Heated Abscondment

Chapter Six

7 years before

Lisa finished clearing the coffee table, setting out their food and getting drinks while Ada looked up the lottery ticket results.

“This can’t be right.” She said aloud.

“What babe?” Lisa said as she ambled over.

Ada turned her phone around and showed her friend.

She clapped her hands to her mouth, “Oh. My. God.”

Ada immediately called the number at the bottom of the screen. Ada’s eyes were huge and her voice was quiet through the whole exchange. Lisa sat and held her friend’s hand the whole time.

“Well?” Lisa said when Ada got off the phone.

“I won. I’m going to the address they’ll email to me the day after tomorrow.”

“Oh my god!” Lisa squealed and hugged her. A smile slowly spread across Ada’s face.

“I think the best part is this will be announced under my old name.”

“Oh my god, that is perfect.”

“Text the group, we need to video chat ASAP. I’m going to call Dr. Stevens, I’ll need some advice on what form to take the money then what to do with it.” A mischievous grin spread across Ada’s face, “Then we’re going thrift store shopping. We’re going to find me the most obscure get up so I’m unrecognizable.”

The week flew by in a blur.

The video chat amongst the group of best friends encased a lot of squealing and congratulations. They all felt everything good that was now happening to Ada was a long since coming to balance out what she lived through. That definitely sent Ada into tears and lots of “I love you guys” went around. They wanted updates through the week. They made plans to drive up that weekend to celebrate with them. They all agreed to keep this news on the down low.

After they finished eating, they ran out to the closest thrift store 45 minutes before they closed.

They picked out the most obnoxious floral baggy maxi skirt with a sweater cardigan to wear with it. They found a pair of brightly colored thick large glasses. They were going to let her hair frizz out the day of, then braid it in a messy loose French braid.

Ada did a conference call with Dr. Stevens and her group of mentoring professors about what their advice is to do with her winnings. She decided to accept in one lump sum. She had an accountant suggested to her that she already reached out to and hired. Her plan was to invest most of it, then live off the interest earnings along with whatever profession she decided to pursue.

The press conference, or whatever you’d call it, when she formally accepted the winnings went off without a hitch. She wore her get up they had compiled, so she was next to unrecognizable in the news release picture. The best part is that her real name was used, so when she went to class the next day, no one had any idea it was her.

The downside was that distant family members from her old foster family found her. They’d send her letters, some even showed up where they lived. All of them were looking for a handout and got pissed when she told them no and told them to go away.

Ada and Lisa finished their semester without a hitch otherwise.

Ada got her name legally changed and got her identification documents. She then finished her transfer paperwork to the University. She got her partial ride scholarship and enrolled in classes. The girls got where they were going to live situated. They didn’t get into the house they had set their sights on originally, but they found another one they felt was better. The rooms were a little smaller, but there was an extra room they could have as a study room or guest room. The kitchen was bigger and had an island they could sit at. The living room was bigger. It was better suited for them they felt. They also were able to move in at the beginning of the summer. Which Lisa and Ada were starting to need because Ada’s old family were getting to be a harassment.

Ada got her lottery winnings situated thanks to her professor’s advice and the accountant she hired.

She was pretty sure she’d be able to pay rent of the house for everyone and they’d just need to pay their part in utilities, But she wanted everything to get settled and she wanted to see what the interest payments allotted to after a few months before she made that promise.

Once again, Ada was excited for their years at the university when it will be the 6 of them.