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Lainie texted Amanda the number of a storage company and then looked at the pile of mail on the nightstand.

‘What do you want to do with these?’

Amanda glanced at them.

‘They’re all junk. Mom was going through and signing up for all sorts of random things when the brain tumour started to grow. I thought it was dementia. I think she’s signed up for every woman’s catalogue there is, which is a lot. And she’d been entering competitions. So far, I have won a lifetime of dog food for the dog I don’t have. So, I gave it to the Lost Dogs’ Home. They were thrilled.’

‘You didn’t tell me that!’ Lainie exclaimed.

‘No, because it’s sad and though hopefully one day I can see something good in it, right now, it’s depressing.’ She looked at the mail. ‘You can go through them if you want. It would be a big help if you want real insight into the brain when it has a golf ball growing inside it.’

Amanda dialled the number of the storage company Lainie had sent her and went into the living room and spoke to the gruff man whose tone changed when she said her mom had died. He was, in fact, so kind that she felt her eyes becoming stingy and hot, and she had to brush away and a tear with the corner of her sleeve.

‘Mands… Mands, Amanda!’ Lainie called from the bedroom, and she finished the call and rushed in to see her friend standing on the bed.

‘Your mother might have had a tumour but goddammit she had foresight.’

She waved a letter at her.

‘What now? Cat food?’ Amanda snorted.

‘You won a house,’ Lainie yelled and waved her arms around wildly.

‘What? Stop talking crazy, and stop waving your arms. You look like Kermit when he’s excited about something,’ said Amanda, snatching the letter from Lainie.

‘I am Kermit and I’m excited.’ Lainie was jumping up and down like a child.

Amanda scanned the letter.

Dear Ms Amanda Cox,

We are delighted to inform you that you are the lucky winner of our first-ever raffle by the British Society for Preservation of Significant Houses. Your ticket, number 4561, was the lucky one chosen and you have been bequeathed a beautiful home called Moongate Manor.

Amanda looked at Lainie who was now clapping and jumping.

‘The British Society for Preservation of Significant Houses? Moongate Manor? Really?’

‘What? It’s British. They do everything properly, including naming houses and organisations.’

‘It sounds like something from Harry Potter,’ she scoffed. ‘Next thing they’ll tell me I have to run into a wall to magic my way there.’

‘Keep reading,’ Lainie insisted.

However, with great success comes great responsibility. It is hoped that you will ensure the house is maintained to the standards it is in when you arrive and you are to bring the gardens back to their once-renowned status.

Amanda looked up. ‘I can’t garden anything.’

‘What about those? They look in great condition.’ She pointed to the potted palms in the corner of the bedroom.

‘Plastic,’ she said and went on reading.

‘The house is located in a small village called Foxfield, outside of Newcastle upon Tyne in Northumberland, and is a well-loved part of the community, who are thrilled to know there is new life coming to Moongate Manor.’

‘That sounds exciting,’ Lainie enthused.

‘It sounds terrifying.’ Amanda finished reading the letter.

If you wish to redeem this winning ticket, please contact Mr William Smith to arrange the final details. Signed, the Honourable Diana Graybrook-Moore.