Without thinking, I grabbed my keys and raced out the door, refreshing the app nonstop. The location remained unchanged—it was still at the terminal. I rushed inside, scanning the crowd, breathless.
Then I spotted it—Lily’s backpack. And right next to it, Lily, Jessica… and to my surprise, Daniel and Brenda.
My emotions surged. “What is going on?” I demanded.
Jessica looked shocked. Daniel stayed calm, and Brenda greeted me like it was a casual get-together.
“Oh, don’t make a scene,” she said with a smile.
Lily ran into my arms, excitedly telling me, “Mommy! They said we’re going to the beach!”
I asked her who told her that. She pointed at Brenda.
“You were taking her out of state?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “Without letting me know?”
Daniel replied, “We’re taking her for some fresh air and sunshine. It’ll help her recover faster.”
“She has a cold,” I said, confused. “She doesn’t need a vacation. She needs rest.”
Brenda chimed in, “We thought a little ocean air would help.”
Jessica suddenly realized something was wrong. “Wait… you told me Charlotte was meeting us here! You said she knew about the trip!”
I turned to her. “Jessica, I didn’t know. You were misled.”
Her face fell. “I’m so sorry. I never would’ve brought her here if I knew.”
Security staff nearby began to take notice. They asked questions, wanting to understand the situation. Daniel insisted they meant well, but the facts spoke for themselves: travel plans had been made, belongings packed, and no attempt to communicate with me.
“This isn’t okay,” I told them firmly. “This crossed a line.”
After a tense few minutes, I picked Lily up, thanked security for their help, and left with my daughter. Jessica followed us outside, sincerely apologizing. She had clearly been caught in the middle and never intended for things to unfold like this. I reassured her that I didn’t blame her and promised to talk more later.
As I carried Lily to the car, her arms wrapped tightly around me, I felt a mix of relief and renewed determination.
They had overstepped a boundary, and they would come to understand one thing clearly: no one makes decisions about my daughter without me.
They thought they could take control.
They were wrong.