Page 98 of Mercury Rising

“I’m not walking in there to be given the cold shoulder from Nick and to have to say goodbye to the kids again.”

He absolutely couldn’t face seeing the betrayal on their faces. Yet, he knew deep down that avoiding them was the cowardly way out.

She took his hand. “Darling, you haven’t said goodbye to the kids. Besides, Nick might be pleased to see you.”

“I doubt it. Then I’ll be all the way in South London, on my own, ready to burst into tears.”

She must be mad to think he had any intention of putting himself through that particular scenario.

“You won’t be on your own. Because I’m coming with you.”

“This is it,” Mercury shouted through to the cab driver.

“And you’ve been coming here every day?” Madeline exclaimed.

He scowled at her. “Don’t you dare start that.”

“I won’t. Best behaviour. Look how lowkey I am, for goodness’ sake.”

To her credit she had complied. Her hair was scraped back in a bun and she had the lightest of makeup on. After much discussion she had settled on wearing linen trousers and a halter neck top under one of Mercury’s hoodies.

He had thrown on some shorts and a tight white shirt. All that work outside in the allotment had given him a killer tan. He might be down but he certainly was not out.

He grabbed his bags from the back seat and scrambled out of the cab. On the way, he had called in at the supermarket and bought as many sweets and chocolate as humanly possible.

Music came from inside the house. For a second panic enveloped him.

With a clatter of heels, Madeline jumped out of the cab.

“Come on,” she said, linking his arm. “You’re not the only one who doesn’t want me to be recognised round here.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, Mum.”

“It’s the least I can do,” she said. “I caused this whole bloody mess. It’s only right that I help to fix it.”

“The problem was there before. He had a chip on his shoulder about our lives.”

She squeezed him. “Then we’ll have to cut that chip down to size.”

He took a deep breath and they walked down the garden path. It instantly reminded him of his first day there. Again, he had been so nervous.

And look what happened.

Within those four walls, a different Mercury Morrison had emerged. This time, he hoped to prove to Nick that this newversion was the real one and not an act. Even if Nick still watched him walk away forever, Mercury desperately wanted him to believe it was all real.

He rang the bell. Instantly, noise erupted from inside the house. Different voices all fighting to be heard.

Mercury grinned. He had missed this pandemonium.

Footsteps thundered to the door and it was opened to reveal a breathless Hassan closely followed by Anna and Olena.

“Mercury!” Hassan shouted, launching himself.

Mercury wrapped his arms around the young lad and hugged him tightly. He didn’t even try to stop the tears.

Next were Anna and Olena together. Mercury squeezed them tight.

“Oh, it’s good to see you all.”