By Jade Watkins

|


For the last five years she has spent Fourth Of July with her husband Tom Cruise.

But this time around Katie Holmes, who filed for divorce from the Hollywood star last week, spent  American holiday Independence Day as a single mother.

The 33-year-old was seen at Wholefoods supermarket near her Chelsea apartment yesterday, stocking up on food supplies.

Moving on: Katie Holmes was seen at Wholefoods supermarket near her Chelsea apartment yesterday, stocking up on supplies

Moving on: Katie Holmes was seen at Wholefoods supermarket near her Chelsea apartment yesterday, stocking up on supplies

Making her way to the store, dressed casually in a denim shirt and a floral summery skirt, the mother-of-one looked feminine and pretty as she skipped along with Suri, who was in the same multi-coloured poppy dress she was in the night before.

Inside the market, Suri rode in the front of the shopping cart playing with a pale pink cowboy hat, with Katie photographing her wearing it.

The mother and daughter duo were accompanied by one of Katie's bodyguards from her top heavy security team.

Sweet treat: The night before Katie took Suri out for some ice-cream

Sweet treat: The night before Katie took Suri out for some ice-cream

During the outing Katie reassured fans that she is coping following the split from the Hollywood star.

Approached as she stocked up on food, Katie told a New York Daily News reporter: 'I'm alright. Thank you.'

Meanwhile it emerged today that Katie has been secretly planning her divorce assault for several weeks with the help of her father Martin Holmes.

Suri emerges: It was the first time that the youngster had emerged since Tom and Katie's split was announced

Suri emerges: It was the first time that the youngster had emerged since Tom and Katie's split was announced

Hold on tight: Katie's top priority in the split is her six-year-old daughter

Hold on tight: Katie's top priority in the split is her six-year-old daughter

The super secretive plan included switching all her cell phones and email addresses.

Katie was said to be contact with Tom, right up until last week, playing the role of doting wife.  

'She was talking to Tom on the phone up until last week saying, "I love you,"' a source told People magazine.

But the escape plan was well underway when the actress recently visited China for work commitments.

Top heavy: Katie has enlisted burly bodyguards who are currently watching the actress 24/7

Top heavy: Katie has enlisted burly bodyguards who are currently watching the actress 24/7

'Her inner circle has been planning this and switching out cell phones since she was in China [in mid-June],' the source said.

'When new cell phones arrived, then nobody could reach her. Her old best friends from last week don't have her new number, no e-mail. She's unreachable.'

Katie even bent the truth to Tom about her new Chelsea apartment.

'[Tom] knew that she moved there, but [he thought it was] for different reasons,' the source told People.

'She said she moved there to drive into the underground garage. There are fewer paparazzi and it's less intrusive for her,' the source continued.

Desperate: Tom is said to be going to a court in Los Angeles in person to ensure he is legally allowed to see his daughter Suri

Desperate: Tom is said to be going to a court in Los Angeles in person to ensure he is legally allowed to see his daughter Suri

'It was the first phase of getting everything out of the house, and that's why she was able to say she's moving without giving an indication that she was going to divorce him.'

Katie's father also fired some of his daughter's assistants and hired new ones in place to help out with the grand plan.

In their new apartment building, neighbours say mother and daughter are a joy to have.

'Katie and Suri have been very friendly to everyone they see in the building,' a source told Radaronline. 'But they mostly keep to themselves.'

However the pair have been spotted using the communal children's playroom.

'Suri was there playing. Katie was with her and they were very sweet to the other people in the room.

'There were a few other kids there and Suri quietly played with them. She seemed like a nice little girl and the other kids looked like they were having fun with her.'

Meanwhile, Tom, who has been kept busy shooting his latest movie Oblivion in Iceland, yesterday returned to Los Angeles where he marked his 50th birthday with a quiet lunch alongside adopted children Connor and Isabella.

The way they were: Katie announced that she was splitting with her husband of six years last Friday

The way they were: Katie announced that she was splitting with her husband of six years last Friday

He is said to have made it his 'first priority' to get temporary visitation rights to his daughter Suri.

The 50-year-old actor - who was 'blindsided' when his wife filed for divorce from him last week after five years of marriage and sought legal custody of their child - intends to go to court in Los Angeles in person to ensure he is legally allowed to see the youngster.

Hints: In next month's ELLE magazine Katie hints that she may not have been happy in the relationship for some time

Hints: In next month's ELLE magazine Katie hints that she may not have been happy in the relationship for some time

Katie filed for the divorce in New York because she believes she has a better chance of winning custody, but Tom has been encouraged to file in California.

A source said: 'Tom has told Dennis Wasser and Bert Fields, his long-time entertainment lawyer, that his first priority is getting a court order in place, obviously a temporary one, that will allow him to legally see his daughter.

'Team Cruise has extensive documentation to prove that Los Angeles is where the case should proceed, because this is where he says they have lived.

'Tom is extremely disappointed that Katie filed in New York, and he feels that she is trying to cut him out of their daughter's life.

'Tom won't tolerate it and told his lawyers that if he personally needs to go to court and make a plea in front of the judge for an order allowing him to see his daughter, he will.'

It is believed Katie wants legal custody because she is worried about Tom's devotion to sci-fi cult Scientology and the effect the quasi-religious sect may have on their six-year-old daughter.

Meanwhile, an interview with Katie from next month's ELLE magazine hints that she may not have been happy in the relationship for some time.

Discussing turning 33, she told the US publication: 'I definitely feel much more comfortable in my own skin. I feel sexier. I'm staring to come into my own. It's like a new phase.'

Asked about her marriage, she admitted she wanted to focus on herself.

She said: 'He has been Tom Cruise for 30 years. I know who I am and where I am and where I want to go, so I want to focus on that.'