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34
JAKE
Molly wrapped her arms around me, her voice trembling. "It's going to be okay, Jake. Hailey just texted me before I came here so she's at least safe. She... she confessed to being behind the blackmail and the fake dating profiles."
I stared at her, my mouth falling open in shock. "What? That doesn't make any sense. Why would she do that?"
Molly shook her head, looking as bewildered as I felt. "She said she wanted you to be happy and that she thought getting us together would... I think she thought she could romance trap us or something and I guess she kind of did."
I sank down onto the couch, my head in my hands. My own daughter, deceiving us like this. It was almost too much to comprehend. "I can't believe this. Let me see. What was she thinking?"
Molly sat beside me, her hand a comforting presence on my shoulder. "She's a kid, Jake. Magical thinking and all that. She made a mistake, a huge one, but her heart was in the right place. She loves you and wants you to be happy."
I was silent for a long moment, trying to process everything. When I finally spoke, my voice was strained. "I just don't understand. How could she think this was okay? Lying, manipulating us... it's so out of character for her."
Molly hesitated, and I could tell she was choosing her words carefully. "I think maybe she got caught up in the idea of us being together. You know how kids can romanticize things. She probably thought she was helping."
I felt a flare of irritation, my head snapping up to meet her gaze. "Romanticize things? Is that what this is about? Is this from you filling her head with fairy tales and happily ever afters?"
Molly flinched, and I instantly regretted my tone. "Jake, that's not fair. I never encouraged Hailey to do anything like this. I would never put ideas like that in her head."
I stood abruptly, running a hand through my hair as I tried to collect my thoughts. "I just don't know what to think anymore, Molly. This whole situation... it's such a mess. And now Hailey's run off, probably scared out of her mind, and I have no idea where to even start looking for her."
Molly's voice rose, her own frustration and fear evident. "You think I don't know that? I'm just as worried about her as you are, Jake! But blaming me isn't going to help us find her any faster."
I sighed, slumping back down onto the couch. Molly was right, but if I hadn't been so distracted by trying to save our relationship, maybe I would have seen what was right in front of my face. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just... I can't believe she would do something like this. I feel like I don't even know her anymore."
"I know, but she's a good kid, Jake. We both know that. And right now, she needs our help. We need to figure out where she went and get home safe."
My phone rang, and I snatched it up, hoping to see Hailey’s name, but it was only spam. I cursed, shoving the phone back into my pocket. "It's no use. She's not answering, and I have no idea where to even start looking."
"Can you do like a find my phone type thing? Parent controls?"
I snapped my fingers. "Yes." My clumsy thumbs brought up the parent control app, but I was hit with a red sign saying Access Denied by Family Manager.
"Shit!" Letting my phone slide out of my hand and on to the couch.
"What is it?"
I shook my head. "A while back when this all started. Hailey hacked the parent controls and removed my access so she could have unlimited screen time. I had gotten all caught up in us that I forgot to have her fix it."
Molly bit her lip, a worried look on her face. "Well, call Natasha and see if she knows and if not, we can organize a search party. Where are places she might go? Are there any places with good memories or make her feel safe?"
I sighed, rubbing my face. "The park, maybe the bookstore, or my old treehouse out by the lake."
"Well, let's go. The sooner we get out there, the sooner we can find her."
This was my fault. I let Hailey down. I had spent so much of her life focused on her happiness that I made her feel responsible for my own. That wasn't healthy.
I jumped up and ran outside, Molly right on my heels. We got into my car and peeled out of the driveway, my tires squealing on the pavement.
My mind was racing as I drove, the wind whipping through the open windows. I stared out the window, trying to fight back the guilt and shame that threatened to overwhelm me. If I had been paying more attention, if I hadn't been so selfish, maybe this never would have happened.
We pulled up to the park, and Molly jumped out of the car before I had even come to a full stop. My heart was pounding, and my palms were sweaty as I climbed out of the car and raced through the trees, frantically calling Hailey's name.
The park was empty, the only sound the rustling of the leaves in the wind and the distant cry of a hawk. I searched every inch of the playground, but there was no sign of her.
I stood in the middle of the playground, my chest heaving, feeling utterly lost and helpless. I turned to Molly, my eyes wild with desperation. "She's not here. We need to keep looking."
