Page 52 of The Lottery Win
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
I’m shaking at the thought of April hammering on mydoor again. But I’m also feeling incensed that I’m allowing her to get awaywith scaring me like this.
Anger is suddenly bubbling up inside me from nowhere, takingover from the fear.
How dare April Bentham keep innocent people like me and thefamilies Amanda’s heard about in a state of terror like this! Amanda’s right.We need to band together and report her to the police. And maybe it’s time Istopped being such a coward and hiding away from her. Maybe it’s time I stoodup for myself and ordered her off my property...
Still trembling but determined, I jump out of bed and rundownstairs. When she knocks, I’ll answer the door this time.
I stand boldly in the hall, my heart thumping, listening tothe car pulling up, the engine being switched off and footsteps coming up thepath.
I’ll be fine. I’ll just tell her I’m not going to let herscare me anymore. Bullies don’t like that, do they? When you face up to them?
I’ll cut her down with my words!
But just in case...
Diving into the hall cupboard, I pull out a broom andbrandish it, which instantly makes me feel braver.Beware. Ninja Krystletakes no prisoners and she’s prepared!
But then, of course, when the doorbell rings, I have toabandon my stance to answer the door.
Taking a deep breath, I pull it open and the sweetly-scentednight air rushes in.
Squaring up to face April, I find myself glaring at...Doug?
*****
‘What areyoudoing here?’ I gasp.
He pushes a hand through his hair. ‘I needed to talk to you,Krystle. Sorry, I know it’s late and I probably shouldn’t have just turned uplike this. But when I saw you yesterday and you blanked me, I realised it wastime you knew the truth about me.’ He stops, his eyes swivelling to the left.‘Were you doinghousework in your pyjamas?’
‘What?’ I glance at the broom. ‘Oh. No. I was expectingsomeone else.’ My heart is hammering. What does he mean, I need to know thetruth about him? I’m not sure I like the sound of that. But at least it provesI wasn’t going mad. He’s definitely been lying to me...
He sighs. ‘Look, I wouldn’t blame you if you sent me awaywithout a hearing. But I’d really like a chance to explain things to you.’
He looks genuinely wretched and in spite of everything, Iknow I need to hear what he has to say for himself. So I give him a tightlittle smile and stand well back, not wanting to risk making contact with him,which could so easily weaken my resolve to be objective. ‘You’d better comein.’
I balance the broom against the wall and lead him through tothe kitchen, where the lights are nice and bright and I’ll be able to study hisface as he talks. (He doesn’t deserve the living room... it’stoo dangerously cosy, with lamplight casting a rosy glow and helping to obscureany deceit.)
He perches on the stool I pull out for him, lookingthoroughly crestfallen. ‘So I hear you went looking for me at the car showroomand discovered I don’t actually work there.’
‘I did.’ Sitting down opposite, I eye him sternly whiletrying to ignore the butterflies having a party in my abdomen. ‘And afterspending that amazing time in Edinburgh with you, you can imagine how horrifiedI was to find out you’d been lying to me. About other things as well.’
‘I know. And I’m so sorry. I did have my reasons. But beforeI explain, I just want you to know that I genuinely loved spending that timewith you, up in Scotland. I really like you, Krystle. I mean,reallylike you. But... well, when I first met you, I...’He breaks off with a heavy sigh, as if he’s struggling to find the right words.‘The thing is –’
I swallow hard.Here come the excuses!‘Look, I knowexactly what you’re going to say.’ I cut across him, stopping him in histracks. ‘You were about to say that when you first met me, it was the lotterywin that attracted you to me. And I understand that. I really do. Everyone’sfascinated by lottery winners. But you’re also going to tell me that afterspending time with me and getting to know me, you’ve realised you like me forme,and not just for my money.’ I shake my head in disgust. ‘Because honestly, ifthat’s going to be your line, I really don’t want to hear it and you can leaveright now, Doug. Or should I call youCharles?’
‘What?’ He looks baffled, presumably that I know about thetwo names he uses. ‘No! You’ve got the wrong end of the stick entirely.’
‘Oh, really?’ My tone oozes sarcasm.
He sits forward, forearms on the island, looking into myeyes. ‘This is probably going to sound weird but when I met you and chatted toyou, the subject of money and wealthwason my mind, but –’
‘I knew it! You heard Ryan and me talking about the lotterywin and you fancied your chances.’ I glare at him triumphantly, althoughinside, I’m feeling anythingbuta winner. ‘I saw you at that big housethe other day, being welcomed by a woman in a nightgown. I supposeherwealth was on your mind as well, was it? What’s the plan? To get her to trustyou and hand over her money?’
‘What?’ He laughs incredulously. ‘No, of course not!’
‘Right. So the subject of money and wealth was on your mindwhen you met mebecause?’
