Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Twenty-Six Years Ago

The phone rings and he picks it up… “Hello?” … then jolts as he hears the voice.

“Davey? Is that you?”

“Shelley? Yes, it’s me.” He pauses, looks over his shoulder then around the doorway into the lounge. “Shelley, Stephen’s not here right now, but I’ll have to talk quietly. How are you? Why are you calling? After all this time, why are you calling now?”

“Davey…” Her voice trembles. “I was wondering if… Would it be possible for me to come home?”

“Home?” He holds the receiver as though accusing it of lying. “You want to come home? Shelley, has something happened? Are you alright?”

“Yes, something’s happened, and… no, I’m not alright. Do you think I could come? Would that be... possible?”

“Permanently you mean? To leave the City?”

Clumping sounds in the background; Stephen coming down the stairs. “Who is it?”

“Ah… no-one.”

Stephen looks at him askance. “No-one? What’s that supposed to mean?”

David takes a breath. “It’s Shelley.”

“Shelley?” Stephen looks upstairs. “And what does she want?”

wants to come

she took off the way she did. I thought it would kill Dad.

“Steph…”

not coming back here. Don’t ring again. You’re not welcome.” He starts to slam the receiver down, but David grabs it before it

I’d like to talk to our

mine. And

voice babbles out of the ear-piece. “Davey, I’m scared. Something

but I can’t make any promises. Can you tell me what’s

how she was

Christ’s sake, Steve, show a little

home and she’s not

*****

The Present - James

the door:

A grunt; “Door’s open.”

table, resting on both palms as he stoops over site schematics spread flat, pinned at the corners with ashtrays, a spanner and a wilting pot plant. “Got

He jerks his

“Thanks, yes.”

can I do for you?” His voice is a growl brought on by years of shouting outdoor instructions up gantries and scaffolding, and across acres. He pours from the kettle and passes me the cup. I eye the chipped

God for