Bill grinned as the Kelly brothers pulled up beside him in their posh Daimler. ‘Hop in,’ ordered Johnny Kelly.

Bill didn’t need asking twice. This was all working out rather well.

‘He OK?’ asked Johnny.

‘Yeah. Worried his mum’s gonna have a go at him as he lost a shoe, but other than that, he’s fine.’

‘They were my new shoes,’ Michael said dismally.

‘Never mind. I’ll give your mum some money to get you a new pair. Then she won’t have a go at you, will she?’ said Johnny.

Queenie was that relieved to see her youngest home, she forgot her annoyance and hugged him tightly. ‘Where did you go? I was ever so worried about you.’

‘I ran off and hid ’cause they were big boys, Mum. Then I got lost walking home.’

‘My poor little soldier. Where’s your other shoe?’

Desperate to impress the Kellys, Bill Harris thrust a tenner at Queenie. ‘He lost a shoe. Johnny was gonna buy him another pair, but I thought, seeing as I’m virtually family now, I’d step in.’

‘But you’re not family, are you? You haven’t even proposed properly or bought our Vivvy a ring yet.’

When Queenie handed him the tenner back in front of the Kelly brothers, Bill felt a right mug. ‘Thank you for the offer, but Albie and I are quite capable of buying our own children’s shoes.’

‘Bill found Michael and he’s only trying to help, Queen,’ Vivian said, linking arms with the man of her dreams.

‘We’ll leave you to it now. Have a good weekend,’ said Johnny Kelly.

‘Bye, gentlemen, and thanks for your help. It’s very much appreciated,’ Queenie said, as she waved the brothers off.

Bill Harris followed the brothers up the path. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m taking liberties, but if you need any men at all, would you keep me in mind, please? I’m a hard grafter and I know how to keep me mouth shut.’

‘We’ll keep you in mind if anything comes up,’ lied Johnny. Bill Harris was a typical wideboy and lads like him always attracted trouble. He wouldn’t trust him as far as he could throw him.

When Vinny and Roy returned, Albie took Roy up the London Hospital to check his arm wasn’t broken.

Queenie put the jacket potatoes in the oven and went upstairs. Vinny was sitting alone on his bed. ‘I’m really sorry, Mum, for lying to you. I swear it won’t happen again.’

With his jet-black hair and striking green eyes, Vinny was so bloody handsome. All her boys were. But her firstborn would always hold that special place in her heart. ‘Get your arse downstairs then. As soon as Roy gets home, we’ll start the fireworks.’

Vinny grinned. ‘Cheers, Mum.’

Bill Harris was in a foul mood. He’d brought round the fireworks, sausages, faggots and even found Queenie’s youngest son, yet still she did nothing but dig him out. As for embarrassing him in front of the Kelly brothers, he found that one hard to forgive, which is why he’d devised a little plan. ‘The bloke I work for is looking for fresh legs, Albie. Gets busy this time of year, coming up to Christmas. Want me to put a word in for you? The money’s pretty good.’