Free The Windfall by Ellie Danes, Lily Knight Page B

of a surprise considering the lifestyle he was living.
    “This will be so much fun,” my aunt was saying, a huge smile still on her face. “Having my family here. I can’t wait to show you all the sights and take you to the beach. California is such a fun place.”
    “I can’t wait myself,” Mom echoed, happiness in her voice. I sat back and let the two sisters talk and catch up, glad that for once, something was working out. I just hoped it stayed that way.
    * * * * *
    The next day, I leaned against the railing on the back patio — complete with a pool and the most breathtaking view of the ocean for miles around — and took in the scenery as a bottle of beer dangled between my fingertips. I didn’t know what they had paid for a house with such an amazing view, but I was betting it hadn’t been cheap.
    “So, Cooper, what have you been doing back home? What’s the major?”
    I looked up from watching the waves roll over the shore to my Uncle Bill, who had come to stand beside me. “I’m a bartender.”
    “Huh,” he said, twirling his bottle around. “Not a consistently lucrative career, son. What about college? A man can’t live on slinging drinks alone.”
    “No, sir. He can’t. I’ve got bigger plans,” I said slowly, thinking how my plans had changed so much over the last few weeks since the lottery. Now I could go to college if I wanted without having to worry about if my mom was taken care of or not. I could start to live out my dreams if I wanted to. “I needed to be able to pay for college and so some priorities had to be taken care of first.”
    “Did they entail a woman?” Uncle Bill asked with a wink.
    I shook my head, knowing he didn’t mean my mom. “No, just some pressing needs. I think I just about have them all worked out.”
    “Just know a college education will take you places,” he said, taking a sip of his beer. “I mean, look at your aunt and me. This house is just one of the many things we were able to acquire with a good college education and the jobs that followed. Don’t let life get in the way of your future.”
    “No, sir. I don’t intend to,” I replied. I didn’t have to anymore. The only thing I had to do was stay alive and steer clear of any trouble that might come my way. That shouldn’t be such a hard feat. Especially now that I wasn’t living in the middle of all the gangs and violence. The thought of Felix floated through my mind and I shoved it away, my chest aching. He, on the other hand, was going to get himself into some kind of trouble. And, though I had the means to get him out of it, I wasn’t so sure if I really wanted to. He was an adult, free to make his decisions just like I was.
    “So, just visiting, huh? How long is that going to be?”
    I turned toward him then, giving him a shrug. “I really don’t know.” And I didn’t. Did I want it to be permanent? I wasn’t so sure about that either. I was fairly certain Mom wanted it to be, and I had no issues with that. Even if I didn’t stay permanently, Aunt Sophie would take very good care of her, much better than I had probably.
    Uncle Bill sighed heavily and I knew that he wasn’t too keen on us being there, in his house. They had given us two rooms overlooking the ocean. Of course, I think every bedroom in the place overlooked the ocean. I had to admit, I enjoyed waking up to the beautiful, calming waters outside of my window. It was definitely a sight I could get used to.
    “Listen, Cooper, a man has to make his own way out in life. You are the head of your family. Go out, make something of yourself. Don’t forget that.”
    “Yes, sir,” I replied, finding it easier to go along with him than to try dancing around the truth. There was so much they didn’t know and I wasn’t so sure I wanted them to know either. While I was sure he and Aunt Sophie were trying to look out for our well-being, I had to make sure before I pulled the trigger and told them about the money. While I didn’t