Jessica smiled. ‘Eddie’s coming round at twelve and I need you both to be here.’

Stanley sat up and eyed his daughter suspiciously. ‘What’s going on, Jessica?’

‘Nothing untoward, Dad. Ed just wants to speak to you both, that’s all.’

Hearing her brother moving about, Jessica swiftly left her parents’ room and knocked on Raymond’s door.

‘Enter,’ he shouted.

Jessica sat on his bed while he got himself ready. Raymond was a vain little sod and took longer to get his hair looking right than she did.

‘What you up to today?’ she asked him.

‘I’ve got band practice, then I’m taking some bird out tonight.’

‘Anyone I know?’ Jessica asked him.

Raymond laughed and shook his head. He had a different girl on his arm every week and it was a standing joke between him and Jessica.

‘What you up to then, sis?’

Jessica smiled. ‘Eddie’s coming round at twelve and then he’s taking me shopping. I wanted you to meet him, Ray. Can’t you hang about and say a quick hello to him, then go out after?’

Raymond checked his appearance in the full-length mirror. ‘Sorry Jess, no can do. I’m meeting the boys at half-ten and they can’t exactly practise without their drummer.’

Jessica stood up and gave her younger brother a hug. ‘You have a good day and I want you to promise me that you’ll make time to have a drink with me and Ed soon.’

Raymond wriggled out of her arms and checked his shirt for creases. ‘I promise. Why are you being all soppy and emotional?’

Jessica giggled. ‘You’ll find out later.’

As the clock struck twelve, Stanley sat fidgeting in his armchair. He’d arranged to meet his mate Jock in the pub at one and he was sick of this poxy Eddie messing up his Saturdays.

‘I’ll give him till half-twelve and if he ain’t here, I’m off out,’ he mumbled.

‘You will do no such thing. You’ll go out when I say you can go out,’ Joyce told him.

Stan looked at the telly and said nothing. Ever since Jess had said that Eddie wanted to see them, his stomach had been in knots. Stan had a feeling that Mr Fucking Charming Bollocks wanted to take his daughter away on holiday and, if that was the case, he’d be far from happy about it.

Hearing a car engine, Joyce jumped out of her chair and lifted the curtain. She’d been bubbling with excitement all morning and was dying to know what Eddie needed to see them for. With a bit of luck he wanted to ask their permission to marry Jess.

‘Here he is,’ Joyce said, as the posh gold Mercedes pulled up.

Eddie picked up the bouquet and bottle of Chivas Regal he’d bought, and strolled up the path.