Page 16 of The Lucky Winners

Thursday

Merri

The café is packed when I arrive, a low hum of conversation layered with the hiss of the coffee machine and the clatter of cutlery. The air is thick with espresso and fried food, a sharp contrast to the crisp, pine-scented breeze that drifted through the windows at Lakeview House.

I notice the light is different here, too – harsher, filtered through grimy glass rather than glinting off the water. Outside, the city churns relentlessly – cars beeping, people weaving in and out of each other’s paths. Everything urgent. Everything fast.

I spot Paige straight away, tucked into a corner by the window, her head bent over her phone. As I approach, she looks up and, for a split second, something unreadable shifts over her face. Then her expression smoothes into a smile.

‘Hey!’ she says, slipping her phone into her bag. ‘You made it.’

‘Sorry, the bus was late,’ I reply, draping my coat over the chair before we hug.

‘Bus?’ She laughs. ‘I thought you might turn up in a chauffeur-driven car.’

I grin. ‘Got to keep my feet on the ground, right? We got our old car fixed for now, but Dev is chomping at the bit to buy a new one.’

I smile, but I swear I can feel awkwardness between us that wasn’t there before.

‘So?’ I lean forward, hands clasped on the table. ‘Now you’ve had time to let it sink in, what do you really think?’

Paige studies me for a second. ‘That you don’t seem very excited.’

‘I am! It’s just that it still feels crazy to win a house.’

‘And the money? A cool quarter of a million. Nice.’

‘Yeah, but like I said to Dev, it’s not like we’re set up for life. A place like Lakeview comes with huge expenses. Council tax, maintenance, God knows what else. We might not even be able to afford to keep the place.’

‘Tell me you’re not complaining.’

‘No, of course not. I’m just saying it’s not going to last for ever now we’ve both jacked in our jobs.’

‘ Lakeview House .’ She rolls the name around on her tongue. ‘Sounds very posh. But if you can’t keep it, you sell it. And then, well, jackpot all over again.’ She lets out a low whistle. ‘That’s really life-changing money, Merri.’

‘Yeah,’ I admit. ‘It is.’

She looks at her coffee cup. ‘Have you actually quit the health centre, or are you just on a millionaire’s holiday?’

The question catches me off guard. ‘I had to ring Karen and be honest with her. So, yes, I’ve resigned.’

‘Yeah. You can’t exactly commute from the Lake District, can you?’

I feel myself shrinking. Just last week, we were both complaining about work, about patients who never listened and a monthly salary that barely covered rent and living costs.

Now my whole life has changed overnight and hers hasn’t.

She’d seemed so pleased for me when we met for drinks – but now reality has set in, for both of us.

‘Some of the change I won’t relish,’ I say carefully. ‘I’ll really miss working at the health centre. I’ll miss seeing you. I won’t want to sit at home all day doing nothing. I’ll go mad.’

Paige takes a slow sip of her coffee before answering. ‘Not much risk of that, is there? You’ll be busy with all the press stuff. And the interior designers. And the endless decisions about which wine cellar to stock.’

Her comments rankle but she delivers them with a cheeky grin.

‘It’s not like that,’ I protest.

She shrugs. ‘I’m just saying. It’s a different world, Merri. A few weeks ago, we were debating whether we could stretch to a second cocktail on a night out. And now here you are,’ she gestures vaguely, ‘mansion owner. Lady of the manor.’

I open my mouth to reply, but something about the way she’s looking at me makes my words falter.

‘I wasn’t boasting,’ I say instead.

Paige waves a hand. ‘Don’t be silly. I’m happy for you and Dev. Really glad something good happened for you both. Stop worrying about what I think and enjoy it.’

But her tone – so upbeat, too upbeat – makes my stomach clench. ‘I am worrying, though. About so many things, I can’t even put them all into words. And the press. I hate them sticking their noses into everything.’

‘Ah, I see. I thought something else was bothering you.’ Paige stirs more sugar into her coffee, her gaze fixed on the swirling liquid. ‘Worried they might start digging into your past?’ she says lightly. ‘Maybe this is your chance to come clean with Dev.’

My breath catches. For a second, I don’t move.

I’d almost forgotten she knew. It’s been a while since I confided in her. Too many cocktails, too much oversharing. But I’d kept it vague, thank goodness. Paige doesn’t know the worst of it.

But now, with everything that’s happening, her words feel like a slap. Casual, but deliberate.

I don’t think she’s warning me, or threatening me. It’s like she’s just reminding me she knows.

‘Anyway, enough about me. Can you come over to the house after this?’ I say. It’s her regular day off so she won’t have to go back to work. ‘It won’t take long, but there’s something I want to talk to you about.’

She’s alert with interest. ‘What’s it about?’

‘I’ll explain there.’ I’m not going to talk about the tenancy in here.

‘Sure. I should be able to pop in quickly.’ She sniffs. ‘I’ve got a lot of college work to get through, as you know. I haven’t got all day to myself.’

I receive the jibe loud and clear even though she doesn’t say it.

Thirty minutes later, when we step out of the café, my shoulders feel tight. The humid air presses down as I walk, but I barely notice it.

At the bus stop, I kick at the loose gravel while we wait. Paige has been my only real friend for the last few years. After leaving so much behind, she’s the one person I don’t have to pretend with. I don’t want to lose her.

I replay our conversation again and again. Had I been bragging? I hadn’t meant to, but maybe that’s how it came across. I can’t really win. My best friend is stuck, and I just got handed a dream escape route.

When we get to the house, I make some coffee and try to see things through Paige’s eyes. It looks as it always does, clean but cramped, and I remember when we first viewed it that it had seemed classy and brand new, compared to our scruffy bedsit on the wrong side of town.

Paige perches, stiff and unsure, on the edge of the armchair cushion opposite. She’s left her jacket on, as if she’s not yet decided how long she’ll stay.

‘So, I asked you over here because I wanted to make you an offer before we leave for the Lake District,’ I say, smiling warmly.

Paige tucks a strand of chocolate-brown hair behind her ear and reaches for her mug. ‘Sounds interesting.’

‘I understand it must have been a shock for you when I told you about the house win. I mean, it was a shock for us, too and –’

‘If you’re worried about that thing I said,’ Paige interrupts, ‘about the stuff in your past you’ve not told Dev yet, then don’t be. It’s not like I’m going to say anything, is it?’

I feel myself stiffen, every muscle in my neck and shoulders tightening.

‘Besides,’ Paige goes on, brushing an invisible thread from her sleeve, ‘when I mentioned the press earlier, I just meant they’ll be sniffing around after the house story.

That’s what they do, isn’t it? But, honestly, I wouldn’t worry.

’ She pauses, a spark of interest in her eyes.

‘Not unless you’ve got something really juicy to hide.

’ She laughs softly, like she’s making a joke, but her supposedly reassuring tone has an edge to it – a softness that conceals a sharpened tip.

‘Anyway, we all have our secrets,’ Paige adds, when I don’t reply. ‘And yours are safe with me.’

I set down my mug, my fingers wrapping tightly around my knees. I wish she hadn’t mentioned that again, although she doesn’t know all my secrets, thank God.

‘The reason I asked you over here is nothing to do with that, anyway,’ I say, glancing at the window. ‘You know we’ll be moving out of here in a week or so?’

‘Yes,’ she says, her voice measured. ‘I’m excited for you.’

‘Well, there’s five months left on the lease, and given your circumstances, living with your parents, and wanting to save up to buy your own place, we wondered if you’d like to move in here for the remainder of the rental agreement.’

Paige looks at me blankly. ‘You mean actually live here?’

I nod. ‘It’s a start and you could move in as soon as we’ve gone. All we’d ask for is that you pay half the rent. We’ll cover the other half. And you wouldn’t need to worry about paying a deposit or anything because we sorted all that at the beginning of our tenancy.’

She looks worried, her brows pulling together in a tight frown for a moment, as if calculating something in her head. ‘How much would it be?’

‘We pay five fifty a month, but we want to help you out. How does two fifty sound?’

‘Oh, Merri, I really appreciate the offer, but money’s really short at the moment. Mum’s even letting me off paying board, because she knows I can’t pay and save up at the same time.’ One hand moves instinctively to the chain around her neck as she fiddles with the small pendant there.

I look around the small kitchen nook, the scuffed wooden floor, the single window with the slightly draughty frame.

‘Look, you’d be doing us a favour,’ I say.

‘Having someone in here we trust until our lease is finished is a problem solved for us. So forget about the rent, just look after the place for us.’ No doubt Dev would have something to say on the matter, but he doesn’t need to know.

Paige laughs. She jumps up and gives me a hug. ‘Are you sure? I can’t believe it … If you’re really sure, well, thank you so much!’

‘I’m glad you’re pleased.’ I pick up my mug again, mostly just to give my hands something to do. But the coffee is lukewarm.

I have the strangest feeling I’ve just handed Paige something – power, leverage about keeping my secret … I’m not sure. Maybe it’s another thing I’m imagining.

Paige blows out air and sits back. ‘This place is so cute,’ she says, looking around again, ‘I can see myself living here and it’ll be so nice to have my own space again.’

‘That’s what I thought,’ I say. ‘Hopefully, this is a fresh start for you, too.’ I want to add that when the tenancy is finished she’ll need to sort herself out. But the moment for that has passed, unless I want the frosty version of my friend back.

Paige nods, and I can tell she’s already sold on the idea. ‘Thanks again, Merri,’ she says warmly. ‘It’s a really big thing you’re doing for me and I’m grateful.’

‘I’m glad you’re happy. We’ve still got some packing to do, but we’ll be leaving all the big pieces of furniture. We’ll sort out arrangements for handing over the keys and you can come over. I’ll take you through all the things you need to know.’

She looks overwhelmed for a few moments, then gathers herself. ‘I owe you one for helping me out.’

‘You don’t owe me anything,’ I say gently. ‘I know you’d do the same for me. Would you like another coffee?’

‘No, no. I’m good, thanks. I should be getting off now.

’ She stands up. ‘I need to get some college work done, but I want you to know I’m really grateful.

It’s going to make a big difference to me.

’ She lowers her eyes. ‘I do wish you all the best with your move, you know, Merri. I hope you’ll be very happy in your new place. ’

We hug and arrange a phone call in a couple of days’ time.

When Paige leaves, the house feels smaller, as though the walls have somehow inched closer while we’ve been talking.