Page 22 of Mercury Rising

“Come and sit with me,” she replied, pushing a chair out with her foot.

Knowing resistance was futile, Mercury got off the lounger. He dragged the chair out of the shade and flopped down.

“Okay, you have my attention.”

“You make me sound like a five-year-old.”

Mercury raised an eyebrow. His mother could give any kid a run for their money when she was bored and in need of entertaining.

“I wanted to say how proud I am of you,” she said. “You’ve faced your punishment like a man.”

“Punishment I don’t deserve.”

Madeline waved her hand. “Can we stop all that now? All I’m saying is, you have courage. You get that from my side of the family. Your good-for-nothing father would probably have skipped the country.”

Bassem Hussain, famed film director and very distant father, had never taken to parenthood. Mercury had had a good relationship with his grandmother who worshipped both father and son.

“Thank goodness I have the Morrison genes too then.”

“Have you heard from him lately?”

Mercury shook his head. “He’s filming in Peru. I’m going over to LA in November.”

“Nice. Make sure he pays.”

He heard Simon and Rodrigo in the garden next door. Simon’s son, Luca, must have been staying. Whatever game they were playing made Luca shriek with delight. He made a mental note to ask them about it. The kids at Bodhi House might like it.

Fuck, what’s happening to me? I’ve only been there one day.

“You know, I think I’m going to enjoy this community service,” he said.

Madeline shook her head. “You’re not supposed to enjoy it. That isn’t the point.”

“Perhaps that makes me the ultimate rebel.”

“What are you going to enjoy about it?”

Mercury considered his answer. It was more a feeling at this point. Also, the fact he hadn’t been able to get Nick out of his mind. The disappointment he’d shown still cut Mercury to the core.

“I’m not sure. It’s nice being in a different world.”

“Oh god, are you going to become a socialist?”

“Of course not. Bloody hell, Mother.”

Madeline lowered her sunglasses. “You’re worried about something.”

Sighing, Mercury sat upright. “I fucked up on my first day. The kids wanted to know about what I do and I told them. The man who runs it thinks that’s dangerous talk.”

“He’s probably right,” she replied. “Darling, when your father almost destroyed our lives, I vowed you would never need anything from anyone.”

“I know and I appreciate it.”

“When you started this influencing, I’ll admit I didn’t understand it. I don’t like you letting people know so much about you.”

His mother amazed him at times. “That’s a bit rich coming from the author of two tell-all memoirs and the subject of more heart-to-heart interviews than I’ve had hot dinners.”

Madeline pushed the magazine she’d discarded away from her. “Don’t be ridiculous. I only give people what they want to know. Not our real secrets.”