Sharon was waiting up for Lenny again. As always, she had her hair done and make-up on; she still made the effort. He knew that he was lucky to have her, but if he had his time over, he would have waited before marrying her. He loved her, but he wasn’t in love with her any more. They had been kids, as her mum had pointed out, playing at being grown-ups. But he loved his sons too, and he knew he couldn’t leave her. Nevertheless, it was getting harder and harder to pretend that he was really content with this life at home.

‘You look nice, Shaz. How was your day?’

It was what she wanted to hear and, as he sat and ate the food she had so lovingly prepared for him, he tuned her out. Reggie had once said that his sister Gerry prattled on, and that was exactly the word for Sharon’s scintillating conversation. Prattling. He knew he was being unfair but couldn’t help stifling a yawn. She instantly became quiet.

‘Shall I run you a bath, Len? You look like you could do with an early night.’

He was overwhelmed with guilt again and so he said jovially, ‘Only if you get in with me!’

He jokily leered at her and she laughed with genuine happiness.

‘I think that could be arranged!’

He smiled once more. ‘That’s a date then, darling.’

She removed his empty plate and started to load the dishwasher. He watched her movements; she was still a good-looking girl. Suddenly he wanted her, wanted her underneath him. He stood up and, before she knew what was happening, he was inside her, pushing into her as she leaned against the sink.

She loved it when he was like this, when he took her without warning. It proved to her that he still desired her. That he still loved her.

He had to shush her as she started coming in case the two boys came down. They finished together and, as he held her to him, feeling her heart galloping in her chest, he wished he was anywhere in the world but his own kitchen.

Chapter Sixty-Three

Lenny got into work early. He had rung Jack and arranged to meet him at 7 a.m. and he was waiting for him when he arrived. They were both drinking large mugs of tea when Lenny asked him the question he needed the answer to.

‘I heard through the grapevine that Frankie Barber was drinking down the road so I popped in with Reggie to pay my respects, like, and get a look at him. He seemed all right – a bit of a handful I should imagine if crossed – but he gave me my due and I gave him his. Now, I am asking this with all respect, Jack: did you have any dealings with him in the past that he might have a problem with?’