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

a smile on his face. “Well, I could hear them back at the bookstore and then they came here. It gets annoying.” Miranda shrugged before wiping her face with a napkin. “Yeah, I agree to that.” Harold said as they all finished their meals and started eating their appetizers. “Brittany, no!” the nice waitress yelled as she was not allowed onto the property. Brittany slapped Carla and picked her up forcefully. “Alright, you little shit. Where’s my son’s teddy bear?” Brittany said before Miranda grabbed Carla as she screamed her head off as tears ran down her face. “Miranda, take Carla to the car.” Harold said as Brittany watched them leave. “Oh no. She isn't leaving.” Brittany said, starting to follow her before Harold grabbed her and punched her as she got close to the car. “Yes, she is and you aren’t gonna follow us.” Harold said before they all got in the car and drove away.

“Oh no.” Harold said as he looked behind him. “Yeah, we are in trouble.” Miranda said as they drove to stores still looking for Mr. Kisses. “What are we here for?” Carla asked as they went to a toy store. “We are looking to see if our surprise is here.” Miranda said before getting out and walking into the store. “How can I help you, ma’am?” An assistant asked as Miranda looked around. “I’m just looking around, today. Thanks though.” Miranda said before she walked down the many aisles. “Come to me if you need anything, please.” He said before walking around and helping other people. After a few minutes, Miranda walked out with a bag blushing bright red and then put the bag in the back seat and went and sat next to Harold. “What happened in there?” Harold asked as he started the car. “I was looking for something and I saw a type of teddy bear I had from my childhood and I bought it.” Miranda said while sinking into her seat.

“Oh boy.” Harold said as he started to drive while Carla giggled before crying as the teddy fell. Miranda reached back and got the teddy and gave it to Carla. After Carla grabbed and held the teddy bear, Miranda smiled as she watched Carla slowly fall asleep. Harold groaned as Miranda looked at him confused. “She’s starting to figure out that it isn’t Mr. Kisses.” Harold whispered before looking up scared. “We have limited time now.” Miranda said before Harold nodded. They knew that she was slowly realizing it.

A half an hour later, Carla woke up and then threw the teddy onto the floor crying her eyes out waking Miranda up. “Oh, crap.” Miranda said as she looked at the teddy bear. “I know, Miranda.” Harold said as he pulled over to rub his eyes. “Do you want me to drive?” Miranda asked while watching Harold pull out his phone. “Nah. I will just look for a motel and then drive there, have Carla look for Mr. Kissy, and then grab something to eat and keep up the search.” Harold said as Miranda looked at him.

Chapter 9

 She sat back and looked out of the window while watching the stars. “Have you thought about remarrying?” Miranda asked before Harold looked at her shocked. “Where did you get that idea?” Harold asked as he started the car up again. “Well, Carla needs a mom and I always wanted to be one. And I thought you wanted some help.” Miranda said as she looked down. “No, I'm fine.” Harold said as he started to drive. “Oh ok.” Miranda said while she started to feel hurt. “If I give you my address, will you take me home?” She asked before Harold nodded. She had felt like she didn’t belong there. 

Harold and Miranda stayed silent as he drove to her house. “I’m sorry if I said something that offended you.” Miranda said before she got out and closed the door. Harold pulled out a gun and instantly shot her in the stomach and drove away. “What happened daddy?” Carla asked as she rubbed her eyes. “Nothing, sweetie. Go back to sleep.” Harold said as he saw the house fade into the distance. “But I am hungry.” Carla said before he looked at her. “Yeah, so am I.” Harold said before he pulled into a diner. “You go in, hun. I have to do some cleaning.” Harold said as he got out and took Carla out of her seat and put her on the ground. Carla grabbed the teddy and walked in with it even though she knew it wasn’t Mr. Kisses.

“Oh well, I will keep the teddy so I can have something to sleep with.” Harold said to himself as he cleared out rotting food. Harold wanted her to have food ready for when she was hungry but the one thing that scared him was to also lose his daughter. “I may have lost my love and my friend. But I’m not losing my daughter.” Harold said before he walked into the diner and joined her. A waitress walked to them as if she was getting ready to throw Carla out. “Is this your girl?” She asked as she pointed at Carla. “Yes, she is. Why? What did she do?” Harold asked, smiling as he didn’t believe that Carla did anything wrong. “She came in and lied to me that you were coming. Now I believe her. Here let me get you two menus.” She said as she walked away. “Did you think I did something bad?” Carla asked before Harold smiled and rubbed her head. “No, sweetie. I never believe you do anything bad.” Harold said as the woman came back with two menus. 

“Here you lovely folks go. I will leave to give you two sometime.” She said as she walked away and then she walked to the back to smoke. “I will be right back, daddy.” Carla said as she got down from her seat and then walked around still looking for Mr. Kisses. “Mr. Kisses?” Carla asked as she scared the waitress, making her swallow her cigarette and fall to the ground. Carla walked back in and went to her seat as another waitress went to them. “Good evening, what can I get you both tonight?” The other waitress asked as she pulled out a pad of paper. “Can I get the chicken strip basket with a sprite?” Harold asked as Carla looked over the menu. “Any appetizers?” the waitress asked before Harold shook his head. “No, thanks ma’am.” Harold said while he watched Carla. “Alright, for appetizers I will take the mozzarella sticks. And for the main course I will have grilled cheese with fries.” Carla said as she gave the waitress her menu. “Actually, for the appetizer I will take your zesty nachos.” Harold said before he gave her the menu while she wrote down their orders.

“Ok, I will come back with your food.” The waitress said as she walked away. “I wonder where the other one went.” Harold said as Carla stayed quiet. Harold knew that there was something wrong but he didn’t want to make her upset. “Hey, look’s what is here.” Harold said as he smiled seeing Carla’s face light up as their food got there. Harold loved to see her smile when she lost the ability to smile. “It’s so good to see that smile again.” Harold said while Carla ate her food with a smile on her face. Carla put a fake smile on her face so that her father didn’t know how upset she was getting. “You know you can talk to me, right?” Harold asked as he looked at her. “Yes, daddy.” Carla said while eating her food. Harold watched as Carla looked around and chuckled a little. "Daddy, this isn't funny." Carla said before Harold noticed that her eyes was now pure white and then he waved his hand infront of her face. "Oh no." Harold said before paying for their meal and then rushing Carla to the nearest hospital and checked her in.

"Am I going to be ok daddy?" Carla asked as tears went down her face. "Yes, baby. I will make sure you will be ok." Harold said as they waited for a doctor. A half an hour later, Harold sighed happily as he watched a doctor walk to them. "What's wrong with this little girl?" The doctor said as he started to write on a clip board. "Sir, my daughter is having problems with her sight. We were wondering if you could help." Harold said as he held Carla close. The looked at Harold and Carla as a frown appeard on his face before he sighed putting his pencil behind his ear.

Chapter 10

“Come with me please.” The doctor said before Harold picked up Carla. Harold looked around as they walked to an examination room. “How long did you work in this business?” He asked as they got closer to the room. “Many years. What do you do to support your little girl?” the doctor asked before they walked into the room. “I am a therapist. I will go to my patients' houses.” Harold lied hoping the doctor didn’t see through his lie. The doctor smiled at him and watched as he put Carla onto the examination chair. “Now, when did this little problem start to affect her?” the doctor asked as he tested her eyes.

“Two hours ago. I didn’t want to waste time getting her here.” Harold explained as he looked around, starting to feel nervous. “I understand. Where is her mother?” The doctor asked as he held up a pen. Harold looked away, staying quiet and watched as the doctor did some tests before looking at Harold waiting for an answer. “She committed suicide. A few months ago. I was taking my daughter on a trip.” Harold said quietly so that Carla couldn’t hear him. The doctor nodded as he knew how the both of them felt. “I understand. I lost my wife years ago. I still think about her. But I am happy now.” The doctor said before he shook his head and stood up and looked at Harold. 

“She is blind. I mean completely blind. I suggest you two go home and adjust to your normal lives.” The doctor had said before Harold grabbed a phone cable. Harold started to strangle the doctor in a blind rage. “Fucking bastard!” Harold yelled and then watched the doctor’s lifeless body fall to the ground. “You swore, daddy. That wasn’t