Victor Gregory had been keeping an eye on Oliver without him noticing. Hardly surprising, reallyVictor had spent decades in the right sort of jobs, after all. He was a professional! But so far, thered been no red flags. Oliver never brought anyone home, never did anything suspicious. Still, Victor knew best. Hed wait. Sooner or later, Oliver would slip up. His instincts had never let him down before.
This mattered to him deeply because it was personal. This was about Victor Gregoryand his family. Oh, how lovely it had been when little Eleanor was small. When she was born, Victor had been disappointed she wasnt a boy. Of course, hed never shown it, but deep down, something had nagged at hima girl! Him, a respected man, suddenly with a daughter instead of a son. Who was he supposed to have a proper blokes chat with when things got tough? Who would he teach lifes lessons to, mould into a proper person?
Ah, but then well. Hed married late, always too busy with work, and women never liked how much time he spent on the job. Until he met LucyLucy Love!
Not that it mattered nowLucy was nearly forty by then. No use dreaming of sons anymore.
But then something unexpected happened. Without even realising it, Victor had fallen utterly for his tiny daughter. The first time she smiled at him, the first time her little fingers grabbed his nosehe was done for.
And when Eleanor took her first wobbly steps and suddenly, for no reason at all, got excited and ran to him, shouting, Daddy! Daddy!Victor had scooped her up, held her close. That was the moment he knew: nothing in life was more important than this little girls happiness. His daughter, his shining star. No one would ever hurt her!
Lucy would laugh, Vic, you spoil us! And he didbuying his favourite girls presents, watching their eyes light up, feeling utterly content.
But how had Eleanor grown up so fast? It felt like only yesterday she was toddling beside him, gripping his big hand on the way to nursery. Tipping her little blonde head back to look up at him and asking, Daddy, youre so big! Will you buy me a teddy? Please? And shed gaze at him like he was invincible.
Now? Shed finished school, started university part-time, and got herself a joball her own doing. Daddy, its time I stood on my own feet, shed said. Work will teach me things I cant learn in lectures. No point wasting time. And oh, how proud Victor was of his clever girl.
Then, out of nowhereLucy baked a pie, her eyes twinkling like she knew a secret. Victor wondered if the girls were planning to ask him for somethinga new gadget, maybe. But no. It was something else entirely, something he hadnt even considered. Too soon! Eleanor had only just turned twenty.
Daddy, she said, brushing an invisible speck from his shoulder, Id like you and Mum to meet someone. But dont freak out. Olivers lovely. Were thinking of registering our marriage. Ive invited him round for tea tonight. Ohthats him at the door!
Lucy got there first, swinging it open. Good evening! Come in, Oliverlovely to meet you. Im Lucy Love, and this is Eleanors father, Victor Gregory. Victor nodded, shook Olivers outstretched hand, and suddenly his mouth went dry.
This man had come to take his daughter away. His Eleanor! Some stranger, walking off with his little girl!
A calmer voice in his head piped up*What did you expect? Dont you want her to be happy? He seems decent, firm handshakedid you think shed live with you forever?*
But Victor wasnt listening. No, Oliver wasnt good enough for his Eleanor. Full stop. And just like that, a plan formed. Hed test this lad. No one would break his little girls heart.
So, for weeks, he waited. Sat outside Olivers flat in his work car, pretending he had late shifts. Every evening after Oliver walked Eleanor home, Victor would quietly tail him. Just checking.
What if he had another girl? Or worse? Victor couldnt risk handing his daughter over to the wrong sort. Theyd already sent off the paperworkEleanor was picking a dress, Lucy was planning the guest list.
Then, finallyVictor saw it. A woman with a little girl approached Olivers building. He kissed her, took her bag, held the childs hand. Then they vanished inside. Ha! Victor *knew* Oliver wasnt what he seemed.
Though, admittedly, hed started to like the lad. Reminded him of himself at that ageopen, straightforward. Maybe hed let professional paranoia get the better of him?
Eleanor met him with a beaming smile. Daddy, the weddings in a week! Oliver and I just booked the café. Im so happy!
Victor stared at her, stomach twisting with shame. Hed been spying on his future son-in-law!
Then Eleanor added, OhOlivers parents are visiting tomorrow. Theyll pop round to meet you. Theyre staying at his place tonight. His sister Natalies coming over later with her daughtershes in from out of town. Her husbands away on business; hell join them later.
At the wedding, Victor danced with Lucy like a man half his age. Enough with the suspicion, he decided. No point mixing work and family.
A year later, Eleanor gave him a grandsonlittle Charlie. The new granddad even shed a tear. Dreams *did* come true. Now he had someone to share a proper blokes chat withOliver had turned out to be a top lad after all.
And little Charlie? Growing fast, babbling away. Soon hed be talking, then runninglifes greatest joy.
As for the spying? Victor decided to keep that to himself. Youve got to trust your family, after all.
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