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

Harold asked as Carla pointed at the soup that was in front of her even though he didn’t tell her what she was pointing at. Carla nodded and then wrote down a different order so that she would be happy. “Well, hello there. How can I help you all?” A waitress asked before pulling out a pad of paper. “Wait, aren’t we supposed to leave?” Pearl asked before Harold grabbed Pearl’s hand. “Oh, did you guys get our horrible waitress? I’m so sorry. You don’t have to leave. Can I take your orders?” The waitress asked before Pearl looked at her. “I will take the chef's salad with a sweet tea please.” Pearl said before holding the menu for the waitress to grab.

The waitress finished writing down the order for Pearl before grabbing her menu and looked at Carla. “What would you like?” The waitress asked before Harold gave her the piece of paper. He watched her copy the piece of paper before he looked at the menu again. “And you, sir?” she asked as she finished writing Carla’s orders. “I will take the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and mixed veggies.” Harold said before he gave her his menu. “Alright, I will see y’all when your food is done.” The waitress said as she walked away before Pearl looked at him. “So let me get this straight, the both of you kill people?” Pearl asked quietly so no one would hear them. 

Harold nodded not knowing what Pearl was gonna say. “I like you guys more.” Pearl said as he looked at her shocked. Pearl looked at Harold confused as she didn’t know why he was looking at her like that. “What?” Pearl asked as Carla got onto the floor and looked for the bathroom. “I have never been told that.” Harold said as he looked into Pearl’s eyes. Carla whined as she couldn’t hold it and heard someone get closer to her. “Hey, little girl. Are you ok?” The waitress asked as she stood next to Carla. “I need to pee but I can’t find the bathroom. Can you please help me?” Carla asked as The waitress nodded.

 

Chapter 13

“Of course, I will help you.” The waitress said before she picked up Carla. As Carla tried to stop herself from peeing, The waitress ran to the bathroom and walked in and placed Carla down. Carla reached out and touched the toilet before she pulled her skirt and her underwear down. “I will wait out here.” she said as she stood outside the door while Carla peed in the toilet. “Where is she now?” Harold asked as he noticed that Carla wasn’t there.

A few minutes later, Carla ran to him giggling as she wiped her hands on her shirt. “Oh there you are. Where were you?” Harold said before the waitress came with their food. “That lady that was taking our orders, she helped me to the bathroom and then she brought me near our table after I washed my hands.” Carla said as Harold looked at her smiling. Harold was excited to hear that Carla could wash her hands. “That’s great sweetie.” Harold said before grabbing some napkins and then dried her hands. “Time to eat. Y’all enjoy your food.” The waitress said before walking away. As they all ate, Harold had received a mysterious text from an unknown number. “That’s creepy.” Harold said before Pearl looked at him while eating her food. “What’s wrong?” Pearl asked before she took a drink.

“I got a text from someone I don’t know.” Harold said as Carla and Pearl immediately stopped eating. “Well? What does it say?” Carla asked as she held Harold’s arm as he read the text. “It says ‘I have your bear. Come and get it.’ and then he sent an address.” Harold said, making Pearl spat out her food. “What’s wrong?” Harold said as Pearl immediately got up and ran to his car. “Baby, let’s go.” Harold said as he saved all of their food and went to the car and unlocked the doors. Carla got in her seat before Harold closed the door and then went and got into the front seat. “Where are we going?” Harold asked as Pearl wrote down an address of a high bridge. “Ok.” Harold said as he drove to the bridge not knowing what’s going to happen. Carla gripped the teddy as she slept. 

“Pull over.” Pearl said as they got to half of the bridge. “Pearl, what’s going on?” Harold asked before pulling over. Pearl got out without saying a word and walked to the railing. “Carla, stay here. I will be back.” Harold said as he undone his seat belt. He walked to her before running towards the railing as Pearl jumped off with Harold grabbing her shirt. “What the hell are you doing?” Harold asked, placing his feet on the railing trying to pull her up. “Get off! I have to do this.” Pearl said, trying to shake Harold off, unknowingly sliding him off of the rail. “No. Come on. We can talk about this.” Harold said before Pearl fell from the railing and hit the ocean killing her instantly  “Finally, She is out of my way. Now we can find Mr. Kisses the way I want.” Carla said as she looked around and felt a box of contacts.

Carla grabbed a set of contacts and put them on and smiled as she looked up. Harold walked to the car pretending to be sad though he was happy that Pearl was gone. “Hey, I can see again!” She said as she grabbed the teddy and got into the seat next to Harold. “What was that dear?” Harold said as he got in and put his seat belt on. “I can see again, daddy!” Carla said smiling before Harold hugged her crying. “Oh, baby girl. I’m so glad to hear.” Harold said as Carla held onto him. “Um, daddy. We have to go.” Carla said before Harold let her go and wiped his tears away. “Oh yeah, you are right. Let’s go.” Harold said as he started the car and drove away. 

Harold was amazed to know that Carla could now see. “So how does it feel to see again?” He said as they drove into a town. ”It feels amazing.” Carla said, smiling as she looked around. She loved the fact that she could see again. “I hope we find him soon.” Harold said as he pulled into a motel and helped Carla out of the car. “I’ll be right there. Please sit down in the office.” Harold said before he watched Carla go into the office. After Carla walked into the office, Harold started to sob on his steering wheel. “Ohh, pearl.” Harold sobbed while he rewatched her falling into the ocean in his mind. “I wish I could’ve saved you.” He said as he looked up at the stars hoping she was watching. “Pearl, if you are watching. Please know that I am sorry.” Harold said before he sat up and wiped his tears away with a tissue.

Chapter 14

Harold got out of his car and walked into the issue and went to the front desk. He knew that Carla was looking for Mr. Kisses. “Um, where’s your little girl?” The woman asked as she noticed that Carla was gone. “Oh, don’t worry. My little Carla can save herself.” Harold said while a tear went down his face. “But she’s gone.” The woman said before Harold chuckled as he signed in for a room. 

The woman shook her head and grabbed a key for a room and gave it to Harold. “Carla! Come on! Let’s get some sleep.” Harold said as they both heard a scream from the back. Harold smiled as he watched Carla run to him and then picked her up. “You two have a good night. I need to see what’s going on.” The woman said as Harold walked to their room. “Mr. Kisses weren't here again?” Harold asked as he watched Carla fall asleep. Harold chuckled as they reached their room and then he unlocked the door. “Goodnight, My princess.” Harold said as he laid Carla on the bed and then behind her before he fell asleep. As he slept, Harold kept seeing Pearl’s disappointed face when she saw that he was trying to save her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t good enough.” Dream Pearl said before she let go of his hand, making him wake up in tears. While he breathed heavily, Harold stood up and looked at Carla as she slept. “Don’t worry baby. I won’t stay out too long.” Harold whispered before giving her head a kiss and then walked to the door. He grabbed his wallet and made sure that he had money.

“Ok. Good thing.” Harold said quietly before he went out of the room and locked it so no one could kidnap Carla. “Let’s go and get something to eat.” Harold said as he walked to the nearby snack machine. As he looked over all the snacks, his stomach started to grumble. “I know that I have enough to pay for all of these. But I must save my money.” Harold said before he paid for a bag of chips. “Now it's time to go back.” Harold said to himself as he turned around and walked to the room again. A whisper could be heard in the wind as Harold walked back to the room, opening his bag of chips. Harold looked up and then looked around as he heard someone whispering. “Hello? Is anyone out there?” Harold said before hearing a crashing sound and running into the room scared. “Daddy? What’s wrong?” Carla asked while rubbing her eyes. “Nothing baby. Try to get some more sleep.” Harold said as he sat on the bed. Carla laid back and tried to fall back asleep. “Daddy, I can’t sleep.” Carla said as she sat up and then sat next to Harold. “Well, that’s fine. I would rather hang out with my princess.” Harold said, wrapping his arms around her as they watched out the window eating chips.

“Daddy, I have a question.” Carla said as she grabbed another chip. “Yes, my darling? You can ask for anything.” Harold said as he looked at Carla. “Can you please go and get me something to drink? I am really thirsty.” Carla said as Harold nodded at her. Harold thought that she was about to ask why the world was the way it was but He was willing