It rang three times and went to voicemail, so I hung up and called again, only to get the same result. Since Miranda was all I could think about all day, I decided to leave her a special message. Sometimes she took weeks to listen to them, so she would really get a kick out of it.
Hey, Baby, it’s me, your totally awesome, madly in love, husband. I was calling to hear your pretty voice and your southern twang, but got your voicemail instead. Miranda, I love you so much. I can’t even explain how happy you make me. You’ve given me more than I could have ever asked for. There isn’t a second out of the day, where I am not grateful for the life we have. I love you with all of my heart. I love the family we’ve made and look forward to our beautiful future together.
Can’t you just see it? Can’t you see us with gray hair, sitting at those late night football games. I’ll be the dad with one eye on my football playing sons, and the other on our daughter, who if she looks anything like you, I will need to carry a gun to fight off all of those horny teenage boys.
God, I am so glad I have you, Baby. I’m almost to Izzy’s school, so I gotta go. I missed you today and I can’t wait to kiss those lips and see your pretty smile.
I love you.
I pulled into the school and found a parking spot. In order to get the best spot, you had to arrive at the school forty minutes before it let out. I climbed out and leaned against the Jeep, waiting to see my pretty little girl spot me for the first time, and come running into my arms.
Izzy’s class was usually the first to exit, so when I saw some of her friends, but didn’t see her, I started to worry. After a few more classes came out and found their designated rides, I headed into the school. Her teacher was in her classroom and I knocked before I walked in.
“Mr. Mitchell. Did Bella forget something?”
“She never came out of the school.” I started to panic. Could someone have taken my daughter. I’d seen it happen on movies. Kidnappers loved schools.
“Your wife picked her up a little over an hour ago. I’m sorry, I thought you knew.” She looked at me like I was supposed to know, and that didn’t set right with me.
“Was she sick?”
“No. She was fine all day. Maybe she had a doctor appointment.” Her suggestions weren’t helping my conscious.
“Sorry to bother you.” I backed out of the room and headed toward my Jeep, all the while calling Miranda’s phone. This time the calls went straight to voicemail.
After trying my mother and not getting an answer, I really started to worry. When I finally pulled into the farm, Conner waved to me as I drove up to the house. I jumped out and headed in his direction. “Where are they? Is something wrong?”
Conner stopped what he was doing. “Miranda said she ran out to run an errand. What’s wrong with you?”
I shook my head and looked around the farm. Something was wrong. She wouldn’t have picked up Iz without telling me. Avoiding Conner’s question, I went running into the house. Everything looked in order until I reached the bedrooms. The dresser drawers in my room were open and Miranda’s side was empty. I hauled ass into Izzy’s room, only to find the same thing. When I finally reached the twins room and saw that half of their things were missing, I pulled out my phone and started dialing Miranda. What the hell was going on?
Conner’s voice caught me off guard.
“What the fuck! Ty, you need to get in here.”
My eyes burned as I walked out into the living room. Conner was standing over the coffee table, but as he scooted out of the way, I saw something that I couldn’t believe.
At least ten photos of me and Heather were spread out for me to see. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Clearly, they were of me, but I didn’t remember doing any of it. I crouched down on the floor and buried my hands into my face.
Conner sat behind me and was quiet at first. I guess he was speechless at the fucking mess I’d made of my life. “She’s gone. She’s fucking gone.” I crushed one of the pictures up and threw it, before turning back to him.
Conner just stared at the table. “This was sitting on top of the pictures.” He handed me the folded piece of paper and ran his hands through his hair.
I know he expected me to read it out loud, but there was no way in hell I could do that when I knew my life was over.
My hands were shaking and I could feel the burning in my eyes as I glanced over at the horrible photos.
Ty,
You were the one who really knew me. I gave you what I never gave anyone before and that was my whole heart. I promised to love you and be faithful to you for the rest of our lives. I thought you knew how much those words meant to me, how much you meant to me.