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?”

hand. “She wants to come

a lot wrong when she took off the way she did. I thought it would kill Dad. She’s

“Steph…”

it from his brother’s hand. “Shelley. You’re not coming back here. Don’t ring again. You’re not welcome.” He starts to slam

like to talk to our

sister of mine. And she’s not coming

voice babbles out of the ear-piece. “Davey, I’m scared. Something has happened and… Oh, God, please

do Shelley, but I can’t make any promises. Can you tell

brother, slams it down on the cradle. “So she’s in trouble. You know how she was earning a living. Probably just got

Christ’s sake, Steve, show a little

home and she’s not coming

*****

The Present - James

on the door:

A grunt; “Door’s open.”

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

I have, James.” He jerks his

“Thanks, yes.”

ground-in dirt tip instant coffee into mugs. “What 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

for