“I don’t know what you mean? I’m not spending ‘extravagantly’ and besides, why do you think I owe you any explanation even if I was?”

I turned my back on Laurie after my feigned outburst of indignation. She had seen me in the Gucci store in the mall and, surprised, had asked if I had really spent so much on a purse. Fact was, I had come into money. A whole, big, glorious bunch of money and I was telling no one. See, I had made it a point for years to but a Quick Pick lottery ticket every Friday and finally, finally! it had paid off to the tune of millions.

That had been the end of last year, and on the advice of a newly hired financial advisor, I was keeping my new wealth a secret. He said that people start blabbing about the money and pretty soon every third cousin and every lost-touch-with former acquaintance comes out of the woodwork asking for something.

Now I had just lied to one of my best friends, but my ‘don’t tell’ rule was one I would not break.

“Look, Laurie, I have wanted a real Gucci bag for decades and have been saving up for it forever. This one was a markdown so I decided today was the day. Sorry I snapped at you. Let’s go to dinner. On me.”

She looked at me strangely. “You never treat.”

“Well tonight I am. I also got a nice bonus from my boss for helping out with a project so I feel flush. I owe you for being a grump.”

“Well, okay. Let’s go to Sbarro for a pizza slice,”

“Heck no! My bonus is burning a whole in my pocket and I want to go to Cafe Vito. You up for that?”

“Wow! That really must be some bonus if you’re treating at Cafe Vito!”

I just smiled, grabbed her arm, and headed to the other side of the mall. When we walked in, the hostess grinned. “Back so soon, Ms. Swartz?”

Uh-oh. I didn’t factor in that this girl would recognize me. I had taken to eating here once in a while by myself so I should have thought this through.

“The hostess knows you? Here?” Laura as giving me that look again as we were shown to our table.

“I’ve known her a long time. She used to wait tables at Millie’s diner.” I had my fingers crossed behind my back, hoping I would not be struck down by lightning because of the string of bald-faced lies I was spouting.

Laurie and I had craft cocktails and split a shrimp cocktail. She looked shocked when I ordered the filet, but she finally did the same when I said, “Bonus money. Go for it!”

It was always fun with Laurie and tonight was no exception. We laughed and chatted through the delicious, exorbitantly priced meal, and eventually our cute waiter, Rob, set the tab on the table and I pulled out my credit card and set it down. I heard Laurie gasp.

“You have an Amex Platinum card? What the hell, Maggie? You sure as hell didn’t qualify for that on your salary even with a supposed ‘nice bonus’ so what the shit is going on?”

The jig was up. I stared into her eyes and spoke very softly. “Okay. I will tell you but if I do I’ll have to kill you.”

The look on her face was precious and I could tell she half thought I meant it. I guess I had been acting pretty strangely. I sighed and then finally spilled the beans about the lottery.

“So now you know. And you have to promise me on the life of your not yet born child that you will say nothing about this to anybody. No one. Promise?”

“Can I tell my mom? She’ll be over the moon about…..”

“ I said NO ONE. That means not your mother, not your hairdresser, not even a whisper in the ear to your cat. I do not want my life turned upside down by people driving me crazy for lans, handouts, and charity.”

She paused. “Well okay. Our deep dark secret.”

She paused again then very seriously said, “But I need to get new brakes on my…”

When she saw my face she laughed. “I’m kidding! Oh my God! I wish I had taken a picture!”

Surprisingly, Laurie was good for her word. She has been wonderful and we’ve been able to do a lot of fun things on my lottery winnings because I can trust her. A trustworthy friend is as good as winning the lottery. Well almost as good. But not quite.