Page 47 of Mercury Rising
Jeannie sat up. “That’s not true. You had a rough beginning.”
“Yeah, I don’t really remember that. Ever since we came here, life has always been full of possibilities. I never stopped to think it wasn’t like that for everyone.”
“You’re developing a social conscience.”
“Is that so bad?”
“Not at all,” Jeannie replied. “When I started to make money, I had major guilt. My school friends can’t hope to live with a tenth of what I do. At first, I gave most of it away.”
Mercury frowned. “At first?”
“People changed toward me. Instead of contacting me to see how I was doing, they wanted cash or tickets to events. Whatever. In the end, my mum announced it would be stopping immediately.”
Mercury shook his head. “Wow. Your mum sounds like quite a woman.”
“You have no idea,” Jeannie replied. “Obviously, I’m there in times of real need. Plus, I have investments that pay my close family dividends. They get more than they were earning but no handouts. Since then, I’ve got my family back.”
Mercury perched on the end of the chaise longue. “Maybe that’s what I should do. Give them a wad of cash and be done with it.”
Jeannie shook her head. “No, you’re going about it the right way. In fact, I think I might be able to help.”
Monday morning rolled around and Mercury barely stayed within the speed limit due to his excitement at getting tothe House. However, he also didn’t fancy getting arrested for dangerous driving or whatever. His time on the wrong side of the law had ended. For good.
He parked up and almost sprinted round the back. He found Nick in the kitchen with Hassan, Anna, Olena and some others. The smell of burnt toast permeated Mercury’s nostrils.
“Do we need the fire brigade?”
Olena leapt up and hugged him. A habit she had formed ever since he had gone to her defence at the climbing wall.
“Hassan decided to make everyone breakfast.”
“Oh well, I’m sure you got the hang of it eventually.”
Hassan held up a perfect slice of toast. “Sure did.”
“It took nearly a whole loaf of bread,” Nick said.
They locked eyes. Mercury blushed. They had shared a few texts over the weekend which had been borderline saucy. Yet, there was a huge pink elephant in the room and they would have to deal with it.
“What did you do this weekend, Mercury?” Anna asked.
“I spent most of it plotting and planning for this place,” Mercury replied. “I’ve got major news. I have to speak to Nick first.”
He had no intention of having an argument with Nick by blurting things out in front of the kids.
“Boo,” Hassan said. “Secrets are for losers.”
“They are,” Mercury replied. “Yet things have to be done in the right order. Hands up who wants to help with the campaign today.”
All the kids raised their hands immediately.
“That’s brilliant news,” Mercury replied. “Guess what we’re doing?”
“What?” Olena asked.
“Cleaning.”
A collective groan reverberated around the kitchen table.
