Victor Gregory watched Oliver without being noticedof course, he wouldnt be. Victor had spent years in the right positions; he was a professional! But so far, there were no leads. Oliver never brought anyone home, never did anything suspicious. Still, Victor Gregory knew better than to trust appearances. Hed wait. Sooner or later, Oliver would slip up. His instincts had never failed him before.
This mattered deeplyit was personal. For him, for his family. How lovely it had been when little Eleanor was small! When she was born, Victor had been disappointeda girl, not a son. Hed never shown it, of course, but something gnawed at him inside. A girl! Him, a respected man, and now a daughter instead of a boy. Who would he talk to, man to man, when times got hard? Who would he teach, shape into a proper person?
But thenah, well. A girl. Hed married late, always too busy with work. Women never liked his demanding job.
Then he met LucyLucy, his love!
But Lucy was nearly forty by thentoo late to dream of a son.
And then, the unexpected happened. Without even realizing it, Victor Gregory fell completely under the spell of his tiny daughter. The first time she smiled up at him, her little fingers squeezing his nose, he was done for.
When Eleanor, wobbling on unsteady legs, suddenly got excited and ran to him, squealing, Daddy! Daddy!Victor scooped her up, held her close. That was when he knew: her happiness was everything. His girl, his little star. No one would ever hurt her.
Lucy would laugh. Vic, you spoil us! And he didbuying gifts for his girls, watching their eyes light up, feeling pure joy.
How had Eleanor grown so fast? It felt like just yesterday shed clutched his big hand, trotting beside him on the way to nursery. Tipping her fair head back, shed gaze up at him and ask, Daddy, youre so tall! Will you buy me a teddy? Please? And the way she looked at himhe felt invincible.
Now shed finished school, enrolled in university part-time, and started working. Her decision.
Daddy, its time I stood on my own. Work will give me experiencewhy waste time? And Victor swelled with pride. His Eleanorso clever.
Then, one evening, Lucy baked a pie, her eyes twinkling like she had a secret. Victor thought maybe the girls wanted to ask him for something. But no.
Daddy, Eleanor smiled, brushing imaginary dust from his shoulder. I want you and Mum to meet someone. Justdont overreact. Olivers wonderful. Were thinking of registering our marriage. Ive invited him for tea tonight. Ohthats him at the door!
Lucy answered first. Good evening! Come in, Oliver. Im Lucy. And this is Eleanors father, Victor Gregory.
Victor nodded, shook Olivers hand. His mouth went dry.
This man had come to take his daughter away. His Eleanor. His only one.
Another voice, the voice of reason, whispered: *What did you expect? Dont you want her happy? Hes a good ladfirm handshake. Or would you rather she stayed with Mum and Dad forever?*
But Victor Gregory wasnt listening. No, this Oliver wasnt good enough for his Eleanor. Full stop. And just like that, a plan formed. Hed investigate. He wouldnt let his girl be hurt.
Weeks passed. One night, after Oliver walked Eleanor home, Victor lingered outside the young mans flat in his work car. Hed done this a few times now, slipping away under the guise of overtime.
*What if hes seeing someone else? What if somethings off?* He couldnt risk handing his daughter to the wrong man. Theyd already filed the paperwork. Eleanor was sewing her dress, Lucy planning the celebration.
Thenfinallyhe saw it. A woman and a little girl approached Olivers building. He kissed her, took her bag, held the childs hand. They disappeared inside.
*There it is!* Victors stomach twisted. Hed known Oliver wasnt what he seemed.
And yet part of him liked the lad. Oliver reminded him of himself at that ageopen, straightforward. Had he let suspicion cloud his judgment?
Eleanor greeted him excitedly. Daddy, our weddings in a week! Oliver and I booked the café today. Im so happy.
Victor stared at her, frozen. Shame prickled his skin. Spying on his future son-in-lawwhat had he been thinking?
Then Eleanor added, Olivers parents are coming tomorrow. Theyll stop by in the evening to meet you. Theyre staying at his place. His sister and niece visited tonightNatalies from out of town. Her husbands away on business; hell join later.
At the wedding, Victor danced with Lucy like a young man again. Hed decided: enough suspicion. Life wasnt a case to be cracked.
A year later, Eleanor gave birtha grandson! Little Samuel. The new grandfather wept. Dreams did come true. Now he had someone to talk to, man to man, to share lifes burdens with. Oliver turned out to be a fine man, after all.
And little Sam? Growing fast, babbling away. Soon hed be talking, then runninglifes greatest joy.
As for the spying? Victor Gregory kept that to himself. Some things were better left unsaid.
*Trust your family.*
