Chapter 2

It's only when I've fully composed myself, the blurry tears gone from my eyes, when I let myself drive home. The letter is still in my lap and I resist the urge to read it over and over again. I need to focus on the road ahead, but I'm not sure how well I can do that with this new and exciting knowledge sprinting through my head.

Matthew is giving me his home. At least, one of them. I've never heard of Windchime Manor but it has to be beautiful. Matthew was an interior designer who worked with very rich customers for most of his life, so he would have ensured that his countryside mansion was perfect. I make a mental note to search the place online as soon as I get home.

When I do, I'm agitated at the reminder that roadworks are happening outside of my apartment block. It means I have to park five minutes away, somewhere I'm not even sure if I'm allowed to park, and the rain outside has just started to spit. I doubt much time will pass before it begins to pour.

Securing the letter back in my bag, I get out of the car, lock the doors, then do an awkward little jog all the way back to the apartments. Some of the road workers say a polite 'hi' to me, but all I can do is give them a shy smile before I rush to get into the safety of my home. I hurry inside and catch the elevator, getting into my apartment in no time.

It's a tiny place. The living room, kitchen, and dining room are squished into one room, with two separate doors leading to my bedroom and bathroom. But it's colourful and quaint, the one place where I feel safe.

Am I going to be able to leave this place?

Shaking the thought from my head, I chuck my bag onto the sofa and let my slightly damp hair tumble out of the ponytail. I go into my bedroom and get out of my itchy dress, replacing it with my more comfortable clothes. Pink pyjama shorts and oversized, grey sweater. I feel so much better already.

When I leave my bedroom, I smile genuinely for the first time today when I notice Jinx sprawled out across the couch, having kicked my bag to the floor. He's a giant fluffball of a cat, with grey and white hairs and bright blue eyes, and as soon as he sees me he rolls onto his back with his legs up in the air. I sit with him on the couch and rub his belly.

"Hey, Bud," I say, picking him up and placing him in my lap. Although I'm sure he's been sleeping all day, he dozes off pretty quickly, purring softly as I thread my fingers through his fur. He's such a sweet creature, always has been since he was a kitten. I was alone a lot in school and decided I needed a friend, so I used what little money I had back then to get him. Can't say my aunt, who took care of me until I was old enough to fend for myself, was too happy about that.

My old laptop sitting on the coffee table catches my eye. Windchime Manor. Only two words I have to type into a search bar to see what kind of life I would be living if I take this offer. It's that easy.

I bite down on my lip before leaning forward, trying not to jostle Jinx too much. I pick up my laptop and open it, impatiently waiting for the loading wheel to stop spinning. When it finally does, I look up Windchime Manor.

Just as I thought; the place is beautiful.

Old-fashioned and grand, with leaves climbing the walls and surrounding the large windows. There are pictures of the interior, too. Bright, natural light seeps in from the windows with potted plants and furniture decorated with intricate designs. Paintings and mirrors line the walls and there's a glass chandelier hanging above the magnificent staircase that leads to the second floor.

It's stunning.

I click through all of the images, imagining myself living somewhere like this. I'd have the place all to myself, surrounded by the serenity of the woodland and countryside. Instead of the drilling of roadworks and the passing of cars and buses, I'd hear the birds tweeting as soon as daylight breaks. I would go shopping in the nearby village, greeting people as I walk the cobbled streets and meet new friends in the pubs and restaurants.

It would be perfect for me.

There's no question about it, so without hesitation I ring up the number that Matthew included in his letter. I engage in a long conversation with a woman called Darcy, who tells me everything there is to know about my living arrangements, but I struggle to concentrate on what she's saying as the excitement builds in my gut. Only a few hours ago I thought my life was ruined, but now Matthew has saved my life and he's not even here. I wish I could thank him.

When the call with Darcy ends, I hug Jinx to my chest and try not to smother him in my joy.

"We're going to be so happy," I say to him, pressing a kiss to his head. He allows me to gush over him for a little while longer before he struggles out of my arms and lands on the floor with a loud thud, probably pissing off the neighbours downstairs. I'm moving out in two days so I couldn't care less.

Realising that I'm pretty hungry, I head into the kitchen and make myself some food. I've always been an awful cook so I stick with a simple salad, before I return to the living area and switch on the ancient TV. I don't think there's ever been a moment I've felt happier than I am now.

It's about an hour later when the shrill sound of my phone ringing cuts through the relaxed bubble I've wrapped myself up in. I lazily lean forward and pick my phone up off the table, expecting Darcy to be calling me again, but it's not. It's my sister.

"Novy!" she squeals. "I've missed you so much."

"I miss you too," I chuckle, picking up the remote to mute the TV. "How have you been?"

"Stressed as fuck, I won't lie," she says. It sounds like she's eating her own lunch at four in the afternoon. "The boss has given me a whole bunch of paperwork to get through. I feel like I'm drowning. So I thought I'd give my sister a call because I love you and miss you."

I smile, basking in the glow of happiness that today has brought that has been heightened by hearing Samantha's voice again. It's been a while. I never saw much of her as a child then she moved away to London when I turned sixteen. I haven't seen her since.

"How generous of you," I tease.

"Shut up," she replies. "Anyway, how are you? I heard on the news that one of the men you were caring for has passed away. I'm sorry. That must suck."

My smile disappears. I watch as Jinx returns to the room and pads over to his water bowl. "I went to his funeral today," I tell her. "It was... weird."

"Weird?"

"Well I thought I'd get some sort of closure. But his family were pretty dry with me so... I just felt uncomfortable."

"That's rich people for you," Samantha mutters. I can practically hear her eyes rolling.

"You are rich people," I say, tucking my tongue into my cheek.

Samantha lets out a small scoff. "Novy, if I was rich, I would have bought us both a nice ass house and nice ass cars and you wouldn't have to wipe the butt of another old man ever again."

I find the corner of my lips quirking up. "Maybe you wouldn't have to," I say. I bring my hand up to my mouth to nibble at my fingernail.

"What does that mean?" my sister asks.

I pause, wanting to add a bit of drama for the fun of it. "Matthew, the man who died, might have given his manor house to me in his will," I tell her. I don't want to sound too enthusiastic, but ever since I read the letter all I've wanted to do is shout the news from the rooftops.

"You're shitting me," my sister says, a bit bluntly.

"I'm not," I say. "I didn't believe it when I read the letter, but then I spoke to the estate agent and she told me everything. Apparently he wanted to make sure that it was me who got this house."

The other line is silent, until, "Oh my God, Novy! This is so cool! Where is it?"

"Wiltshire," I tell her.

"Wow," Samantha says. I smirk at the awe in her voice. "You'll love it there. Have you got any pictures of the house?"

"Yeah. I'll send some over."

Staying on the call, I screen-shot some images of the house and send them over. After a minute of Samantha letting out varied sounds of approval, she says, "It's beautiful but... a bit spooky. You sure you'd be okay living there on your own?"

I'm tempted to roll my eyes at her protectiveness. "I'll be fine. Besides, I'm not on my own. I have Jinx."

"Oh yeah, your dumb cat will totally save you from the demons locked in the basement."

Jinx approaches me as if he understands what Samantha and I are talking about and hops onto the sofa, curling up into my side to undoubtedly fall asleep yet again.

"At least he'll eat all the spiders," I shrug.

My sister lets out a brief laugh, before she's quiet again in thought. "I don't know, Novy. There must be some sort of catch to you living there. And how expensive would it be? I don't think electricity there will come cheap, you know."

"The estate agent said that Matthew's money is taking care of it," I explain. "Seriously, Sam. This guy was loaded. I don't know why he would choose to spend so much of it on me, but I can't back out of an offer like this."

"So you're living there for free?" Sam asks. I love my sister, but sometimes her tone with me turns a bit patronizing. That's usually when I start to get irritated.

"Yes," I tell her. "Obviously I'll have to pay for food and stuff but I'm sure there are plenty of places around to get a job."

Samantha sighs, telling me she wants to continue the argument but doesn't have the energy to do so. "Find a library or book shop to work in. You'd love it."

"That's the plan," I say. "Look, I don't want you worrying about me. If anything feels wrong or whatever I'll move out as soon as I can."

"One day we'll live together, baby sis," she says wistfully. "As soon as I can afford it I'm moving you over here. Then we can be together."

I feel tears gather at my eyes, but after crying earlier today in the car, I don't want to make my headache any worse than it is now. "I'd love that," I say.

We say our goodbyes and end the call, and the whole apartment is draped in an eerie silence.

WC: 1896