Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 13 - What's In The Black Box

Anna felt she could use a bit of perfection right about now. After Friday's catastrophe, thoughts of crowds with people they knew weren't doing much to replenish her mood. She would give anything to spend a girls' night at home with Harmony instead, Anna thought. She would be able to cuddle up to Harmony during a scary movie in their favorite pajamas while licking frosting off each other's fingers. The thought of bathing naked in their giant bubble bath together made Anna tingle in the pit of her stomach.

Harmony knew how to express herself with both sexes and loved teaching people about themselves, especially boys. It was the most natural thing in the world to be with Harmony, but Anna wouldn't be able to share those private experiences with another girl. She would be too uncomfortable. Anna didn't like girls, but there were secrets her and Harmony shared. They were best friends and would always be, but Anna wanted a husband, not a wife. Though given the choice of Harmony over anyone, she'd choose Harmony. Life was confusing.

It was a good thing that Anna had financial security. It was the only thing she had more of than Harmony. Shamefully sometimes Anna smiled that Harmony was jealous of her comfort as she didn't really have parents at home. It was also the main thing they had in common. With Anna's Dad gone all the time, and Harmony having a mom that traveled for work, they were both missing all four of their parents. It was what made the them connect on a closer level. Anna trusted Harmony with her life, just not with her Dad.

Now they had this opportunity with the island, Anna wondered what Harmony really thought. It made her uncomfortable that Harmony seemed excited about the prospect. Anna smiled at an image of Harmony getting married on a perfect island. Harmony would make a beautiful bride Anna thought, just so long as she wasn't Colin's bride. Thinking of the worst-case scenario, Anna wondered if Harmony was having the same thought. If Harmony had plans to marry Anna's father, that would give Harmony fifty-one percent of the Island. There was no way Anna was going to let that happen. If Harmony lived on the island forever, Anna couldn't be happier, just so that Anna was in charge. She couldn't ever let Harmony run things.

Anna saw a plate of food next to her computer on her desk left by Christine. Quickly Anna checked her email accounts and the impressive number of hits she'd received on her latest Wedding design column. One sandwich and two cookies later, Anna finished erasing everything she had on Ryan, her short-term romance. He was just another lying pig that tried to live a separate life hoping his girlfriend wouldn't find out. Anna logged off ignoring the multiple incoming messages from people she knew all over the world that she had reached. The nameless always wanted exposure. Sometimes Anna felt like she had too many identities. Her heart skipped at the memory of Friday night. Maybe her father didn't know what she did, Anna thought.

To redirect her thinking, Anna printed out pictures she took before and while she was with Ryan at the bar. It had been weeks since she tacked up any new pictures to her wall of her experiences. If her father knew the things she did to get back at unfaithful men, he would put her in a mental hospital. Anna knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't resist testing the purity of another's relationship after Bryce tricked her. Anna shook her head of the memories she had with Bryce.

Besides, Anna felt justified because even though she couldn't hurt Bryce as deeply as she wanted to, she wanted to save other brides from choosing that kind of pain. Anna giggled to herself. She put a picture of Ryan up. She was bold enough to take it when he first entered the bar and looked around the room for someone that looked like Harmony.

Anna did love Ryan's bright blue eyes though. Ryan would have been fun to take home and dump the next day. She had spent three weeks in his head through her online Wedding Hotel where couples can introduce single friends to find dates for their wedding. It was also something fun and local for other brides and grooms to hang out to compare notes. The hook ups were safe because the wedding parties and friends got to know each other so the wedding couple didn't feel as stretched socially on their happy day.