No Cherubs for Melanie (45 page)

Samantha's downward glance and shuffled shoes told the story.

“The poor old sod's dead isn't he?” Bliss said resignedly.

“Yes, but…”

“I sort of expected it. He was quite old. He probably missed me and pined away.”

Peter Bryan silently pleaded with Samantha not to disillusion her father.

Samantha was cradling a cardboard shoe box. “But look what we've bought you.”

“What is it?”

Bliss peered in and his eyes were met with a pretty pair of kitten's eyes. “I don't really know,“ he began, obviously not keen.

“I thought you loved Balderdash,” Samantha said. “I thought you'd want another.”

“To be absolutely honest, I only kept him to annoy your mother.”

“Oh, Dad.”

“Why don't you have him, Sam? You've got a garden for him to play in.”

Samantha looked for Bryan's approval. “OK.”

“Anyway, you two are all dolled up. Something special?”

Samantha gave Bryan's hand a squeeze. “We're going out for a romantic dinner. And Peter's got something he wants to show me afterwards, haven't you?”

Bryan felt a blush rising and kicked her on the ankle.

“Ow!” she said, with a laugh.

“Do you know the worst thing about this entire affair?” said Bliss.”

“No,” they said in unison.

“The possibility of ending up with a son-in-law as a boss.”

“As long as you don't expect me to call you ‘Dad,'” sneered Bryan.

The End