4
EPOV
"Freedom"
The remainder of Saturday night passed by in a blur, but when I woke up Sunday morning, everything was coming into sharper focus.
After checking my ticket once more with the numbers on the lottery website, I take a quick shower and get dressed. I'm already thinking of what I could do with the money. It's too much money; how does one spend 192.5 million dollars? I'm happy that I didn't win the entire jackpot of 385 million. I don't think I'd be able to think clearly at all if I had.
I could set up Mom and Dad. Allie could get a little trust. I shake the thoughts from my head.
The sudden realization that my family will come after me and all of this money so hard hits me like a Mack truck. I love my family; I truly do. But after they fell from grace and lost all their money, I've been the sole provider for them. I can't do it anymore.
Calling the number for the lottery office located in Olympia, I make an appointment early on Wednesday because they luckily had a cancellation. Then I call my lawyer, Mike Newton, and give him the basics.
"Don't tell anyone, Edward. Not until you decide what you're going to do about the money. You're protected; you've been out of the house since you were seventeen, well before your parents' bankruptcy. Deal with the lottery office, then we'll deal with your family."
I also leave a message for my accountant. I let Ben know that I'm coming into some money, and I want to know my best options for high-yield savings. I know he's with his family on the weekends, so I don't expect to hear from him until tomorrow.
After I eat, shower, and dress, I feel a little restless. My mother and sister have already called me eight times respectively this morning, and I think I know what I need to do. Grabbing my keys, I take myself to the nearest retail store for my phone carrier.
I must look like a sucker because, within an hour, not only do I have a new phone number but I have the latest model iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all tucked into a bag. My old number will remain active until I close that line, but as soon as I get this lottery stuff settled, I'll handle it.
The clerk helps me transfer all my data over to the new phone, and then helps me put out a mass text with the new number; I plainly exclude my parents and sister. No one I text knows them, or if they do, they certainly won't give out my new information.
Leaving the store, I head home only to think about what will happen when they realize that they can't call or text me. They'll just show up on my doorstep; it's happened before.
Before I fully know what I'm doing, I'm driving out to Bremerton and looking up houses for sale on the Zillow app. I don't know why, but the area is pulling me there. Maybe because it's small, even though it's a Navy town. Maybe because it's ninety minutes from the city, and even if my parents realize I'm here, eventually they'll tire of the drive.
Maybe because here, no one knows who I am, and I can be whoever I want. Whatever the reason, I quickly request a couple of home tours for the afternoon and make my way to the first house. There's only one agent handling these listings—Lauren. She's a kind, attractive older woman who apologizes for showing up in leggings, a sweatshirt, and sneakers.
"These houses come and go off the market with the service members coming and going," she explains as she lets us into the first home.
"I'm sorry I didn't give you any more notice. Thanks for being so flexible." I smile and walk over the threshold as she starts rattling off the stats for the house.
This house has a nice, open floor plan with a large kitchen, living room, and what I end up seeing are five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a small laundry room, and finished garage. I like it; I actually love it, aside from the flooring. It's a slate-colored laminate or vinyl flooring that just makes the place look drab and dingy.
"Lauren, the floors." She looks over to me and smiles. "They're terrible."
"Well, Mr. Cullen, the original owners picked them out when they ordered the house. Between you and me, I would have gone for a more natural wood look." We laugh, and I nod.
"What's the asking price again?" She rattles off the number, and I nod. It might be foolish, but I don't want to see the other houses. I like this one. It's close to the main roads but far enough away that I can't hear the traffic. It's certainly large enough for me, and if I ever get married and start a family, we'll have room.
"I don't have a realtor," I say, gauging her reaction.
"I can recommend someone to you." She pulls out her phone and starts scrolling, presumably through her contacts.
"What would the seller take in cash?"
She looks up. "I'm sorry?"
"Cash offer on this house. This week. I need to move some things around, but if I made a cash offer, would they take it?"
Lauren looks a little shell-shocked but recovers nicely. "I'll call them today, but I'm confident they'll accept."
"Great. I'll call you Thursday at the latest with the details." I reach out and shake her hand, thanking her for her time, and stroll out of the house. When I climb into my car parked on the street, I take one last look at the place and smile.
I'll finally be able to get away from all of it … all of them. Smiling to myself, I head back to Seattle, feeling renewed and ready to start this next phase of my life.