Page 47 of The Lucky Winners

Fifteen Years Earlier

‘Ever taken chances?’ David asked me.

We were in the garden, and the autumn scent of turned earth and damp leaves filled the air between us. He looked at me in the intense way he had lately. There was something challenging in his eyes.

I hesitated. David was still an enigma to me – one I couldn’t trust, but one I needed on my side.

He held the power in the house, whether I liked it or not, and I still hadn’t managed to get to the bottom of why that was.

If I was going to survive here, if I was going to protect Beth, I knew I had to start playing his game.

But it was hard. Every instinct in me warned against it, told me he was dangerous in ways I hadn’t fully grasped yet.

And I was increasingly aware Mrs Webb had her claws embedded in Beth, slowly reeling her in with gentle smiles and quiet manipulation.

If I didn’t have someone to stand between us, what then?

David shifted slightly, the dry leaves crackling under his boots. He watched me closely, as if he was waiting to see which way I’d turn.

‘Chances?’ I echoed. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘You know.’ He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low murmur. ‘Doing something that’s forbidden … something you know you’re not supposed to do. But you do it anyway. Just to find out what it’s like to get away with it.’

There was no warmth in his smile. Something about that moment felt as if he’d been planning it all along. The thought chilled me more than the wind slicing through the garden.

My fingers were buried in the cool soil, its prickling chill spreading through me. I glanced up at him, letting out a little laugh. ‘Dunno. Depends whether I could get away with doing something forbidden, I suppose.’

‘You’re eighteen years old next month. It’s time you started living a bit.’ David grinned. ‘I’ll show you what I mean.’

I didn’t know if it was the look on his face or the tone of his voice that piqued my interest, but I didn’t protest. I’d only ever known adults telling me I had to do exactly as I was told in life, even when that made me feel bad.

Having a choice in the matter sounded interesting and soon I’d be an adult.

I got up, dusting my hands on my jeans.

‘Grab your handbag from the house and then come with me.’

We walked down the lane and past the fields towards the supermarket, not saying a word. The only sound was the soft crunch of gravel underfoot.

Inside the shop, I trailed behind David as he made his way to the clothing section. ‘What are we buying?’ I asked, though I already sensed I might not like the answer.

David started sifting through the racks, plucking out random items. Finally, he held up a silky blouse in a deep blue that made my cheeks flush the moment I saw it.

‘Go to the mirrors and slip this on over your T-shirt,’ he said casually. He picked up a few pieces of cheap, glittering jewellery – a thin necklace, dangling earrings, a bracelet. ‘And these. They’ll suit you.’

My throat tightened as he handed them to me. He leaned down close, his breath warm against my ear.

‘I have a challenge for you,’ he whispered. ‘Take the blouse, fold it as small as you can, and hide it in your handbag. Slip on the jewellery, put the rest of the clothes back on the rack, and then we’ll leave. Straight away.’

The chill that passed through me felt like ice slipping beneath my skin. ‘We’re not going to pay?’

David gave me his charming grin. ‘Don’t you see? That’s the thrill of it, Janey! That’s what I was talking about earlier. See if you can do it. Let’s find out if you’re brave enough. Are you a woman now, or just a little girl like your sister?’

My pulse raced, my mouth dry. I knew this was wrong, knew I should push back, refuse – but I didn’t. Because pleasing him meant more safety. It meant protection – not just for me, but for Beth too. We needed protecting here more than anything.

It wasn’t just that. I’d spent my whole life following rules, being good, never stepping over the line.

Now, standing here with David, with the weight of his attention fixed on me, it felt different.

Like I was about to step across the edge, on to something sharp and dangerous.

Instead of fear, there was a rush. A dizzy kind of exhilaration.

I clutched the items tighter. ‘I – I don’t think I can do it.’

His eyes hardened. ‘Yes, Janey. You can and will do it. You’ll do it for me.’

He grabbed my wrist with iron fingers, digging just hard enough to make me wince but I didn’t cry out.

‘You’ve seen the power I have over my parents,’ he murmured. ‘One word from me and they’d send you and Beth back to the children’s home without a second thought. I’d only have to say it once, and you’d be out.’

I swallowed. ‘You wouldn’t do that.’ No one could make me go back to Clay Bank once I turned eighteen, but I hadn’t the means to get a place of my own and look after Beth. The Webbs could throw me out of the house. They could send Beth back to Clay Bank and she’d just fade away in there alone.

He smiled and released his grip. ‘Of course I wouldn’t. I’d never let them take you away because, you and me, we’re like peas in a pod, right?’

I nodded, but my mind spun. A few moments ago, his fingers had been like iron, his voice edged with menace. Now, he was all warmth and reassurance, as if the threat had never been.

The change of mood was dizzying, like trying to stand upright on shifting sand. I never knew which version of him I’d get – or how quickly one could turn into the other. How easily he could wield his power to make me do exactly what he wanted.

‘Birds of a feather stick together,’ he continued.

‘I know you have it in you and remember this: it’s just a mindset, Janey.

You must believe you can do exactly what you want to do …

You can get away with anything. The secret is, do it with confidence .

Don’t dither. Make the decision and just do it! ’

So I took the clothes, my hands tingling, and walked slowly towards the changing rooms. I didn’t look back. My heart pounded in my throat. I was going to get caught. They’d call the police and I’d have to go to court. I’d be sent back to Clay Bank and …

Don’t dither. Make the decision and just do it!

David’s words bounced around my head. I perched on a small bench and studied my flushed, guilty face in the mirror.

I glanced at the clothes under the harsh fluorescent lights, the rich colours catching my eye.

I felt kind of hypnotized. Each piece of jewellery glinted, whispering promises of being within my grasp if only I could find the courage to be bold.

I could do this. I could.

Methodically, I followed David’s instructions.

Folding the blouse as small as I could, I stuffed it into my bag.

I slipped on the earrings, the cold metal making my skin prickle.

The delicate chain of the necklace felt good on my skin.

I slid the bracelet off its card mount and pressed it onto my wrist.

The whole thing felt surreal, like I was seeing it all through someone else’s eyes.

Finally, I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and glanced in the mirror at the stolen jewellery items in full view.

I walked back out of the changing room and casually hung the other clothes on the nearest rail.

David waited by the exit, hands in his pockets with a smile that was too wide, too eager. He led the way, past the security guard by the sliding doors. I followed him in silence, the sound of my heart thudding in my ears while I braced myself for a restraining hand on my shoulder.

Once we were safely around the corner from the supermarket, David turned to me, his eyes bright with excitement.

‘See? That’s my girl – you did it! How does it feel?’

I laughed, euphoria breaking up and out of me like a life force of its own. ‘It feels … amazing!’

We hugged and he told me again and again how proud he was.

I barely took in his words, though, because I was proud of myself .

I was proud I did something daring, something for me, for David.

Something that had shown I had a dormant power within me.

That I didn’t have to be the sheep I’d been told to be all my life.

We walked hand in hand back to the house, our laughter echoing around us. David talked about the next challenge, something even more daring, something that would really get my heart racing. But I barely heard him.

I kept thinking how I’d been like putty in his hands. How I’d felt I had no choice but to do what David said. Because what choice did I have, really?

Back in my bedroom, I slipped out the earrings, took off the necklace. I pulled the bracelet from my wrist and dropped them all onto the bedside table. Each piece clinked softly, a reminder of what I’d done.

Yet something had changed inside me that day. The tight shell of guilt and obedience had cracked open.

I couldn’t help wondering what I might be capable of doing if I had to.