Page 29 of Mercury Rising

She left them to it.

“It really was delicious,” Nick said.

The water was filling up the sink.

“Thanks,” Mercury said. “There’s plenty more where that came from. My grandmother insisted I knew how to cook. Shereckoned it was the best way to find a wonderful wife. Poor misguided fool.”

Nick chuckled. Mercury was growing to love that sound. In fact, everything about Nick was ticking boxes that Mercury didn’t know he had.

He picked up a cup that was floating around in the soapsuds and instantly pulled his hand out.

“Shit, that’s hot. Ouch.”

Gently, Nick took hold of his hand. It was bright red.

“You haven’t scalded yourself,” he said. “Just a bit hot.”

He didn’t let go of Mercury’s hand. They stood there for a second until a holler from outside broke the spell. Nick sprang away and resumed clearing the table.

Yet, that moment had happened. Mercury watched Nick’s strong back as he reached for Hassan’s discarded plate.

It had definitely happened.

CHAPTER SEVEN

What a difference a week made.

The previous weekend, Mercury had been playing over in his mind the conversation he’d had with Nick and worrying that he was totally unfit to be at Bodhi House. Now, he found himself counting down the hours until he could go back.

It was only Saturday morning and the hours seemed to stretch out in front of him.

“Is your mother away again?” Gwen asked as she finished off cleaning the kitchen.

“Yeah. On location. Cyprus, I think.”

Gwen wandered through, dusting one of Madeline’s obscenely expensive sculptures she had picked up somewhere.

“Me and Bill went there last year. Very nice indeed.”

“I’d be grateful for a weekend in Clacton right now.”

Gwen perched on the end of the chaise longue that Mercury had draped himself over.

“I hope you’re not feeling sorry for yourself, young man,” she said. “You got off very lightly. Whatever were you thinking?”

To his astonishment, tears welled up. “Gwen, I’ve never lied to you, have I?”

She raised her eyebrows “What about that time you tried to fool me that Darius had stolen your mother’s diamond necklace?”

“Gwen, I was eleven. That doesn’t count. Anyway, she caught him cheating three weeks later so basically, I would have saved her a ton of heartache.”

She wiped an imaginary bit of dust off the furniture. “Hardly the point. Anyway, I get the feeling you want to tell me something. Out with it or do I have to tempt you with my magical milkshake? I remember when you’d come in from school full of some worry or other. I’d always get it out of you with a milkshake and a cuddle.”

Mercury almost burst with affection for her. “It is good, but no, not today. I’m being deadly serious when I say I didn’t do it. That pig Grim cornered me in his stupid tunnel and grabbed my glass. It was a setup.”

He had told her this before the trial. However, she’d supported his mother and told him to own up to things, that the court would go a lot easier on him. Now that he had nothing to gain, he wanted one person on this planet to believe him. Even Lotty had seemed doubtful.

“My love, none of it matters now. I agree with your mother. Do your punishment with no drama and move on. Now, I’ve got to go. Bill’s taking me to the cinema tonight. We’re celebrating.”