is there anything you want? Just tell me, and we’ll get it.”
“Yes.” Jeremy nodded eagerly. The word “Yes” was something Jeremy used often, which amused Stacey. As he had just begun to speak, it was one of the simplest words for him to say. As they walked, Jeremy observed curiously but didn’t reach for anything. In contrast, Lillian and Kevin, seated in the shopping carts behind, were captivated by everything they saw. They eagerly stretched out their hands when they passed colorful packages and grabbed everything. Hayden and Gwen didn’t stop them. Instead, after Lillian and Kevin placed items in the shopping cart, they quietly turned around and put all the unnecessary things back. They were busy but found it amusing.