Page 6 of The Winning Ticket

“Hey.”

“Hey, how far away are you?” Her voice is full of excitement, and I smile despite myself.

“About ten minutes. I’ve just come off the Gateway Bridge.” I flick my indicator on to take the exit off the motorway.

“How was the drive? Did you speak to your boss yesterday?”

“The drive was long. I’m ready for a nap. And yes, I spoke to Dayna. She said I’m fine to work from the Brisbane office for a bit. I’ve cancelled my leave, so I’ll start on Monday.”

“Only for a bit? You’re not going back to Sydney, are you?” Morgan asks.

“Hell no. I’m done with Sydney. But I couldn’t tell Dayna that yet,” I say, struggling to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

“Good. Cause you belong here with us. Those Sydney assholes didn’t deserve my sweet baby Bri.”

“Where are you? Please tell me you’ll be at Mum’s as well. I can’t handle getting the third degree from her when I walk in the door if you’re not there as a buffer.”

“Getting in the car right now. Oh, and you’re coming out tonight,” she says while I stifle a yawn.

I shake my head before remembering she can’t see me. “No way. I need to sleep for the rest of my life.”

Leaving my parent’s house tonight after spending so long driving there was not appealing to me.

“As the eldest, you know I’m going to win, so you might as well just accept your fate.”

“You’re the eldest by eleven months. Don’t pull that shit on me!” I say, but I can’t stop the small smile that tugs at my lips.

“The last thing you should be doing right now is moping around at home, probably being driven nuts by Mum and hearing the bloody cricket on the TV while Dad pretends everyone else doesn’t exist.”

That very accurate description of home life has me suddenly rethinking my plan to become a hermit.

“Fine, but I’m going to need at least a nap. This drive has shattered me.” Maddie lets out an impatient whine from the passenger seat, loud enough that Morgan hears it over the speakerphone.

“Best get home before that fluffy niece of mine makes a mess in your car. I’ll see you in a few minutes!” She hangs up, and I glance over to check on my furry baby. She is bouncing back and forth, going from sitting on the seat to pawing at the window and whining constantly.

“Just a few more minutes, baby. Hold on.”

I finally pull up at my parent’s house and climb stiffly out of my car before letting Maddie out. She flings herself out of the car and sprints to the nearest piece of grass to relieve herself, looking at me with what I swear is a doggy smile, and I grin.

My mother runs down the driveway, and Maddie instantly recognises her. She dances around our legs while Mum wraps me in a giant hug. I haven’t been back in over a year, and my mother has made me feel guilty about it for months. She tearfully squeezes me tightly before hollering to my father to come and get my stuff. Her mouth is so close to my right ear that it starts ringing, and I pull away, clapping a hand over my ear.

“Hi, Mum.” I rub my poor ear, and my father appears at the door.

I give him a small smile and a wave. A man of few words, I can only assume he is happy to see his youngest daughter when he grunts at me before heading to the back of my car to unload the suitcases and boxes that Richard and his assistant so kindly left piled in there.

My mother is shepherding me and Maddie inside when my sister pulls up in Chris’s car. She barely manages to turn the car off before she’s out and racing up the driveway. She launches herself at me so hard I am lucky not to topple over, and I laugh when she gives me a tight squeeze.

“It sucks what happened, but I’m so damn happy you’re back.” Her words are muffled in my hair, keeping the conversation between us.

Being held in my sister’s arms for the first time in months brings back all the emotions I’ve kept caged inside since that first day in the hotel. I cling to her tightly and fight back the tears that threaten to overcome me. My mother sweeps Maddie up and cuddles her while she watches Morgan and I hug.

“Come on, everyone, inside, please. I’m missing the match,” Dad says, juggling the last of my things.

“Yes, come on, girls.” My mother pushes us both towards the door, and Morgan lets go of me just long enough for us to both get inside.

A few hours later, I am sitting on the single bed in my childhood bedroom, watching my sister dig through my bags, searching for a dress for me to wear. I still haven’t had the nap I desperately want, but Morgan insists I don’t need it. The scorching sun has finally dropped below the horizon, and she’s already made me do my hair and makeup.

“Where are we going, anyway?” I ask the top of her head.

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