Her Lost Teddy by Marybeth Hale (beach read .txt) 📖

Carla looked around as Harold backed up the car out of the garage and went to a local bookstore that Carla loved to go to. “Let’s try looking here first.” Harold said as he got out of the car after parking in front of the bookstore. “Ok, daddy.” She said as she got out of the seat and stood on the floor and waited for Harold to get her. Harold walked to her and picked her up after opening her side door before walking in the store. “I love this place.” Carla said as she recognized the store. “I know you do, baby.” Harold said before he put her down and watched her run around while he went to a cashier. “Welcome back, sir. Is there anything I can do for you?” The cashier asked as she watched him. Harold turned to her and smiled. 

Carla ran into all of the aisles still looking while her father explained what was going on. “Mr. Kisses? Where are you?” Carla asked as she saw a man in a bear costume walk into the employee lounge. “Thank god my vacation starts tomorrow.” the man said before Carla stood behind him.

Carla left the employee lounge and went to the boiler room. “Phew.” the man’s coworker said as she walked to a table. “What?” the man said before she shook her head. Carla messed around with the boiler and met Harold and the cashier outside talking. “Oh, there you are, sweetie. Where were you?” Harold said as Carla walked to him. “I still can’t find him.” Carla said and then the cashier picked her up. “Why don’t I come with you guys? I can grab some education books so that while we are on this adventure, you can get some knowledge in your brain and you get another set of eyes.” The cashier said before Harold looked at the both of them and pulled them to the car. As they stood behind the car, Carla watched as the book store exploded. “Watch out!” Harold said as he pulled the cashier down while debris flew everywhere.

“I know this is a bad time, Ma’am. But what’s your name?” Harold said as he opened the door so Carla could go in and get in her seat. “Miranda. What’s yours?” Miranda said as Harold opened the driver's side door. “Get in, Miranda. You are now coming with us.” Harold said as he smiled at her. Marinda excitedly got into Harold’s car and got her seat buckled and then watched as Harold crawled in. “Is anyone ok?” Harold had asked panicked that Carla was hurt. “Nope. I’m fine.” Carla said as Miranda nodded as he relaxed while driving away. “Where are we going now?” Miranda asked as people watched the people go up in flames in horror. “Uhh, I don’t know but we can’t be here.” Harold said while going to the next town. “What? Why not?” Miranda asked as he pulled out his phone and unlocked it before giving Miranda his phone. “I was suspected for murder at a hotel me and Carla was at. She fell down the stairs. I was up in a room having fun with the front desk woman.” Harold said as they waited to get into the next state.

“Oh. Did you do it?” Miranda asked before Harold looked at her. “No, I told you I was already busy.” Harold said and then started to drive more. “But if you didn’t do it. How do you know what happened?” Miranda asked before Harold grabbed his phone and showed her an article. It showed what happened to her and asked the person who did it to confess. “Oh, that’s how. I’m very sorry for questioning you.” Miranda said as Harold pulled up in front of a cafe and Harold got out. “It’s fine. Come one. Let’s get something to eat.” Harold said while grabbing Carla as Miranda also got out. “Maybe we should go to a restaurant for lunch?” Miranda asked as Harold locked the car. “Sounds like a good idea. Let’s walk there.” Harold said before he put Carla on the ground. They all walked to a nearby restaurant and sat at a table. “Well, hello. What a lovely family we have here. How are you all today?” The waitress asked before Miranda and Harold looked at each other. “No. I’m sorry to tell you ma’am. But this is my friend Miranda. She’s helping my daughter.” Harold said as the waitress shook her head.

“Whatever. What do you guys want to eat?” The waitress asked as she lost her nice girl attitude. Carla, Harold and Miranda looked at menus while Carla started to panic again.

“I will take a BLT with seasoned fries, please.” Miranda said as the waitress wrote down her order. “Can I have the kids' chicken meal?” Carla asked before she wrote down Carla’s order. “And you?” the waitress asked before Miranda watched Carla get down. “I will take the sirloin steak and baked potato.” Harold said as the waitress gave him a burger with onion rings instead to spite him. “What a bitch.” Miranda said before Harold chuckled. “Uh, wait. Where’s Carla?” Miranda asked before Harold looked at her. “Oh don’t worry. She is looking for Mr. Kisses.” Harold said as Miranda nodded.

Carla walked around whining quietly until she saw a teddy bear alone and went to it. “Is that yours, sweetie? You can take it if you want?” the man at the front desk said knowing it actually belongs to the rude waitress and her son. Carla smiled as it looked like Mr. Kisses and grabbed it’s paw and ran back to Miranda. “Hurry, take the keys and put the teddy in the car.” Harold said as he handed Miranda the keys as he knew that it wasn’t Mr. Kisses. Miranda nodded and grabbed the teddy and held Carla after she put the keys in her pocket and walked to the car. “Let’s go eat.” Miranda said after she put the teddy in the car next to her car seat. “Yay! I found him. I found him.” Carla said, singing songy as she skipped into the restaurant. Miranda nervously chuckled while Carla got quieter when they got into the restaurant before walking to the table. 

“Is Mr. Kisses safe?” Harold said, winking at Miranda. She smiled at him as she sat in her seat crying inside as she knew that they were lying to Carla. “Yup, he is very safe. But I hope we don’t stop our adventure.” Miranda said before Harold smiled and nodded. “Yay. We are still traveling.” Carla said quietly as their food got there. “Hey, um I asked for steak.” Harold said before the waitress looked at him. “I know you did.” The waitress said as she pulled her notebook out. “You guys want any appetizers? Any drinks?” she said as Miranda and Harold looked at each other. “Uhh, one order chips and salsa. One order of fried mushrooms and I would like some buffalo wings. Please.” Miranda said as the waitress wrote down what she said. “And for drinks we will have two unsweet teas?” Miranda asked while looking at Harold. He nodded, staying quiet knowing that the waitress wouldn’t listen to him. “Ok, and what will your adorable little girl have?” the waitress asked.

Carla looked at the drink menu and pointed at a drink. “A small lemonade, please.” Miranda said before they all gave the waitress their menus. “Ok. I will be back with your food and drinks.” she said walking away and then Harold pulled his phone out. “What are you doing? Get something to eat, hun.” Miranda said while eating her fries. “I will leave a complaint for the waitress.” Harold whispered before Miranda chuckled. Carla looked at the both of them confused as she didn’t know why Harold was doing what he was doing. “Eat, princess. It's alright to eat.” Harold said before he watched Carla start to eat. Harold had put his phone away before their food came from another waitress. “Here you go, everybody. I hope you enjoy it.” she said before Miranda looked at her food smiling.

“What happened to the other waitress, if I may ask?” Miranda asked before the waitress smiled. “Yes, you can. She was being horrible to customers. Someone filed a complaint and she was fired.” The waitress explained as Miranda and Harold smiled at each other. “Sorry for bothering you.” Miranda said as she kept eating as the waitress smiled. “Oh don’t be sorry. Yell if you need anything, please.” she said as she walked away. Harold was surprised how quick the management worked to please their customers. He shook his head and they all started to eat while Harold and Miranda knew that they had stolen a teddy bear so Carla could be content. “There you are. Can we talk to you?” Suvorina asked as she and Felix went to the table. “I guess since you can’t leave me the fuck alone.” Harold said before Miranda stood up in anger. “Listen here, Suvorina. You leave people alone. I’m so sick and tired of you annoying people.” Miranda said, making Suvorina and Harold look at her in surprise. ”You are not subtle. I can hear you talking to you. Trying to prove that this man is not her father.” Miranda said before pointing at Carla. “Now, you will leave this man and his daughter alone or I will report both of you to your superiors.” Miranda said before Suvirina and Felix walked away. “I was gonna ask him about the explosion but alright. But bitch wants alone time, bitch gets alone time.” Suvorina said as she walked away. Felix went back to Harold and Miranda while taking his hat off.

”Harold, I would like to apologize again. She meant well and she didn’t know what to do. We will leave you alone.” Felix said before walking away. “You are a badass.” Harold said while looking at Miranda with