Page 9 of The Lucky Winners

Friday

When I finally fell asleep in the early hours, I drifted into a restless dream.

I’d arrived at the Lake District house viewing only to look down and see I was naked, standing at the edge of a dark expanse of water with seething insects wriggling between my bare toes.

I woke with a start, full of shame and inadequacy.

Despite my troubling dream, I feel brighter than I did yesterday, and the thought of our incredible win sends little tingles of pleasure down my limbs.

Dev turns to face me, pulling me into his arms and nuzzling my neck. ‘What’s it like to be a millionaire?’ he whispers.

‘Fabulous.’ I giggle, and finally I really mean it.

We might not have millions in the bank yet, but we would if we decided to sell the property.

Dev’s right. We deserve our win and, chances are, nobody is going to join any dots about what happened so long ago.

I’ve decided I’ll try to enjoy the excitement of today.

His finger traces down my neck and chest and I laugh and grab his hand. ‘Time for that later maybe,’ I tease. ‘Lots to do before our limo gets here.’

He grumbles a bit, but backs off and I escape while I can. I shower, pin my hair into a loose bun, and apply some make-up, including foundation, which I usually wear only on a night out, these days.

‘So, how do I look?’ Dev is standing in the doorway, arms raised at his sides, presenting himself. He’s chosen his only suit: a Hugo Boss model he bought in a Boxing Day sale a couple of years ago. It’s a little snug around the waistband now, but he wears it well.

I glance at Dev and it’s clear he doesn’t suffer from the same feelings of inadequacy that gnaw at me. He’s grinning from ear to ear, fully present in the moment, while I can’t shake the feeling that I don’t belong in this glamorous new life.

‘You look great,’ I say. ‘I hope this is OK,’ I add, gesturing to my dress and jacket. I brush my outfit down. I had bought the navy shift dress and matching jacket for work meetings at my old clinic. It’s the only really smart attire I own for the start of our complete life transformation.

‘Stunning as always,’ he says, walking across and planting a kiss on my forehead. ‘Just try to relax, honey. Let’s enjoy the ride.’

Outside, Susie and a cameraman from DreamKey have just pulled up.

Dev locks the house and I watch as the driver gets out of the impressive limo that will take us to the new place.

He’s dressed formally in a crisp dark suit, opening the back door with a practised, silent gesture.

The moment feels surreal. I’ve only ever seen limousines like this on TV, when celebs emerge to glide on to a red carpet.

It’s not a world I ever, in a million years, imagined myself inhabiting.

Susie calls, ‘OK, guys, we’re ready for you! Don’t look at the camera. We just want lots of natural smiles and excited faces as you walk to the limo. When you get there, steal a glance at each other as if you can’t believe your luck.’

The cameraman moves smoothly alongside us, his face hidden behind the dark lens.

We manage to follow Susie’s instructions and Dev gives my hand a quick, reassuring squeeze before he fixes his eyes on mine, his mouth falling slightly open in disbelief before he slides in, eagerly gesturing for me to follow.

As I slip into the back, the leather is cool against my thighs. I mumble a polite ‘Hello’ to the driver, but he barely acknowledges me, just gives a curt nod. His hands grip the wheel tightly, his knuckles pale.

Something about him unsettles me. Perhaps he’s not so delighted by our win … Here I go again, conjuring up the worst possible scenario.

Susie follows us and ducks her head into the car. ‘That was great, guys, well done. The team at Lakeview House have just called to say they’ve got the house all ready for your viewing and to warn you not to be alarmed if a glazier’s there when you arrive. He’s just dealing with a cracked window.’

‘No worries,’ Dev says. ‘We’re buzzing, right, Merri?’

‘Can’t wait,’ I say.

Susie closes the door, and a few moments later, the car pulls smoothly away.

I settle back into my seat and prepare to relax, but Dev is like a kid in a sweet shop, investigating every inch of the spacious back seat.

‘I wonder how a window gets cracked in a brand-new house,’ I murmur.

‘Dunno, maybe a bird flew into it or something … Bloody hell, there’s a TV in here! And what’s this lever?’ He pulls it, revealing a mirrored recess complete with crystal decanters and sparkling glasses. ‘Ta-dah! A fully stocked bar, no less!’

‘That’s mad,’ I offer, although I can’t think of anything worse than drinking on the long journey.

The limo’s interior is impossibly plush, the smell of leather and polish heavy in the air.

We’re sealed into this strange, luxurious world.

The engine hums, smooth and barely audible as the car pulls away from the kerb.

It already feels like we’re a million miles away from our old life, and I’m dizzy with the speed at which everything has shifted.

A pleasant warmth floods my body as I allow myself to buy into the dream for a few moments. I lay my head back on the padded seat and tell myself this is really happening. It’s real!

The car glides effortlessly down the road, speeding us further away from the life we’ve known for the past few years.

Granted, it’s not the life I’ve dreamed of, but it’s our life.

It’s familiar and I understand it. The struggle and the daily grind can be exhausting, but I know how to navigate them and survive.

I glance out of the window as the city falls away, replaced by endless stretches of motorway and, eventually, farmland skimming past.

The journey is long, almost four hours, and by the halfway point, my broken sleep is catching up with me and I’m drifting off into a pleasant reverie.

I can see the new house as clearly as if I’m standing at one of the enormous lake-view windows I’ve seen on the DreamKey website.

In my mind, I’m already barefoot on the cool marble tiles, a steaming mug of hot chocolate in my hands.

‘Isn’t it perfect?’ I imagine saying to Dev, who’s leaning against the kitchen island, flipping through a glossy cookbook.

The thought makes me smile, and I sink further into the softness of the lush limo seat. I picture the two of us throwing dinner parties for new friends. I’ll wear something elegant and understated, my hair styled, confident in my skin for a change.

And then there’s the garden, stretching to the water’s edge. I push the lake from my mind and instead imagine myself kneeling in the rich soil, planting lavender and rosemary, my fingers muddy. It’s so vivid I can almost smell the herbs, sharp and clean …

Dev’s voice cuts into my thoughts. ‘Hey, what about a dog? I’ve always wanted one. What do you think, Merri?’

I blink and sit up a little straighter, engaging with my excited husband. ‘Yeah, a dog might be nice.’

Dev beams at me. He’s already moved on. Talking now about getting a small rowboat we can take on the lake.

Flashes of Beth’s face, the screaming and then the dark depths of the water fill my head. I can still see the detectives, hear the questions they fired at me again and again.

The disbelief on their faces.

I wonder where they are now.