Albie looked at his monster of a son in horror. He guessed there and then that Vinny was responsible for Peter’s murder. ‘I won’t, I promise.’

Vinny winked. ‘Sensible decision.’

After numerous phone calls from her son, begging forgiveness, Queenie decided to allow him back inside the house. He’d stayed upstairs at the snooker club ever since their argument and seeing as the opening night at the club was on the horizon, Queenie felt it was time to listen to what he had to say. She also had a lot to say to him too.

Vinny arrived at 8 p.m., as she’d told him to. Brenda was round Viv’s, watching TV with Lenny. She’d slung Albie out, given him some money to go back down the pub, and Roy and Michael both had dates this evening.

Vinny had a posh carrier bag with him which he put down in the hallway. Queenie guessed this was another gift for her, but she didn’t want buttering up, she wanted a proper apology.

‘Thank you for allowing me inside the house, Mum. How was Ireland? Did you have a nice break?’

‘Yes thanks,’ Queenie snapped. She was still so hurt over the way Vinny had spoken to her and was determined not to make this easy for him.

‘I’ve barely slept or eaten since our argument. I am so sorry, Mum. I don’t know what came over me, I love you so much – too much, perhaps. I’ve had a long, hard think and know in my heart that nothing is going on between you and Freddie Angel.’

‘Oh, you’ve seen sense at last, have ya? That’s good,’ Queenie replied, her voice laden with sarcasm. ‘You know full well Freddie has always been a friend of the family. He made a fuss of you, Roy and Michael when you were growing up. How dare you accuse me of shagging the man! Yes, he once had a soft spot for me, but that was donkey’s bloody years ago. He asked me out before I met your father and I didn’t want him then. What makes you think I’d want the man now?’

Vinny looked at his feet like a naughty schoolboy. ‘I was wrong. I know that. Honestly, I can’t apologize to you enough.’

‘I am so disappointed in you, Vinny. Since the day you were born, boy, I’ve had your back. Look at all the times I stuck up for you and gave you alibis. You cried on my shoulder after that Yvonne Summers turnout and I drummed it into you that your future was all that mattered. Then I dug you out of a massive hole when you attacked poor Bonnie Tarbuck. I even looked her mother in the eye and lied so you could keep your reputation intact. My heart went out to Bonnie’s mum after that girl hung herself, but I did it for you. Everything in my life, I’ve done for you. Yet you have the front to accuse me of being manipulative and raising you the way I did for my own gain. I wanted you to make something of your life for you, not me. I didn’t want to see you working in some poxy factory or ending up a useless bum like your father.’