HARMONY

Part 19 "The Meaning of Life"

While Steve lives out his childhood dream of being a "rock star", Michelle, Claire and Drew try to navigate the plastic world of upper-middle class suburbia.  Instead of reaching out to her 'friends' for help in this difficult time, Michelle continues to try to deceive them.  She even considers stealing jewelry right from Felicia's bedroom....

Like smoke from a scented candle, the news of Steve's 'business trip' wafted over the party despite Michelle's smiled attempts to snuff it out. As promised, Drew ate and left before he could be engaged in anyone's meaningful conversation. Claire found a vacant oversized chaise lounge and picked at her plate of vegetables.

Grant walked over to Claire and sat at the end. "No hamburger?" he said. "I make the best."

"You see a meat patty," she said. "I see total animal suffering."

"Well, that's very chic of you."

Claire swirled her carrot in the puddle of dressing and took a bite. "Whatever."

"So," he said. "How are things?"

Claire let out a slight laugh. "So, what are you asking me?"

"Just creating conversation."

"No you're not," she said with a bite. "You've been sent over here by your so sparkly wife to find out what's going on with my dad."

Grant smiled and patted her leg. "Oh Claire. I admire your spunk, but no one sent me to talk to you."

"Uh huh."

"You think Felicia has too many diamonds?"

"It's like your money," she said. "Buy her all the blood diamonds you want."

Grant stood up and created a silhouette of shade. "You know, it was your grandfather who inspired me to become a surgeon."

Tilting her head with suspicion, Claire looked into his shadowed face.

"Yep," Grant continued. "He lectured at Stanford my freshman year and he was so passionate about healing people that I wanted to follow in his footsteps from that moment." Grant lifted his chin to the sky with a smug smile of accomplishment.

"My grandpa," she said with a slight raise in her voice, "repaired deformed skin and like wounded faces on war-suffered children who were like blown up. You," she pointed a carrot at him, "pump lips full of plastic and make boobs bigger."

A few of those faces turned toward the two and Claire took a large crunch of her carrot stick. She looked around for her mom and wondered why she hadn't seen her lately. Surely, her mom would've ambulanced over to try to cauterize the conversation.

Michelle opened the door to the downstairs bathroom, looked around the empty hallway, and then closed it without going inside. She crept up the stairs and headed toward the French double doors leading into the master bedroom. A second scan of the area—all clear.

All sensation ceased to exist. A final look around—she pushed open the door, stepped inside and clicked it carefully behind her. The designer décor unfolded like an episode on Oprah's favorite things. Her eyes bolted to Felicia's dresser and the Oriental jewelry box.

Her legs willed her to leave. It's not worth it was quickly pushed away by the desperate thoughts. Bitch. She'll never miss it. I just need a little cash flow to get us through. Her fingers trembled as she pulled the gold tassel on the blood red door. It clicked open to reveal a treasure trove of sparkles. Thick jeweled pendants, shiny white bracelets, dripping diamond earrings, and rings of every color rock—they all mocked her greed.