2. Glorious Landing
Chapter 2
Glorious Landing
GLORY
“ G lorinda!” I hear my dad’s boisterous voice through the car phone.
“Yes, Dad?” I sit up, turning down the cassette tape I just handed the driver even though one of my favorite songs, “Motownphilly” by Boys II Men is playing.
“Are you paying attention to me? Now is not the time for you to have your head in the clouds!” he snaps as I close my eyes and massage my temples, doing my best to remain calm. “You mu?—”
“I must remain vigilant… yes, I know, but must you yell? Your blood pressure wi?—”
“Damn my blood pressure, this is important! You’re not going to be in America, Glorinda! I won’t be able to come help you immediately if you get into trouble!” he grunts, and I roll my eyes. That’s what I’m hoping for… in addition, I have no idea why he thinks I’m prone to trouble in the first place!
No, forget that! How did he even find out I was going to France?! I thought I was being so sneaky and I made sure not to use any of the family connections or his credit card when booking, yet he still somehow found out! This is ridiculous…
“And pray tell Dad, what kind of trouble do you expect me to get into while I’m here?” I ask, and when he doesn’t respond, I purse my lips, point proven. “Exactly! I’m simply here to relax and unwind. I need a break from your constant pestering, and I’m not trying to do anything irresponsible. You didn’t raise me to do such things anyway,” I tell him truthfully.
“Even if you don’t look for trouble, that doesn’t mean trouble won’t find you. You need to stay on your toes so you don’t get mixed in with anyone unsavory,” he states and I throw my hands in the air, giving up on the idea of explaining anything to my dad. Anything I say will go in one ear and out the other.
“Okay, Dad. I hear you,” I scowl ready to get off the phone so I can go back to enjoying the stunning Parisian scene before me.
“Glorinda,” he sighs. “I know I spoiled you by letting you do whatever you want, but don’t you think this is going a bit too far?”
“No, Dad. I think this is completely normal,” I huff, frustrated.
“Well I don’t, but your mother told me not to bother you, so I guess I can only tell you to be careful,” he solemnly voices through the phone as the car pulls to a stop at a red light. Thank you, Mom!
“You can relax, Father. I just want to relax and enjoy my holiday,” without you breathing down my neck. “And that’s all.”
“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll trust you, but you need to call me every day.”
“Dad!” I groan, irritated, scaring the driver and making him jump, rattled. Shoot! “Je suis désolé,” (I’m sorry) I apologize to the driver, going back to my talking to my dad after calming my nerves slightly. “Dad, I am sorry, but I will not be calling you every day. Again, must I remind you that I’m twenty-five? Besides, shouldn’t you be taking this time to spend with Mom?” I ask him as we drive past a cute little bakery. Mabe I should ask the driver to pull over on the curb so I can walk in…
“I’m going to spend time with her. In fact, Linus is taking us to dinner tomorrow,” my dad laughs, and I curl my lip, disgust on my face as my appetite is immediately ruined. So much for going to the cute little bakery…
“Dad,” I groan loud enough for him to hear. “With all due respect, this is getting out of hand. I do not want you hanging out with my ex like that. No, as a matter of fact, DON’T hang out with my ex! He’s an ex for a reason, and I would appreciate it if you respected my thoughts and feelings on this,” I tell him, hurt but also filled with ire.
“Glorinda! That’s no way to treat such a nice and upstanding boy,” he admonishes me, and I drop my head back against the seat, disappointed but at my wits’ end on this matter.
“I didn’t raise you to be like this, and I don’t see anything wrong with a nice young man treating us to dinner. I do not believe it has to come with any other intentions. However, I would like you to reconsider your break-up with such a well-rounded young man,” he states, trying to get me to see the good in Linus as per usual, but I know better.
“You know what, Dad? I don’t care if he’s a well-rounded man… he is NOT for me and will NEVER be for me. I can tell you with utmost certainty that there is no chance in hell of that man and me getting back together, so please just stop.”
While Linus might look good on paper and with clothes on, strip the money and clothes from him, and you’re left with nothing. No, less than nothing . I might as well have been playing with a clit that was smaller than my own! But I stayed with him because I could see past his small peter. That is until he tried to belittle me for my shortcomings while I was pretending to gag on his. Ha! I was a fool and blinded, but now I see…
“I just don’t see why you’re behaving like this… you both seemed so happy,” he urges and I feel myself growing irate. I open my mouth to tell him just how happy that bastard made me when I’m interrupted.
“Nous sommes arrivés à destination, madame, (We have arrived at our destination, madam) ” the driver speaks as he pulls into the glamorous hotel. Thank you, God! I watch him step out of the car, and sprint around to open the door for me. I already feel happiness swell inside at my first taste of freedom.
“Dad, I have to go now. I’ve made it to the hotel, so I?—”
“Glorinda, sweetheart, you should think this thr?—”
“No,” I tell him plainly and simply. There is absolutely nothing to think through.
“I just don’t th?—”
“Madame?” the driver speaks up.
“Sorry, Dad. I have to go. Talk to you later! Ta-ta!” I quickly hang up and step outside my limousine in my custom Jimmy Choo high heels that I’d had rushed for this exact moment. I take a smell of the crisp air, feeling like an entirely new woman.
“Votre manteau, mademoiselle,” (Your coat, mademoiselle) the driver smiles as he places my mink coat on my shoulders and hands me my cassette tape. I hand him a couple of Euros from my money clip.
“Merci!” he exclaims as I strut inside and the bellboy hurries along with my Louis Vuitton bags.
“Mrs. Cross, we are so honored to have you at our establishment,” a man greets me at the door, and after reading his nametag, I see he’s the manager.
“It’s a pleasure to be here,” I grin coyly though I want nothing more than to get up to my room, strip from my airport outfit, and relax until I’m ready to head out. Ah, I can’t wait to see the stunning Eiffel Tower lit up as if it’s paying homage to me and my new start! I’m ready to have my first taste of true downtime, where I can simply focus on myself without my father breathing down my neck.
“The pleasure is ours. Please allow me to lead you to your room,” he bows, speaking English and making me feel comfortable with small talk as he leads me up to the penthouse suite I’ll be staying in for the next few weeks until I find proper dwelling for the time I’ll spend outside of the United States. “Well, here we are. Please call down to the front desk if you need anything,” he smiles politely.
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you , madam. I hope you enjoy your stay here,” he bows as he exits. I close the penthouse suite door and groan, falling back against it, already tired. Although the fact that I’m alone brings me the brightest joy.
Exhausted and jet lagged, I strip off my fur coat, allowing it to land in a puddle on the ground, and make my way over to the luxurious king-sized bed where I will happily spend most of my time. I plop down in the most unladylike fashion possible, but I don’t care. This quiet feels like heaven… this stillness feels like peace.
Sitting up, I slump against the headboard, basking in this quiet luxury, feeling tears well in my eyes. God, why didn’t I do this sooner?! Why did I live my life so cooped and sheltered when I could have been doing this?
No Dad, no freaking Linus, no having to worry about someone bursting into my home! It’s just me… me and freedom! I stand up jump in the bed, spinning and giggling with a content, racing heart prior to falling back and staring at the ceiling.
“This holiday is going to change my life. I know it!” I whisper to myself, turning to my side to see the Eiffel Tower out my window, feeling butterflies in my belly. By the time I return home, I’ll show my dad that I’m a grown woman and not just General Cross’ little girl.