‘Well, they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Do you see your kids? They must be all grown-up now like Vinny and Roy.’

‘Yes. But not as often as I’d like to. Bridie remarried and they treat their stepdad as their real dad, which upsets me. I think Bonkers Bridie tried to poison their minds against me. I’m always here for them though if they need me. When they do, it’s usually for money.’

‘Do you see the child you had with Dolores?’

‘Nah. Dolores seemed to disappear into thin air soon as she moved back to Ireland. No idea where she is, or my kid.’

‘Oh, that’s a shame.’

‘I think I would’ve settled, had I married the right girl. I need a feisty lady, one who’ll keep me on my toes. Bit like yourself.’ Daniel looked straight into Queenie’s eyes and she felt like a teenager again.

Blushing, Queenie changed the subject. ‘I thought you got married again? I’m sure Patrick told me you were engaged.’

Daniel ran a hand through his thick wavy hair. ‘Siobhan. The cause of all my current troubles. Patrick warned me not to get involved with her because of who her father and brothers were. But me being me, I didn’t listen.’

‘What happened? Who are her dad and brothers?’

‘The McCarthy family are a proper heavy mob out of Cork. They run their manor and nobody messes with them, not if they want to live. Siobhan and I were OK at first. She fell pregnant quite early on in our relationship, so I did the honourable thing and proposed. Her dad organized the wedding on the hurry-up, ’cause he didn’t want people to notice she had a bun in the oven. Then, a fortnight before we were due to marry, she miscarried the baby.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry, Daniel.’

‘I should have been a man and insist we postpone the wedding for the time being, but Siobhan wanted to go ahead with it. By this time I knew I didn’t love her. The night before I was due to marry her, I went out on a heavy stag do, didn’t roll home until six in the morning. I began to panic, sweat, shake at the thought of having to walk up that aisle. So I didn’t show, and I’ve been in hiding ever since. Understandably, her father and brothers want to kill me. Patrick’s going to see them tonight, see if he can sort the mess out.’

‘Jesus! Your mum always said you don’t do things by halves. It was very wrong of you to leave Siobhan at the altar, Daniel. You do know that, don’t you?’

‘Of course. I’d do it again though. There’s only one girl I ever truly wanted to marry and that’s you, Queenie.’

‘Oh, don’t be daft. You don’t mean that. I know you’re full of blarney. You always were,’ laughed Queenie.

‘Not this time.’ Daniel held Queenie’s hands. ‘My mum forbade me to get involved with you. She reckoned I would ruin your life and you deserved better. She made me promise her and swear on the Bible that I wouldn’t make a play for you. You were like a daughter to her, Queenie, and she knew I was bad news. I never stopped loving you though, that’s why I never turned up at your wedding. I couldn’t watch you marry another man. I’ve never been able to talk to anyone like I can with you. And, Queenie, when we finally got it together, it felt so good, so right.’