Thanks so much to everyone who is reviewing! A few of you have left reviews and are rather disappointed that Amber is in this story, but I'm not really sure what to tell you. I like her character, and I like writing about her, and I created the story with her in mind. If you don't like the idea of her being in this story, I'll be sorry that you stop reading, but I'll understand. Amber does have a part in this story, though, and I intend to keep it that way. As for those of you who aren't disappointed, please enjoy!

"And then there's this one," Sophie twirled in the fifth dress she'd tried on in her impromptu fashion show. She placed her hands on her hips and walked sassily to one end of the small living room. "What do you think about this one, Daddy? Miss Maybelle said it looks like something the girls who dance your show wear."

He looked up from his daze, and offered her a half-smile.

"Yeah, it's fine." He was ignorant to the fact that his words didn't suit her, and she sighed despairingly, flopping down next to him on the couch and crossing her arms.

"I'm hungry." She kicked her feet playfully, watching his face. "What are we going to eat for dinner?"

"You're always hungry," he felt like he was whining, and then glanced down at her. She shrugged nonchalantly.

"Even Mama used to get me dinner."

He sighed, glancing down at his watch. It was already after nine o'clock. He hadn't remembered eating anything today. Between the surprise at the station, and his worries about finding Brenda, he had forgotten all about it. He'd had to hide his despair at the thought of Amber being his new boss, and simply thinking about the fact that he'd be in her control made him feel ill. He remembered Maybelle telling him that she had fed her lunch, but that was three o'clock this afternoon. He wondered if he could call her up now.

He rested back against the couch, and she sat silently beside him in her new dress. He let his head fall into his hands and then heard the hungry growl of her stomach beside him. He groaned inwardly, and looked at her.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes," she nodded, and he realized it was the quietest she'd been since she'd arrived.

"Okay. Let's go get something to eat."

They arrived at a small diner about a half hour later, and a smiling hostess led them to a small booth towards the back of the restaurant. Sophie climbed into one side of the booth and he slid into the other, picking up a menu and inadvertently covering his face with it. He studied it intensely, and then lowered the menu to look at her confused face.

"What? I thought you were hungry."

She nodded. "I am."

"So, then look at the menu."

Her tiny fingers pulled a menu towards her, and laid it on the table in front of her, studying it with deep concentration. She ran her fingers over the words, mouthing inaudible words to herself. He put his menu down.

"What do you want?"

She stared harshly at the menu, and he noticed her lower lip was trembling. He felt the panic start to rise in his throat as she whined softly.

"No, Sophie. No, don't cry. What's wrong with you?" He didn't want to make a scene. Granted, there was only a skeleton grew in the diner, but he didn't want to draw attention to them.

"I don't know what I want," her words were a soft whimper.

"Why not?" He felt angry suddenly. Why was she making this so difficult? Didn't she realize that all she had to do was-

"There are no pictures, and I don't know how to read!" She moaned dramatically, glancing up at him with glossy hazel eyes. "I can't learn to read until I start school!"

He suddenly felt foolish, and bit his lower lip. She frowned up at him, frustrated.

"That's okay, never mind. Just tell me what you want." He just wanted to get this over with. Then maybe he could figure out what to do next.

After he'd ordered a grilled cheese and milk for her, he sipped a cup of coffee while they waited for their food. She watched him with wide eyes, asking excited questions about anything that popped into her mind.

"Do you love dancing, Daddy?"

"Yes."

"Do you love singing, Daddy?"

"Yes, Sylvie."

"Sophie!" She was angry again, and he frowned up at her.

"Right, Sophie."

She was quiet for a moment, and then tapped on her chin with her pointer finger.

"Daddy, I can remember your name, and Miss Maybelle's name. I think you should try to remember mine." She studied him seriously while she spoke. He looked up at her and swallowed a mouthful of coffee.

"Okay, I'll try to remember." She smiled.

"Good. Mama said you should always remember someone's name."

He grunted in response. He wish she would have forgotten his.

"Oh!" Her voice was squeaky and excited suddenly, "I almost forgot!" She reached deep into a pocket on the front of the dress and pulled out a folded piece of paper, handing it across the table to him. "This is a letter from Mama!"

He snatched it quickly from her tiny hands as the waitress brought the food to the table. Sophie excitedly bit into her grilled cheese as he unfolded the piece of paper and began to read it silently.

"Read it! I want to hear what Mama said!" She ate happily as he glanced up at her. He began to read the letter softly to her.

Corny,

I hope you've enjoyed the last five years of your life, because you're in for a rude awakening. Since I was booted from the show, I've spent every day-

"Daddy, louder! I can't hear you!" She yelled the words at him through a mouthful of cheese, and he glared up at her.

"Shh! You can't yell inside. Just let me read it."

"No!" She squealed again, "I want to hear what Mama said!" A couple in a booth a few rows back had begun to look at them.

"Fine!" He snapped the words at her, and she quieted, chewing thoughtfully on a piece of bread. He cleared his throat and began to read louder.

I've spent every day in a living hell raising the child that was an accident. I tried to contact you, but of course I could never reach you. I can't stand to be around her. Whenever I look at her, all I see is your disgusting face. Take your disgusting little girl, and enjoy the living hell of everything she is.

He said the words so quickly that he didn't have time to digest them, or think about their connotations. He finished the last few sentences silently, his hands shaking in rage. He sat the paper down, and glanced at Sophie, who placed her sandwich back on her plate silently, her small face pale and so desolate that he didn't recognize her.

"I'm not hungry anymore."

The realization hit him suddenly, and something inside of him snapped. He felt a blush creep into his cheeks as he folded the letter and stuffed it into his pocket, glancing around for the waitress. His tongue darted out to wet his lips, and he glanced worriedly down at the child, who had withdrawn into herself.

"Hey," he tried to make his voice as soft as he could. She didn't look up at him. He wanted to reach out and touch her tiny fingers, but curled his fists together so that he wouldn't be tempted. "Your mama didn't mean those things about you."

She had her head lowered still, and raised it up only enough to speak to him.

"Mama said she never lied. Never, ever."

Corny sighed to himself. Brenda had also said that she'd been on birth control medication. So much for that.

"Listen to me, Sophie," he spoke in such a definitive voice that she lifted her head to look at him. "You never let anyone make you think you're not good enough. You hear me?" He swallowed loudly as she watched him with wide eyes, nodding slowly.

"Yes, Daddy. I hear you."

"Good." He let his eyes drift to his coffee cup again, and her lips curled into a weak smile.

"Hey, Daddy."

He glanced up at her.

"You remembered my name." She still looked sad, but there was a new hope in her eyes, and she smiled gently at him.

Corny raised the coffee cup to his lips to conceal the subtle way he felt the corners of his mouth turning up into a smile.