Woman Starts Working as a Nanny and Finds the Shoes of Her Long-Lost Daughter — Story of the Day

While working as a nanny, Lori uncovered something she never thought she’d see again—a pair of shoes that once belonged to her daughter, who vanished 22 years ago. The shoes, a painful reminder of the past, were now inexplicably in the home where she was caring for a little girl.Lori sat on the living room floor, her hands trembling as she pulled the lid off another dusty box. Old memories flooded her mind, filling the air with a heaviness she couldn’t shake.
Three-year-old Marissa, the sweet little girl Lori was caring for, stood nearby, her wide eyes filled with confusion. Marissa didn’t understand why Lori was crying so hard. Lori was clutching a tiny child’s shoe in her hands, tears streaming down her face. This shoe had belonged to her daughter, who disappeared 22 years ago. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it, but nothing added up. Just then, the front door creaked open, and Lori heard footsteps. Emily, Marissa’s mother, entered the room, her face filled with concern.”Lori, are you okay?” Emily asked, her voice trembling with concern.Lori didn’t look up. Her voice cracked as she asked, “Where did you get these shoes?”Emily’s heart raced. She glanced at the small shoe, then at Lori. “I… ,” she stammered, struggling to find the right words. 22 years ago…Lori sat on the floor, carefully folding clothes and placing them into a small suitcase. She glanced at the list beside her, checking off items as she packed.It was Olive’s first trip without her, and Lori’s heart felt heavy. Olive’s father, Chris, was taking her to Scotland. Lori wasn’t sure if she could trust him to handle everything. Scotland seemed so far away, and the thought of being apart from her little girl made her anxious. As she zipped up the suitcase, four-year-old Olive came bouncing into the room. “Mom, why can’t you come with us?
” Olive asked, looking up at Lori with wide eyes.Lori knelt beside her and smiled. “I’d love to, sweetie, but this is a special trip for you and your dad.” Olive frowned. “What will I do without you?””You’ll have fun with your grandparents,” Lori said, brushing a curly strand away from Olive’s face. “You’ll see where your dad grew up and learn about Scotland. It’s a part of who you are.” Olive’s eyes filled with worry. “But I’ll miss you.”Lori’s heart ached as she pulled Olive into a hug. “I’ll miss you too, sweetheart. But it’s only five days, and we’ll be together again before you know it.” Olive pulled back a little, her face thoughtful. “Is five days a lot or a little?” “It’s a little,” Lori said, stroking her daughter’s cheek. “The time will fly by.”Olive nodded slowly. “Okay, but promise we’ll see each other soon. Promise you’ll miss me.” Lori smiled and kissed the top of Olive’s head. “I promise, baby. I’ll miss you so much.” She held Olive close, not wanting to let go. A few hours later, Chris arrived to pick up Olive. Lori knelt down, gently slipping Olive’s little shoes onto her feet. She had embroidered tiny flowers on them herself, making them special. “Be good for your dad, okay?” Lori said softly, hugging Olive tightly. Olive nodded and smiled, but Lori could still feel a tug in her heart as they left for the airport.Later, her phone buzzed. It was Chris, calling to let her know they had arrived safely. He sent a picture of Olive smiling at the airport. Lori smiled, feeling a small sense of relief, but deep down, a knot of worry still remained. Something didn’t feel right. Chris and Olive had been in Scotland for four days. They were supposed to return the next day. For the first three days, Chris had been good about sending Lori photos of Olive. Each picture showed Olive smiling, exploring new places, and it gave Lori some peace.But on the fourth day, nothing came. No messages. No pictures. Lori’s worry grew with each passing hour. She tried calling Chris, but her calls went straight to voicemail. She texted him, hoping for a quick response. Nothing. Her heart began to race. She called Chris’s parents, but there was no answer from them either. That’s when she knew something was wrong. Her hands trembled as she dialed again, but still no answer. Lori spent the entire day by the phone, her mind racing with horrible thoughts.Finally, in the evening, her phone rang. She saw Chris’s name on the screen. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and answered.”Chris, is everything okay? I was starting to worry,” Lori said, her voice tense.There was a pause. “Lori, are you sitting down?” Chris asked quietly. Lori frowned. “What? Why would I need to sit down?” she replied, her heart starting to race. “Just answer the question, Lori. Are you sitting down?” Chris repeated, his tone firm.Lori’s voice shook. “Yes, I’m on the couch. What’s going on?” “Alright. Listen carefully. Don’t panic,” Chris said. Lori’s breath caught in her throat. “What? Why would I panic? Chris, what’s happening?” “Olive is missing,” Chris finally said.Lori felt her world spin. “What? What do you mean, missing? How could she be missing?” she nearly screamed. “We were walking in the city this morning. I lost sight of her for a second. She was just gone. But I’ve already gone to the police, Lori. They’re looking for her,” Chris explained. Lori’s hands shook. “She’s been missing since this morning? And you’re only telling me now? You lost our daughter!” she yelled, tears streaming down her face.”I’m sorry, Lori. I didn’t know what to do,” Chris said, his voice weak. “I’m taking the next flight. I won’t stop until I find her,” Lori said, and without waiting for his response, she hung up the phone, her mind spinning. Lori flew to Scotland the very next day, determined to find Olive. She couldn’t rest, couldn’t think of anything else. She spent years in Scotland, pouring all her time and energy into the search. She walked the streets, put up posters, and talked to anyone who might have seen Olive.But it was as if Olive had vanished into thin air. No one knew anything. The police helped at first, but as time passed, they stopped looking. Lori refused to give up, continuing the search on her own. But with each year, her hope faded a little more.Then, a few years later, the police contacted her. They had found a body in the river and said it most likely belonged to Olive, but it was hard to identify. Lori’s world fell apart in that moment. It was as if her heart had shattered.She knew then that she had lost her daughter forever. With no hope left, Lori returned home, broken and defeated.Present Day… Lori, trying to control her tears, looked at Emily, who stood silent, not knowing what to say. After a long moment, Emily finally spoke. “These are the shoes my family found me in,” Emily said softly. “I was very young then, and I don’t remember much. I just know that I got lost somehow. I remember arriving in a strange city by bus, where my family found me. They adopted me later.”Lori could hardly breathe. “That’s… impossible,” she whispered, disbelief filling her voice.Emily hesitated before continuing. “I didn’t know where I came from, or my parents’ full names. My adoptive parents tried to find them, but no one came forward. After a while, they gave up,” she explained. “When I was six, we moved here, and I’ve been here ever since.” Lori wiped her face, her hands shaking. “Is Emily your real name?” she asked quietly. Emily looked confused. “No. I had a different name when they found me. But they changed it when I was adopted,” she replied.Lori’s heart ached. “Your name was Olive, wasn’t it?” Lori asked, staring at her. Emily’s eyes widened in shock. “How… how do you know that name?” Lori’s voice shook as she raised the little shoes. “These were my daughter’s shoes. She was wearing them when she disappeared in Scotland.” Emily stared at her, tears forming in her eyes. “I lived there before we moved here.”Lori’s voice cracked as she said, “I can’t believe you’ve been so close all this time. I never should have stopped looking.” Emily’s voice broke. “So… you’re my mother?”Lori nodded, her tears falling again. “Yes.” Emily threw her arms around Lori, who held her daughter tightly, just as she had done 22 years ago when she was little. The feeling of finally being reunited filled Lori’s heart with both joy and disbelief.They sat there, not saying a word, just holding each other. Time seemed to stop for them. After a few moments, little Marissa wandered over, curious. She looked at them with big eyes, then wrapped her small arms around both of them. Emily laughed softly, her eyes still teary, and kissed Marissa’s head. So, you’ve already met your granddaughter,” Emily said, her smile softening as she looked down at Marissa, who was now sitting between them.”Yes, I have,” Lori replied, a warm smile spreading across her face. “I can’t believe I’ve been her nanny for two whole years without realizing she was my granddaughter.” Lori gently ran her fingers through Emily’s hair. “You used to have such bright red hair as a child. Marissa’s hair is the same color. What happened to yours?”Emily chuckled. “I started dyeing it in high school. I wanted a change, and I guess I just never stopped.” “That’s a shame,” Lori said with a hint of nostalgia. “You had such beautiful hair, just like Marissa’s.” Emily’s eyes welled up with tears again. She leaned in and hugged Lori tightly, overwhelmed by the emotions of the moment. Lori, still in disbelief, held her daughter close, marveling at the fact that after all these years, she was finally able to hug her little girl again.”If you hadn’t asked me to go through these old boxes, I might never have known you were my daughter,” Lori said, her voice soft. Emily wiped her eyes and grinned. “So, does that mean I don’t have to pay you extra for organizing them?” “I’m ready to give you all the money I have, just promise me you’ll never disappear again,” Lori said, her voice trembling with emotion. “I promise,” Emily replied softly. She hugged her mother, feeling the weight of all those lost years. Lori held her daughter tightly, her arms wrapped around her as if she could protect her from ever disappearing again. She closed her eyes, taking in the familiar warmth she had longed for over so many years. The fear that Emily might vanish once more lingered in her heart. This was truly her daughter—no longer the little girl Lori had lost so many years ago, but now a grown woman, with her own life and even a child of her own. Yet, to Lori, she was still her little Olive.

My Kids’ Grandmom Came to Our Home, Packed the Christmas Presents She Gave Them & Took Them Away

When Rebecca’s mother-in-law, Darlene, goes home to take away her grandchildren’s Christmas presents, she’s left absolutely speechless. Later, she and her husband, Mark, learn that Darlene did this because she wanted to teach the couple a lesson… but karma intervenes, making sure that the old woman feels the same way the kids felt.

I never thought that this would be a story I’d tell. I mean, toxic in-laws are practically their own genre, but what my mother-in-law, Darlene, did this Christmas left me completely speechless.

Honestly, I’m still in shock.

A woman looking to the side | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking to the side | Source: Midjourney

I’m Rebecca, a mom of three chaotic kids. There’s Caleb (7), Sadie (5), and little Mason (3). Christmas is a huge deal in our house and has been like this since I was a child. We go all out.

The tree, the decorations, and of course, the gifts. Usually, Darlene shows up with her arms full of presents for the kids, playing the part of the doting grandma for one day a year.

This time, though, Darlene really outdid herself. Caleb got the new LEGO set that he had been begging for, and Sadie’s eyes lit up over a princess castle playset. Mason, the little speed demon of the family, zoomed through the living room on an adorable ride-on toy.

A castle made out of LEGO blocks | Source: Midjourney

A castle made out of LEGO blocks | Source: Midjourney

She even threw in stylish clothes for all three kids.

“They need to be photo-ready, Becca,” she told me. “And this way, they all match!”

It was… impressive. I’ll admit it freely.

The kids were ecstatic. They loved being the center of attention, and they played nonstop, showing off their gifts and parading around in their new clothes.

Three little kids | Source: Midjourney

Three little kids | Source: Midjourney

I thought that maybe this was the year. This was the year that Darlene and I would finally hit a smooth patch in our relationship.

Spoiler alert: I was so wrong.

Two days after Christmas, the house was still glowing with holiday cheer. It wasn’t anything new—we usually kept the decorations up until a few days before New Year’s Eve. My kids were in their element, surrounded by the toys they loved.

I even sent Darlene a text, thanking her for the thoughtful presents.

A woman texting | Source: Midjourney

A woman texting | Source: Midjourney

Hi, Darlene! Thank you for spoiling the babies so much this Christmas. You’re appreciated!

Then, the doorbell rang.

“Mom, will you get it?” Caleb asked, dangling a bunch of grapes above Mason’s head.

“On it,” I said. “Just watch that your brother doesn’t choke on a grape, okay?”

I opened the door to find Darlene standing there, gripping three large empty bags. Her face was bright red, and she looked ready to explode.

A little boy holding a bunch of grapes | Source: Midjourney

A little boy holding a bunch of grapes | Source: Midjourney

“Darlene, hi!” I said. “What’s going on?”

She didn’t say a word. She just marched right past me into the living room, where the kids were now playing with Sadie’s castle.

I stood frozen as she immediately began to scoop Caleb’s LEGO blocks into one of the bags. The ride-on toy was kicked to the side. And then Sadie’s castle went next.

An upset older woman | Source: Midjourney

An upset older woman | Source: Midjourney

“Where are the clothes I bought you?” she barked at Caleb.

“In the washing, Grandma,” he said.

“Bring it, now,” she shouted.

I was too shocked to retaliate.

Caleb ran to the bathroom and back with the clothes in his arms.

A washing basket | Source: Midjourney

A washing basket | Source: Midjourney

“Grandma, what are you doing?” Caleb asked, his voice trembling.

Sadie’s lip quivered as she clutched her princess doll.

“Mommy, why is Grandma taking our things?” she asked.

I didn’t have an answer. I just stood there, my mind spinning, trying to process what I was witnessing.

An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney

An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney

But it was when Darlene picked up the ride-on toy, preventing Mason from getting onto it, that really set me off.

“Darlene, what the hell are you doing?” I demanded, finding my voice at last.

She didn’t even glance my way.

“You’ll regret what you did,” she muttered coldly, zipping the bags shut with finality.

An angry older woman | Source: Midjourney

An angry older woman | Source: Midjourney

And then, without another word, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

The kids were devastated. Caleb cried for hours, asking why Grandma was mad. Sadie sat on the floor, clutching a stuffed animal like her world had just ended. And poor Mason kept wandering around the house, looking for his toy.

“Where did the car go, Mommy?” he asked.

An upset little boy | Source: Midjourney

An upset little boy | Source: Midjourney

I tried to comfort my children, but honestly, I didn’t know what to say. What had we done to deserve this? Why would Darlene take back the gifts she’d so generously given just a few days earlier?

When my husband, Mark, got home from work, I told him everything.

“She did what?” Mark’s face went beet red as he pulled out his phone. “Oh, hell no. This is unacceptable.”

He called her immediately. There was no answer. He texted his mother. No replies.

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney

“I don’t understand, Bec,” he said. “How could she be so cold to take their toys away? And their clothes, for God’s sake. I’m so confused.”

“Tell me about it,” I said. “I didn’t know how to react when she stormed around doing whatever she wanted. It was insanity. You should have seen their faces, Mark.”

Darlene had gone completely radio silent, leaving us in the dark about what had triggered this insane stunt.

A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney

A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney

Three days later, Mark finally got her on the phone.

I could tell from his side of the conversation that whatever she was saying was absurd. He kept rubbing his temples and muttering under his breath.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he sighed.

When he hung up, he looked at me with disbelief.

A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney

A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney

“You’ll never believe it,” he said.

“What? Believe what?” I asked.

“She’s mad about her Christmas gift,” he said.

“What?” I repeated.

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney

“Apparently, she was expecting that expensive designer handbag she’s been hinting about all year. Instead, we got her a $250 gift card to her favorite store. It was unacceptable, according to her.”

I stared at my husband, completely lost for words.

“So, she took away the kids’ gifts because of that? What on earth is wrong with her?”

A store gift card | Source: Midjourney

A store gift card | Source: Midjourney

Mark nodded slowly, still processing the absurdity himself.

“Yeah, she said that we disrespected her with the gift card and gave us a few days to make it right. Since we didn’t, she took the kids’ presents to teach us a lesson.”

I was floored.

“You’ve got to be kidding me, Mark,” I said.

A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney

“Nope,” he sighed again. “She took the kids’ Christmas gifts away over a damn handbag.”

We were furious, but we weren’t about to let Darlene’s tantrum ruin Christmas for our kids. That weekend, we dipped into our savings and bought replacements for the toys she took.

It wasn’t easy on our budget, but seeing the kids’ faces light up again made every penny worth it.

But Darlene?

Three smiling children | Source: Midjourney

Three smiling children | Source: Midjourney

Karma had other plans for the old woman.

A few days later, Mark’s cousin, Abby, called with some unexpected news.

I was in the kitchen, grilling chicken and vegetables for dinner, while Mark was going through Caleb’s holiday homework.

“Did you hear what your mom did?” she asked, practically choking with laughter.

A platter of grilled chicken and vegetables | Source: Midjourney

A platter of grilled chicken and vegetables | Source: Midjourney

“Oh yeah,” Mark muttered. “We know all about her behavior. Why’s it funny to you?”

“Well, apparently, she’s been bragging to the family about how she taught you guys a lesson. But one of her friends, the one who’s super involved with that charity, found out.”

“Charity? Abby, what are you talking about?” Mark asked.

“Uh-oh,” I said, uncertain of where the conversation was going.

A woman talking on the phone and laughing | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking on the phone and laughing | Source: Midjourney

“Yeah, so her friend was horrified at what Darlene did. The things that she took from the kids? She donated them to a charity. Dirty clothes and all! Word has spread fast, and now people are distancing themselves from her. Big time.”

Mark raised an eyebrow and looked at me.

“So, what? People are icing her out?”

Donation boxes at a charity shelter | Source: Midjourney

Donation boxes at a charity shelter | Source: Midjourney

“They are, but that’s not the best part!” Abby said.

“Then what is the best part?” I asked.

“Oh, Becs,” she laughed. “Lovely Aunt Darlene has been uninvited from the New Year’s Eve gala. You know, the one she brags about all year? Her favorite event of the year? Yep. All gone!”

A man talking on a phone | Source: Midjourney

A man talking on a phone | Source: Midjourney

Mark and I exchanged glances. Darlene loved that gala more than anything. It was the ultimate social slap in the face. And she would have probably been planning her outfit since October.

Abby cut the call, still laughing to herself.

“She’s going to be so upset,” I said, slicing a lemon.

Lemons on a board | Source: Midjourney

Lemons on a board | Source: Midjourney

“Serves her right,” my husband said. “She deserves this. She’s full of nonsense. And she donated the kids’ clothes just like that? She didn’t even wash it! What the hell, Becca?!”

“Let’s just have dinner with the kids and leave Darlene for the night,” I said.

A week later, Darlene called Mark, desperate for sympathy.

“They’ve all turned against me,” she sobbed. “I don’t understand what I did wrong!”

An upset older woman | Source: Midjourney

An upset older woman | Source: Midjourney

Mark didn’t miss a beat.

“Mom, you took all your grandkids’ Christmas presents because you didn’t get a handbag. Now you’re paying the price for being petty.”

She tried to apologize, but Mark wasn’t having it.

“If you want a relationship with my wife and children, you have a lot to make up for. And my kids are incredible. It’s your loss, Ma.”

Three smiling children | Source: Midjourney

Three smiling children | Source: Midjourney

In the end, we spoke to our children, explaining to them that their grandmother was angry with us, not them.

“She just wanted to teach Mom and me a lesson,” Mark said. “You guys did nothing wrong.”

“Are you sure?” Sadie asked, her lower lip jutting out.

A smiling man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney

A smiling man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney

“Yes, I promise!” I said. “And this isn’t how we teach lessons. Dad and I will never take away something you love just to punish another person.”

“If we’re naughty, we get a timeout until we learn our lesson, right?” Caleb chimed in.

“Exactly, buddy,” Mark said. “Now, come on, let’s all get some ice cream cones.”

Ice cream cones | Source: Midjourney

Ice cream cones | Source: Midjourney

That’s how one handbag led to a family falling out, a Christmas nearly ruined, and a grandmother learning the hard way that karma never misses.

And honestly? We’re in no rush to forgive.

Trust me, Darlene’s next holiday season won’t be quite as merry and bright.

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

What would you have done?

If you’ve enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |

My Son Stays Quiet as His Wife Insults Me — But He Soon Teaches Her a Lesson in Front of Guests

Kate cannot wait to spend the holidays with her son and his wife. It’s her first Christmas with the family, and Kate needs to see how she fits. But when Liz criticizes her cooking, and John chooses silence over defending his mother, will the holidays be ruined?

Cooking was always my way of showing love. From the moment I got married, I became the “one who feeds everyone.” Every family dinner, every major holiday, especially Christmas, revolved around me in the kitchen, making meals from scratch.

It wasn’t just about the food. It was about creating something special that brought us together.

A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney

A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney

But when Oliver, my husband, passed away a few years ago, the joy of cooking died with him.

Now, I only cook for myself, enough to get by. But Christmas is different. Christmas is when my son, John, comes home. He’s the reason I still dust off my old recipes, roll up my sleeves, and get to work in the kitchen.

His love for my Christmas dinners has always been special to me. A kind of pride, I guess. This year, though, something was different.

A smiling older man | Source: Midjourney

A smiling older man | Source: Midjourney

And not in a good way.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*