At 7 a.m., Jessica could stand the suspense no longer and gently tapped on Joey’s bedroom door. Her son had arrived home late last night and informed her that Frankie was staying at a friend’s house. Jess had tried to question him, begged him to talk to her, but Joey had burst into tears, then locked himself in his bedroom and refused to come back out.

‘Joey, it’s Mum. I desperately need to talk to you, love. It’s not about you, it’s about Frankie. She could be in a lot of trouble and I need your help to stop anything silly from happening.’

Joey got out of bed and unlocked his bedroom door. He was furious with Frankie for what she had done and was planning to do. He was also annoyed with her for leaving him in the shit to deal with the aftermath of her stupidity.

Noticing her son was all puffy-eyed, Jessica tenderly rubbed his arm. ‘Are you still upset over Dominic?’ she asked kindly.

Joey said nothing as he flopped back on his bed. Every time Dominic’s name was mentioned, it felt as if a dagger was being jabbed through his heart. He missed him dreadfully and with all that had happened with Frankie, he needed to see him and be comforted by him, not talk about him.

Jessica cleared her throat. ‘I know about Frankie and Jimmy O’Hara’s son. Your dad knows as well and, as you can imagine, he’s none too pleased. For your sister’s sake, Joey, I need to know everything. Is it serious? Does she see him much? Are they sleeping together? Tell me all you can, Joey, it’s important that you do.’

Joey looked away from her. It was Frankie’s job to tell their mum, not his. ‘She’s coming back this morning, Mum. You can ask her for yourself.’

‘So, it is true, then? Jimmy O’Hara told your dad yesterday and I wasn’t sure if he was winding him up. What’s his name, Joey?’ Jessica asked softly. She had to bluff to get the truth out of him.

‘His name’s Jed. You should remember him, Mum, he’s the one that Dad stuck me in the boxing ring with when I was little. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m busy. I have to go somewhere myself. Anything else you need to know, Frankie will tell you. This is none of my business.’

Jessica sat with her mouth open. She hadn’t realised Jed was that terror of a child who had knocked her son out cold. ‘Are you going anywhere nice?’ she asked. She couldn’t think straight, this was all too much for her.

‘Nowhere special. Please, Mum, just leave me alone. I need to have a shower and get out of this house.’