Ed nodded. He had no intention of taking his dad’s advice, he was far too clever for that. Give women an inch and they take a mile. ‘Thanks for the guidance,’ he said, walking away.

‘Oh, and by the way, Ed.’

Eddie turned around.

‘If you ever push me like that again, I swear I’ll knock your fucking block off.’

Eddie nodded, took a deep breath and strolled over to the table where Jess was sitting. ‘Come outside, we need to have a little chat,’ he told her.

‘I’ve ordered a cab, Jessica wants to go home,’ Stanley said curtly to Eddie.

‘Cancel it. Jessica’s going nowhere without me,’ Eddie said, glaring at Stanley.

Stanley looked down at his feet. He knew when to shut up.

The twins were both asleep now, and Ed stroked their hair. ‘We need to talk, Jess,’ he said firmly.

As Jessica followed Eddie outside, Stanley turned to Joyce. ‘If our Jess forgives him for tonight, she wants her bleedin’ head tested.’

Joyce said nothing. For the first time ever, she had her doubts about Eddie. Trying to strangle Jessica was not something she had ever thought Ed would do.

‘This is all your fault, Joycie, encouraging her to get involved with the likes of him. I tried to tell you but, as always, you wouldn’t listen.’

Joyce stared at her husband. He was beginning to get on her nerves. He was forever blaming her for Jess getting involved with Eddie, and Joyce had had enough of it. ‘Just shut up, Stanley. Jessica chose her own husband, it was nothing to do with me. All I did was support her choice, like any good mother should. I know Eddie was out of order tonight, but every couple has their arguments. Look at me and you, we don’t stop arguing. The trouble with you, Stanley, is you never liked Eddie from day one. Ever since our Jess brought him home, you’ve been waiting for something like this to happen, just so you can say, “I told you so”.’

Defeated, Stanley shook his head. ‘It will all end in tragedy and tears, dear. You mark my words.’

Eddie lit a fag and leaned against the wall. ‘You should have told me, Jess. If I’d known Lee was your ex, if you’d have said something, I wouldn’t have lost it. How do you think I felt? Here I am at me uncle’s retirement party and there’s some geezer standing at the bar bragging about fucking me wife.’

Standing on tiptoe, Jessica cupped her husband’s handsome face and gently kissed him. ‘I’m sorry, Eddie. I can’t believe Lee stood at the bar saying those things. We were only young when we dated, and he was a nice, quiet boy. He was my best friend Mary’s brother.’