Chapter Three "Pink bubble gum just what the lady ordered." Cordelia handed the little girl the child sized ice cream cone and sat down next to her. Cordelia couldn't help but smile as Sophie ignored the ice cream and tried to dig out the gum pieces. As a child she had done the exact same thing. "Thank you Cowd...Cowd...Cowdea." Sophie grinned. "Why not call me Cordy, its what all my friends call me." Cordelia grinned back at the little girl. 'How could someone lose such an adorable little girl?' She thought bitterly. Not even her own parents had been that neglectful. "Sophie do you remember what store you were in?" Cordelia asked, wiping ice cream from the four year olds face. Sophie shook her head. "Do remember what you came here to buy?" "My new Daddy said we needed to get me cloths." Licking her lips clean, she attacked the cone again. Cordelia frowned and reflected at the odd statement the little girl made. "Your new Daddy?" Stopping her assault on the cone Sophie nodded her head. "My Mommy is in heaven, and the mean lady said I had to live with my Daddy." Cordelia silently nodded as though she understood what Sophie was saying. But a part of her tore at the thought that someone so young had to already experience death. ~~~~~~~~~ Lindsey rushed through the mall. He hadn't had Sophie for a day and he had already lost her. How was he supposed to be a Father? He couldn't even commit to a brand of shoes. Now he had a four year old to care for, and Lindsey had no idea where to start. 'Well, first I need to find my daughter.' Lindsey mumbled to himself. What was he supposed to do with her while he was at work? It wasn't as though he had the most convenient working hours. Most days he was in the office by ten and worked until well past midnight. Then there was the fact that once the senior partners found out he had a daughter, they would have an additional thing to threaten him with. 'I have to make this work,' he thought. 'I can't allow Sophie to be handed over to my parents if I fail. She deserves better than that.' Finding the customer service desk Lindsey made a promise to himself that no matter what he would fail Sophie. He may not be able to be the loving Father she needed. But she would be well taken care of. A young blonde was standing behind the counter, and Lindsey approached her for help. "I'm Sophie's father." The blonde looked him up and down and flashed him a big grin. "She sure does look like you." Lindsey waited impatiently for the girl to tell him where Sophie was. "She's over there." Lindsey looked in the direction that the blonde pointed. "The lady that found her bought your daughter some ice-cream." Lindsey spotted Sophie sitting with a brunette that he couldn't make out her facial features. "Thanks." He threw over his shoulder as he rushed over to where Sophie was sitting eating her ice-cream, laughing at something the female had said. "Sophie?" The little girl looked up and froze when she saw him coming toward her. Cordelia froze also when she heard the masculine voice from behind. She knew that voice, but just couldn't place it. Turning in the direction that Sophie was staring in Cordelia's mouth dropped open. Lindsey. Lindsey stopped in his tracks when he saw the face that belonged to the woman that found Sophie. Cordelia. Of all the rotten luck, it would have to be Angel's Seer that would find Sophie. This was one added complication that he didn't have the energy to even think about. "Don't think for one-second that I am going to believe that you're Sophie's Father." Cordelia stood up, a furious sense of maternal protectiveness gripped at her. "Ms Chase I don't have the time for this. It's been a long day. Sophie we need to go." Cordelia stepped in front of Lindsey's path, a wild look in her eyes. "Over my dead body. What's the game Lindsey? Is she a clients daughter, or perhaps she has some sort of powers that your firm wants to get hold of?" Lindsey stared at Cordelia looking around as they were causing a scene. Reaching out and gripping her arm Lindsey pulled her close. "I don't answer to you Ms Chase. This is none of your business." Shoving her aside he walked over to his ice-cream covered daughter. "Sophie we need to go." Waiting for the little girl to get up and leave with him he was startled at the tears that fell from her blue eyes. "You were mean to Cordy." Sophie's wails increased. Cordelia brushed past Lindsey shooting him a glare for causing the little one to start crying again. "Shh, Sophie it's okay. Is this your new Dadd...Your new Father?" Sophie nodded wiping at the tears with her hand. Cordelia bit her lower lip, unsure what to do. Her entire being shouted that she take Sophie and run. But if Lindsey was indeed this little girls guardian there wasn't much that she could do. Giving the girl a shaky smile, Cordelia wiped the rest of the ice-cream form the girls chubby little cheeks. "Well it was nice meeting you Sophie." Stroking the light brown curls Cordelia stood up with one last smile in Sophie's direction. Turing toward Lindsey she leaned in and whispered. "I'm telling you this, you hurt her and I will have Angel cut off your other hand and beat you to death with it do you understand?" Not waiting for a reply Cordelia turned to wave good-bye again to the little girl and walked off. Lindsey let out a deep breath. Knowing for certain that this wouldn't be the last time he and Cordelia would cross paths. |
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