Victor Gregory had been keeping an eye on Oliver without the young man noticing. After all, Victor had spent years in positions where such skills were essentialhe was a professional! But so far, there had been no red flags. Oliver brought no one home and did nothing suspicious. Yet Victor Gregory knew better than to let his guard down. He was certain that with patience, Oliver would slip up. His intuition had never failed him before.
This mattered deeplyit was personal. It concerned Victor Gregory and his family. How lovely it had been when little Eleanor was small! When she was born, Victor had been disappointed she wasnt a boy. Of course, he hadnt shown it, but something gnawed at hima girl! A respected man like him, and suddenly, a daughter instead of a son. Who would he share a mans troubles with? Whom would he teach lifes lessons, shaping into a proper man?
But thenah, wella girl! Hed married late, always too busy with work, and women never cared for his demanding career.
Then he met LucyLucy, his love!
But Lucy was nearly forty by thentoo late to dream of sons.
Then the unexpected happened. Without realizing it, Victor Gregory found himself utterly charmed by his tiny daughter. The first time she smiled at him, grasping his nose with her little fingers, he was done for.
And when Eleanor took her first unsteady steps, suddenly excited by something, she ran to him, shouting, “Daddy, Daddy!” Victor scooped her up, holding her close. In that moment, he understood: her happiness was now the most important thing in his life. His little girl, his shining starhe would never let harm come to her.
Lucy would laugh, “Victor, you spoil us!” And he would buy gifts for his beloved girls, watching their joyful eyes, content in their happiness.
Yet how had Eleanor grown up so fast? It seemed only yesterday she toddled beside him, clutching his large hand as he walked her to nursery. Tilting her fair head back, shed gaze up at him and say, “Daddy, youre so tall! Will you buy me a teddy bear? Please?” The way she looked at him made him feel invincible.
Now shed finished school, enrolled in university part-time, and taken a joball her own decision. “Daddy, its time I stood on my own feet,” shed said. “Work will give me experiencewhy waste time?” Victor swelled with pride. His Eleanor was so clever.
Then, suddenlyLucy baked a pie, her eyes mysterious, as if something had happened. Victor wondered if the girls had planned to ask him for something. But no. It was something else entirely, something he hadnt even considered. Too soonEleanor had only just turned twenty.
“Daddy,” she smiled, brushing an invisible speck from his shoulder. “Daddy, I want you and Mum to meet someone. Dont fuss. Olivers wonderfulwere thinking of registering our engagement. Ive invited him for tea tonight. Oh, that must be him at the door!”
Lucy was the first to greet him. “Good evening, do come in! Lovely to meet you, Oliver. Im Lucy, and this is Eleanors father, Victor Gregory.” Victor nodded, shaking Olivers hand, his mouth dry.
This stranger had come to take his Eleanorhis only childaway!
A calmer voice in his head whispered, *What did you expect? Dont you want her happy? The lad seems decentfirm handshake. Did you think shed live with you forever?*
But Victor Gregory refused to listen. No, this Oliver wasnt good enough for his daughter, and that was that. A plan formed in his mindhe would test the young man. He wouldnt let his little girl be hurt.
For weeks, he waited. After Oliver walked Eleanor home, Victor would excuse himself for “work,” tailing the lad in his official car. What if he had someone else? What if there was more to him? He couldnt risk handing his daughter to the wrong man. Theyd already filed their engagement noticeEleanor was sewing her dress, Lucy planning the celebration.
Then, finally, Victor saw it. A woman with a little girl approached Olivers building. He kissed her, took her bag, held the childs handthen disappeared inside! Just as hed suspected!
Yet part of him warmed to Oliver. The lad seemed open, honestwas Victor letting professional paranoia cloud his judgment?
Eleanor greeted him cheerfully. “Daddy, our weddings in a week! Oliver and I booked the venue today. Im so happy!”
Victor stared at her, torn. Shame pricked himspying on his future son-in-law. Then Eleanor added, “Olivers parents arrive tomorrow. Theyll come round in the evening to meet you. Theyll stay at his place. His sister and niece came tonightNatalies from out of town. Her husbands away on business but will join later.”
At the wedding, Victor danced with Lucy like a young man. Hed decidedenough suspicion. There was no sense mixing work with life.
A year later, Eleanor gave him a grandsonlittle Samuel! The new grandfather wept. Dreams *did* come true. Now he had someone to share manly talks with, to pass on his wisdom. Oliver turned out to be a fine man after all.
And little Samuel was growing fast, babbling away. Soon hed speak properlytime flew! This was lifes true joy. As for his surveillance of Oliver? Victor Gregory vowed never to speak of it. Family was to be trusted.
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