“No, never… he abandoned me and Mum… and Mike would probably have done the same one day”.
“But Shell doesn’t know that and it’s probably not a good idea to ever tell her that that’s what you think. I think that she will forget all about him in a few weeks, and then, one day at the breakfast table in years to come, she will ask you who her father was right out of the blue, and your job will be to tell her the nice things about him”.
She smiled sadly and touched his hand. “Yes… Can I get you another beer, Dad?”
“Aye, go on then, if you insist”
She stood up and as she passed him put her arms around his neck and sniff-kissed him on the cheek. Don’t call my blood father my real father, he didn’t want the job. You’re my real father, and don’t you forget it”.
“Thanks, my dear”, he said tappi
