The Fall Bride (TSBS-3) ON HOLD

Chapter Eight

The first symptom of love in a young man is shyness; the first symptom in a woman, it's boldness. ― Victor Hugo.

Janet Julien

"Mommy?"

Although groaning, I smiled as I opened my eyes to meet the emerald eyes. 

"You sneaky little boy. There's no school for you. Why did you wake up so early?" I croaked out and checked the time on my phone. When I saw the 7:00 AM flash on the screen, I widened my eyes dramatically and jumped over his little body, tickling his stomach as he giggled. 

"Stop! I will pee!" Caden shrieked in between laughs and I sat up quickly. 

"Oh, no! It's an emergency!" I jumped out of the bed and cradled him, flying him into the bathroom. After freshening up Caden, I sent him back to the bedroom to clean up after myself. When I came out to the room, I heard a door opening out on the corridor. 

As I opened the door to check, I found the owner of the house in the midst of closing his own bedroom door, albeit sneakily dressed in running outfit. 

Caden lodged in through the opening and caught him in the act as well. "Good morning! Where are you going?"

Ivan stopped short and smiled nervously. "Good morning. I always go for a run in the park near." When I didn't say anything, he offered hesitantly. "Anyone want to join?"

"I thought we were on house arrest." I cocked my hip to the doorsill and inclined my head haughtily.

He grimaced at his own rule then checked his watch. "It's still early. Nobody would be out now."

Before I could come up with a sharp remark, Caden perked up. "Mommy, let us go. I want to see the park here."

"Dress warmly." Ivan hastily said as he turned away as if he knew I couldn't refuse my son. "I'll wait downstairs."

After I closed the door, I dropped my hands on my hips. "Since when did we go for jogging, Cade?"

"We always walked to school." My smart ass son replied, and I mutely started dressing him in a tracksuit. After putting on a jacket and sneakers, I pulled the excited child downstairs where we met the tensed man for his first outing with us.

The sun had barely peeked from within the white clouds as we walked past the streets of a secluded neighborhood by the beach. There was a slight glow in the sky, but the morning hadn't come blazing yet. True enough, there weren't enough people roaming around in the streets. It was a good thing that the three of us were early risers.

Ivan had dawned a jacket, fully zipped till his chin with a track pant as he was ready to run miles. No wonder he had a lean body, definitely from regular morning runs. Caden and I was walking on a normal pace, but I knew, Ivan was holding himself back.

As soon as we reached the park, I told him. "Why don't you do your thing? I'll show Cade around."

He looked down at Caden, squatting down over a flower bed and studying it like he was on a research trip, not a leisure stroll. 

"I'll do a lap around and come back quick. Stay near here."

After pointedly ordering me with his eyes, he zoomed ahead, showing off his stamina and fitness. I wasn't as adverse on regular exercise like he was with running and gym equipments back at home, because my exercise comes from regular house chores and transportation by feet. Caden, on the other hand, loved to sit down and do his thing alone. So, it was a struggle to make him do physical activities.

But looking down at him being so actively involved in scanning all the flowers and plants in the park, I had a feeling Caden was trying to show off as well. He wasn't someone who would go out to a park in the morning. I smiled realizing as much as Ivan wanted Caden to like him, Caden did the same. It was pretty obvious from the way he kept on twisting his head, and throwing glances at the direction where Ivan had ran off to.