Page 128 of A Home for Harmony
“Who is it?” he asked. “Are you positive?”
He’d been trying to figure it out but was getting nowhere. There were too many accounts of people who’d sent messages or emails to Harmony. None that he could track, nor could he officially ask it to be done without opening a case file, which was a problem when no threatening language was used.
“Ninety-nine percent positive. I think by tonight the person will make themselves known. How did you even find out about this video?”
“Scarlet,” he said. “You know she follows you. She watched it in study hall and called me. She’s scared.”
“I didn’t mean to scare her. I wanted it out there that it’s not okay to do this. I didn’t call anyone out.”
She hadn’t. He had to admit it was done well from what he’d heard through his daughter’s phone as she played it. It was almost professional, and since Erica helped, it made him think her older sister played a part in covering their asses. It was shot too far away from Harmony to have been holding the phone too.
“Tell me what is going on,” he said. “I need to know so I can be on top of it.”
“Micah. I don’t need you to be on top of this. You’re not my parent. You don’t have to take care of things for me. I’ve got it handled.”
He ground his teeth. “If you had it handled, you wouldn’t have been so scared and come to me. Don’t turn this around that I’m trying to be something that you don’t want.”
Her lips twisted in frustration. “Fine. I was scared and went to you. You calmed me and made me think logically. So much so that I was looking for signs and clues myself and found them.”
“And you’re going to tell me what you found exactly,” he said. “I’ll determine if it makes sense.”
“Don’t get on your high horse with me. I mean it. I’m not Scarlet. I’m an adult. I’ve gotten enough lectures in my life over my choices and behavior and I will not tolerate it from the man I love. I did nothing wrong. I know you don’t like my career choices, but this is something that could happen to anyone. Chances are, it would have happened regardless of the size of my following now that I know who it is.”
“Who is it?” he asked. “And show me the proof of how you came to this conclusion.”
Her toe was tapping as she hesitated.
“Come to my office.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Erica asked. He’d thought Erica had gone back into her office, but when he turned his head, realized she’d been standing in the doorway watching them.
“No,” he said.
“I’ll answer my sister in my house.” He held her stare. If she was afraid to be alone with him, it was just one more mistake he’d made today. “We’re fine, Erica. Thank you.”
Erica went to her office and the two of them climbed the stairs.
“I want to see this video,” he said. “I don’t follow you and couldn’t access it. Scarlet called and played it so I could hear it.”
“If you followed me, then you’d see it,” she said.
“I don’t need to be on social media.” He didn’t want to get sucked down that rabbit hole. He trusted his daughter enoughto not see it all. He thought he trusted Harmony, but after this stunt he was reserving judgment.
“That’s your loss,” she said. “It’s not all bad, but you can’t get it out of your head. The same as other people. I’m not blaming you, don’t think that, but I’ve prided myself on being genuine and I’ve realized that others have made me doubt and judge when something was uncomfortable rather than approach it the way I should have. I would have discovered this wasn’t a big deal and maybe who it was a long time ago.”
He wasn’t so sure of that but wasn’t about to voice it either. She didn’t blame him now, but she might hold it against him if he insulted her.
She pulled up the video on her computer and played it for him.
He’d only seen a screenshot of her with her back to the lake, standing on the dock.
“Hello everyone. I’ve got a serious announcement I’d like to make that we all need to hear. And if you don’t think you need it, then take it as a reminder that what you say, do, or post on social media has consequences. It has results you might not see or expect. For the past two years, I’ve been getting upsetting and often disturbing messages and emails from someone I don’t know. I’d block them, they’d come back as a different user. There were no threats of physical harm, but rather threats to my peace of mind making me doubt my actions, which we all know can be much worse. Sometimes when you post a comment or email, you think you’re flattering or complimenting someone, but there are lines and boundaries that get crossed. Gifts, whether electronically or physically sent, are some things you should stop and think about. You should know one hundred percent that what you’re doing or saying gives the correct message. And never do it anonymously, because, let’s be honest, anything anonymousisn’t flattering. People are going to hate in this world and people are going to love. It’s human nature. What we all need to focus on is doing what we love and harming no one in the process. Intentionally or unintentionally. Please do me a favor and take a moment the next time you send a message or post a response, and ask yourself, how would I feel if this was being sent to me? It’s a simple question with a complex answer. Be kind to yourself and each other. That’s my message on this beautiful day that I hope you’ll take to heart.”
“You don’t look upset in the video,” he said.
“I wasn’t at that point,” she said. “I’d calmed down. Erica and I scripted what I was going to say as best as we could. It appears more of a PSA and not necessarily about me, but it had to be done.”
He could see over fifty thousand reactions to the video and more coming as he stood next to her. Messages were popping up at the same time.
