‘I can actually help with that, Lenny. He is knocking off my little sister Geraldine.’ He saw the amazement on Lenny’s face and he laughed then. ‘He’s trying to get her on the bash, I think. This is working out well for us all.’

‘Let’s drink to that.’

And they did.

Chapter Twenty-Five

‘Oh, Mum, will you stop fucking going on!’

It was Saturday night, Lenny was out with the lads, and Sharon’s mum was doing her head in. Anyone would think Lenny was out every night of the week to hear Ivy Conway go on. He rarely went out without her – they had a babysitter and he would take her out for meals or to a nice wine bar. She was pleased he was out with his mates; it made a nice change for her as well. She could watch what she liked on TV instead of bloody Match of the Day, and she could have a relax in a nice bath and catch up on her beauty regime.

Ivy Conway didn’t like it. She was a woman whose own husband had been and done whatever he liked because she had not had the sense to nip it in the bud. She didn’t want Sharon to make the same mistake – that was all she was trying to say. But Sharon was having none of it.

‘I’m sorry to get cross, Mum, but I am a married woman now. I have my own home, a baby. It’s up to me what I think and how I choose to live my life. And Lenny is bloody good to me.’

The problem was, Ivy knew the girl was speaking the truth. Lenny Scott was a wonderful provider, and he adored his wife and his little son. There had never been a hint of scandal about him. It occurred to Ivy that maybe she was a bit jealous of this daughter of hers. Sharon already had more than Ivy had ever hoped for. There was a small part of her that resented this and Ivy felt ashamed.

‘Do you want a glass of wine, Mum? I’m having one as soon as this little sod goes to bed.’

‘That would be lovely, darling.’