‘Yes, happy Christmas, Mum. Can I say hello to Dad and Jess now?’ Raymond asked.

Disappointed she hadn’t got any more out of him, Joyce handed the phone to Stanley. ‘He obviously can’t talk properly; her parents must be in the room,’ she said to Jessica.

‘Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, son,’Stanley said, handing the phone to Jessica.

Jessica wished Ray happy Christmas and asked what time he would be arriving the following day.

‘About four o’clock, sis, if that’s all right? Polly’s dad wants us to go for a quick drink in his local before we leave.’

‘That’s fine. Well, give our love to Polly and her family and tell her we’ll look forward to meeting her tomorrow.’

Jessica smiled as she ended the call. ‘He sounds so loved-up for the first time in his life,’ she said.

‘What did he say, then? Did he say what the house was like?’ Joyce said, getting more agitated by the minute with the lack of information she was receiving. All Raymond had told her was that Polly’s parents were well off and lived in Chelsea. Joyce couldn’t wait to meet them. If their daughter was getting serious with her son, then she had every right to check out the in-laws.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon passed pleasantly and at half-past two, Jessica ordered Eddie to start carving the turkey, ham and beef.

‘Frankie, can you give me a hand with the vegetables?’ she asked her daughter.

‘Can’t Nan help you?’ Frankie whinged.

Joyce stood up and Joey ordered her to sit back down. ‘You’re a guest, Nan. I’ll help Mum,’ he said, glaring at Frankie. She was a lazy cow, his sister, and she only got away with it because she was his dad’s favourite.

The dinner looked delicious and, as Jessica brought in the stuffing balls, cauliflower cheese and sausages rolled in bacon, she urged everybody to tuck in. ‘Help yourselves. I’m just gonna make a drop more gravy,’ she said, as the phone rang.

‘Leave that or give it to me and I’ll tell whoever it is to fuck off,’ Eddie shouted out.

Jessica answered it and was surprised to hear Paulie’s voice on the other end. ‘Jess, is Eddie there?’ he asked her.

‘We’re just eating our dinner. Can he call you back, Paulie?’

‘No, it’s urgent, Jess, I need to speak to him now,’ Paulie replied.

Sighing, Jessica took the phone into the dining room. She had no time for either of Eddie’s brothers; they were both arrogant bastards. ‘It’s Paulie. He says it’s urgent,’ she said, handing the phone to Eddie.

Cursing, Eddie put down his knife and fork. Snatching the phone, he stormed out of the room. ‘This had better be important. What’s the fucking problem?’ he asked his brother.