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Novel Catalog
Chapter 23
“A bit of breakfast won’t break the bank. Liberty, I won’t go overboard.” Serenity smiled, reassured that she could help her sister without overextending herself. She had her sights set on becoming a homeowner, after all.
“Has Sonny eaten?” she asked, checking his temperature. His body felt just right, neither too hot nor too cold.
“He had some milk. I’ve got chicken soup simmering on the stove. I’ll feed him once it’s ready,” Liberty replied, taking good care of her son.
“Zachary will be home in two days, and his parents are coming this Saturday. Can you and my brother-in-law come to Brynfield for dinner with the family that evening? Let him know about this, will you?”
Liberty’s eyes brightened. “Is your husband coming back from his business trip?”
“He said he’ll be back Friday night.”
“Alright, I’ll make sure my husband knows.”
Liberty, while supportive of her sister’s marriage, couldn’t help but have some concerns about Serenity’s husband. She had never met him in person and wasn’t sure what to expect when meeting her in-laws. She would approach the meeting carefully.
After spending a little more time at her sister’s place, Serenity finally left for work.
Once Serenity was gone, Liberty fed Sonny his chicken soup and then took him for a stroll and some shopping. She needed new clothes for the upcoming meeting with the in-laws.
Liberty had once been particular about her appearance. Back when she was single, she was careful with her wardrobe—nothing too flashy, but always well-tailored. However, since becoming a stay-at-home mom, her clothing choices had become more about practicality and finding bargains in warehouse sales.
Her life had shifted from career-focused to family-focused, and with that, her savings had dwindled, spent mostly on home renovations. Now, she had to be frugal, counting every penny and putting her family’s needs before her own.
To make a good impression on her sister’s in-laws, Liberty bought two dresses that were a little more upscale than usual, as well as a suit and tie for her husband.
As she was leaving the clothing store, her husband Hank called.
“Hello, honey.” Liberty balanced Sonny in one arm while pushing the stroller with her other hand, answering the call.
“What did you buy this time? Over a thousand bucks? That’s more than half the allowance gone! I’m telling you now, we’ll be splitting the household expenses from now on. The thousand bucks? It’s on you. If you run out of money, you’re on your own for the rest of the month.”
Hank, like Zachary, had given Liberty a supplementary card for household expenses. He transferred money into the account every month to cover their living costs. However, the account was tied to his mobile number, so he received notifications every time Liberty used the card.
For groceries and other basic needs, Hank transferred three thousand dollars a month. If Liberty was careful, she could usually make it stretch, with a couple hundred left over. But with a child in the house, it was hard to keep up, especially if Sonny fell ill.
Today, Liberty had forgotten her personal card, and so she used the household card without thinking. She hadn’t anticipated Hank would be so quick to notice and question her spending the moment she stepped out of the store.
