“Yeay! Today, Little Prince is taking a walk to the park,” Gabriella exclaimed as she put a panda jumpsuit on her son’s head.
As if he understood what his mother said, the baby smiled while putting his hands together. His round eyes were sparkling.
Witnessing such a response, the father who had been watching his son all that time, laughed. “He looks really happy,” Max said, letting Cayden hold his forefinger.
“Of course. This is his first trip,” Gabriella said as she checked the equipment on the side of the bed. After a while, the woman closed the bag and carried it. “Everything is ready. Let’s go.”
“Is Auntie coming along?” Max asked, lifting Cayden in his arms.
“No. She complained that her knees hurt. So, Lena is accompanying us,” Gabriella replied as she opened the bedroom door and closed it when her husband had passed.
After nodding, Max walked side by side with his wife. When they turned towards the stairs, a servant was ready with a stroller.
“Shall we go now, Madam?” the young girl asked enthusiastically.
Gabriella nodded with a smile. “Yes.”
The servant spontaneously screamed while clenching her fists.
“Why is she so happy?” Max asked with brows furrowed faintly.
“She can’t wait to add Cayden’s photo collection to her account. Do you know? Since Lena uploaded our Little Prince’s pictures, her followers have grown drastically,” Gabriella whispered as she looked at the few steps left.
“Is that true? How many?”
Once on the ground floor, the woman asked the servant. “Lena, how many followers does your social media account have now?”
The girl’s index finger automatically raised beside her wide smile.
“One thousand?” Max guessed as he continued to pat Cayden’s plump butt.
“More than that, Sir.”
“A hundred thousand?”
Again, the young servant shook her head. “One million.”
The man’s eyes suddenly widened at his wife. “Is it because of Cayden?”
Gabriella nodded. “Right. Your son is famous on social media.”
“Wow …” Max sighed in disbelief. “You’ll have to show me the pictures of the Little Prince later.”
“No problem,” Gabriella said with an amused smile. “How about we go now? Don’t let the sun get too high.”
With a cheerful face, Cayden clapped his hands under his father’s face. He seemed impatient to see the world behind the walls of his house.
***
“Wow, he is so cute!” a woman in sportswear exclaimed. Her running speed slowed as she watched the baby wearing a panda costume.
“I want to eat his cheeks,” another woman beside her said.
After the two strangers had left, there was another exclamation from an old woman walking leisurely from the opposite direction.
“Oh my God! Your baby is so cute,” the woman said as she approached. Her spontaneous presence made Cayden’s eyeballs flutter. The cheerful expression on the baby’s face had left no trace.
“Thank you, Grandma,” Gabriella said while waving the Little Prince’s hand. However, faint wrinkles began to appear on the baby’s thin eyebrows.
“Can I take a picture with him? He reminds me of my grandson,” the old woman said with a hopeful face.
After meeting her husband’s gaze, Gabriella finally nodded. “Sure.”
In just an instant, the old woman’s smile widened. “Honey, please take our picture,” she said while waving to her husband.
“Wait a minute,” the old man who was forced to take his cell phone out of his pocket, sighed.
Unable to bear to see the wrinkled hands shaking when holding the phone, Gabriella glanced at Lena and sent a signal. A second later, the young girl offered a helping hand. “Would you like me to take the picture, Sir?”
“That’s much better. Thank you, Young Lady.”
As soon as she saw the servant reach for the cell phone, the old woman immediately took a position closer to Cayden. However, when her hand was about to touch the baby’s tiny fingers, suddenly, the sound of crying began to be heard. Tears rolled down the Little Prince’s plump cheeks.
“Oh, are you scared, Cayden?” Gabriella asked, rubbing her son’s face.
A second later, the baby’s hand was raised towards her. Inevitably, Max handed Cayden into his wife’s arms.
“Sorry, Grandma. Our son has never met a stranger,” Max lightened the situation. Luckily, his words were greeted by a small laugh.
“No problem. It’s actually good if he cries every time a stranger approaches him. That will reduce the chances of baby kidnapping that’s rampant again these days.”
“Baby kidnapping? That’s scary,” Gabriella said as she fondled Cayden.
With a serious look, the old woman whispered. “Therefore, take good care of your son. Never take your eyes off him.”
Max and Gabriella automatically nodded. A second later, they stroked the back of the baby who had started to stop crying.
“Thanks, Grandma,” Gabriella said after she managed to calm Cayden down.
“You’re welcome.”
As the old couple left, Max leveled the gaze with the baby who rested his cheek on his mother’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Cayden. Daddy and Mommy will always take care of you.”
“Right. We will never be separated,” Gabriella whispered before turning the baby in her arms, to look forward. “Now, how about we sit on that bench? Cayden can relax and look around easily there.”
After a nod from Max, they sat down on the bench.
“Madam, do you still allow me to take photos of Young Master?” Lena asked doubtfully.
“Of course you can. But, after he’s cheerful again,” Gabriella answered while letting her son sit on her lap. A second later, Cayden was watching the world through the agile movement of eyeballs.
“Do you think we are too late to introduce Little Prince to the outside world?” Max asked, waving his son’s hand with his index finger.
After a moment of silence, the woman shook her head. “I don’t think so. Doctor said now is the best time to take Cayden for a walk.”
Seeing the small frown on her husband’s eyebrows, Gabriella raised the corners of her lips. “Are you worried if Cayden becomes a coward?” she guessed accurately.
“You know we want him to grow up tough, Gaby,” Max said before kissing the baby’s tiny hand.
“Don’t worry, Max. In several months, I’m sure he will be running bravely in this park.”
***
“Cayden, slow down,” Lena shouted, running behind the Young Master.
Seeing the servant panting, Gabriella laughed. While catching the Little Prince who had stopped hugging her legs, she exclaimed, “Time to rest! Cayden’s been sweating.”
A second later, the woman lifted her son onto her lap. Gently, she wiped the sweat off his son’s forehead and neck.
“Do you have fun today?”
“Ya … ya ….”
Gabriella chuckled at her son’s cuteness.
“Too bad Mr. Max isn’t here today. If he comes along, Young Master will definitely be happier,” Lena said while sitting beside the lady.
“It’s not a problem. Cayden can play with his father again next week. Do you agree, Cayden?” Gabriella asked as she rubbed the Little Prince’s nose with hers. The baby immediately laughed while holding his mother’s cheek.
After a while, Cayden put his tiny fingers in his mouth. “Kim … kim …” he said incoherently.
Because of the signal, Gabriella’s eyes opened wide. “Do you want some ice cream?” the woman asked with raised eyebrows.
“Kim … kim …” Little Prince repeated the words.
Knowing the request, Gabriella sighed. “Max shouldn’t give you ice cream last week.”
“Do you want me to buy some ice cream, Madam?” the servant asked in a rumbling breath that had not subsided.
Feeling pity, Gabriella shook her head. “Please take care of Cayden. I’ll buy it by myself,” the woman said as she placed her son in the stroller.
“Little Prince, Mom will buy you some ice cream. Don’t be naughty. Understand?” she said while stroking his son’s head. As if he understood that his mother would go to grant his wish, Cayden smiled.
“Lena, don’t be careless. Take good care of Cayden,” Gabriella said as she walked away with her purse.
Unbeknownst to the woman, a pair of eyes were peeking out from behind a large tree. Little Prince was in danger.