‘Can I get you anything else, Dad?’ Jessica asked, picking up her father’s empty plate.

‘I’m absolutely bloated. I could manage another Scotch though,’ Stanley said cheekily.

Joyce pursed her lips. ‘You’ve had four already, Stanley. Can’t you have a cup of tea instead?’

‘Whatever you say, dear,’ Stanley said calmly.

‘Do you want a cuppa as well, Mum?’ Jessica asked.

‘Oh, no! I’ll have a Baileys, love.’

Eddie and Jessica looked at one another and burst out laughing. Joyce couldn’t understand why they were laughing at her. ‘What’s the matter?’ she asked annoyed.

Eddie handed his father-in-law a Scotch. ‘Thanks, Eddie,’ Stanley said gratefully.

Joyce took the glass of Baileys from Eddie and downed it in one. She scowled at Stanley. Her husband was one greedy bastard at times, he really was.

‘Bye, Mrs Hughton, bye, Mr Hughton. Have a lovely Christmas,’ Joey shouted to David’s parents as they left the house.

Frankie laughed at his politeness. ‘I’ll leave you and lover boy to it,’ she said, as she skipped on ahead.

David looked at Joey in amazement. ‘You ain’t told her, have you?’ he asked horrified.

Joey shook his head. ‘She knew. She’s known for ages, apparently. Do you remember that time we were round at Simon’s and we thought she’d caught us? Well, she did.’

David was much more macho than Joey and was desperate to keep his confusion over his sexuality a secret. ‘Well, that’s fucking great, Joey. She won’t say nothing, will she? I mean, I am captain of the football team. Can you imagine what the lads would say?’

‘She’s my twin – of course she ain’t gonna fucking say anything,’ Joey told him.

As Frankie strolled on ahead, the two lads walked in silence. David’s attitude annoyed Joey at times. Joey wasn’t ashamed of fancying boys, and if it wasn’t for his father finding out and probably burying him alive, he’d have shouted if from the rooftops. David was the opposite. He’d always claimed that he was straight. He was adamant that he was just experimenting and, one day, would marry and have children.

Joey had no intention of following in his so-called boyfriend’s footsteps. He’d known from a very early age that he only liked boys, and was 100% positive that he was gay. He’d been out with a couple of girls, but kissing them had turned his stomach over.

‘Sorry if I snapped at you. Are you OK, Joey?’ David asked him.

Joey nodded. ‘Let’s catch up with Frankie, eh?’