Chapter 96. Three Pieces Of Her Own

Iris called on a Tuesday in June, while Diana was standing in the office kitchen waiting for the kettle.

“Have you got ten minutes?”

Diana looked at the clock.

“Yes.”

“We'd like to try a regular series. Three pieces to begin with. The first in July, then August and November. After that, we'll look at what works.”

Diana forgot the kettle.

“Based on the pitch I sent?”

“Yes. People making changes they didn't expect to make at their age. Your interviews are the strongest part. We'd like more of those.”

For a moment, she could only listen.

There was no proposed portrait of her marriage. No requirement to bring Gabriel's name into the opening paragraph. Iris was talking about the work Diana had done, and something they could do with it next.

She sat down.

They discussed length, fees and deadlines. Diana asked for the terms in writing, then said the thing she had been rehearsing before she knew wheth