Page 100 of Mercury Rising

Eddie shoved his phone in his pocket and sighed. “All right.”

He and Mercury went out into the garden. The scene for another heart-to-heart they had shared. They both sat on the bench. Eddie stared warily at Mercury.

“How have you been?” Mercury asked.

“Shit.”

“Really?”

To his horror, Eddie shed a tear. “I thought you were different. I’ve had a ton of social workers and people telling me how to live my life. You didn’t do that and I thought…”

“Eddie, I’m sorry,” Mercury said. “There’s nothing more I can say other than that. Things got a bit difficult.”

“Because of you and Nick?”

There was no point lying to him. In a few short years he would be an adult. Eddie certainly wasn’t a wide-eyed innocent like Hassan.

“Yes. Something happened and it all fell to pieces.”

Eddie considered his words. “Was it to do with your mum? Is that why she’s come with you?”

“Let’s say things got out of hand, as they so often do. Please believe me when I say it had nothing to do with anyone here. I’ve missed you all so much.”

Now Mercury was crying.

“Can’t you sort it out with Nick?” Eddie asked. “Then you can come and see us whenever you like. That’s if you want to.”

Mercury slung his arm around Eddie’s shoulder. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”

“He’s been miserable, you know,” Eddie replied. “Like really upset.”

“Has he?”

“Yes, he has,” came a voice from behind them.

They both spun around to see Nick standing in the doorway.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“Nick,” Mercury said.

Eddie detached himself and walked toward the house. He stopped when he got to Nick.

“Mercury’s good,” he said before disappearing inside.

Mercury stood. The last time he’d seen Nick, he’d been worried he might get a punch in the mouth. Now it was his heart that concerned him.

“You’ve lost weight,” Mercury said.

“It’s been a rough month. Shall we talk?”

They walked through the house. The kids were busy examining the treats.

“How much?” Nick said with a chuckle.

“I got a bit carried away,” Mercury replied. “Story of my life.”

“Nick,” Hassan shouted.