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"If I were your father, I would slap myself for ever leaving you. "
Teary eyed she removes her seatbelt and launches herself at me. "Thank you, Giant."
"You're welcome. Now stop worrying and have fun at school."
She lets go and rolls her eyes. "Today, we have a new teacher. Someone I don't know. Let's hope she's smart."
I chuckle. "I'll see you later, Smarty.”
She nods, and after opening the car door, she jumps out and waves. I wave back, and I wait until she's through the school doors to let out an empty breath. God, that sweet girl doesn't deserve to feel insecure about her father.She deserves to be and feel unconditionally loved by both her parents. As I drive off my phone rings and I answer it on the car kit when I see who it is.
"Good morning, Nero.”
"Morning, Nick.Do you have time to chat about business?"
" I sure do."
Nero and I talk and as I enter my office we continue our conversation through video chat. We are discussing new hotel locations, when my attention falls on my watch.
"Shit, Charlotte." I turn my attention to the screen. “Nero, I got to go. I'll call you later."
Without waiting for his reaction, I break the connection, grab my phone, and run out of the office. God, how could I forget? Ignoring the speed limits through town, I arrive at the school, thirty minutes late. I jump out of the car, and as I jog my eyes wander over the schoolyard in search of Charlotte. When I don't see her, I make my way inside and stop the first person I see.
"I'm here to pick up Charlotte Campbell. Do you know where I can find her?"
The young woman takes me in. "Who is her teacher?"
"Uh, I… I don't know. But she told me she had a new teacher today?"
"Oh, then she must be in Miss Douglas’s class. Follow me."
While I follow the young woman through the hallways, I’m peeking through every window in search of that sweet face. When she stops and opens a door, I gaze inside.
"Hello, Heather. This man is here to pick up one of your pupils. Charlotte Campbell."
My eyes room through the class. "Where is she? I ask."
The woman blinks and my nerves sky rocket when she comes our way while biting on her bottom lip.. "Uh… who are you?"
"I'm the one who's supposed to pick Charlotte up?"
"Oh... then there must have been a misunderstanding, because her father already picked her up."
"What?" I boom.
The woman's cheeks turn instant red, and she explains when she sees my angry face.
"Charlotte was standing near me when a man came up to her. When I asked her who he was, she said it was her father. So, I assumed it was okay and focused on a few other children who were still waiting to be picked up."
"Fuck." I roam my hands through my hair, turn, and without saying another word, I run out of the building. My legs speed up and my brain fires prayers as I run to my car.
With top speed I drive to Emma's house. Please, let her be there. But bile rises in my throat when there isn't another car parked in the driveway as I arrive. Coming to the back door my gut clenches. I call out her name the moment I step over the threshold. "Charlotte?"
After calling out to her while storming through the entire house, I find myself back in the kitchen leaning my hand on the counter. What have I done?
Knowing what to do, I grab the phone. With trembling fingers I hit the speed dial number, and after two rings, Emma answers, "Hey, handsome. Are you two having fun?"
With a pounding heart, sweaty palms and a ball in my throat, I answer. "Emma, there has been a misunderstanding at school.”
Right away, her breath hitches. "What do you mean?"
I swallow before continuing. "I ran late, and when I arrived at school, they told me someone else picked her up."
"Who picked her up, Nick?" Without dragging this moment out any longer, I answer.
"Thomas did. And he hasn't brought her home yet. I'm at your house, but they aren't here."
"Oh, God… No!" I hear her cry, and my heart shatters.
What have I done? Where is Charlotte?
