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
Dougie hugged his pal. ‘The truth will raise its ugly head. It always does, Ed.’
Frankie and Joey put on their most solemn expressions as they came face to face with their mother. ‘How are you, Mum, and how’s Dad?’ Joey asked sympathetically.
‘I’m OK, but your dad’s devastated,’ Jessica said sadly.
‘Can we go out for a while, Mum? It’s doing mine and Joey’s heads in, all this. We’d like to spend some time with our friends, chill out a bit,’ Frankie said.
Jessica didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want the twins’ Christmas to be any worse than it already was, but she was worried about the hordes of press outside. ‘I don’t know if you can leave the house. Your dad’s in his office with Dougie, I’ll ask him when he comes out. Go and see Nan and Grandad for a minute – they’re sitting in the lounge on their own.’
Vicki smiled as Frankie and Joey wandered off obediently. ‘They’re such good kids, they really are. Actually, I know this isn’t the right time, but I’ve gotta tell you. I’m pregnant, Jess, I did the test yesterday.’
Thrilled for her friend, Jessica forgot about her own problems and embraced her. ‘I am so pleased for you, Vicki, I really am. I’ll let you into a little secret as well. Chances are we might be new mums together. Eddie and I have decided to try for another baby.’
Vicki squeezed her friend’s hand. ‘That’s wonderful. We can go shopping for baby clothes together and our kids can be best friends.’
Jessica nodded. ‘I’m just so worried about Ed, Vick. Finding his dad murdered like that must have been such a shock for him. I can’t imagine how he must feel.’
Vicki nodded sympathetically. ‘Was you close to Harry? You never saw him that much, did you?’
Jessica shrugged. ‘When me and Ed first got together, I saw him a fair bit. He used to come round sometimes when the kids were young, but once we moved to Essex, the visits sort of dwindled. I wasn’t really close to him but, at the end of the day, I loved him because he was Eddie’s dad. I preferred him to Eddie’s brothers and uncles, I never liked them very much and still don’t. I do remember once, though, when Harry was very kind to me. It was at Reg’s retirement do. Me and Ed had had a massive row and Harry calmed things down. I returned the favour by inviting him and Sylvie round for dinner. They came the once, but after that I didn’t see Harry for yonks.’