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"Emma, breathe," he says, while taking my hands in his. "We will figure it out."
"But I told him we needed time. Why can't he listen? Doesn't he realize how his actions affect us? He's acting selfish, and not as a father." When Charlotte's face pops up in my head, I break, and a waterfall of tears breaks free. Nick takes me back in his arms and places soft kisses on my hair while I let it out. When the emotions settle down, I say, "It makes no sense, Nick. Charlotte knows better."
"Emma," he says, taking my hands in his. "Charlotte asked me on the drive to school if I thought her father would like her. I said he'd fall in love with her because she's so sweet and funny." He lets out another tense sigh. "So maybe that's why she went with him."
I let go of him, seize my phone from my purse, and dial Thomas's number. It shoots to voicemail, and I leave another message. "Pick up the goddamn phone! Please, Thomas. Please, bring Charlotte home." I hang up and stomp my feet on the ground.
"Emma, sweetheart. I'm going to call the police. This is taking too long.I've got the number of the policewoman that came here yesterday."
The thought of calling the law enforcement makes it so real. This can't be real. But not knowing where my little girl is, and if she's safe, is driving me crazy, so I nod.
Within moments, his call goes through. "Hello, this is Nick Brown." He explains the situation, and after a few minutes, he hangs up.
"And?" I say, while biting my lip.
"They're on their way over to talk with us."
"God, it's been two hours, and she hasn't come home? What if he—?"
"Emma..."
I walk into his open arms and let my head fall against his chest. We stay quiet in this embrace, but when the doorbell rings, I rush over. The two police officers from yesterday stand on the porch and greet me. I let them in.
"Wow, you've been busy," she says, gazing through the clean kitchen. "But let's get right to the point," she continues. "Your six-year-old daughter Charlotte hasn't come home, I understand.”
I nod and as I explain, the police officer writes and takes notes. "Nick ran late, and when he arrived at school, the teacher told him her father picked her up from school. She told him that Thomas said to Charlotte he was bringing her home. But he hasn't."
"Doesn't the school know about her father?"
"Yes, her regular teacher does, but on this day, she had a substitute. When Nick told me what happened, I tried to call Thomas, but he's not picking up. I don't understand it. H-he shows up, after being gone for almost seven years. telling me he wants to meet his daughter. And now he picked her up from school and d-disappears?" Tears flood my eyes. "Please, we need to find her."
"Miss Campbell, we'll treat this as a missing child case because of the situation." The words missing child case send a bone chilling shiver through my body. My baby is missing.
"Why would Mister Green do this?" The policewoman asks me.
"I don't know. Yesterday, he and Charlotte saw each other for the first time. You two were witnesses to that."
They nod.
"And now he has taken her without my consent. Oh, God, what if..." My breath stutters in my lungs before I let it out.
"Emma," the policewoman stops me. "I know it's hard, but please, try to stay calm. My colleague will call the station to get his address.”
I release a deep breath. "So, you will check out his house."
The policewoman nods as the other police officer makes a call.. A few minutes later, they have the address.
"Okay, I need you and Mister Brown to stay here and wait. If they show up here, or they contact you, please call the police station."
"Thank you," I say to the woman.
"Call me Jenny," she says, and I nod. "Since I've got your number, Mister Brown, and you're here with Miss Campbell, is it okay to call you if I know more?"
We both nod, and they're gone we’re two statues standing in a silence room. Numb by everything that is happening, I chant. Please, my sweet cupcake, come back to me.
As time passes, Nick and I are becoming more on edge; with every sound, we jump up and take a peek through the windows. To distract myself, I make us coffee and tell him what happened to Alisha. Then the doorbell rings. We both sprint, and when we open and I see Jenny,my eyes wander to her side and behind her, but she's alone.
"Can I come in?" she asks.
