‘Listen, Reggie, pop round my drum tonight. I might have a bit of work to put your way, if you’re interested.’

Reggie smiled and said, ‘About eight OK?’

Lenny nodded and, giving Janey Dornan one last ferocious glare for good measure, he left the scene as quickly as possible. He had done his job, and all was right with the world.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lenny Scott sat at his kitchen table holding his sleeping son in his arms. Reggie Dornan was sitting opposite him, sipping a bottle of Sol. They were chatting amiably when Sharon came in to take the baby; it was time for him to go to bed. Reggie watched as Lenny kissed the sleeping child gently, and saw the smile he exchanged with his young wife. He felt a stab of jealousy at the way this man lived. The flat was decorated beautifully and spotlessly clean. There was really nice furniture and fittings everywhere, and even homemade cake visible under a glass dome on the counter. It was certainly an eye opener.

‘Right, my little man’s off to bed, the wife will be watching that pile of shite Dallas, so you and I can have that chat in peace.’

Reggie smiled; he felt at ease with this man, which was strange considering how they had met.

‘That was nothing personal today, and with respect your mum . . .’

Reggie held his hand up to indicate he understood exactly what Lenny was trying to say. ‘Honestly, Lenny, you are preaching to the converted where she is concerned. I mean, I love her – I have to, she is my mum – but she is a fucking nightmare at times.’

Lenny nodded in sympathy; he wouldn’t like a mother like that.

‘Thing is, she was only fifteen when I was born. She’s only forty and she’s had eight kids. My nan – her mum – is not exactly what you would have called a good role model. Mum was dragged up, and she is now dragging us lot up.’ He laughed ruefully. ‘Some of the stunts she’s pulled. You wouldn’t believe the half of them. Once, she locked the gas bloke in the cupboard, in the pitch dark. He never came near again. She had boyfriends over the years who always disappeared with her purse, the telly or, in one strange fucking case, a fish tank full of tropical fish!’

Lenny was laughing now; it was said in a really jokey, funny way and he understood that this was Reggie’s way of coping with it all. If you could laugh, it couldn’t hurt you too much.

‘She has had a hard life really, Lenny. No one to depend on, you know? Never had anything or anyone that lasted. Except us kids, of course. She can be a really nice person when she ain’t had a drink. I mean, whatever people say about her, she loves her kids.’