Royce(54)

“Some people should have better respect for the men who gave up so much for our freedom.” Gilbert turned to look at the person who spoke. “What tour were you in? I’m guessing Desert Storm?”

Gilbert hadn’t a clue what this fucker was talking about either. Desert what? He pushed him away from him only just then realizing what he’d been saying. Gilbert threw back his head and laughed. He’d never been in the Army or any other part of the service either. Pansies. All of ‘em, just plain old pansies.

Gilbert pulled out his cell phone and had dialed his daughter’s number four times before he figured out his phone wasn’t working. When he took the battery out twice and tried turning it on, he ended up tossing it into the trash. He just knew it was a conspiracy against him. No one ever helped out anyone anymore.

He thought about flagging down a taxi to get him home, but he didn’t have any cash on him. Grinning, he realized he didn’t ever have any cash on him, but that hadn’t ever stopped him before. It took him twenty minutes to get there, stealing a few apples, a bag of chips, and three beers from the various stores he passed on the way. A brother had to eat and he thought he should have it all for free.

There was a pay phone in the lobby of the dump he lived in. It rarely worked and when it did, he usually didn’t have the money to make the call. Today he’d been able to get himself a wallet and a ladies purse along with his lunch so he was flush for the minute. Sitting inside the dirty thing, he dialed Kasey’s number and glared at no one in particular when she answered with a growl.

“What the hell do you want now? I’ve told you several times that I have no money to give you and even if I did, I wouldn’t. Stop cal—”

“You’ll have more respect for your daddy. I’m all you got left. And I don’t believe you about the—”

He hated to be cut off when he had something to say and Kasey did it every time she said something to him. He was frankly getting sick of it and when she took a breath from her tirade, he was going to tell her so. But she said something that made him stop to listen.

“…married in a few weeks and you are so not welcome in that life either. I don’t know where you get off thinking you are going to get daddy of the year from me, but you couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t want you around me or my family.”

“I am your family, damn it, and it’s high time you started acting like it.” Before she could tell him something again, he went on. “And what the fuck do you mean you’re a getting married? You ain’t had no man ask me for your hand. What the hell is that—”

Her shrill laughter broke him off. Of all the nerve of her, he thought. If she was here right now, he’d whoop her ass for her and then he’d—

Gilbert wasn’t really sure what a man could do to his grown daughter, but didn’t say anything as she continued to laugh.

“You might want to stay away from my future husband, daddy dearest. I’m pretty sure he’ll knock you on your lazy ass as soon as you open your mouth about ‘whooping’ my ass.” She took a deep breath. He could almost see her building up some steam to have another go. “You are not anything to me. As far as I’m concerned, you are nothing to me.”

“Now see here, you can’t go talking—”

“I want you out of my life, Gilbert. And I mean forever this time. I only let you come around out of respect for mom, but that ends now.”

The phone went dead and he sat there staring at if for a full five minutes before he hung it up. He staggered his way to the stairs—the elevator never worked anyway—and went down the hall to his room.

“Girl oughta have more respect for the man that sired her,” he mumbled to himself. “What’s this world comin’ to when a kid thinks they can get off talking—”

“Mr. MacDonald, Gilbert MacDonald?” Gilbert looked at the man standing there in his fancy suit and briefcase. “Are you Gilbert MacDonald?”

“Tell me what you want him for and I’ll let you know if’n it’s me or not.” Gilbert glared at the man. “You look like one of them fancy lawyer types. That what you are?”

“My name is Daniel Hunter and yes, I am an attorney.” The man stepped toward Gilbert and he took a hasty step back. “I have a restraining order here. Well, two of them. I’m serving you.”

Gilbert put his hands behind his back when the two dark envelopes were thrust at him. “I ain’t takin them. Who you trying to keep me from and why come? I ain’t done nothing to anyone.” At least he thought not where anyone would have seen him.