Page 40 of Mercury Rising

“Surrender?” she asked.

Mercury threw his property cards down. “I do. Olena, you are going to be one tough cookie when you’re older.”

The office door opened. It was Nick. A jolt of adrenalin flashed through Mercury’s system. He didn’t know if it was seeing Nick or the prospect of this being his moment. Ever since the almost kisses, things between the two of them had been strained to say the least.

“Mercury,” Nick said. “Fenella and I are ready.”

“What’s going on?” Hassan asked.

“Oh nothing,” Mercury said, getting up from the table and dusting off the biscuit crumbs. “Just an idea I’ve had.”

He walked toward the door.

“Have you eaten all the biscuits?” Nick asked.

“Not all of them. A few.”

“We were hungry,” Anna said. “Mercury said he’s going to show us how to make some this afternoon. Is that okay?”

Nick grinned. “Of course it is. We’d better be quick then. It’s nearly lunchtime.”

Inside the office, Fenella sat in Mercury’s seat. He’d seen her when she arrived. A large woman in a dress made of bold African print. Her face lit up when she smiled. Mercury found himself drawn to her immediately.

“Now, we get to meet properly,” Fenella said, standing and holding out her hand. “I’ve been hearing some wonderful things.”

Mercury blushed and took her hand. “This is a very special place, Mrs…”

“Call me Fenella. Everyone does. Mainly because it’s my name.”

“Thank you,” he said, the words coming out as a squeak.

“No need to be nervous,” Fenella said.

Mercury glanced at Nick, who had also sat down. Nick winked and nodded.

“Okay,” Mercury said.

He positioned his laptop on the edge of the desk and launched the presentation he’d been working on.

“Mercury, do you mind if we skip that?” Fenella asked. “I want to hear from you.”

You were the best in the Debating Society at school. Come on, Morrison, you’ve got this.

“Before I get into the nuts and bolts, I want to say something,” Mercury began. “When I was sentenced to community service…”

“For a crime he didn’t commit,” Nick interjected.

“Yes that,” Mercury said.

At that moment, he realised Nick was the only person who truly believed him. He hadn’t even questioned Mercury’s word. Unlike everyone else in his life. Mercury had become a different person at Bodhi House and he quite liked it.

“I was nervous, stepping out of my extremely comfortable zone,” Mercury continued. “Yet I’ve been embraced so warmly it’s made me realise what a special place you’ve created here.”

Fenella beamed at him. “That is a lovely thing to say, Mercury. Thank you.”

“My understanding is donations are drying up and the only option left to you is selling the house to keep the overall project going.”

“That’s correct, I’m afraid. The bills are getting higher and we simply can’t balance the books,” Fenella replied. “Although I hear you may have an alternative.”