The late afternoon light filled the living room as I sorted through boring bills, the doorbell ringing to say Pomeline was back…
The late afternoon light filled the living room as I sorted through boring bills, the doorbell ringing to say Pomeline was back early from her side job. She rushed in, her bright energy lighting up the room along with a hint of vanilla. I always looked forward to these monthly visits from her.
“Hey, Dad! You won’t believe what went down with my roommate, Briony…” Pomeline stopped, picking up on my worry. “You good?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said.
“All fine. Come on in, kiddo.”
“So,” I started, “you were saying…”
“Yeah, Dad. Truth is…I met someone, and he’s real kind and thoughtful.
Ulric. Cares about me a ton. We want to tie the knot.
But he’s…”
“But?”
“He’s sixty.”
The word ‘sixty’ slammed me. My girl, eighteen, with a guy sixty—nearly three times her age? Worry and shock muddled my head.
“Sixty, Pomeline? That’s… don’t you see the red flag?”
“Age doesn’t call the shots on love, Dad. Ulric gets me, backs me up.”
“But think ahead, Pomeline?
He’s way older.”
“Love’s not math, Dad. It’s about feeling noticed, wanted, looked after, and Ulric hits that spot,” Pomeline’s voice shook with heart. “Please, just meet him once?
Trust me, you’ll like him.”
For Illustrative purpose only
For Illustrative purpose only
I was floored, words gone. Was Pomeline missing the mess here? Still, I couldn’t shut her down.
After all, what harm in one chat? I said yes to seeing this Ulric. The next night at Ulric’s, I needed air and hit the balcony.
That’s when bits of talk caught me. “Amabel, ease up,” Ulric’s voice, slick and smooth, floated over. “I’m your brother.
You know the drill. It’s just light play. A shot to score a quick win.”
“This is dumb, Ulric,” a woman’s voice, likely Amabel’s, snapped at him.
“You’re messing with that girl’s heart for some ‘light play.’”
A chill gripped my gut. “What’re you on about?” Ulric growled. “The wager, Ulric,” Amabel bit out low.
“You figure wedding a trusting kid clears your debts easy?”
My stomach dropped. Ulric was playing my daughter for a side bet. I burned mad.
I bolted back in and found Pomeline. “Pomeline, we got played! It’s all a trick to him!” I spilled it out.
“Dad, what’re you saying?” Pomeline looked lost, then stunned as I laid out the wager. “He’s faking it, Pomeline! Just using you,” I said, voice breaking.
But Pomeline dug in. “You’re twisting this! You never warmed to Ulric!
He looks out for me…unlike you, Dad. You bailed after Mom went. Felt like you picked work over me.
I was on my own, no dad. Didn’t want sitters or fancy schools, Dad. Wanted you.”
Her hit landed hard, but I knew Ulric’s scam came first.
Then I spotted him stepping into the dining room. Ulric. I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I snapped and swung at his face, shouting, “Keep off my girl, you snake!”
But Pomeline lit up mad at me. “Cut it, Dad! My call, not yours!” she yelled, shoving me off.
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