|Destined With You|

Chapter 5.

Alexander

I smiled to myself as I got ready to go to my daughter's Father's day celebration. I've talked to the girl twice to thrice, but the attachment I feel with her, I have rarely felt that with someone else. And now, if she needs a little bit of help, what's wrong with that? I'd just play with her for some time if she wants to, then casually, unintentionally tell her that I'm not who she thinks I am.

Well, this could be pretty hard too.

"Hey Alexander...off to work?" A blushing Hannah askef me as I descended the stairs. They've made her stay at ours for a few days as her parents are away on a business tour.

"Yeah...some work." I shrugged trying to be patient as she casually blockef my way. "I hope you don't get bored here?"

"I'm fine." She waved a manicured hand. "It's raining heavily outside, take care."

"It's raining?" What about Adelaide's football match then?

"Yes, it is. I'll make some cookies today. Want some?"

"S-sure."

"So should I get them to your office?"

"No- I mean...I'll just have some after dinner. It's fine-thank you. I gotta leave...I guess." I looked down at my watch and left without a second glance.

The kid thinks her father is a superhero, I hope she doesn't want me to wear a cape or something, I wondered as I looked at my navy blue three piece Armani suit and opened the car's door.

***

I looked at my destination. Mary's school for tiny tots, it said. It took me ages to finally locate it, that too with the heavy rain. And now that I was here, there is no way that I would leave without meeting the girl behind that pure voice.

"Could I please meet Adelaide?" I asked the old lady at the tiny reception desk.

"Adelaide? You were here for the celebration, huh? Well you are pretty late, my dear." I looked at my watch, it was 10 o'clock. "She's sitting there. Her mother too didn't come to pick her up. She's the only one left."

"I'm sorry."

I muttered and walked to the room she had pointed. There, I saw the back of a tiny kid facing me, her black hair tied in high pigtails as she sat on a tiny chair swinging her legs.

"Adelaide." I managed to whisper out and she snapped her head behind immediately. At the speed of light, she came running to me, so fast that I couldn't even register the look on her face.

"I knew you would come." She managed to speak as she hugged my legs tightly. At the very instant, thunder rumbled and it started to rain heavier, making her clutch my legs tighter and I placed my hand gently on her tiny back.

"You did?" She let go and looked up at me with chocolate brown eyes so similar to me, I was actually scared for a second.

"Mommy told me," She rewarded me with a toothy grin. "that if we met, it might rain a lot and it is."

"Where's your Mommy?"

"She told me she would try to come, but she had some work as well. I don't know...won't you come home?"

"H-home? Sweetie...I don't thin-"

"Who will take me home? John and Mark are gone too. What if Mommy doesn't come?" For some reason, I felt myself getting really anxious at the thought of leaving her alone. And with such a situation, I couldn't even tell her the truth.

"Let's see what we can do, huh?" I carried her in my arms, taking her to the receptionist. "Can I please contact her mother?"

"Erm...sir...I'm sorry." She stammered. "The phone line is dead. And her number...well it is in the computer which developed a bug so we had to-"

"What am I supposed to do now?" I cut her off impatiently.

"Well...you could take her home with you?" She mumbled meekly.

"What kind of security is this, Miss? A stranger comes out of nowhere telling you he's looking for his daughter? How do you know I'm her father."

"Duh." She pointed between Adelaide and me. "Your eyes and face cut...you are each other's carbon copies."

What?

"I-I guess I'll take her home." Walking away, I stood at the mail door. "Hey...Ade...do you know where you-we live?"

She gave me the name of her apartment and after much exploring the city of Seattle, we finally reached her...our place as she dragged me upstairs with her and into the cozy place.

×■×

Catalina

What sort of a mother am I?!

I hit my head on the steering wheel as I finally reached Adelaide's school after being stuck in the traffic for hours. The rain had stopped thankfully, the sky was clear now, adourned with a rainbow. But God knew what the weather would be like inside.

The old lady at the reception passed me a knowing smile as I ran to her looking insane, probably.

"Where's my daughter?" I tried to speak between my ragged breath.

"Adelaide? I'm afraid her father took her home already, Miss."

"Her what!?"

"Her father. Exact copies though, aren't they?" She let out a throaty laugh.

"And where did this father take her exactly?"

"Guessing whatever I was able to eavesdrop, they headed home." She tucked a grey/gray strand of hair behind her ear.

"I swear if anything happens to my daughter, you people are getting sued." Threatening her, I ran back to my car, heading home.

As if I am not the reason behind this. All I could do is hope this is a stupid joke of Ade and our neighbour's. Why can't I be a good mother? Who is she with? What if something...? I need to stay positive right now. Within minutes, I'd reached our apartment and I left the car quickly, not even caring to close the damn door.

I tried the lift's button, thumping it continuously. Still, it was nowhere close to arriving. So, my legs made me run quickly to the seventh floor, for the sake of my daughter. My heart started to beat fast as I noticed our door slightly open, as I walked closer, I could hear the faint sound of her giggles.

When I pushed open the door, I found the least expected of all things. Chocolate brown eyes of my daughter's father looked up at me through thick lashes as his calm expression changed into one of horror. And out of the hundred thousands words in the English Language, all I was able to squeak out was one proper noun.

"Alexander."

"Catalina Rae Jones." He imitated.

"I thought you would forget me."

"Never."

***