Provocative Publishing

featuring the work of Carole Hayman

Connections

Prologue

j.radcliffe@talktv.com
Darling Delia, How you doing?
Sorry it’s been an age. Thinking of paying a visit.
Thursday? Bout lunch-time. Thanx,
Big X Jade

Delia sighed as she read Jade’s email, downloaded amongst a dozen other demands, requests, thanks and apologies. It was typical of her step-daughter to somehow encompass all four in as many lines. Brevity was deemed essential in her high-powered media world.

Delia pushed a hand through her short, greying hair. Jade immediately made one think of haircuts. She looked at her hand, kitchen-roughened with short, sensible nails. And nail-varnish- Jade’s was always immaculate.

It was typical of Jade to give no indication of how long she intended to stay. As far as she was concerned, the attic room at Four Trees was hers, as it had been from child-hood. She could somehow ignore the fact that for years now, her old home had been run as an Artists’ Retreat for paying artists. The light, airy attic was currently inhabited by a sculptor, who would not be pleased if asked to shift his iron ‘installations’. Jade would have to settle for a futon in the outhouse, which had once been the dairy. Delia could foresee her alarm and distress already. What, she wondered, did Jade want? She only got in touch when she needed something, but uncovering her true agenda wasn’t easy - another effect of her job in the Byzantine world of television.

Delia could hear her business partner, Jeremy, smacking pots about in the kitchen. That usually denoted trouble and Delia turned back to the computer and swiftly typed her responses.

Dee@4treesretreat.co.uk

Dear Jade,
Good to hear from you, have been following your doings, of course, in the press. You looked so glamorous at that 'do' in the Sunday Times style mag!
Love to see you. As would Harry and Alex. They’ve grown so much the last year, you’ll hardly recognise them.
Thursday fine. What are you eating these days?
Love,
Delia

The last query, Delia knew, was pointless. Whatever she cooked, Jade would push about her plate, possibly swallowing a leaf or two of rocket. Wine, on the other hand, she would appreciate. Delia made a mental note to ask Jeremy to get something good up from the cellar. Jeremy. Delia shut down the computer and hurried to the kitchen.

Next installment

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