Page 43 of Snowed Inn For Christmas

“Yeah.If I try to climb the shelf, I’ll pull the entire thing down.If I pick you up, you can quickly check whether any of them is the one we’re looking for.It will be quick and easy.”

I glanced at Daisy, hating the hopeful look on her little face.

“Okay.Yeah.Let’s check it out,” I said, smiling at her before turning to Gage.

“Turn around, and I will pick you up from behind.”

I did as he asked and tried to ignore the heat that flushed through my body once his hands touched it.He was incredibly strong as he hoisted me in the air, lifting me high enough to see the top of the shelf.I quickly reached forward and started going through the boxes, setting them aside in a new pile as I started to lose hope.

“Can you move to the right?”I asked, looking down to make sure Daisy was okay.She smiled up at me, seeming delighted that we were doing this for her.

Gage moved a few steps to the right, and I began sorting through those boxes.There was far more to go through in this stack than there had been in the other.I had almost given up hope when I picked up the last box and squealed.

“Oh my God!I found it!”I exclaimed, a wide grin taking over my face as Gage lowered me back to the floor.

I spun around to show Daisy, and my heart dropped when I realized she wasn’t there.Sitting on the floor where she had stood was the box she had been holding with the doll inside.

Gage’s smile immediately vanished as he looked around and couldn’t find her either.

“Daisy!”I screamed, dropping the box as I took off running frantically.

Twenty-Seven

Gage

My heart hammered inmy chest as I stared in disbelief at the space Daisy had stood just a few minutes ago.How had she just vanished into thin air?

Julie took off running, frantically screaming Daisy’s name while I went in the opposite direction.I ran through the aisles, leaning up on my tiptoes to see over as many heads as I could while I tried to find her.The blood pulsed in my ears as I pushed my way through the crowded space, shouting her name as loudly as I could.

Patrick was walking down the main aisle when he spotted me and came to a stop.I shook my head, my jaw tight as I clenched it and tried to stay calm.I couldn’t afford to lose my shit right now because I needed to stay clear-headed so we could find Daisy.

“What the fuck happened?”he growled, standing inches away from me.

“She’s gone,” I answered tightly, shoving a hand through my hair as I watched his features change.His face hardened as he took off running to the front of the store.

“Daisy!”I called out loudly, repeating her name over and over as I rushed through the store.