Chapter 2 - The Empty Basket
The delicate white flower basket sat untouched on a gold-trim chair in the bridal suite, mocking everyone in the room.
Natalie stared at the empty wicker handle, her breath catching in her throat as the reality of the situation began to set in.
“Has anyone seen Maisie?” Natalie asked, her voice rising an octave above the murmur of wedding preparation gossip.
The bridesmaids stopped applying their lip gloss, turning around with confused, blank expressions.
“I thought she was with Vivian in the main corridor,” one of the bridesmaids replied, shrugging indifferently.
“No, Vivian went down to check on the catering twenty minutes ago alone,” Natalie said, her heart starting to pound like a sledgehammer.
She didn't wait for another answer, bolting out of the bridal suite and into the sprawling country club hallway.
Every door was closed, every window looked out over manicured lawns, but there was no sign of the seven-year-old girl anywhere.
Natalie pulled out her phone with trembling fingers, dialing Graham’s number while sprinting toward the grand staircase.
It rang three times before Graham’s distracted voice answered on the other end.
“Natalie? The ceremony is about to start in five minutes, where are you guys?” Graham demanded impatiently.
“Graham, Maisie is gone!” Natalie screamed over the ambient music of the ballroom.
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“What do you mean she’s gone? She’s supposed to be with you!” Graham barked back, irritation bleeding through his tone.
“She was never in the suite, Graham! Her flower basket is still sitting on the chair!” Natalie shouted, tears welling in her eyes.
