Chapter 6 - The Handwritten Note
Grant opened the folded note.
Lauren’s handwriting was neat.
Almost cheerful.
Be good.
Mrs. Hall will check on you.
We will call tonight.
Grant turned it over.
On the back was a grocery list.
Milk.
Bread.
Cereal.
Frozen meals.
Daisy stared at the page.
“I never saw that side.”
Grant had.
When he arrived at the house, the refrigerator contained one carton of milk, three yogurts, and an expired package of deli meat.
The freezer was empty.
No frozen meals had been purchased.
The list was not preparation.
It was evidence of a plan abandoned halfway through.
Grant held the note toward Lauren.
“You wrote this.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Ethan looked at her.
“That is your handwriting.”
“I wrote a list. I didn’t write the message.”
Toby spoke again.
“You wrote it in the car.”
Lauren spun toward him.
“What?”
“You had the yellow paper.”
His toy airplane dropped slightly in his hand.
“You said Daisy would think Mrs. Hall was coming.”
Lauren’s face emptied.
Ethan stepped away from her.
“You told me the neighbor agreed.”
Lauren turned to him.
“You agreed she should stay.”
“I agreed because you said someone would be there.”
“You wanted this trip as much as I did.”
Daisy began crying again.
Not loudly.
Just tears sliding down her face while the adults blamed each other.
Grant crouched beside her.
“None of this is your fault.”
She wiped her cheek.
“Did Dad want me there?”
Grant looked at Ethan.
So did everyone else.
Ethan opened his mouth.
No words came.
That silence hurt Daisy more than any answer could have.
Grant stood.
“You will not speak to her again until she chooses to hear you.”
Ethan looked desperate.
“I’m her father.”
“Then start behaving like one.”
Lauren’s voice sharpened.
“You cannot take her.”
Grant lifted the recorder.
May you like
“I already did.”
👉 Grant had brought Daisy to Florida for one reason—but he had no intention of returning her to the people who abandoned her.
