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

to do anything for her. “I’ll be right back.” Harold said as he stood up. Carla watched him leave the room and lock the door before she grabbed the remote and turned the tv on. “Oh. Woow.” Carla said as she started to flip through the channels. She was amazed at all the shows she could watch though she didn’t know what the people were saying.

“This is amazing.” Carla said as Harold reached the vending machine. “Let’s see.” Carla said before she put a cartoon onto the tv. Harold walked back as he had gotten her a water bottle, not knowing that she was watching tv. “Oh no.” Carla said knowing that Harold would be back soon and then turned the tv off and watched the door open. “Welcome back, daddy.” Carla said as Harold walked into the room. ”Hey, baby girl.” Harold said before he walked to Carla and gave her the water bottle. “Here you go, sweetie.” He said as Carla grabbed the water bottle after Harold opened it for her. Carla drank her water while Harold looked at his phone. “Can I see daddy?” Carla asked as she sat behind Harold. He quickly wiped his tear away and then looked at her.

Chapter 15

“I’m sorry but no.” Harold said as he stood up and turned to Carla. “Are you ready to go?”  Harold said before Carla nodded and got down from the bed. She watched Harold while she walked to the car. “I’ll be there honey, I need to turn in the key.” Harold said after he opened the door for her. “Ok, daddy. I’ll be here.” Carla said as she got into her car seat. “Daddy?” Carla asked before looking next to her and seeing that Harold was gone. “Oh ok.” Carla said to herself while a tear went down her face.

Carla grabbed a hanger and used it to close the door. “I can do this myself. But I still want daddy around.” Carla said before she watched Harold go to the car. “Hey, I am back. Let’s go.” Harold said as he put his seat belt on and started the car. “Daddy, I have a question.” Carla said as Harold looked at Carla in the mirror. “No, you cannot have something to drink. We have to go. I’m sorry, baby girl.” Harold said as he backed up the car onto a man who didn’t see Harold. “That wasn’t what I was going to ask.” Carla said as Harold drove away. “Oh. Well, what did you want to ask?” Harold asked as they continued driving. “I was wondering if we can get rid of this car seat?” Carla asked as he drove on without saying anything. Carla sighed and then gripped the teddy and fell asleep. “I don’t know, baby girl.” Harold said quietly as he pulled over and parked the car. He got out and sat next to the car and started to sob knowing that Carla wasn’t a little girl anymore. “You ok, sir?” A police officer asked as she shined her flashlight in his face. “Oh, uh yeah. Sorry, if I bothered you.” Harold said before the officer shook her head. Harold watched as she got on her knees in front of Harold.

“You didn’t bother me, sir. Just trying to make sure that you are safe.” She said as Harold looked down while standing up. “Yeah, I am fine. Just missing my baby daughter.” Harold said while looking into his car. “Can you explain that, sir?” The officer asked as she saw Carla in the car seat. “Well, the little girl in that car is my daughter, Carla byrd. She isn’t a baby anymore.” he explained before the officer looked at him. “Oh ok, now that makes sense. Well, sir. I understand.” She said as Harold watched her put her flashlight away. “I have a teenage son at home and I sometimes wish he would stay the cute baby he was.” She said as she wiped a tear away with a tissue. Harold nodded as he knew how she felt but didn’t want to say anything to upset her. “Well, anyway. You two enjoy your trip.” The officer said as she walked to her bike. Harold watched as she drove away. “You have a good night, ma’am.” Harold said before he got back into his car and drove away too. 

Carla kept sleeping as Harold smiled, feeling better about Carla growing up. “You are gonna get what you want, baby girl.” He said as he stopped at a nearby park and then got out his phone. “Mr. Kisses?” Carla asked as she woke up. “We haven’t found him yet, honey.” Harold said before getting out and taking Carla out. “Can I at least look for him?” Carla asked as Harold started calling around. “Yeah, go ahead.” Harold said quietly before someone picked up. Carla giggled as she walked away and looked around. “Mr. Kisses? Are you here?” Carla said as she walked into a couple having sex near a creek. “Come out! Come out! Wherever you are.” Carla shouted while the couple fell into the creek. “Oh, you’re not here.” Carla said as a man drove to Harold and bought the car seat. “Are you sure you don’t need this?” The man asked while he transferred the car seat from Harold’s car to his. “Yeah, I am sure. My little girl is grown up.” he said before the man nodded at him. “You have a good night, sir.” The man said while he was getting into his car. Harold smiled watching the man drive away knowing that he was happy.

“Carla! Time to go!” Harold yelled as a car pulled up to them. “Coming, daddy!” Carla said as she turned and started to run to Harold. “Excuse me, sir. Have you seen my slut of a son?” A woman asked as she didn’t know that her son was killed by Carla. “No ma’am, I haven’t seen him. I am sorry to not be of help to you.” Harold said as he picked up Carla. “It’s fine. Sorry to bother you.” The woman said as she got back in her car and backed up. “Hey!” Harold said, hitting the trunk of the woman’s car and then closed the door. Harold loaded his pistol in case the woman got out of her car to yell at him. Harold watched as the woman drove away unfazed by what he did. 

“Fucking bitch.” Harold said to himself before he got into the car. “Daddy, are you ok?” Carla asked as she watched Harold shakingly start the car. “Yeah. Yeah. I’m fine, baby girl.” Harold said as he rubbed his head. “I have a suggestion.” Carla said as she gripped the teddy. ”What is it, honey?” Harold asked as he backed up and started to drive. “Maybe we should go home.” Carla said, making Harold look at her shocked. “Are you sure? We can keep looking for him.” Harold said before Carla shook her head. “You and I are tired of looking.” Carla said before he sighed. “Yeah, I know baby. You're right. It’s time to go home.” Harold said before he turned the car around and drove to the new house.

Chapter 16

Harold didn’t want to admit it but he knew that Carla was done searching for a while. “I love you, daddy.” Carla said before she laid on the back seats holding the teddy. “I love you too, baby girl.” Harold said as he pulled into the town. Harold relaxed as he saw that no one remembered what happened and started to drive to the house. “You’re gonna love it, Honey. A new school, great friends.” Harold said as he stayed quiet smiling as he saw their house. “Yeah, this will be perfect.” Harold said as he got out and took everything out and put everything into the house. “Yay! We’re here!” Carla yelled giggling.

Harold smiled as he watched Carla run around giggling. “Ok, honey. Go pick out the room you want. I have to set everything up. Carla grabbed the teddy and went up the stairs and walked in and looked at all of the rooms while Harold set up the kitchen. “Daddy, why are the rooms empty?” Carla asked as Harold was putting plates away. “Because, sweetie, we are just moving in. We haven't set up our rooms yet.” Harold explained as he looked at her. “Oh ok. Well I chose my room, daddy.” Carla said as Harold smiled. “Ok, sweetie. Give me a minute. I will be right there.” Harold said as Carla left.

 

Imprint

Publication Date: 10-17-2021

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
I dedicate this to Mr bunny. A old bunny I had many years ago. And to an old friend I no longer talk to anymore. If you are out there please be safe wherever you are