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 Family Had Been Feuding with the Neighbors for Years, but Everything Got Worse When I Met Him Again – Story of the Day

My family’s feud with the neighbors had lasted for decades, filled with constant arguments and petty battles. I thought I’d left it all behind, but coming home for Christmas brought the chaos back. Then I saw him again—the man I wasn’t supposed to care about—and everything became even more complicated.

I couldn’t remember how it started or what caused the very first fight, but the Rogers family had been the main enemy of my family ever since we moved into this house 20 years ago.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

It felt like every day brought a new reason for conflict—whether it was the placement of the fence, an offhand comment, or even the weather.

At first, it was just my dad and Mr. Rogers bickering, their raised voices carrying across the yard.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

My mom, ever the optimist, tried baking pies for Mrs. Rogers or complimenting her garden.

But the day Mrs. Rogers accidentally trampled my mom’s beloved roses, all attempts at peace were over.

For me, though, it was different. I had Mike. He was my age, and despite the feud, we became secret friends. We knew the truth would only cause trouble.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Everything changed one day when we were both 14. I came home and froze as I saw my parents, red-faced and shouting in the living room.

“How could you be friends with that boy?!” my dad yelled, slamming his hand on the table.

“After everything that family has done to us?!” my mom added, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What? I don’t understand…” I said, my voice shaking.

“Don’t play innocent with us!” my dad snapped. “We caught that boy climbing the tree to your window. He said he wanted to surprise you for your birthday!”

I stared at them, stunned. “I didn’t—” The words caught in my throat.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“You will not see him again,” my mom said firmly, pointing toward my room.

“But why?!” I shouted, my chest tightening. “Why can’t I be friends with Mike just because you can’t stand the Rogers?!”

“That family has caused us enough trouble!” my dad bellowed.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Mike hasn’t done anything wrong!” I shot back. “And don’t act like you’re saints. You’ve done awful things to them too!”

“Go to your room!” my dad roared. “You’re grounded! No more Mike—ever!”

Furious, I ran to my room and slammed the door so hard the walls seemed to shake. Every few minutes, I glanced out the window, hoping to see Mike.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

When his light finally came on, I felt a flicker of hope, but then he pulled his curtains shut without even looking my way. My chest ached as I cried until I couldn’t anymore.

At school the next day, I tried to talk to him, but he turned away like I wasn’t even there.

Soon, his friends started spreading cruel rumors. I knew Mike could stop it if he wanted, but he didn’t say a word.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The lies grew worse, and I couldn’t take it anymore. When my parents saw how much it hurt me, they decided I needed to switch schools.

Many years have passed since then. I was almost 30 now, far from that 14-year-old girl, but some wounds lingered.

The sting of those childhood memories wasn’t as sharp, but they hadn’t completely faded either.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Sometimes I wondered why I still cared at all, especially since no one else seemed to have changed.

When I came home for Christmas, the first sight that greeted me was my dad and Mr. Rogers standing outside, yelling at each other.

“Your decorations aren’t even a meter tall!” Mr. Rogers yelled, pointing at our yard.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Well, your lights couldn’t even light up a closet!” my dad shot back, crossing his arms.

“Hi, Dad,” I said, dragging my suitcase past them, but he didn’t even glance my way.

“Of course, Mr. Rogers is more important than your daughter, who you haven’t seen in six months,” I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Inside, I found my mom peering out the kitchen window.

“Hi, Mom,” I said, setting my bag down.

“Oh, Alice, come look!” she said, waving me over with urgency. “I think that woman stole my pie recipe!”

I stepped up to the window, confused. “What are you talking about?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Look at her! She’s using the same spices as me!” Mom declared, pointing at Mrs. Rogers.

“How can you even see that from here?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I know it!” she insisted, shaking her head.

“This is ridiculous,” I said, turning to leave for my old room.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Everything in my room was exactly as I had left it. The posters still hung on the walls, and my old books sat neatly on the shelves.

I wandered to the window, glancing outside. Across the yard, a light shone in Mike’s room, catching my attention.

My heart skipped as he appeared in the window. I hadn’t seen him in many years.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mom said he went abroad to study and then stayed there. He looked so different—no longer the boy I once knew, but a man, confident and undeniably handsome.

I raised my hand, giving him a small wave. For a second, I thought he might wave back.

Instead, he pulled his curtains closed, shutting me out completely. My chest tightened, anger bubbling up.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

How could he? We had been friends once, yet he ignored me now like I didn’t exist.

That evening, after my parents finally stopped bickering with the Rogers, we ate dinner in tense silence.

The next morning, Mom handed me a shopping list. “We need this for Christmas dinner,” she said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

After I finished shopping and walked to the parking lot, I stopped short. There he was—Mike.

“Hey,” I said, stepping toward him. Mike glanced at me but kept walking, ignoring me completely.

“Seriously?” I snapped. “I should be the one ignoring you after everything you did to me!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mike froze, then turned to face me, his eyes blazing. “After everything I did?” he shouted.

“Oh, so you can talk?” I yelled back. “Yes, after what you did! You ignored me, let your friends spread lies about me, and then you just disappeared abroad without a word!”

“Are you kidding me? Don’t pretend you don’t know,” Mike said, his voice rising. “You lied to your parents and told them I was stealing from you! I got grounded for a month because of that! And I liked you, Alice—I was in love with you!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What are you even talking about?” I shouted, throwing up my hands. “I defended you! I got grounded for standing up for you! Where did you get that crazy idea?”

“My dad told me,” Mike said, his tone harsh but uncertain now.

“Your dad, the same guy who hates my family?” I asked, shaking my head. “And you believed him?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mike looked down, his shoulders tense. “I felt betrayed,” he admitted. “And he said he wouldn’t pay for college if I kept seeing you.”

“They threatened me too,” I said, my voice softer now, “but I still tried. You acted like I didn’t exist. And now, almost 30 years old, you’re still holding onto this?”

Mike sighed, his voice low. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have believed him. I was a jerk.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Better late than never,” I said with a faint smile. “Want to grab a bite to eat?”

“I’d love to,” Mike replied, his face relaxing into a small smile.

As we walked toward a nearby café, I teased, “So, you were in love with me?”

“Shut up,” he said, grinning.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The days before Christmas passed quickly as Mike and I spent every moment we could together.

It felt like being kids again, sneaking around to avoid our parents, sharing stories, and laughing at memories we thought we had forgotten. We talked about everything, making up for lost time.

One evening, just before Christmas, Mike grinned at me. “Let’s climb the tree, like old times,” he said. I couldn’t resist.

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For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Hope there’s mistletoe up there,” Mike said, grinning as he climbed the tree.

I laughed, glancing up at him. “Still in love with me?” I teased, keeping my voice light.

Mike stopped climbing for a moment and looked down at me. “All over again,” he said, his voice serious. I felt my cheeks flush and looked away, trying to focus on the next branch.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

We climbed higher, but suddenly, I heard a crack. “Mike, wait—” I started, but it was too late.

The branch beneath his foot snapped, and he fell straight onto me. We hit the ground with a thud, tangled together in a heap.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice breathless.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I nodded, then burst out laughing. “You’ve gained weight,” I said, looking at him with mock judgment.

“I’m light as a feather,” he shot back, holding my gaze.

We both stopped laughing, the air between us changing. His face was so close I could see every detail.

Slowly, he leaned in and kissed me. I smiled against his lips, my heart pounding.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What on earth is going on?!” my dad’s voice roared from behind us.

“This is outrageous!” Mrs. Rogers shrieked.

We scrambled to our feet, turning to see our parents glaring at each other.

“How dare you touch my daughter?!” my mom shouted, stepping forward.

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For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The yelling grew louder, insults flying back and forth. Mike and I exchanged a look of pure frustration.

“Enough!” Mike yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos. “I’m sick of your fights! You’re adults, but you act like children! Alice and I aren’t teenagers anymore, and I won’t let you interfere in our lives!”

Grabbing my hand, he pulled me toward his car.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Where are you going?!” Mrs. Rogers shouted.

“If you can’t behave, we’ll spend Christmas Eve at a hotel!” Mike called. “Anywhere is better than here!”

We checked into the only hotel in town. It was small, with an artificial fireplace in the room. We sat by it, letting the silence settle around us.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I didn’t expect that speech from you,” I said, glancing at Mike.

He looked at the flames. “I’ve had enough of their fights. It was one of the reasons I moved abroad. I thought I could escape it all. But leaving meant losing you, and I won’t let that happen again.”

His words made me smile. I leaned in and kissed him softly, but a knock at the door interrupted us.

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For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mike stood up to open it, and to our shock, all four parents were there.

“We’re sorry,” my dad said, looking awkward.

“We shouldn’t have reacted that way,” Mr. Rogers added.

“You’re adults, and we can’t tell you what to do,” Mrs. Rogers admitted.

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For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Now get your butts back home for Christmas Eve dinner,” my mom said firmly.

“You won’t fight?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“We’ll manage for one evening,” my mom promised.

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For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“If we’re dating, it’ll be more than one evening,” Mike said, squeezing my hand.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” my dad muttered.

We laughed, left the hotel, and returned home. Dinner still had its moments of tension, but it felt like progress.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed this story, read this one: A struggling actress takes an unusual job after being hired by a wealthy man’s mother to pose as his girlfriend and sabotage his upcoming wedding. But as she spends more time with him and his fiancée, she questions her actions and the price of her desperation. What will she choose?

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

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