Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 5 - Game On

Christine wasn't aware of Anna's discomfort when she handed her the cordless house phone. Her attention was on her "To Do" list as Head House Mom and the only Mom Anna knew. With her back to the garden, Anna stared at the book lined shelves of her library. She imagined the creepy ghost woman was most likely staring into the back of her head like a cat ready to play with a lizard. Anna tried to replace her turmoil of emotion with annoyance so wouldn't feel fear.

"Hello?" Anna asked smoothly into phone. It was the most desperate form of communication when nobody wanted to use their cell phones. Anna was sure hers was still in her room on her dresser with an explosive number of waiting messages.

"Hello Anna. In a world of your own in our garden I hear." A giggle sounded from the other side of the line.

"Yes, of course." Anna laughed. The familiar tightening in her pelvic kept her stomach muscles flexed.

"I'll be there soon so we can take our time in getting ready." Harmony said matter of fact.

"After last night I'm not sure I want to go out." Anna tried to sound bored, but it came out a bit timid which is how she felt. Anna braced for an argument she wasn't in the mood for as she touched the side of her cheek where it was tenderly bruised.

"It's New Year's Eve. You need to be around good fun people that you know." Harmony said trying to discount Anna's attempt at rejecting the invitation.

"And if I refuse?" Anna asked, knowing her friend wasn't to be swayed.

"Then I'll make your life hell and visit your father more often alone." Anna could almost hear Harmony's smug smile on the other line. Anna laughed, but knew Harmony wasn't joking. There was no way Anna wanted that to happen, again.

"It is a good thing he isn't here then." Anna replied and heard Christine clear her throat in the hallway.

"Awe, I still haven't thanked him for my Christmas gifts." Harmony teased.

"I know, but I am sure he knows. Ok. I have to get ready, see you later." Anna said and hung up the phone so she didn't have to hear Harmony's taunting tone about her dad. Anna turned around to look behind her realizing the woman with the long blond hair from the garden was gone.

Anna sighed in relief before her brows furrowed. All she wanted to do today was enjoy her garden, but unfortunately Harmony was in a stubborn mood. She didn't want to go to the party and didn't understand why she let Harmony talk her into things.

Anna looked around her beautiful house that only a few days before had been fully decorated for Christmas but now opened to the naked pristine simplistic structure. She passed the large table in the library that only last week had porcelain figurines ice skating on a glass pond in the center of a town with a train as their only transportation. Anna loved putting it all together so was disappointed to be rushed in packing it all up. Anna had a hard time understanding why her father would make Christine pack up Christmas so early. Usually they kept everything up until February as each section of the house took a long time to pack up because of the collections of stories. Her father liked to skip the stress of making January promises and opted for starting each new year in February which is considered the month of love.

Not that many saw the decorations anymore. They don't entertain much these days. It was easier to attend parties elsewhere, so they didn't have a mess to clean or risk anyone breaking their precious things. Her father liked when she hung out with friends outside the house if she didn't get into trouble and always had a safe ride home. Colin thought Anna hid too much behind a computer. He didn't realize how famous she was online with her magazine. It had taken four years to get that recognition.