Page 10 of Dear Glory

“Glorinda!” I deflate and plop back against the bed when I hear my dad’s voice.

“General Cross, good morning,” I mutter in a dry tone, calling him by his title in the military since I’m upset with him.

“Cut it out pumpkin. How’d you sleep last night?” he grunts.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Cut what out? General Cross?”

“I get it you’re upset at me for calling so much. Your mother relayed it to me already, can’t you just talk to me regularly?” he voices but I roll my eyes.

“Fine, hello,Dad.What can I help you with this morning?”

“Aww don’t be like that, pumpkin. You used to call me Daddy,” he groans sadly and I can just tell he’s pouting, but he’s not going to guilt me this time.

“Dad, if you have nothing to say, I’m going to ha?—!”

“How was your night, sweetheart? I was worried about you. I heard you went out,” he says innocently. My throat clamps up from anger but I hold it in.

“I…” I pause, squeezing the receiver to my ear. “Dad, are you really doing this right now?” I feel my temperature rise.

“Of course not, pumpkin, I just… well, your mother just worries about you!” he grumbles, and the blatant lie is so audacious I don’t dignify it with a response. To keep from lashing out at him, I pick up the remote, and flip through the channels to take my mind off his nonsense when I feel my heart stop at seeing Axil’s face. With utter stupefication, I turn the television up and my heart thumps wildly in my chest at the headline.

“Axil O’Hara and Idina O’Hara heading for divorce as the municipal courts have granted separation.”DIVORCE! OH MY GOD! HE… HE’S MARRIED?!...

I clutch my stomach, feeling a bit queasy, but I still try to listen in. The segment is so short that I don’t get much information aside from he’d not long ago gained citizenship and took over his wife’s father’s company...Guhhhh!

“Glorinda, did you hear me?”

“I-I’m sorry, Dad. What did you say?” I grumble, forgetting I’m even upset with my dad, more so preoccupied with what I just saw and unsure how I feel about it.

“I was asking what are your plans today?

“I’m unsure. I might go relax by the pool and go downstairs for dinner later,” I answer flippantly because I know he’s just asking so he can keep tabs on me. More than that… my dad… he knows everything. It’s one of the perks of being a high-ranking military officer.By chance would he...?“Daddy?” I say sweetly, buttering him up.

“Yes, Glorinda? Don’t tell me you’re bored and ready to come home already… but if you need I can sen?—”

“No, that’s not it. I w-was wondering… do you know a man by the name of Axil O’ Hara??” I finally let out.

There is a long pause on the phone, which has me looking at the receiver, but that blaring obnoxious noise hasn’t come through, so I know he hasn’t disconnected the call.

“Axil O’Hara? Glorinda, where did you hear that name?” he spits as if the name itself is disgusting.

“I saw him mentioned on the news…” I lie and can hear the cord on the other end shaking.

“Humph, just ignore it. That Irishman is bad news, and you don’t need to pay attention to anyone you’ll never meet,” he sounds off.Ugh! But I DID meet him and I AM paying attention… probably too much!

“O-oh? Is hethatbad of a guy?”

“Yes, stay away from people like him while you’re out there, Glorinda, I’m not kidding about this… this goes beyond a few fucking parking tickets. Stay away from him,” grits out, full on military commander mode.

“Relax, Dad, it’s not like I’ll ever see him…” I chuckle awkwardly, “So that goes without question, but I’m also curious what makes him and his wife so worthy of being on the newseven here in France?” I throw in, hoping he doesn’t inquire as to why I’m asking.

“They are going through a very public divorce, considering they are billionaires,” he answers.

“BILLIONAIRES?” I shout a little too loud… “As in Bill Gates billionaire?”

“Yup, not only that, but she’s the typical wealthy white woman in distress and he’s a foreigner who inherited his father-in-law’s company. Plus they have two kids. They are the perfect fodder totalk about.”

“He has two kids as well?!” I frown, curling my lip.

---