Jessica barely slept at all that night. Her mind was in turmoil as she tried to convince herself that Joey was straight and she was wrong. She pictured herself at Joey’s age. She had been knocking about with her old friend, Mary, then. Had they ever pinched one another’s bottoms for a laugh, or looked at one another romantically. No, they hadn’t.

As much as she hated to admit it, Jessica wondered if, deep down, she had always known that Joey was different. He had brought girls to the house over the years and had even introduced them as his girlfriends, but Jessica had never been fooled.

Seeing him with Dominic earlier – the closeness between them, the affectionate glances – was proof of something she had desperately tried to avoid. Joey was still her son. She would love him whatever he was, but Eddie certainly wouldn’t. One sniff of her son’s sexuality coming out into the open and there would be murders, literally.

Two doors away, Frankie was also unable to sleep properly. Every time she shut her eyes, Jed O’Hara’s face disrupted her thoughts.

At 8 a.m., she got out of bed and took the piece of paper out of the drawer. She switched on her mobile phone. It was so early, he probably wasn’t even awake yet. Punching in his number, she held her breath. Her heart was beating like a drum and, as he answered, she could barely speak through nervousness.

‘All right? It’s Frankie,’ she mumbled.

Jed laughed. ‘You took your time ringing me, didn’t ya?’

‘You’re awake, then?’ Frankie said stupidly.

‘Of course I’m awake, you dinlo. I’m talking to you, ain’t I?’

Sensing her apprehension, Jed smiled. He often had this effect on women and he was used to it. ‘What you up to? Meet me in half-hour,’ he told her.

Frankie nearly dropped the phone in shock. ‘It’s only just gone eight. I haven’t had a shower yet. I need some time to get ready.’

‘Well, make it an hour then. Shall I pick you up from outside your house?’ Jed asked.

‘No. Don’t pick me up from here. Where else can I meet you?’

Jed chuckled. He was dying to see Frankie again. ‘You know where my house is, don’tcha? Just before you get there, in the direction you’re coming from, there’s a layby on the left. I’ll meet you there, say half-nine.’

Frankie smiled. ‘See you then.’

‘And Frankie, don’t put on too much make-up. I wanna see that pretty face of yours.’

Frankie felt faint as she ended the phone call. She didn’t have a clue what to wear and had very little time to get ready.

Hearing Frankie switch the shower off, Jessica got out of bed. Joey and Frankie were as close as close could be, and if anyone knew his sordid secret, it was Frankie.