“Sir… My Mommy Disappeared After Her Blind Date.” — One Single Dad Braved the Snow to Find Her…

The Search in the Snow

Emma thought hard. “His name was was David I think mom showed me his picture he had dark hair and was wearing a suit but I don’t remember much else.”

Marcus pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call the police okay they can help us find your mom.”

“No” Emma’s eyes went wide with panic.

“Mom said if I ever called the police they might take me away.”

“She said ‘We have to be careful because she’s raising me alone and sometimes the people don’t understand that she’s doing her best.'”

Marcus’ heart sank. He understood that fear the single parents terror of being judged of having your child taken because the system decided you weren’t doing enough weren’t providing enough weren’t enough.

He’d felt that fear himself in the early days after Chloe’s mother died.

“Emma listen to me” he said “The police aren’t going to take you away they’re going to help find your mom that’s their job.”

“But what if they can’t find her?” “What if?” Emma couldn’t finish the sentence.

Chloe reached out and took Emma’s hand. “My dad finds things,” she said with the absolute confidence only a child can have in their parent.

“He’s really good at it he’ll find your mom.”

Marcus looked at his daughter at her small hand holding Emma’s at the trust in both their eyes. He thought about Rachel waiting for him at the bus station.

He thought about the sensible thing to do which was call the police and let them handle it.

Then he thought about a woman named Sarah alone with a stranger her phone dead her daughter terrified. He thought about how every minute might matter.

“Okay,” he said making a decision. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”

“I’m going to text my sister to wait here when she arrives then we’re going to look for your mom but Emma if we don’t find her quickly I’m calling the police deal.”

Emma nodded relief flooding her face. “Deal.”

Marcus sent a quick text to Rachel explaining the situation grabbed his coat and stood up. “Come on girls let’s go find Emma’s mom.”

The snow was falling heavily now coating the streets in white and making everything look both beautiful and treacherous.

Marcus held Chloe’s hand on one side and Emma’s on the other as they walked through downtown checking every restaurant every cafe every bar.

Her date was supposed to be close Emma kept saying she wouldn’t have gone far she promised.

They showed Sarah’s photo Emma had one on her phone a small flip phone clearly meant for emergencies to hostesses and bartenders.

Most shook their heads. Some looked at them with suspicion this man with two little girls asking about a woman they didn’t know.

At the fifth place a small Italian restaurant called Markellos’s the hostess’s eyes lit up with recognition.

“Yes I remember her she was here with a man they had a table in the back.”

“Are they still here?” Marcus asked hope rising.

“No they left maybe two hours ago I remember because the man paid in cash which doesn’t happen much anymore.”

“And the woman seemed I don’t know uncomfortable maybe but not scared just awkward like the date wasn’t going well.”

“Did you see which way they went?” “No I’m sorry.”

Marcus thanked her and led the girls back outside. 2 hours ago that meant Sarah had left the restaurant around 7 it was now past 9:30 where had she gone.

“Maybe they went for a walk” Emma suggested “mom likes to walk.”

It was possible but in this weather in the dark. “Let’s try a few more places” Marcus said though doubt was creeping in.

Maybe he should have called the police immediately maybe he was wasting precious time. They checked three more restaurants with no luck.

Chloe was getting tired and Emma was crying again quietly hopelessly.

Marcus stopped under a street light and pulled out his phone. It was time to call the police whether Emma wanted him to or not.

That’s when he saw it. A small parking lot beside an office building and in it a woman sitting in a car with her head down on the steering wheel.

“Emma” he said carefully “what kind of car does your mom drive?”

“A blue Honda why?” Marcus pointed.

There in the parking lot was a blue Honda. “Stay here” he told the girls and approached the car cautiously.

The woman inside was blonde wearing a coat and she wasn’t moving. Marcus’s heart pounded as he knocked on the window.

“Excuse me ma’am.” The woman’s head jerked up and Marcus saw her face wet with tears mascara running eyes red and swollen.

She looked at him with fear then confusion then hit the button to lower the window an inch. “What do you want?”

“Are you Sarah Bennett?” The woman’s eyes widened.

“How do you know my name?” “Your daughter Emma is here she’s been looking for you she’s scared.”

“Emma?” Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh god oh god what time is it?”

“Almost 10:00 I was supposed to be back by 7:00 i promised her.”

Sarah fumbled with her phone which was lying dead on the passenger seat. “My phone died I didn’t realize i just sat here and I”

She broke down sobbing. Marcus gestured to the girls that it was safe and Emma came running.