Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 8 - Daddy's Surprise

"Finalize what? Details for your surgery?" Anna watched her father closer.

"Yes, but mostly details about an island." Colin said finally looking at his daughter with a steady unemotional stare.

"What island?" Anna swallowed with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Anna knew her father well. When her Dad stared at her like this meant it was something serious and big. It was the only time his eyes turned a darker blue like they were now.

Christine came out to clear their plates, placing fresh coffee and tea on the table along with a plate stacked with bite size lemon square cakes to cleanse their pallets. She seemed to rush faster out of the room than Anna had ever seen her do. Colin waited until they were alone again.

"I bought you an island on the Pacific ocean for your birthday and we move to it permanently next week." Colin said before he looked away and took a sip of his coffee. He then shoved a delicious bite sized lemon square into his mouth, preventing him to speak further without being rude.

Anna sat with her mouth gaping open not giving a crap about anything on the table.

A myriad of feelings rushed through Anna like a sandstorm with each particle of sand a thought. Anna waited as if there was more her father had to tell her. After a silence as thick as walking alone in a dark room, she saw her father wasn't going to elaborate. Anna hated when her dad dropped news on her and didn't immediately explain. She watched him finish several bites of his lemon treat, and sip on his tea while she waited fuming patiently. Anna was going to scream out loud to release the sharp shrieking her brain was doing if he made her wait any longer. After another minute, Anna decided she was at the end of her rope.

"What do you mean you bought me an island?" Anna asked impatiently and a bit louder than she had intended. She started to feel like there was another perfectly put together side of her that was struggling to reach her uncontrolled acting self.

Colin wiped his mouth on a napkin and smiled.

"Exactly that, I bought you an Island of your very own to run. The weather is wonderful all year around." Colin spoke quickly.

"Is there anyone else going to live on the island Daddy, not just you and me? You aren't going to leave me on it alone, right?" Anna asked nervously while thinking that he did know what she did Friday night. She was worried he was going to throw her on an island to never be heard from again, because he was over the messes she made.

"Well of course not. You own forty-nine percent and I own the fifty-one percent. Unless you marry, then you will get seventy-five percent as a couple and I will get twenty-five percent. When I die, you get it all." Colin said smugly.

"Daddy, I don't understand." Anna looked confused.

"Anna, we are moving permanently to our own island next week." Colin said matter of fact.

"How can you do that? How can you just decide that without talking to me?" She said in a calm dead manner that made her father finally look into her eyes.

"I've been working on the project for two years Anna without knowing if it were going to be possible or not. I just got a great opportunity, so I did it." Colin said. "I can't believe that you aren't excited. You just graduated last summer. You own half an island as big as Seattle, for which you can basically do anything you want. I think that is a nice gift, don't you?"

"I don't know what to say. I feel so unprepared and uninformed. What about Harmony?" Anna said in a rushed panic.

"She is coming. I've already met with her mother, Sandra, a few times. Harmony's stuff gets shipped this week, along with the rest of our stuff."

"When did you talk to her?" Anna still was not able to fully process what was going on. "When were you here?"

"No, I flew Sandra out to Colorado once, and to Switzerland for a little of my grandfather's history. It was a good selling point. I set her and one of her friends up for the weekend of skiing in my luxury suite with great food. Sandra loved it. They had a great time."

Anna was stunned. She couldn't move. She had no idea that Harmony's mom had gone anywhere to meet her father and would bet on her life that Harmony didn't either. Sandra traveled a lot for her work as a personal assistant to a producer in the film industry, but Harmony couldn't keep a secret to save her life, especially one this big.

"What did you do with my mother?" Harmony asked as she walked into the room with a wicked grin on her face. She looked incredible in her black pants, a tight red top that crossed at her breasts for an extra lift, and a wicked pair of black heels that could be used as a weapon. Anna watched transfixed as Harmony walked up to Colin and gave him a hug that lasted a second longer than it should have. What bothered Anna was her father kept his hand on Harmony's ribs even a moment longer than that. Anna bit her lip. She was going to have to get her father in line.

"Well you're early! Aren't we so lucky to have such a great Daddy, Harmony? He brought us gifts." Anna said in a sarcastic sweetness. Harmony gave her a strange look knowing that Anna was irritated over something.

"More gifts Colin? You gave me so much already that I've often lied awake thinking of the many ways I could repay you." Harmony laughed as Colin stepped back and smiled.

Anna handed Harmony a purple bag the same style as Anna's.

Not paying attention to the tension between Anna and her father, Harmony rambled on about why she was early as she had just come from a shopping trip. She had gotten another job proposal from the manager of a local well-known clothing store for their advertising. Harmony stopped talking once she pulled the personal perfume out of its box and saw her name elegantly in black script across the front of bottle just as Anna's had been on hers. Intrigued Harmony immediately put the scent on her skin and they were all instantly transfixed to a place on the beach with coconut, cotton candy and bananas with a hint of gardenias floating in the air.

"Well it smells as if that is perfect for your chemistry. Do you like it Harmony?" Colin asked.

"Oh yes Colin, thank you. I've never smelled something so perfect." Harmony said softly keeping eye contact with Colin and a sweet smile on her face. Before Anna could catch onto Harmony's actions, Harmony walked up to Colin to kiss him on the lips surprising them both. Anna made a noise and Colin put distance between him and Harmony with his arms before letting go and turning towards the bar in the library to mix drinks.

To snap Harmony out of her trance, Anna turned to her and said.

"We're moving to a secluded island permanently next week."

Harmony laughed. Anna stared at her not joining in but looked really stressed. Harmony stopped laughing and glanced at Colin who was giving his full attention to the concoctions of blue that he was whipping up with ice and mixes.

"What in the hell is going on?" Harmony asked mirroring the same bewildered expressions as Anna.