Evander sat upright, and Kerry hastily jumped from the bed and pulled a sheet around her when they heard Bernie’s voice.

‘Hello, Kerry, it’s me!’

Kerry and Evander looked at one another and Kerry, putting a finger to her lips, went to the door and slipped through it out into the hallway. Bernie was hanging up her coat. She smiled.

‘Morning, Kerry.’ She looked her sister up and down and raised one finely plucked black eyebrow.

‘What has the wicked witch stumbled on here then? Could you have a man in there!’

Kerry licked her lips nervously.

‘What you doing back here so early? I wasn’t expecting you until this afternoon.’

‘Our mother’s took Rosie and gone on the ponce round Briony’s about the wedding - Eileen’s wedding actually. So I thought I may as well come back here and get started on your dresses for tonight.’

‘Eileen’s getting married?’

Bernie walked through to the kitchen and started to fill the kettle.

‘How many cups of tea shall I make, two or three? Or would the chap in there prefer coffee?’

Evander’s love of coffee was common knowledge around the club. He had tried tea and it had made him violently sick. Suddenly it was crystal clear to Kerry. Bernie knew everything and she was going to use it against her. That had been her way since childhood. She looked for a handle on people then used it for her own ends.

Kerry drew herself up to her full height and walked into the bedroom.

‘Get up, get up now!’ Evander looked at her in shock. She threw the sheet from her own body and pulled on a dressing gown. Then she stormed from the room.

Bernie was getting the cups out of the dresser when Kerry stamped back into the kitchen.

‘You bitch! You nasty, vindictive cow! You know exactly who I’m sleeping with. Well, yes, you can make him a cup of coffee. You can also pack your bags and get the hell out of here and back to Mum’s. I don’t need you on my back, Bernie Cavanagh, I never did and I never will. Take yourself and your arseholing ways back home to Mum!’

Bernadette turned to face her sister and her mouth opened twice before she could form any words.

‘What? What did you say?’

Kerry snorted through her nose.

‘You heard. What? You deaf now as well as stupid? I said, you can get the hell out of here. I know your game, mate. Well, you tell who the fuck you like. It won’t make no difference to me. I ain’t ashamed of anything where that man’s concerned, I love the bones of him. So now you know.’