Josephine was pleased at his words. It meant she was doing everything a pregnant woman should do. She really wanted to share the news with him, but she knew she couldn’t. They had been there so many times before. If she lost this baby at least he wouldn’t have to grieve with her again.

‘I think I have actually, Michael. But I’m pleased about it. I lost so much weight after the last baby. I think this means I am finally getting back to normal, eh?’

Michael felt so sad. He understood how hard it was for her to mention anything about the babies she had lost.

‘You always look good to me, Josephine, you know that. But I think you’re right, mate.’

Josephine sipped her tea, then she changed the subject quickly. ‘Did you manage to talk to Patrick?’

Michael scowled angrily. ‘Don’t go there, Josephine. He’s lost the fucking plot. He’s always been a bit touched, as you know. That is why he’s so successful. He has an air of controlled violence, and no one in their right fucking mind would ever want to cross him. But that’s gone now. He is fucking strange. Even Declan is fed up with him.’

Josephine had expected as much. She had seen Patrick for herself, and she had sussed out that he was not firing on all cylinders. He was acting stranger by the day. Carmel was at her wit’s end. She wasn’t able to cope with the man he had become.

‘Carmel told me that he doesn’t ever sleep now. He paces the house all night long. The girls are terrified of him. Poor Assumpta feels responsible. Carmel told me that two nights ago he was nearly arrested. He walked into their local off-licence and threatened the bloke behind the counter – accused him of following him. It was only the fact that the local Filth were aware of who he was that saved him from being nicked. They rang Carmel and she had to go and get him. She said he was like a maniac. She’s scared of him, what he’s capable of.’

Michael had already heard that story from Declan. Patrick had never been the full shilling, but he was now ninety pence short of a fucking pound. It was amazing how much he had deteriorated in the last few weeks. ‘Declan told me the story. But he also said that Patrick has lost it before. He’s had what the doctors called a “psychotic break” on more than one occasion, just never as pronounced as this. In fact, according to Declan, Patrick has been under a fucking shrink since he was a little kid! He has been as mad as a fucking brush since junior school. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to bits to hear about that at this late stage.’