‘Yeah, that’s the one. I’ve just made a few phone calls, but no one knows who’s got it.’

Hearing a commotion out the back, Jessica stood up. ‘I’ll ask down the school, see if anyone knows. Ed, you’d better go out in the garden. Gary and Ricky are fully clothed in that swimming pool, they’re fighting with one another, I think.’

Stanley and Joyce both looked at one another in horror. They didn’t agree on much in life, but the one thing they both thought was what uncontrollable, rude little toerags Eddie’s eldest sons were.

‘I’m just gonna check on the meat,’Jessica said brightly. Joyce stood up and looked out the back. ‘I didn’t know them little bastards were gonna be here,’ she said to Stan.

Frankie smiled. ‘What is a bastard, Nanny?’

Stanley stood up and picked up his granddaughter. ‘Basket, Frankie. Nanny said she didn’t know Mummy had a basket here.’

Hearing the voices of Gary and Ricky, Stanley handed Frankie to Joyce. ‘I dunno about you Joycie, but I most certainly need another drink.’

Joyce smiled with rare affection at her husband. ‘Me too, and make it a large one, Stanley.’

NINE

Eddie carved up the roast beef, while his wife brought in the side dishes.

‘I’ll just serve up a little plate for Frankie and Joey and the rest of yous can help yourselves,’ Jessica said.

Making sure everybody had enough meat on their plates, Eddie opened a couple of bottles of wine. ‘Who wants red and who wants white?’ he asked.

‘I’ll have red, but just a small one,’ Joyce giggled. She’d already had three glasses of sherry and was feeling a little bit tipsy.

‘Can me and Gary have a drop of wine, Dad?’ Ricky asked innocently.

Still annoyed with his sons for arsing about in the swimming pool when he’d blatantly told them not to, Eddie glared at his middle son. ‘No, you can’t, and don’t be so bloody cheeky.’

Ricky scowled and nudged his brother. ‘Mum lets us have a drink indoors, don’t she, Gary?’

‘Well, I’m not your mother and you’re not indoors now. You’re in my house and you abide by my rules. As for your mother letting you drink alcohol, I’ll be having a little word with her about that. Now, shut up the pair of you and eat your fucking dinner.’

Desperate to change the subject, Jessica picked up one of the dishes. ‘More roast potatoes anyone?’ she asked.

‘I’ll have some, sis,’ Raymond said, grinning.

Joyce pointed towards Stanley. ‘Your father will have a couple more as well,’ she told Jess.

As the potatoes were put on his plate, Stanley looked up in amazement. He had obviously spoken without him moving his mouth.

Joey slid off his chair. ‘Don’t want no more, Mummy.’