Daddy's Here(17)
I shook his hand, he held onto mine for a little too long before finally letting me go.
“And you are?”
“Isabel.”
“Where you headed, Isabel?”
“Gladwell.”
“Oh, that’s a lovely part of the world. You got family in Gladwell?”
“No, just a friend.”
“A friend, oh, that’s nice. Me, I’m roaming where the money is, got to make those sales, am I right?”
“You don’t drive then?”
“Who needs to with company like you, Isabel? Maybe I can show you round the town when we get there? I know all the best places.”
“No, thank you.”
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that. It’s a long journey for you to be frosty the whole way. Why not have a drink with me? I’ve got some cheeky tins here in my bag.” He pulled out a can of lager and cracked it open. “Want one?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“Suit yourself.” He lapsed into silence while he drank but the peace didn’t last. Just as we reached the dual carriageway he turned to me again. “Sure you don’t want one?”
“I’m sure, thanks.”
“What about a chat?”
“I’d rather not.”
“Oh, don’t be so cold, Izzy.”
“Please don’t call me that.”
“All right,” he said, tapping my knee with his hand, making me squirm to move away from his hand. “I’m only being friendly.”
“Do you mind?” the goon said from across the aisle.
“You got a problem?” Michael asked.
“I’d rather you didn’t touch my daughter like that.”
“Your…your daughter?” He took a look at the goon and then at me, his face draining of colour. “Geez, I’m sorry, I didn’t realise. I was just making conversation.”
“I know exactly what you were doing. Now, Isabel, come and sit beside your father.”
“Of course, Daddy,” I said, sliding off the seat and across the aisle, squeezing in next to him. “Whatever you say.”
THIRTEEN
ISABEL
I couldn’t believe my luck. I was able to tease my ‘Daddy’ to my heart’s content and there was nothing he could do about it without making a massive scene. Having slid into the seat next to him, I could feel the salesman opposite still watching me. With the most innocent grin I could manage, I snuggled in closer to my Daddy.
I could feel him stiffening in place. He clearly wanted to shove me away from him but he’d started this lie, he had to keep it up. So he sat there, pretending to be my Daddy while I pretended to be his little girl. The strangest part of it all was the fact that I was enjoying it so much. Making him uncomfortable was a lot of fun. Almost as much fun as being his little girl.
I hooked my hand through his arm and pressed myself closer to him. “I love you, Daddy,” I said, resisting laughing as he turned and scowled down at me. “I love you so much. You’re the bestest Daddy in the whole wide world.”
“All right,” he grumbled. “That’s enough.”
“What?” I said loudly, enjoying the moment more as he became more uncomfortable. “Don’t you love me, Daddy?”
He sighed and I caught his lips moving. He swore under his breath before plastering a fake grin on his lips. “Of course I love you.”
I turned to the salesman and stuck my tongue out at him. “My Daddy loves me.”
I snuggled up closer next to Daddy, feeling the heat of his body through his jacket sleeve, the firmness of his bicep as his smile faded away, leaving his face as angry as it had been before. I knew I was pushing my luck so I didn’t tease him any further, just chuckling quietly to myself while he growled at me. “My Daddy loves me,” I said again, more to myself than to anyone else.
“That’s enough,” he said, shuffling along the seat until he was squashed against the window.
“What, am I not allowed to talk to you anymore, Daddy?
“Now when you’re supposed to be resting. Close your eyes and try and nap.”
“But I don’t want to nap.”
“You either rest or I’ll spank you in front of all of these people. Would you like that instead?”
I closed my eyes at once, ignoring the tiny little voice that spoke deep inside me, the voice that said, yes, I would like that very much.
I must have dozed for a while because the next thing I remember was being jolted forwards as the bus suddenly stopped dead. I almost hit the back of the seat in front of me but Daddy was faster than me, catching me across the chest and pushing me back against my seat. “You all right?” he asked, already getting to his feet.