Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The next morning, Mercury let himself out of Jeannie's house. It was early and Queens Crescent was deserted.

It was a short walk of shame home but he still didn't want people thinking he was coming home after a night of passion. It didn't look like he'd ever have one of those again.

Thankfully, he made it past Mrs Wimpole's without the slightest hint of a curtain twitching. Even she had to sleep some time.

When he got in, he froze. The radio was blaring out in the kitchen and he definitely didn't leave it on. Then the unmistakable voice of his mother began to sing along. Apart from an ill-advised musical number for the Royal Variety Performance, Madeline hadn't been called upon to sing professionally. Something Mercury remained grateful for.

It had to happen sooner or later. She'd been away for weeks. Of course she would come home.

Slowly, he wandered into the kitchen. Madeline was chopping fruit.

"Hello," he said.

"Oh, hello."

"What are you making?"

"A Greek yoghurt smoothie. They're to die for. Do you want one?"

Mercury nodded.

Never mind fruit, Madeline would probably be able to cut the air with her knife, it was so tense.

Instead, she placed it down carefully and looked at him.

"I am truly sorry, Mercury," she said. "I'm your mother and I love you, no matter what you think. I just panicked. I couldn't bear to think that there was even the remotest possibility that you would fall in love with someone like your father."

He stood across the kitchen from her.

"I know," he said. "But there wasn't even the slightest chance. Nick is a good man."

"Have you heard from him?"

Mercury shook his head. He couldn't bring himself to admit it out loud.

"Oh, darling."

That was too much. He collapsed into her arms as the tears claimed him once more. She held on to him as tightly as she had throughout his childhood.

Eventually the storm passed and he stepped back, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

"You should probably check your mail," she said.

"What?"

"On the side, there. Don't shout at me, it was M Morrison."

The problem with having almost the same name as his mother was it gave her carte blanche to open all the mail that came in. As a teenager he'd subscribed to a gay fetish catalogue just to make her jump. It had worked.

A pile of junk mail was in front of him. Yet one envelope on top was written in a childish scrawl. He pulled it open to find a card inside.

Dear Mercury

We would like to invite you to Bodhi House on Saturday. We have a special announcement to make.

Lots of love all the kids (Hassan wrote this)

He smiled.

"What announcement?" Madeline asked.

"You could pretend you didn't read it."

"Come on, what announcement?"

"It can only be one thing. They've saved the house."

She came over to him. "Thanks in no small part to you, my love. Shit, it's today. What are you going to wear?"

He placed the card carefully down.

"I'm not going."

"What?"

"I can't."

"You bloody well can."

The meek act hadn't lasted long.

"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 new version 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."

"Why are you crying then?" Hassan asked.

"Because I'm happy, silly."

Hassan looked behind Mercury and his mouth dropped.

"Is that…"

"My mother, yes. Hassan, I'd like you to meet Madeline Morrison."

Poor Hassan looked lost for words.

"Hello," Madeline said. "And who are these two beauties?"

"Anna and Olena," Mercury replied.

"Come on," Olena said, tugging at his hand. "The others are waiting."

She had barely registered Mercury's famous mother. It appeared Hassan and Olena watched different movies.

He followed the giggling teenagers down the hallway and into the main room. He glanced back in time to see Hassan take Madeline's hand.

"Allow me," he said.

"I'm charmed," Madeline replied.

Eddie and Brooke were sitting on the sofas. Brooke came and gave him a hug. Eddie remained still.

"Brooke, this is my mum."

Brooke's eyes widened. "You're Madeline Morrison. Shit. Eddie, it's Madeline Morrison."

But Eddie shrugged and glanced away.

"Eddie?" Mercury asked. "How are you?"

"Like you care."

There it was. The impact of him leaving the House staring him right in the face. He looked at Madeline, who gave him a kind smile.

"Who is going to show me this place that my son has been going on about for weeks?" she asked.

"Me," Hassan yelled. "Please, let it be."

"How about it's all of you?" Mercury asked. "In fact, there's nothing my mum loves more than a game of ping-pong."

"A what?" Madeline asked but was silenced by a withering glare from Mercury.

"Yes—remember that holiday in France? You'll have to play this lot. They are amazing."

"Come on," Hassan said excitedly.

Mercury dumped the bag of sweets down on the table. "Here you go. Make yourselves sick. Eddie, can I have a word?"

Eddie didn't seem inclined to move.

"Please," Mercury added.

"You should at least listen to him," Brooke said.

Eddie shoved his phone in his pocket and sighed. "All right."

He and Mercury went out into the garden. The scene for another heart-to-heart they had shared. They both sat on the bench. Eddie stared warily at Mercury.

"How have you been?" Mercury asked.

"Shit."

"Really?"

To his horror, Eddie shed a tear. "I thought you were different. I've had a ton of social workers and people telling me how to live my life. You didn't do that and I thought…"

"Eddie, I'm sorry," Mercury said. "There's nothing more I can say other than that. Things got a bit difficult."

"Because of you and Nick?"

There was no point lying to him. In a few short years he would be an adult. Eddie certainly wasn't a wide-eyed innocent like Hassan.

"Yes. Something happened and it all fell to pieces."

Eddie considered his words. "Was it to do with your mum? Is that why she's come with you?"

"Let's say things got out of hand, as they so often do. Please believe me when I say it had nothing to do with anyone here. I've missed you all so much."

Now Mercury was crying.

"Can't you sort it out with Nick?" Eddie asked. "Then you can come and see us whenever you like. That's if you want to."

Mercury slung his arm around Eddie's shoulder. "I'm not sure that's possible."

"He's been miserable, you know," Eddie replied. "Like really upset."

"Has he?"

"Yes, he has," came a voice from behind them.

They both spun around to see Nick standing in the doorway.