Page 84 of Mercury Rising

“You okay?” he asked Nick as they walked into the garden.

“Fine,” Nick replied. “Thank you.”

Mercury squeezed his hand. If their worlds were going to collide, Nick would have to be more comfortable around Mercury’s people.

Madeline breezed through the conservatory doors in a kaftan with peacock motif.

“Good evening, Mother,” Mercury said, kissing her cheek. “Looking fabulous.”

“Thank you, darling. And Nick, so lovely to see you again.”

“And you, Madeline.”

Before Mercury had even had the chance to pour a glass of champagne for her, the doorbell went.

“I’d better go,” Madeline said.

Mercury shuddered when she barked instructions at the caterer, Byron, as she swept through the kitchen.

Viggo, the waiter from The Bluebird Café, came out. He and his partner, Byron, ran their own side business catering to many Queens Crescent parties.

“Do you need me to open that?” Viggo asked.

“No, we got it,” Nick replied.

A little crestfallen, Viggo returned to the house.

“Hey,” Mercury whispered. “That’s his job.”

“Are you saying you can’t open a bottle of champagne for yourself?”

“No, I’m saying that he wants to give a top-class service.”

Madeline came back with two of their neighbours in her wake.

“Arvid Nilsen, Simon Harrington. I’d like to introduce you to Nick Campbell. Mercury’s…new friend.”

Mercury scowled at his mother.

“I work for Nick at Bodhi House,” Mercury explained.

“Community service isn’t work, darling. It’s a punishment,” Madeline chipped in.

Nick shook both hands that were offered to him. “Mercury has transcended that really, Madeline. The bond he’s made with some of the kids is amazing.”

Mercury glanced at his mother. Her face was red. She wouldn’t like being corrected. Especially in her own home.

Maybe bringing Nick wasn’t the best move.

“What’s the plan for this evening?” Simon asked, quickly.

“You know how Winston’s making a film about his cancer journey?” Madeline replied. “Well, last week he got the all-clear. Of course, he’ll still have to go for checks for the next five years. Things are looking good though. That’s the main thing.”

Josh and Winston had lived on Queens Crescent for about five years. Madeline was more friendly with Josh. Of course it was nothing to do with the fact he was a hip fashion designer just aching to give her freebies. Mercury quite liked him. He was a little quiet compared to Madeline’s usual mob of hangers-on. It made a nice change.

“Winston’s a filmmaker,” Mercury explained to Nick. “He wanted to create art out of his worst nightmare.”

Nick nodded. “Sounds like a decent way of handling it.”