The doorbell sounded, loud and sharp, Dougie frowned "Who could that be? We're all here"
I shrugged "Postman?"
"Maybe" He headed out in to the hallway, we heard his keys jingle in the door... then silence. We all looked at each other, unsure of what was going on exactly. Finally someone spoke
"Well" They said "Aren't you going to invite me in?"
Oh my God! It was DAD! He couldn't come in, not now, not ever. We'd said that we never wanted to see him again... and now he was here, the same day as his first grandchild was born... great
"We said we wanted nothing to do with you" Dougie said "We have company so we'd rather you left"
"I want to see my son and daughter, is that too much?"
"No, Dad"
I heard him push past him, I held Rose tighter, no way was he touching my little girl, I moved closer to Tom, silently begging for protection. He held me close, keeping us both safe.
My father walked in to the living room, a smile on his face, he then directed it at me... until he saw I was holding a baby "Who's that?"
"Rose" Was all I could say
"That doesn't answer my question"
"Yes it does" Dougie said "Now get out"
"Who is this little girl?" He asked
I sighed "You know what, Dad? If you had bothered to stick around, you would know who this is" I took a deep breath "You would have seen yourlittle girl, fall in love, get engaged and have her own little girl"
Dad's face went red "Are you telling me, that the baby you are holding is my granddaughter?"
"Only biologically, otherwise, no, she'll have nothing to do with you"
He looked hurt, but I really didn't care "Who can you possibly be marrying?"
Tom had his arm around me! How could he be asking that?
"Oh my God, Dad, just get out"
"Who's giving you away?"
"You heard her Dad" Dougie grabbed Dad's shoulder "Get out"
Dad repeated himself "Who's giving you away?"
"Dougie is"
My father's head snapped round to look at Dougie, like he'd betrayed him "Why are you giving her away?"
Dougie held up three fingers "One, we didn't think you'd be around, considering we said we don't want you around. Two, because Tom asked for my permission, not yours. And three, because I have been far better to Belle than you ever have"
If Dad had been holding something breakable, I think he would have thrown it at Dougie "How dare you talk to me that...?" He didn't finish his sentence, Dougie pulled him out of the room and said "Just go" Within seconds, we heard the front door slam shut
"Well today was interesting"
I looked at Tom, who was removing his shoes "You mean that stuff with my Dad?"
"Well yeah, I was expecting him to hit something, the look on his face"
"Me too, but he didn't, I'm just glad he didn't make the connection when Dougie mentioned you" I sank in to the sofa
"Hmm, me too. Otherwise I could be pretty beaten up right now"
I looked down at Rose, who I'd barely had all day due to her being passed around like a parcel, and felt my worries seep away. I had everything I wanted, no Dad to interfere, my family was here... next door... a little further down the road... and in Harrow. I didn't need him and Silva, I had everyone and everything I need, right here... and no one was going to ruin it
"Hey" Tom ran his fingers through my hair "We can start thinking about the wedding now"
"Would it be bad if I told you I have already been thinking about it?"
"No, I'd be more surprised if you hadn't been thinking about it" He smiled "Tell me what you've thought of"
Once you get me started on weddings, its hard to change topic, it would be even harder to change it now as this was our own wedding we were talking about. I didn't really stop to breathe until I finished my last idea "And I thought Rose could have an ivory dress like me but with a blue ribbon round her waist and a blue Alice band, if she'll keep it on, to match Carrie and Vicky"
He took awhile to process everything I had said "Wow... you really have thought about it... we better get to work"