Page 6 of The Best of Times

The door opened and Madeline exited the car like the movie star she was. It didn’t matter that the only person to witness it was her son, Mercury. He couldn’t imagine her ever being off duty.

Mercury flung his arms around his mother.

Not wanting to wait for the driver, Aron popped the door. The driver nodded gratefully before opening the trunk and pulling the first of Madeline’s suitcases out. The nation’s sweetheart didn’t travel lightly.

It’s the boot now, not the trunk.

Granny wouldn’t be impressed if he kept dropping Americanisms all over the place.

“Mercury!” Aron cried as he got out onto the street.

He jogged around the ridiculously big auto and into his friend’s arms.

“Bloody hell, Aron. Where did you come from?” Mercury said. “It’s been way too long. I didn’t expect you to be in there. Oh God, I bet Mother has given you all the gossip. Don’t believe a word of what she’s told you.”

Aron stood back and stared at Mercury. “Crime agrees with you.”

“Shut up. I can just imagine how my darling mother has framed it.”

“I never said a thing,” Madeline said. “You know very well who his source is.”

Aron grinned. “Are you happy, though?”

“Very.”

Granny had taken great pleasure in relaying the drama of Mercury’s conviction for vandalism, his community servicepunishment and subsequent love affair. It all sounded very romantic. Aron had been amazed. Mercury had never shown much interest in settling down. He’d always been the stereotypical rich kid about town.

It just goes to show. It can happen to anyone.

“You and Alexander both finding hot men? What is going on in this street?”

Mercury shrugged. “I think you need to ask your grandmother that.”

Aron shook his head.

“I’m not sure I want to know. She’s told me enough.”

Madeline broke off from them.

“Be careful with the bags,” she said to the poor driver. “There’s a vase in that one.”

“Oh great,” Mercury said. “More crap to fill the house.”

“It’s not crap. It’s eclectic. Plus it cost a fortune.”

With that she gave chase into the house to supervise.

“How are you really?” Mercury asked. “I’ve struggled to get an email out of you since you buggered off to New York.”

A stab of guilt lodged in his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he said and he meant it. “I couldn’t be reminded of this place. Beyond Granny’s regular updates obviously. They’re unstoppable.”

Mercury nodded. “I get it. He’s already home, you know.”

Aron glanced over at the Professor’s house. He half wished to see a figure in the window. So what if he did?

“Good for him,” Aron said. “Right, I’d better go and see Granny or I’ll be in trouble before I’ve got through the door.”