Page 81 of Loving Netta Wilde

‘Okay.’ She slipped her arm in his. ‘We can go into Kings Heath.’

Doogie felt a twinge of regret for all the walks he’d missed over the years. He imagined being on the receiving end of that sweet look of hers if he’d had to tell her off for being naughty. It was just as well he’d missed them because he’d have been a complete walkover. She’d have gotten away with anything. ‘How did it go with Julie and Clive yesterday?’

‘Oh I’m calling them Nana and Grandad now. Mum has officially sanctioned it.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah. Well she suggested it’d be nice if I did. So I think we can say it went well. I wish you could’ve seen Mum though. She was on her best behaviour so’s not to scare them off. So hilarious watching her trying not to swear. The effort was intense.’ She was funny too, his daughter. In the early days of them getting to know each other, she’d been shy but now that she was more relaxed around him, her personality was beginning to show. It had only taken a few years. Not bad for a person who’d inherited his genes.

‘I can imagine. She’d like that, your nana. It wasn’t her fault she missed out on knowing you.’

‘I know. I think it might be cool to meet my biological grandad some time as well though. What do you think?’

‘I haven’t seen him myself for a long time. We’re not really close.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Is that like code for I haven’t told him about you, Merrie?’

‘Yes.’

‘Honestly, you are so useless. It’s a good job Nana’s told him.’

‘You’re kidding me? I thought she didn’t speak to him anymore?’

‘Well she does now. Looks like you’re not the only one with secrets. He wants to meet me. So when you’re ready. Just say theword. Only don’t leave it too long because Nana says he’s well old.’

‘Oh you wantmeto take you?’

‘Well I’m not going on my own, am I?’

‘I’ll see what I can do.’

She kissed him in the cheek. ‘Thanks, Dad.’

Doogie felt a blush coming from his neck upwards and told himself to get a grip. It was just a display of affection from his daughter. Yet another thing he’d missed out on. Hang on, did she just…? ‘Did you just call me Dad?’

‘Yep. It’s another thing Overlord Claire has decreed. Is it okay?’

Dickhead that he was, he could feel a lump forming in his throat. ‘It’s more than okay. I’m not sure I deserve it though.’

‘No, you don’t, but I’m giving you a second chance.’

He tried out an awkward kiss on the top of her head and nearly missed. She laughed. ‘You’re not very good with emotions, are you?’

He blushed again. She was observant as well as funny. ‘No. I guess I bottle them up. Sometimes with disastrous results.’

‘Was I a disastrous result?’

‘No. But walking away from you turned into one. Somebody recently told me I’d made some bad choices. Leaving you was probably the worst.’

‘Is that your way of saying sorry?’

There was that lump again, making his throat sore. ‘Yes.’

‘I’ve been waiting for that.’ Merrie stopped and opened her arms. ‘Come here, idiot.’

Doogie took a step closer and let her wrap her arms around him. Tentatively, he put his around her.

‘I won’t break you know,’ she said.

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