He cupped her face in his hand, amazed at the force of the love he felt for this woman. ‘Nothing for you to worry about. Now are you sure you’ll be all right tonight? I won’t be out longer than necessary, I promise.’

‘Stay as long as you want. I’m going round me mum’s anyway – she’s got the kids.’

Jonny grimaced and the look made her grin again.

‘She’s always got the fucking kids!’

Celeste was serious suddenly. ‘Not any more. Be fair, Jonny, she doesn’t have them half as much as she used to.’

It amazed him how this woman – because she was a woman when all was said and done, despite her childishness and her naivety – could still stick up for that sorry excuse of a sister. But, as his old mum always insisted, blood was thicker than water. Bollocks of course, but women seemed to think it was a valid excuse for their family’s treachery and skulduggery. Personally, he thought her sister should be six feet underneath a golf course somewhere. But that was only his opinion and, where her piece of shit of a sister was concerned, his wife was not going to listen to any arguments he might put forward, no matter how valid they may be.

‘I’ll retreat on this occasion, darlin’, because I don’t want to row about it. She ain’t worth rowing about, is she?’

Celeste shook her head, but he knew she was upset.

‘So I’ll see you later then, eh?’ He kissed her and, as always, she responded to his embrace with all her being.

‘I’ll hold you to that!’