I CAME HOME TO FIND MY DAUGHTER AND THE BABYSITTER MISSING

— THE AIRTAG SHOWED THEY WERE AT THE AIRPORT

What was supposed to be a simple babysitting day turned into my worst nightmare when I came home and found my daughter and the babysitter gone. When I learned what had happened, who was involved, and why, my anger skyrocketed.

My ex-husband, Daniel, and I divorced two years ago. His mother, Brenda, never liked me, but strangely, after the divorce, she began acting more cordial.

Earlier that week, my five-year-old daughter, Lily, caught a cold. Since the daycare doesn’t accept sick children and I didn’t want to ask Daniel or Brenda for help, I asked Jessica — my trusted babysitter — to look after her. Jessica had been caring for Lily for months, and I trusted her completely.

That Friday, I even picked up some soup on my way home to cheer Lily up. But the moment I stepped inside, I knew something was wrong. The house was silent. Too silent.

“Lily?” I called. “Jessica?”

Nothing.

I quickly searched the living room, kitchen, and Lily’s bedroom. Empty. I pulled out my phone and called Jessica. It rang and rang, then went to voicemail. That’s when I noticed — Lily’s favorite pink backpack was gone. The one she never left home without.

Then I remembered: inside that backpack was an AirTag.

With shaking hands, I opened the tracking app. The location popped up — the airport.

My blood ran cold. I grabbed my keys and drove, checking and refreshing the location the entire way. Still at the airport.

When I arrived, I rushed inside, scanning the crowd frantically. Then I saw it — the pink backpack. And next to it… Jessica. But she wasn’t alone. Daniel and Brenda were there too.

“What the hell is going on?!” I shouted.

Brenda smiled like nothing was wrong.
“Oh, Charlotte, no need to make a scene.”

“Mommy!” Lily cried, running into my arms and clutching my jacket.
“They said we were going to the beach.”

I froze.
“The beach? Who said that?”

She pointed at Brenda.

“You were taking her out of state without telling me?!” My voice shook with rage.

Brenda sighed dramatically.
“Charlotte, honestly—”

Daniel cut in, his tone cold.
“We’re taking her for treatment. You’re overreacting.”

“Treatment? She has a cold!” I snapped.

“Sun and ocean air will cure her,” Brenda said, waving her hand. “We already booked a resort for two weeks.”

My stomach turned. Jessica’s eyes widened.
“Wait—what? You told me she knew and that she’d meet us here!”

“You thought you could just take her?!” I yelled.

Daniel rubbed his temples.
“We thought she’d be better off with us for a while.”

“This is kidnapping!” I shot back.

Brenda’s fake smile faltered.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. This is just a misunderstanding.”

I laughed bitterly.
“Misunderstanding? You lied to the babysitter, packed my daughter’s things, and bought plane tickets. What do you call that?!”

Daniel muttered, “We just made sure she didn’t worry too much.”

Brenda made one last attempt.
“Charlotte, darling, we were only trying to help Lily.”

“If you ever try to ‘help’ like this again,” I said sharply, “you will never see her again.”

Jessica hurried over, apologizing.
“I didn’t hear my phone ring. When we got here, Daniel and Brenda were already waiting, so I went to them. I’m so sorry, Charlotte. I should’ve known better.”

I hugged Lily tightly. Jessica waved goodbye, and Lily gave her a small, hesitant wave back.

As I carried my daughter to the car, I knew this was far from over.