Victor Griffiths had a habit of keeping tabs on Oliver so subtly that Oliver never even noticed. After all, Victor had spent decades climbing the ranks of the civil servicehe was practically a professional peoplewatcher! Up to now nothing had gone awry; Oliver didnt bring anyone home and he certainly wasnt doing anything suspicious.
But Victor knew the type, and he also knew that patience was a virtue. Sooner or later Oliver would slip up. Intuition, after all, never leads you astray.
It mattered to Victor on a personal level. It involved him, his family, and his own pride. How much better things were when Primrose was just a baby! When she was born, Victor grimaced at firsthed hoped for a son. He never showed his disappointment, but somewhere inside him a tiny sigh escaped: a girl!
Just my luck, he muttered to himself, a daughter instead of a lad! Who am I supposed to have a proper chinup chat with when the going gets tough? Who will teach me the meaning of real manhood?
Then, as fate would have it, love knocked. He married latework was always in the way, and his demanding job didnt endear him to the ladies.
Enter Lucy, his wife, whose name alone seemed to promise endless patience. By the time they tied the knot, Lucy was already pushing forty, so dreaming of a baby boy felt a bit optimistic.
The unexpected happened one quiet afternoon. Victor didnt even realise when his tiny daughter seized his nose with her little fist and flashed a grin that melted his stern exterior. The next day, Primrose toddled over, her steps unsure, then suddenly burst forward, squealing, Daddy, Daddy! Victor scooped her up, pressed her close, and in that instant understood that his greatest priority was her happiness. He would never let anyone hurt his little star.
Youre spoiling us, Victor! Primrose giggled. Victor, meanwhile, bought trinkets for his beloved girls and, watching the sparkle in their eyes, felt a joy that no promotion could match.
How did Primrose grow up so fast? Just yesterday she clung to his hand while he escorted her to the local nursery in Manchester. Shed look up at him with adoring awe, exclaiming, Daddy, youre huge! Can you get me a teddy bear? The compliment made him feel like the most powerful man on earth. Years later she finished school, enrolled in a parttime course, and declared, Dad, Im ready to be independent. Ill learn on the job right away; I dont want to waste time. Victor beamed at his clever daughter, proud as a peacock.
One afternoon Lucy baked a cake and, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, hinted that the girls might be planning something. Victor wondered whether they were trying to buy him a new tie, but the real surprise was far stranger. Primrose had just turned twenty.
Dad, she smiled, flicking an invisible speck of dust from his shoulder, I want you and Mum to meet someone. Dont get jumpy. Oliver is a good lad; were thinking of making it official. Ive invited him over for tea today. Oh, look, hes calling!
Lucy was the first to answer the door. Good evening, please come in. Lovely to meet you, Oliver. Im Lucy Griffiths. She gestured to Victor, who gave a nod and a halfhearted handshake that left his mouth a bit dry.
The thought crossed Victors mind: This fellow is here to whisk my only daughter away. A stranger taking my baby girl out of the house! A rational voice inside him whispered, Why are you so opposed? Dont you want your daughter to be happy? Hes a decent bloke, strong and kind. Do you really want her to spend her whole life with just you and Mum?
Victor, however, refused to heed that inner sage. He decided Oliver was unworthy of Primroseperiod. A plan formed in his head: he would put the chap to the test and make sure he never hurt his daughter.
Weeks passed. Victor parked his official car outside Olivers townhouse in Leeds, citing latenight work as an excuse. Hed watched Oliver escort Primrose home on several evenings, then quietly trailed him, hoping to catch a slip.
At last, Victor spotted a young woman and a small girl approaching Olivers front door. He leapt forward, grabbed the ladys bag, and snatched the little girls hand before they vanished inside. Gotcha! he whispered triumphantly.
He now felt certain Oliver was not who he pretended to be. Yet, oddly enough, he found himself liking the lad. Perhaps Victor saw a younger version of himselfopen, straightforward, a touch naive. Maybe his suspicion was just professional paranoia.
Primrose greeted her father with bright eyes. Dad, our wedding is in a week! Weve booked a venue with Oliver. Im over the moon! Victor stared at his daughter, suddenly embarrassed by his snooping. She continued, Dad, Olivers parents will arrive tomorrow evening to meet us, and theyll stay over. Tonight his sister and her daughter are coming from NewcastleNatalies on a business trip, but shell pop over later.
At the reception, Victor danced with Lucy like a man half his age, deciding that endless suspicion was futile. Hed blend work and family more wisely from then on.
A year later, Primrose gave birth to a granddaughter, little Sophie. Victor, now a newly minted grandfather, wept with joy. Dreams really do come true. He finally had someone to chat about the weather with, someone to tackle DIY projects, and a soninlaw who turned out to be an excellent fellow.
Sophie grew quickly, chattering away, Granddad, look at me! Victor laughed, grateful for the burst of youthful energy in his golden years. As for the whole Oliverinvestigation? He kept it under his hat, trusting only those closest to him.
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