Expired Expectation

Astrid turned toward the door and locked eyes with Isaiah.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

Isaiah did not say anything but motioned to his assistant, Mike Lancaster, to approach.

“Coco, I got you a new music box. I hope you like it.”

Coco rubbed her eyes and took a moment to register what was happening, “Mommy, am I dreaming?

“Uncle Isaiah got me a new music box!”

“It's not a dream.”

Astrid took the music box and handed it to Coco. “Go on, play it.”

Coco danced to the rhythm of the melodic tune churning out of the music box, then her eyes began to tear up. “Thank you, Uncle Isaiah. I will cherish it.”

Isaiah noted Coco’s excitement and the tears in her eyes.

He hesitated for a few seconds before remarking in a somber voice, “Coco, Emmie wants to be the lead dancer during the performance today.

“Your face is cut anyway, so it wouldn’t be wise for you to dance. Why don’t you let Emmie take your spot instead?”

Astrid’s smile stiffened in an instant. Coco’s eyes began to fray with red as well.

So the reason he came to visit was not because he was concerned for Coco; he was only here to negotiate for Emmie.

What an insult!

“Alright, Uncle Isaiah,” Coco answered icily.

She gently caressed the white tassel ornament on the music box and felt her heart break.

The way she said it made Isaiah instinctively frown. Just as he was about to say something, the phone in his pocket rang.

It was Juno.

“Emmie has a nosebleed, we need you right now!”

His expression changed in an instant, and he left immediately.

The moment he walked out of the room, Astrid called out after him, “I mailed you something, make sure you open it tomorrow morning…”

Isaiah cut her off impatiently, “Don’t bother buying anything for me in the future, I don’t need it!”

Astrid lowered her eyes to sheathe the icy look within them and did not speak.

It was not a gift or anything like that.

It was a signed divorce agreement!

…

Later, Astrid took Coco back to the performance venue, then went to her seat.

The teacher led the children backstage to prepare for the performance.

Emmie was positioned at the front of the group.

She cheerily waved to Isaiah and Juno in the audience and smiled proudly, “Thank you, Daddy, for making my dream come true!”

As soon as she said that, Astrid noticed Coco, who was assigned to the back of the group, nearly slip and fall.

Her heart nearly broke at the sight.

She got up and waved at her to encourage her, “You can do it, Coco! You’re the best!”

Coco's eyes brightened, and she responded with a bright smile.

Soon, the performance officially began. Astrid sat among the audience and flipped through the program sheet.

She realized Coco was scheduled for the last performance of the day, the dance of the Four Little Swans.

After patiently waiting an hour, it was finally time for the Four Little Swans to get on stage.

She reached for her phone and started recording, only to find that Coco was nowhere to be seen!

She was gone!

Astrid felt herself getting dizzy and quickly went to the headmaster to ask for an explanation.

The headmaster answered solemnly, “Ms. Payne, I was just about to speak to you.

“We just found out that Coco is missing. I spoke to the security guards and had them pull the surveillance camera footage. They are looking into it as we speak.

“Could you tell me where your daughter usually likes to hang out?”

“She loves to dance!" Astrid said anxiously, “Take me to the dance studio, please!”

When they got to the dance studio, it was empty. Coco was nowhere to be seen.

Astrid ran around the kindergarten in search of Coco to no avail.

Soon, the other parents heard about what happened and started to help as well, but it was no use.

One hour passed. Then two hours came and went.

It had been three hours since Coco’s mysterious disappearance, but still, there were no leads!

Astrid was sweating anxiously when she spotted Emmie, who was playing on a swing in the playground. She was toying with a white tassel pendant.

Astrid approached her and asked anxiously, “That’s an ornament from my daughter’s music box! Have you seen Coco anywhere?”

“Astrid, what are you trying to say?” Juno ran over out of nowhere and wrapped her arms protectively around Emmie, who had started bawling her eyes out.

She was furious. “This is just a common tassel pendant, you can find it anywhere! How dare you accuse my daughter of withholding information about Coco?”