Victor Gregson had been keeping an eye on Oliver without him noticing. Hardly surprisingVictor had spent years in the right professions; he was a professional, after all. But so far, thered been no red flags. Oliver never brought anyone home, and nothing about him seemed off. Still, Victor wasnt fooled. He knew patience would pay offOliver would slip up eventually. His gut had never steered him wrong before.
This mattered deeply because it was personal. It involved Victor, his family. He remembered fondly when little Emily was small. When she was born, hed been disappointed she wasnt a boy. Of course, hed never shown it, but deep down, it nagged at hima girl! A respected man like him, and suddenly, a daughter instead of a son. Who would he talk to, man to man, when things got tough? Who would he teach, mould into a proper person?
But then. Well, a girl it was. Hed married latework always got in the way, and women never liked the long hours. Then he met LucyLove itself! But Lucy was nearly forty by then, too late to dream of a son.
Then the unexpected happened. Without realising, Victor fell completely under his little daughters spell. The first time she smiled at him, her tiny fingers gripping his nose, he was done for.
When Emily took her first unsteady steps, suddenly excited by something, shed run to him, shouting, “Daddy! Daddy!” Hed scoop her up, hold her close. That was when he knewher happiness was everything now. His little girl, his star. Hed never let anyone hurt her.
Lucy would laugh. “Vic, you spoil us!” And he did, buying gifts for his girls, basking in their joy.
How had Emily grown up so fast? It felt like yesterday shed clutched his big hand on the way to nursery, tilting her head up to say, “Daddy, youre so tall! Will you buy me a teddy bear?” The way she looked at him made him feel invincible. Now shed finished school, started university part-time, and got a jobher own decision. “Daddy, its time I stood on my own feet. Work will give me experienceno point wasting time.” Victor couldnt have been prouder. His Emily was so clever.
Then everything changed. Lucy baked a cake, her eyes twinkling like she had news. Victor wondered if the girls had planned something, maybe wanted him to chip in. But no. It was something he hadnt even considered. Too soonEmily had only just turned twenty.
“Daddy,” Emily smiled, brushing invisible dust off his shoulder. “I want you and Mum to meet someone. Dont freak out. Olivers lovely. Were thinking of registering our engagement. Ive invited him for tea tonight. Oh, thats him at the door!”
Lucy answered first. “Good evening! Come in, Oliver. Im Lucy, and this is Emilys dad, Victor Gregson.” Victor nodded, shook Olivers hand, his mouth dry.
This stranger had come to take his little girl away. His Emily, his only one.
A rational voice whispered, *What did you expect? Dont you want her happy? He seems decentfirm handshake. Or should she live with you forever?*
Victor ignored it. Oliver wasnt good enough for his Emily, full stop. A plan formed instantlyhed test this lad, make sure no one hurt his daughter.
Weeks later, his patience paid off. Victor sat outside Olivers flat in his work car. After Emilys visits, hed tailed Oliver a few times, claiming overtime. What if he had another girl? Or worse? Theyd already filed their engagementEmily was sewing her dress, Lucy planning the celebration.
Then he saw it. A woman with a little girl approached Olivers building. He kissed her, took her bag, held the childs hand. They disappeared inside. *Just as I thought!*
Yet part of him liked Oliver. The lad reminded him of his younger selfopen, straightforward. Had his job made him too suspicious?
“Daddy!” Emily beamed. “Our weddings in a week! Oliver and I booked the venue today. Im so happy.”
Victor stared, torn. Shame crept over himspying on his future son-in-law. Then Emily added, “Olivers parents are coming tomorrow. Theyll stop by in the evening. His sister and niece visited todayNatalies from out of town. Her husbands away, but hell come later.”
At the wedding, Victor danced with Lucy like a young man. Hed decidedenough suspicion. No sense mixing work with life.
A year later, Emily gave him a grandsonlittle Charlie. The new granddad even shed a tear. Dreams *did* come true. Now he had someone to talk to, man to man, to share work withOliver turned out splendid. And Charlie? Already babbling. Soon hed talk, then walk. That was lifes joy.
As for spying on Oliver? Victor kept that to himself. You had to trust family.
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