by Louise Guy
‘Great idea,’ Damien said. ‘Feel free to put me on it. Anything handy that she needs doing around the house or garden. Now, I’d better get this card up to Amy as you two have to leave for the party soon.’
‘Before you go,’ Nat said, ‘can you settle a bet for us?’
Damien raised his eyebrows. ‘Sounds intriguing.’
‘Did Amy mention to you that she wanted a dog for her birthday?’
‘Really? I thought she wanted an Xbox, which we’ve both already agreed is not happening.’
‘She hasn’t said anything to you about a dog?’ Hannah hoped he was about to remember that Amy had. She did not want to lose this bet.
Damien shook his head. ‘Nope, that I would have remembered.’ He frowned. ‘Something we need to discuss, I guess. I’m not a total no, but they’re a lot of work and a huge commitment. We’d need to weigh up the pros and cons.’ He leaned across and kissed Hannah on the forehead. ‘Which is what you’re good at. I’ll expect to see a spreadsheet weighing up all the factors by the end of the day.’
Hannah would have laughed at his light-hearted teasing if she hadn’t been so shocked. The way Amy had spoken she was sure that Damien knew about the dog. She turned to Nat, her mouth hanging open.
Nat laughed. ‘Guess Amy’s getting her dog after all.’
Hannah shook her head. ‘I can’t believe she did that, and so convincingly.’
‘Perhaps she’ll be a lawyer. She certainly can lie.’
Hannah nodded. It appeared her daughter could. Considering the lie she was carrying herself, should she be so shocked?
Sparks of annoyance at both Nat and Amy stayed with Hannah as she drove Amy to the party. It wasn’t Nat’s fault that Amy had lied so convincingly but it was frustrating that her sister had seen through it and she hadn’t. She stayed to chat with the other mums for a few minutes before excusing herself and driving the ten minutes from Donvale to Phyllie’s house in Blackburn. With its proximity to Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, it was a beautiful leafy area; an unexpected oasis in the heart of suburbia.
Phyllie had been suspicious on the phone when Hannah had called her earlier.
‘Why do you want to come and see me?’
‘I’d like to talk to you about that in person, if you don’t mind.’
‘What has Nat or Damien said to you?’
Hannah realised Phyllie was worrying that she knew about the goat incident. ‘Nothing. It’s not to do with them.’
‘Oh.’ Phyllie’s voice had been tinged with relief for just a moment. But then almost as quickly refilled with suspicion. ‘What is it about then? I can tell you right now if it has anything to do with my living arrangements, I’ll disinherit you immediately. Nat’s moving in on Thursday, and that should keep you happy.’
‘Phyllie,’ Hannah had assured her, ‘I need your advice. I’ve done something I probably shouldn’t have, and I need to talk to someone. I thought you might be able to help me.’
‘Why didn’t you say so to begin with?’ Phyllie instantly cheered up. ‘This sounds very intriguing. I’ll see you just after eleven. I’ll have the kettle boiling.’
Now, as Hannah neared Phyllie’s street, she wondered if she was doing the right thing. She probably shouldn’t be involving anyone else in her lies. At the exact moment she had this thought her phone pinged with a text message.
Deadline’s Wednesday. Time’s ticking. Don’t make me kill your marriage.
Hannah pulled up in front of Phyllie’s house and took a deep breath. She knew unequivocally that Zane would kill her marriage if she didn’t comply. As much as she knew she needed to be careful with what she told Phyllie, she needed to speak to someone.
By the time they were sitting facing each other Hannah’s nerve had left her. She wasn’t sure she could share this with anyone.
‘Well?’ Phyllie picked up a Tim Tam, her favourite biscuit, from the plate and dunked it in her tea.
It had always horrified Hannah that anyone would do this. It was practically a sacrilegious act.
She cleared her throat. ‘I can’t give you the exact details, but twelve years ago I decided to keep some information to myself. The information would have been devastating for the people involved, and while it wasn’t my place to play God, I did.’
‘To protect other people?’
Hannah nodded.
‘It wasn’t for your own benefit?’
She considered this question. She supposed it could be argued that she’d benefited from Damien not finding out about his father and potentially going into a deep depression, but there was no way of knowing whether that would actually have happened and it certainly wasn’t the reason she’d done it. She shook her head. ‘No, it was to protect two other people in particular. The information would have been upsetting and potentially changed a wonderful relationship.’
‘And you can’t tell me any more than this?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘Not about what I’ve hidden, or from who, but I can tell you the next bit.’
She went on to tell Phyllie a condensed version of the facts about her meeting with Zane Fox. ‘He’s told me that he’ll disclose the information I covered up if I don’t pay him ten thousand dollars.’
Phyllie’s eyes widened. ‘He’s blackmailing you? And you can’t tell Damien? Or someone else who knows what this is about?’
Hannah shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. ‘I wish I could, but it’s too awful to reveal.’
‘I can give you the money,’ Phyllie said, ‘that’s no problem, but I’d be worried that he’ll come back and ask for more.’
The tears rolled down Hannah’s cheeks at Phyllie’s kindness in her immediate offer to help.
‘Thank you. I didn’t come here to ask you for money. I can afford it, although I’m not sure how I’d pay without Damien noticing. It was just that I have the same concern. If I pay him once, what’s to stop him coming back for more?’
‘Can you get something legal drawn up that he has to sign?’
Hannah thought about it for a moment. That was quite a good idea. The reality was, if Zane Fox planned to tell Damien the truth then he was going to do it regardless. A legal document might at least deter him.
‘You think I should pay him?’
Phyllie sighed. ‘I’m not sure, love. I imagine you have two choices. Pay him off and hope he goes away, or you need to tell the people you’re protecting exactly what happened twelve years ago and explain why you did what you did. Then you’ll have to deal with the consequences. Paying this piece of scum, even with a legal document in place, may only buy you a bit more time if he decides to make the information public. It’s impossible to predict how someone who will stoop as low as blackmail is going to act. Although past behaviour is usually a good indicator.’
They sipped their tea, both contemplating the situation.
Phyllie gave Hannah a wry smile. ‘I must say, I can imagine Nat sitting across from me telling me something like this, but not you. You must have had excellent reasons for what you did.’
‘They seemed like they were at the time.’
‘Looking back now, with the benefit of hindsight, do you still think you made the right decision?’
Hannah nodded without hesitation. ‘Definitely.’
Phyllie smiled. ‘Good, then trust your judgement from back then and do your best to get rid of this guy. As I said, I’m happy to give or loan you the money if you don’t want to explain to Damien where a large sum has suddenly disappeared to.’
Hannah sniffed back the tears that were threatening once again. She was so lucky to have a grandmother like Phyllie. Not having a mother to turn to in difficult situations, she’d always been able to rely on her grandmother. She didn’t always provide the advice Hannah wanted to hear, but it was usually spot on. The fact that she’d offered to help her financially reminded Hannah how generous she was.
‘It would make it a lot easier,’ Hannah admitted. ‘But can you afford it?’
/> ‘I have more money than I know what to do with. When I go, it will all be split between your father and you two girls. I keep a running tally of who has borrowed or been gifted what and I adjust the amounts accordingly.’ She grinned, her eyes twinkling with delight. ‘It’s quite fun actually. You should be aware that I also add and deduct amounts based on your behaviours and actions towards me.’
Hannah’s face flushed as Phyllie gave her a knowing look. ‘I imagine I’ve had some huge deductions of late, with the assisted living suggestion. I’m fine with that. I’m trying to make life easier for you and safer, nothing more.’
Phyllie sighed. ‘I know you think you’re doing what’s best for me but honestly, love, at my age what’s best for me is being allowed to make my own decisions. I’m nearly ninety, and I have all my marbles. I’m much luckier than many. If I have a fall at home, I have a fall. Having Nat or anyone else living here isn’t going to stop that happening. There’s no point wrapping me in cotton wool just in case. We’ll deal with things as they come. If they ever do. Who knows, I could go to sleep one night and never wake up. Then none of the planning for impending disasters will be relevant. You’d be much better filling your time thinking up nice things to do with that beautiful great-granddaughter of mine, rather than how to lock up an old lady.’
Hannah smiled. Phyllie’s take on things was undoubtedly different from hers. She understood where her grandmother was coming from, but still wasn’t convinced living alone was the best thing for her. It must have shown on her face.
‘You’re not convinced?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘No, but as you say, it’s your life, and I should do my best to stay out of it. Let’s draw a line in the sand for now, while Nat’s living with you. Agree to disagree and perhaps revisit it later in the year, if she’s moved out and you’re on your own again.’
Phyllie frowned. ‘How about I give you the ten grand to pay off your mobster, and you consider that to be your payment to stay off my case?’
Hannah laughed. ‘How about I think about it?’
Chapter Eight
Nat was still chuckling to herself as she drove away from Hannah’s. Her sister’s face when she realised Amy had played her was a classic. Poor Hannah, she was going to have problems in the near future if she didn’t start thinking like a teenager and remember the tricks of manipulation. Although Hannah had probably never used them herself, so she wouldn’t think anyone else would. It had been a quick visit, but that was more than enough when it came to her sister. And she was glad that Damien had been honest about the online gambling. As much as Hannah annoyed her, a secret like that had the potential to explode at some point. It was all fine while it wasn’t costing Damien money, but if it ever did, he needed to keep it under control.
As Nat drove towards Shared, where she intended to spend the rest of her day, her thoughts reverted to the previous night. It had been amazing to win like that. It wasn’t just the money – the whole atmosphere, the friendly camaraderie and the respect she’d seen in the eyes of Damien’s workmates had shifted something in her. It was exactly what she’d needed at the end of a week of feeling like a complete loser. It was interesting that both Matt and Damien were playing online poker and winning. She wondered if the skills Phyllie had taught her would translate as well to the online environment as they had last night. Matt certainly seemed to think they would.
Her thoughts were still filled with poker as she pulled to a stop in the car park at Shared. As she went to exit the vehicle her phone pinged with a message from Pip.
Hey stranger, what’s happening? It’s been too long. Let’s catch up soon. Love ya.
She smiled, it had been a couple of weeks since she’d spoken to Pip, which was a long time in their world. She hadn’t told Pip about her job or living situation, and right now didn’t feel like going over it again. She sent back a quick text.
Bit busy at the mo. Moving in with Phyllie to give her a hand. Hannah’s worried about her and trying to get her to move into assisted living. I’m her last hope apparently! Just temporary but means I’ll be a bit further out of town. How’s the wedding planning? x
At least she was able to spin her moving in with Phyllie to be about helping her grandmother, rather than being thrown out of share accommodation. Nat remained sitting in her car, knowing Pip’s response would come straight back.
You’re so sweet to be worried about Phyllie! Good on you and gets you out of that shitty share house too. Wedding plans ticking along. Crazy that it takes up so much time for something that’s still months away. Bridesmaid dress fittings have to be organised soon by the way.
Nat groaned inwardly at the thought. At least Pip was allowing her and the other two bridesmaids to choose their dresses, but still, the whole thing seemed so out of date. Nat was surprised when Pip had said she was having a white wedding. Her friend had spent so much time fighting for women’s rights and other female causes she’d assumed the feminist in her would rise up and say no to the traditional expectations of a bride, but she’d been wrong.
Another message came through.
Let me know when you’re settled at Phyllie’s and we’ll organise dinner and a night out. Would love to see you.
Nat sent back an emoji blowing a kiss and slipped her phone into her bag. The one thing Pip was right about was the share house. It had been a shitty experience. She’d been fairly desperate when she’d moved in, having been evicted from her previous apartment, which she’d shared with a work colleague, after missing a rent payment. She’d been sure Angela would have understood that giving the money to a mother with three small kids, who she’d been speaking to while serving meals at Shared’s soup kitchen, was a reasonable excuse for not having rent. It turned out Angela wasn’t as charitable as she’d hoped. She’d moved into the share house with three others and hadn’t clicked with any of them. They were all mature students living off assistance yet they looked down their noses at what she did for a living and her volunteer work. ‘Surely you want to do something better with your life,’ Yani, the oldest in the house, had said. ‘If you went back to university you could do anything.’
Nat pushed open her car door, grabbed her bag and pushed all thoughts of her housemates from her mind as she headed towards Shared.
Nat found it hard to concentrate as she fed the leafy winter vegetables with fertiliser. Her mind kept flitting between the fact that she desperately needed to find a new job and the previous night’s poker and how easy it had been to make money. She had a few days before she moved into Phyllie’s and she’d intended to spend them split between working at Shared and looking for a paid job. Just the thought of a new job made her stomach clench. What was the point? It would most likely end up with the same result; fired for caring too much. But of course she needed an income. Maybe it would be better to invest her time in trying out the online rooms. If she only invested a percentage of the money she’d won the night before then she had nothing to lose really. As she thought about it the excitement that had sat in the pit of her stomach for most of the night before returned. Imagine feeling like this every day! And if she could make money from it, she’d have more time to volunteer. It could give her the flexibility she’d never had before.
‘You look like you’re miles away.’ Robyn pulled her jacket around her as she approached Nat. ‘How are you? You seemed a bit down the other day. Have things improved?’
Nat nodded and smiled. ‘Kind of. I was just thinking through a business idea actually.’
‘That sounds exciting. What type of business?’
‘An online one. I haven’t worked out all the details yet but I’m thinking it might be worth giving it a go. In fact’ – Nat looked around – ‘I’ve finished this area. Do you have anyone else who can do the rest of the beds today? I think I might head home and get a start on it.’
Robyn laughed and held out her hand for Nat’s equipment. ‘I can finish off. It’s great to see you so excited. Once you’re up and running you
’ll have to share with me what it is you’re doing. I must say I’m intrigued.’
Nat handed over the equipment, said her goodbyes to Robyn and the two other volunteers working in the garden and hurried towards her car. She was intrigued too. Intrigued to know whether it was really possible to make an income from online gambling. She was well aware of the potential pitfalls and the stories of gambling addiction, but what about the people who actually won? They were out there. What was to say she couldn’t become one of them?
By the next day Nat realised she could!
Her heart raced as she stared at the screen. She’d arrived home the day before from Shared and familiarised herself with the online poker sites Matt and Damien had mentioned. She started, as Damien had suggested, playing a few of the free tables first. She very quickly got a feel for how it worked and realised that a number of her competitors were complete amateurs. It was comforting to know her knowledge was superior to many she was playing against. She played five games, placing in all of them before moving on to a paid game. The buy-ins were only a dollar, so it wasn’t much to lose, but Nat’s hands had trembled throughout the game. Adrenaline surged through her each time she won a hand and she was euphoric when she won her first paid game. She spent the rest of the afternoon and evening increasing the amount she was betting until she found herself on the ten-dollar tables. By the end of the first day she was over a hundred dollars ahead. It wasn’t a huge amount, but it was a profit. She’d found she was capable of having two tables open at a time, which increased her investment but also her potential payout.
She’d got up early that next morning and had done her best to smile at Ricky and Yani, who were in the kitchen drinking their morning coffee.
‘When are you moving out?’ Yani asked.
‘Thursday, why?’
‘Just thinking if you wanted to go earlier, we could give you a hand, that’s all. Not that we’re rushing to get rid of you, of course.’ The two men exchanged a look and then laughed.
