A Daughter's Dilemma. Miranda Lee

yourself? Maddie’s a well-known portrait artist, Carolyn,’ he elaborated wearily, ‘specialising in nudes and semi-nudes. She’s been commissioned to do some quite famous women. And men. Believe me when I say she prefers painting the men to the women,’ he finished in a dry tone.

      ‘Now you make me sound promiscuous!’ Maddie wailed, but without seeming at all put out.

      ‘If the cap fits...’

      ‘Well, if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black,’ she countered with a pretend pout.

      Carolyn stared from one to the other. This was not the camaraderie of lovers but of old friends. Friends who knew and liked each other, warts and all.