She gently tapped on her daughter’s bedroom door.

‘This is all I fucking need,’ Frankie muttered, as she chucked half her wardrobe onto the floor.

‘Can I come in, love?’ Jessica whispered.

‘Yes,’ Frankie replied angrily.

Jessica sat on the edge of Frankie’s bed. Her daughter wasn’t the earliest riser on earth and she wondered what was so special about today. ‘You’re up early. Going somewhere nice, are you?’

With time running out, Frankie decided her acid washed jeans and denim jacket would have to do. Her black suede ankle boots and black basque were enough to tart the outfit up. She didn’t want to look like a tomboy. ‘I’m going out with the girls. It’s Stacey’s cousin’s birthday and she’s having a barbecue,’ Frankie lied.

Jessica knew when Frankie was lying, but said nothing. Whatever she was hiding couldn’t be any worse than Joey’s little secret, and Jessica was more worried about her son than her daughter. ‘Has, erm, Joey said anything to you recently about his life? He hasn’t confided in you about anything unusual, has he?’

‘Like what? What you talking about?’ Frankie replied casually.

Jessica was a bit lost for words. Say Joey hadn’t said anything to Frankie, or she had made a mistake. ‘Has he got a girlfriend?’ Jessica blurted out.

Aware that her mum was on her brother’s case, Frankie said very little. ‘I dunno. We’re not together all the time, Mum. He ain’t said nothing to me, but if you’re so interested in Joey’s love life, you best ask him yourself.’

Jessica nodded. The twins were as thick as thieves and, chances were, even if Frankie did know something, she wouldn’t tell anyone. ‘So where does Stacey’s cousin live, then?’ she asked, changing the subject.

Frankie let out a bored sigh. ‘I don’t know. Stacey never told me. Now, can you leave me alone, Mum? I’m trying to get ready and you’re making me late.’

With a heart full of worry, Jessica apologised and walked away.

Frankie checked her appearance, grabbed her purse and ran down the stairs. She wanted to warn Joey about the conversation she had had with her mother, but he was fast asleep and she didn’t have time to arse about. Debating whether to take her phone with her and ring him, she decided against it. The poxy thing was a nuisance to lug around and she had nearly lost it twice the other night.

Running into the kitchen, Frankie took a large gulp of vodka out of the bottle. ‘No, doggies, no,’ she said, as Buster and Bruno tried to clamber up the leg of her jeans.

‘All right, Frank? What you doing?’ Ricky asked.