Chapters (48)
- Cover
- THEFEUD
- Dedication
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
Jessica looked at her in astonishment. ‘It’s only ten to six – your dad’s not even back yet. Why are you all dressed up? You’re only going round your friend’s house, aren’t you?’
Joey stepped out from behind his sister. He was also dressed smartly. ‘We’ve gotta make an effort, Mum. All our school friends are going to be there. We can’t look like tramps at Christmas,’ he said.
‘Whose house are you going to? Are their parents going to be there?’
Frankie spoke earnestly. ‘We’re going round Joey’s friend David’s house. And I’m not going to lie to you, Mum, his parents are going out for a meal, but David said they’ll be back by ten o’clock.’
Jessica nodded. She had met David a couple of times and he was a pleasant enough boy. At least Frankie had been honest with her about his parents going out for the evening, so maybe she’d learned her lesson.
‘How are you getting there?’ she asked the twins.
‘Cab. We’ve already ordered it. It’s double fare after six; that’s why we’re going out early,’ Frankie answered.
Hearing a toot outside, Jessica smiled at them. ‘Go on, off you go. Have a good time and no getting drunk.’
‘We won’t, Mum, I promise,’ Frankie said, nudging her brother.
‘And don’t forget to be back by eleven,’ Jessica shouted out.
As Frankie slammed the door, Joey smiled. ‘Do you think she believed us?’
Frankie giggled. ‘Course she did. Especially when I said that David’s parents weren’t gonna be at home. I saw the gleam in her eye at my honesty.’
Joey laughed. ‘You’re such a cow at times, Frankie.’ Frankie and Joey got into the minicab.
‘Where are you going?’ the driver asked.
Frankie laughed. It was Christmas, the season of goodwill and it was about time her brother knew that she was aware of his interesting little secret.
‘We’re gonna be ending up at the Angel pub in the village. But can you go to Cherry Tree Lane first?’ Joey said.
‘Are we picking someone up?’ the driver asked.
Frankie smiled. ‘Yes, my brother’s boyfriend.’
TWENTY
Astonished that his sister knew his secret, Joey urged her to shut the fuck up. He didn’t want the cab driver knowing his business; he couldn’t take that risk.
‘Change of plan, mate. Drop us at the Cherry Tree lights. We’ve gotta get some fags and stuff, we’ll walk from there,’ Joey told the driver.
‘So, you’re not going to the Angel now?’ the bewildered cabbie asked.
Joey shook his head. ‘Nah, we’re not, mate.’
‘That’ll be three-eighty,’ the cabbie said, giving Joey a strange look and the once-over.