My Turn Now

By Elizabeth Harris

For twenty-five years, Robyn Swift has lived in a household of men.

Twice married, she is the mother of four sons. Now that they are grown up, suddenly the family home seems too large, too full of memories of those who are no longer there.

Robyn advertises for a lodger, and into the household comes Deborah, a professional woman, on her own, like Robyn, and still reeling from the violence of her past. She is followed by Phoebe, the ex-girlfriend of one of Robyn’s sons – 21 and single. And pregnant.

To begin with, all three blossom. The novelty of being an all-female household brings to Haydon Hall a spirit of consideration, understanding, empathy and caring . . . and nobody leaves the lavatory seat up. But the spell is broken when an unlikely suitor begins to court Deborah, and Robyn’s estranged stepdaughter arrives, looking for trouble, mainly with Robyn.

The all-female household begins to change: maybe they don’t want the company of men, but the men don’t seem to know…

Elizabeth Harris was born in Cambridge and brought up in Kent, where she now lives. After graduation she hid a variety of jobs including driving a van, being a lifeguard and working in the Civil Service. She has travelled extensively in Europe and America, and lived for some years in the Far East. Elizabeth Harris was one of the finalists of the 1989 Ian St James Awards.