Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Kayden’s favorite outdoor game was soccer. He grinned and laughed when he managed to kick the ball and then run after it.
“You boys have yourselves a good day,” Chaz said, coming outside with her bag.
“We will,” I said.
We kissed and then she lifted a resisting Kayden into her arms. “Traitor,” she said and I laughed.
“Say bye to mommy,” I said to Kayden.
I had so many decisions to make but first I had to play soccer with my son. There would be time to figure out the next step. After half an hour, Kayden was ready to go back to the house for a drink and his morning nap.
In the afternoon, I decided to take Kayden to the nearby park, seeing how much he loved going places. I fastened him into the car seat and double checked his bag again. A blanket to relax on, more diapers than I thought he would need, two cups of milk, snacks and water.
“Daddy and son’s day out,” I said to him as I jammed the key into the ignition.
It was a beautiful afternoon to be out. Not too hot with a breeze that kept the air cool. The park was only a five-minute drive away and, on the way, Kayden made happy noises and kept his gaze focused on the passing landscape.
We reached the park and I got the bag out and shoved it under Kayden’s stroller. I lifted him from the back seat and fastened him into the stroller. After locking the car, we entered the park and strolled along the walking path that meandered through the trees and grass and a small manmade lake.
“Daddy!” Kayden said, pointing at ducks floating gracefully on the lake.
Time lost meaning as we strolled in the park and finally stopped in the play area. I unfastened Kayden from his stroller and walked with him to the slides. He wasn’t ready to slide at first and was more fascinated by the bright colors of the playground equipment.
“Your first born?” A mom with a little boy who looked to be in the same age bracket as Kayden, asked.
“Yes. Only child.” My chest swelled with pride as I said the words I never once thought I would say.
“Mine too,” she said.
We chatted easily as we helped the boys navigate the swings and then the slides. I wished I had my phone to take a picture of Kayden when he agreed to a slide. He wore a look of wonder and pure joy. And he wanted to do it over and over again.
I lifted him from the slide to give him his sippy cup of milk and as soon as he was done, he wiggled out of my lap and waddled over to the slides. I wished that Chaz was here with me to see it.
When we finally made it out of the play area, it was because Kayden was so tired that he could barely keep his eyes open. He fell asleep as soon as I fastened him into his car seat.
I chuckled softly as I drove him, impatient to regale Charlotte with tales of our afternoon. As I turned the corner, I caught sight of Charlotte outside the barn house, pacing up and down. When she heard the car, she sprinted towards us and my heart dropped to my feet, sure that something horrible had happened.
“Where is he?” she screamed as I slowed the car to a stop.
“Who?” I said, thinking that Charlotte had lost her mind.
“Kayden! Where’s my baby?”
She gripped the passenger door and flung it open. When she saw Kayden peacefully sleeping in his car seat, her whole body slumped. “You’re okay.” She covered her face with her hands.
“What’s going on Charlotte?” I said.
“I thought you took him,” she said, uncovering her face to reveal tears streaming down her face.
“You thought I stole Kayden?”
Charlotte
I stole a glance at Alex’s profile and I wanted to punch myself. What was the matter with me? Why did I always mess up when it came to Alex? What had he done to make me so mistrustful? How could I think that he would steal Kayden after he had more or less promised that he would never do something like that?
It was easy to say that I trusted him but when I was tested, I failed. I had come from work bearing a pie I’d bought at work for our dinner and when I found Alex’s car missing, panic had set in. I’d dashed into all the rooms in the house calling Kayden’s name and when I saw that it was empty, my panic went up a notch.
All sorts of crazy thoughts had run through my mind. Alex knew about my eyesight. He had taken him to New York and I would never see my baby again. He would fight for custody with the full support of his parents and win because I was an unfit mother. He would bring up my past and how I was raised by a drug addict mother.