Tess sat on her chesterfield and wiggled her toes.  The sofa wales of the purple corduroy tickled the backs of her bare legs.  A tiny smile made her lips flicker and her eyes sparkle.   The scarlet sofa with its purple and mustard accents had delighted her when it was delivered to her apartment.  The shocked expressions of her friends had amused her.  She loved colour.   The forest and aqua walls of her living room radiated with bright prints.   Her midnight blue bedroom vibrated with its rose coloured sheets.

     Tess had come a distance from her tasteful and bland upbringing.  Her years in the theatre had loosened the corset around her colourful imagination, and given wings to her desire for colour and light.  Her safe, cosy and colourful home brought her joy.

     Her thoughts wandered back to her long time friend, Talljay, off in the nation's capital city.  Talljay had at long last agreed to act as Tess' literary agent.   Tess knew this was a move Talljay made with some trepidation.  Tess valued Jay's friendship and knew Jay feared the loss of the bonds between.   Still she had accepted.  Now, the unravelling of the mystery was to begin!  Where would the woman find the one right publisher that would publish Tess's detective novels without artistic compromise?  The one right publisher who could successfully promote the series and make it the success it deserved to be.  Tess sighed .  Talljay could do it , of that Tess was sure.

     Talljay sat in her office and daydreamed.  It was a fruitful activity.  She visualized herself together with her dear friend on a book tour.  There had been a foul up with the travel arrangements and the women would have to stay in Vancouver an extra day.  It had been a long session autographing books at Duthies.  The manager had had to call over to Park Royal at one when the supply of books began to run low.  At three o'clock the author and her agent had bid the employees goodbye.   Out in the bright light of day the two women negotiated.  Tess was all for stopping at any of the cafes along the Denman Street strip.  Talljay was anxious to check into the Sylvia Hotel and call her grandson back home.  Her pleasure leaned more to a brisk walk along the seawall before lingering over a coffee.

     Well, that was the way she hoped it would be !