‘Erm, yeah. I don’t see why not.’ By the time Kenny was released, Sharon would be too old to want any more kids. But she didn’t want to rain on his parade.

‘Good girl,’ grinned Kenny. ‘That’ll be all I need to get through the rest of me sentence, that. I’m gonna need something to take me mind off things, ’cause I’ve been lumbered with a new cellmate today and he’s grating on me already. A fucking pikey they’ve forced on me this time! They know how much I hate ’em, and that accent is doing me nut in already. He keeps singing an’ all, the irritating prick. He’ll get a clump before long if he keeps it up, I’m telling ya.’

‘Don’t go to town on him, Ken. You don’t wanna get yourself put in solitary again. I couldn’t visit you the last time.’

‘I won’t. I’ll just give him a gentle dig. It’s the Old Bill telling Pinky to make my life a misery. Pinky’s right in with the filth.’ Kenny had nicknamed the governor Pinky and his least favourite screw Perky. The gov had a pinky-red complexion, probably because he was an alkie. You could smell it on his rancid breath. As for Perky, he had a little turned-up snout and looked ready to be chopped up in rashers.

‘Just try not to rile anyone up too much. I know what you’re bleedin’ well like.’

Kenny winked. ‘It’s me mum’s birthday on Thursday. She wrote to me the other day, probably just to remind me. Full of the joys of spring, as always.’ Kenny rolled his eyes. His mum still lived in Stratford and their relationship was a difficult one. The anger she obviously felt towards his dad, she tended to take out on him. She never had a good word to say about her only son. Or his father. She’d never disclosed his old man’s name, but bitched about him all the time, saying what a wrong un he was and how he’d left her in the lurch.

‘I always remember your mum’s birthday. I got her a nice present from us. I’ll give her a bell and arrange to take the kids over to visit her sometime this week.’

‘Thanks, Shal. Leave her some dosh an’ all, to waste on the bingo and the slot machines. Give her fifty quid – and while you’re at it, pop in and see Aunt Nelly. Give her the same and take her some flowers from me. I wrote to her yesterday and I’ll pen a letter to me muvver later today.’

The rest of the visit was mainly spent nattering about the kids and family. Kenny could sense Sharon was on edge though. Nobody knew her better than he did. ‘Come on, spit it out, Shal. You got something on your mind? What’s a matter?’

Sharon took a deep breath. After being hounded out of two previous addresses over the years, she’d finally felt settled at her latest. Until now, that was.