As Buster and Bruno came in from the garden and leaped on him with muddy paws, Stanley stood up. ‘Our son and son-in-law are probably just popping out to rob a bank, dear. I’m going outside to have a cigar. I need some fresh air and I can be lookout for the police arriving,’ he said sarcastically.

‘You are one miserable old bastard,’ Joyce told him, as he left the room.

Upstairs, Jessica was wide awake and crying on her pillow. She had had pains and twinges all day. Unbeknown to her family, she had rung the hospital earlier.

‘You haven’t lost any blood at all?’ the nurse had enquired.

‘No, but I sort of passed out,’ Jessica had replied.

‘You’ll be fine. You’ve just been overdoing it. All you need is rest,’ the nurse insisted.

Hearing the front door slam and an engine start up, Jessica got up and walked over to the window. Seeing her husband’s Land Cruiser roar away, she ran downstairs. ‘Mum, where’s Eddie gone? Is Raymond with him?’ she asked, panicking.

Joyce smiled and patted the seat next to her. ‘Sit down and I’ll make you a nice cup of tea. Raymond’s with Eddie, they’ve gone to the pub. Ed wanted to come up and tell you but I told him not to. I thought you were asleep.’

Picking up the house phone, Jessica rang her husband’s mobile, just to check her mother’s story.

‘I’m fine, Jess. I’ve calmed down now, honest. Me and Raymond are going out for a few pints,’ Eddie assured her.

Jessica was relieved. He sounded OK. ‘Promise me, Ed, you won’t get on the Scotch,’ she begged him.

‘I promise, and I love you,’ Eddie replied.

Jessica felt her body relax as she sipped the strong, sugary tea.

As Joey burst into the room, Jessica knew her day was destined to end as badly as it had begun. ‘Mum, I need to talk to you alone,’ her son insisted.

Jessica stood up. Joey was visibly upset, so she led him upstairs, away from his grandparents.

Stanley, who had followed his grandson into the house, looked at Joyce. ‘No wonder them kids have got problems. There’s more dramas going on than Dallas in this family. Our Jess should never have married Eddie, I told you that years ago, but you wouldn’t listen, would you?’

Joyce pursed her lips. ‘I should have never married you, but I did. Now, just sit down and shut your bastard trap.’

As Joey sobbed his heart out, Jessica did her best to comfort him.

‘I can’t understand what you’re saying. What did Dad do?’