Victor Griggs had been keeping an eye on Oliver without the lad noticingeasy enough when youve spent decades in the right sort of jobs. A professional, through and through! But so far, nothing suspiciousno guests, no odd behaviour. Still, Victor Griggs knew patience would pay off. Oliver would slip up eventually. His gut said so, and his gut had never let him down.
This mattereddeeplybecause it was personal. His family. His little girl. Oh, how perfect life had been when little Emily was small! When she was born, hed been disappointed she wasnt a boynaturally, hed never shown it, but the thought nagged at him. A girl! Him, a respected man, and suddenlya daughter! Who would he talk to, man to man, when times got tough? Who would he teach the ways of the world, mould into a proper person?
And then there was Lucyhis Lucy! By the time theyd met, he was pushing forty, always too busy with work for marriage. Women never liked the long hours.
But then, the unexpected happened. Without even realising, Victor Griggs had been utterly conquered by his tiny daughter. The first time she smiled at him, the first time her little fingers grabbed his nosehe was done for.
And when Emily took her wobbly first steps, suddenly panicked, and came running”Daddy! Daddy!”he swept her up, held her close, and knew then that her happiness was the most important thing in the world. His girl, his little star. No one would ever hurt her.
Lucy would laugh. “Victor, you spoil us!” And he did, showering his girls with gifts, watching their delighted faces, basking in their joy.
But how had Emily grown up so fast? It felt like yesterday she was trotting beside him, her small hand in his, on the way to nursery. Shed tilt her blonde head back, looking up at him with those wide eyes.
“Daddy, youre so tall! Will you buy me a teddy? Pleeease?” And just like that, he felt invincible.
Now shed finished school, started university part-time, and gotten a joball her own doing. “Dad, its time I stood on my own two feet. Works the best way to learn.” And Victor Griggs swelled with pride. His Emily, so clever.
Then came the curveball. Lucy baked a pie, eyes twinkling like she was hiding something. Victor assumed the girls wanted him to buy somethingtypical. But no. Far from it.
“Dad,” Emily smiled, brushing invisible dust off his shoulder. “I want you and Mum to meet someone. Dont freak out. Olivers lovelywere thinking of getting married. Hes coming for tea today. Oh, thats him at the door!”
Lucy answered first. “Good evening! Come inlovely to meet you, Oliver. Im Lucy. This is Emilys dad, Victor Griggs.” Victor nodded, shook Olivers hand, his mouth suddenly dry.
This man was here to take his daughter. His Emily. Some stranger, walking her out of their home forever!
A sensible voice whisperedwhat did you expect? Dont you want her happy? Hes a decent lad, firm handshake. Or would you rather she lived with you forever?
Victor Griggs ignored it. Oliver wasnt good enough. Full stop. And just like that, a plan formed. Hed check this boy out. No one would hurt his girl.
Weeks passed. Victor sat outside Olivers flat in his work car, watching. After dropping Emily home, hed tailed Oliver a few timesjust in case. What if he had another girl? Or worse? Theyd already put in the notice. Emily was sewing her dress, Lucy planning the guest list.
Thenbingo. A woman and a little girl approached Olivers building. He kissed her, took her bag, held the childs hand. They disappeared inside. There it was!
Victor Griggs smirked. Knew it. Though, admittedly, hed started liking the lad. Reminded him of himself at that ageopen, straightforward. Maybe hed let suspicion get the better of him?
Emily met him with a smile. “Dad! The weddings in a week! We booked the café today. Im so happy.”
Victor stared, shame creeping in. Spying on his future son-in-law? What had he been thinking?
Emily continued, oblivious. “Olivers parents arrive tomorrow. Theyll come round in the evening. And his sister and her daughter visited him earlierNatashas from out of town. Her husbands away on business.”
At the wedding, Victor danced with Lucy like a newlywed. No more suspicionmixing work and life was daft.
A year later, Emily gave him a grandson. Little George! The new granddad even shed a tear. Dreams fulfilled. Someone to talk to, man to man. And Oliver? Turned out to be a cracking bloke.
Little George was already toddling, babbling. Soon hed be talking, running about. Thisthis was joy.
As for the spying? Victor Griggs decided to take that to the grave. Trust your family. Thats what mattered.
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