abcnovels
Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Chapter 42
SIDONNIE’S POV
“Mama, park!” Mason’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he tugged at his tiny sneakers, struggling to put them on. | smiled down at him, kneeling to help. “Yes, sweetheart, we’re going to the park! Are you ready?”
“Can | ride the slide? Can | ride the swings, mommy?” He exclaimed with his enthusiasm being contagious. He was fidgeting as | pulled his sneakers on.
Following Athena’s words, | decided to take Mason out for fun as I've been spending too much time working. It was a mother— son date this time.
“Of course you can, baby. We'll go on the slide and swing, just like last time,” | replied, finally securing the Velcro on his sneakers.
“What color of slide do you want to go on today?” He pondered for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. “| wanna go on the red slide, mama.
“Red slide it is,” | agreed, standing up and reaching for his favorite little blue jacket. “Now, let’s get your jacket on. It’s a bit chilly outside. What do we do, baby?”
Mason extended his arms, wiggling with impatience. “Arms up, Mama!”
| chuckled, sliding the jacket over his tiny arms. “Good job, Jakey! Now, where’s your favorite toy? Do you want to bring Mr. Teddy to the park?”
“Mr. Teddy!” Mason dashed off, returning with a slightly worn teddy bear almost as big as him.
“Great choice!” | grinned, helping him clutch Teddy securely. “Now, let’s grab your water bottle. We need to stay hydrated, especially if we’re going to play a lot. Make sure to drink some every now and then.”
He nodded, his face serious as he held out his hands for the water bottle. “Ok, mommy. I'll drink. Now, can we go?” He whined, making me chuckle.
“You're one smart boy, my love,” | praised, handing him the bottle. “Okay, Mason, we're all set. We can go now. Are you excited to go to the park?”
Chapter 42
Mason’s eyes lit up again, and he nodded vigorously. “Yeah, let’s go now, mommy.”
| scooped him up, my heart swelling with love. “Let’s make it the best park day ever, my little adventurer!" And with that, we headed toward the door, ready for a day of laughter and play at the park.
The sky was a canvas of blue, inviting us to savor the simple beauty of the day. Birds. sang joyous melodies, creating a soundtrack for our fun trip.
We strolled along a path shaded by ancient trees, their leaves different shades of green and brown swaying in the gentle breeze. Jake’s eyes sparkled in awe at the scenery around us.
He was eager to run into a pile of leaves and frolick but | held on tight to him and directed our steps.
As we walked, the distant murmur of a lively marketplace beckoned us. We followed the alluring scent of freshly baked bread and the vibrant hues of market stalls. A bustling scene unfolded before us, filled with people absorbed in the beauty of the present.
Mason squealed and jumped up, his infectious joy spreading. “Mommy | want cupcake,” he pointed to a cute little bakery with mouthwatering wares displayed. | shook my head. “No, baby, you just had breakfast. Maybe later.”
He poured and stared longingly back at the bakery as we walked past. Mason had the biggest sweet tooth and | always tried my best not too indulge him too much.
We passed people seated under cute little striped umbrellas, savoring the rich aroma of coffee and engaged in lively conversation. Laughter echoed as we passed.
As we strolled down the lively street toward the park, Mason clung to his teddy bear, his wide eyes absorbing the vibrant scene around him. The sounds of his tiny sneakers against the pavement was almost drowned out by the buzz of city life.
“Mama, look, there’s a duck on his shirt!” Mason pointed excitedly at one of the men in the chattering groups under the striped umbrellas.
“Yes, sweetheart, it’s a yellow ducky,” | agreed, a fond smile playing on my lips. “Maybe I'll get you one.” Chapter 42 Mason nodded. “He’s gonna be friends with Mr. Teddy.”
As we neared the park entrance, the scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the tantalizing aroma of street food from a nearby vendor.
“Mama, what's that smell?” Mason wrinkled his nose in curiosity.
“That, my little explorer, is the smell of yummy food! Maybe after playing, we can grab a little snack.” | suggested, my eyes scanning the colorful food stalls.
The park unfolded before them, a place of greenery and joy. Children’s laughter rang out as they approached the playground, and Mason’s eyes widened at the sight of the towering red slide he had chosen earlier.
“Red slide, Mama! Let’s go!” Mason squirmed in excitement, eager to dive into the play. | chuckled, setting him down as he dashed towards the playground. “Go on, have fun! I'll be right here, watching.”
As Mason climbed and slid, | found a nearby bench under the shade of a sprawling tree. | watched with a mixture of amusement and pride as he fearlessly navigated the play structures, occasionally glancing back to make sure | was still there.
The sun painted patterns on the ground as we lost track of time in the simple joy of the park. Me with a book | brought and Jake on the park. The bustling city seemed distant, and in that moment, it was just a mother and her son, savoring the magic of a perfect day at the park.
After tireless adventures, | decided it was time to grab that snack | promised Jake. “Mason baby,” | called out to him as he played with the jungle gym. “Let’s go get a snack.”
Like a lightning bolt Jake stopped what he was doing and dashed over to me.
“Can we get hotdogs, mommy?”
“Of course, baby.”
| held on to Mason’s’s tiny hand as we took off in the direction of the snack stand. As we approached the snack stand the aroma of popcorn and cotton candy filled the air, creating an atmosphere of delight. | was eager to treat Mason so | momentarily loosened my grip on his hand to retrieve some cash.
As | handed the money to the vendor and turned back to Mason, my heart skipped a
Chapter 42
IMBI
beat. He was nowhere to be seen. Panic surged through my veins, and | frantically scanned the bustling playground. “Mason? Mason!” | called, my voice edged with anxiety.
32%
Asense of desperation fueled my movements as | darted through the colorful maze of slides and swings, calling out for my son. Worried faces of other parents mirrored her own concern, but none had seen Jake. The playground, once a place of joy, now became the source of my worry.
“Jake!” | screamed, my voice almost going hoarse. “Donnie!” a woman’s voice called out, and she turned to see a fellow parent pointing towards Jake.
After what felt like an eternity, a flicker of relief washed over me as | finally caught a glimpse of Jake’s familiar blue jacket. He sat on a swing, swinging gently back and forth, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around him. But there was something more unsettling — a stranger walking away from him.
Racing toward him, | scooped him up in my arms, relief and fear mingling as my heart still raced from the severity of what | have just experienced.
“Jake, baby, where did you go?” | exclaimed, my voice a mix of relief and reproach.
“He wanted to swing,” the stranger explained, a warm smile on his face. “I saw him alone, so | kept an eye on him until you came back.”
Gratitude flooded my heart as | hugged my son tighter. “Thank you,” | managed to say, her voice shaky. The stranger nodded and continued on his way, disappearing into the crowd. But there was something wrong with the stranger with the way he was dressed.
As the playground returned to its joyful cacophony, | held Jake close, savoring the moment of reunion. The scare had passed, but it left me with a renewed appreciation. for the precious moments | shared with my son and vowed to myself that nothing like this would ever happen again.
SEND GIFT