Eddie shook Cyril’s hand. ‘Get a pen and take down my phone number. If you remember anything else or see ’em round here again, call me, not the police.’

Cyril nodded and went into the hallway to fetch a pen and paper. Thanking him, Eddie walked towards Paulie and told him the plan. ‘It’s depressing me, standing here – let’s go to mine,’ he told him.

Paulie nodded. ‘Ronny’ll have to come as well, though. We can’t pack him off on his own if we’re all going back to yours.’

Full of reluctance, Eddie agreed.

Jessica took the phone call and hugged the twins. ‘Dad’s on his way home. Raymond’s with him and Uncle Ronny and Paulie are coming back as well.’

Choking on his glass of whisky, Stanley thumped his chest and put the glass on the table. He felt as if he was in The Godfather movie and part of him expected to see Marlon Brando walk through the door with his colourful son-in-law.

‘What’s the matter with you? You need to see a doctor about that continuous choking of yours,’ Joyce told him.

Stanley nodded. This was the worst Christmas he’d ever had and, with Eddie’s family on their way, it was about to deteriorate even more.

‘Is it OK if me and Joey have another drink, Mum?’ Frankie asked. Joey and herself had been drinking with the adults all day.

Jessica nodded. Her children’s alcohol consumption was the least of her problems at this particular moment in time.

Hearing the scrunch of gravel outside, Jessica ran to the front door. She wasn’t overly pleased that Ronny and Paulie were coming back, but what could she say at such a terrible time?

‘Come in, you must be freezing. Make yourselves at home,’ she said awkwardly to Eddie’s brothers.

Frankie ran to the front door and threw her arms around her father. Eddie kissed her and then locked eyes with his beautiful wife. She was the only one who could console him. ‘Go and pour the lads a drink, Frankie. I need to talk to Mum alone for a minute.’

Eddie walked upstairs and nodded towards Jessica to follow him. He took off his coat, sat on the marital bed and put his head in his hands. Everything seemed like a bad dream and he wished it was just that. Jessica crept into the room.

‘Oh, Eddie, I’m so sorry about your dad. It’s awful – what a terrible thing to happen to him. He was such a nice man.’

Eddie stood up and held her tight. Jessica was his rock and he needed her more now than ever. ‘You didn’t mind me bringing the boys back, did you?’ he whispered.

‘Of course not. Don’t be so silly,’ Jessica replied.