“No, let’s see what happens first. I’ll get Jamsey to organize a watch for him. Keep your nose clean for now, okay? But if I find out the attack was Malky’s doing, I’ll make him wish he was dead.”

Just at that moment Isla came into the kitchen. “Granny says hurry up so we can have dessert.”

“All right, we’re coming.” Mack followed them both back into the dining room and took a seat. She rubbed her hands together. “Double portions for me and Isy,” Mack said.

“Oh, we know,” her mum said.

The crumble and ice cream got dished out, and everyone dug in.

“This is amazing, Mum and Auntie Chrissy,” Mack said.

“It’s wonderful as usual, ladies,” Thomas said.

Mack knew her mum and Aunt Chrissy thrived on looking after their brood by feeding them and looking after them. That’s why Sundays meant so much.

Mack put a tiny portion of her dessert on a side plate, then nudged Isla discreetly. She made sure everyone else was talking and distracted when she put the plate on the floor for Dexter. He lapped it up. He had a very sweet tooth. Mack winked at Isla, and she laughed silently.

“Don’t think I didn’t see that, Mack Sharkey,” her mum said.

“It’s only a little taste, Mum.” He deserved it.

She just shook her head and sighed. “You are a troublemaker.”

“And you’re a bad influence on my daughter,” Nikki said jokingly.

Both Mack and Isla sniggered.

After a few moments her mum said, “A little bird tells me you’re taking a young lady out on a date this afternoon.”

“It’s not a date, Mum, Flora and I are friends. She owns the sweetie shop next to mine,” Mack said.

“What’s she like?” Chrissy asked.

“Very quiet and shy. I thought she needed a friend.”

“I met her, Granny. When I was at Mack’s barbershop. She’s lovely,” Isla said.

Nikki looked at her daughter. “I’ve heard about nothing else but her new friend, Flora.”

“Yeah, Flora shut the shop early and showed me all the jars of sweets and let me pick what I wanted.”

“She certainly sounds nice. I liked her grandad a lot. A good man,” Thomas said. “Where are you taking her?”

“High Gate Park. It’s near her house.”

Nikki laughed. “My cousin, going to a park on a date. I’ve heard it all now. Are you going to feed the ducks?”

“Aye, look, I want to be a good friend to her. She’s got no one else, and I don’t want to just take her for a drink at The Reef. Flora is the most sensitive and shy woman I’ve ever met. I want her to feel comfortable.”

“My, you really must like her,” Chrissy said.

“I do, but it’s not a date,” Mack insisted.