Celeste was still staring at him as he said slowly, smiling crookedly, ‘I’m sorry, love. I’m so very sorry.’

She put her hand out and laid it on top of his. ‘I know.’

He lowered his head and fought back the urge to cry.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Derek Greene was happy, but then he was a man with a happy disposition. He had a lovely family, a nice life, and he had a shrewd head on his rather large shoulders. Today he was happier than ever. Today was the day he finally came into his own, and he couldn’t wait for the fireworks to start. It had been a long haul, but he was content enough to wait a few more days to get his bonus. And what a bonus.

Jonny Parker was champing at the bit, and that was exactly where Derek wanted him. Considering the man’s troubles, he was conducting his business with his usual acumen and Derek had to admire that, even if he did think Jonny needed a moral compass for his dinner now and again to remind him what was acceptable behaviour and what wasn’t. But that was then and this was now.

‘You look happy, Del Boy.’

He grinned at his wife. ‘That’s because I am, my princess.’

She looked at him shrewdly; they had been together since they were thirteen and she knew him better than he knew himself. ‘What you up to?’ She was suspicious now; her biggest fear was that he would do something silly and get a serious lump like his father.

‘Just a bit of graft, nothing too serious but a good earner. Who are you then, the police?’

She grinned back. She loved her husband with all her being, and she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he loved her back. Three kids, numerous stretch marks, and a boob job later, she and Derek were still together. She knew she was lucky and she appreciated her luck. She would never take him for granted – that was how you lost your man. She still ran his bath for him, and massaged his shoulders, he was a king in his domain. That was how you kept your man in his home, and stopped him from being tempted to visit someone else’s. Men were like kids – when they got bored they moved on to the next game. Well, that wasn’t going to happen to her and Derek; she would see to that.

‘You going to be late tonight?’

He shrugged. ‘Depends, love, but if I’m gonna be later than usual I’ll call, OK?’

She nodded. She knew he would call, and that was enough for her.

Chapter Sixty-Six

‘Come on, Linford, you know it makes sense.’